Critical mass doos and donts?

Bridges ride - too slow, too annoying, too fixie....... blahh

TNRC, rides with friends or club rides FTW

Do: Get drunk and throw your empty beer cans at black cabs.

Don't: ask the cabbies if they have any spare champagne.

Don't: ask the cabbies if they have any spare champagne.

Agreed, I find it gives me a headache and a sore arse.

CM can be a bit of fun. It can also be a little frustrating.

If you do go, stay near but not at the front. Allow more experienced CM riders to do the corking. Smile at drivers. Wave thanks at them when they are held up. Behave in a friendly manner. Leave your attitude at home.

Talk to other riders. The best thing about CM is that it is a very gentle very social ride. I first met Oliver Schick, Skully and SoperRiva at CMs.

Most importantly, you don't have to be the last person at the party. Peel off when you get bored.

This +100. Stay in the middle and chat to people (stay alert). I can only speak for Birmingham but it's definitely more social than a proper ride, numbers up here over the past few months have almost quadrupled due to lots of pushing from regular riders including myself so it has meant a lot more stop-starting/struggling to get people to cork, etc. But it's worth the effort, seeing that many bikes in one place is a beautiful sight! Go at least once for the experience if nothing else.

Not in my experience, almost always have positive interactions with curious tourists/theatre goers/anyone else around at 8 pm in the centre of London on a Friday night.

ftfy

CM - sell buy date 4 April 1996

Well said Mothergirl, cliveo, horatio.

I did laugh at TS's breakdown of you, Dammit. Wierdly I was picturing you in your volvo at the time.

CM - sell buy date 4 April 1996

Meh.

I first met Oliver Schick, Skully and SoperRiva at CMs.

I used to enjoy CMs, I haven't been for ages as I became really frustrated with the slow pace and aggression.

I've witnessed this too, that Oliver Schick is the most aggressive cyclist I've ever seen

Well said Mothergirl, cliveo, horatio.

I did laugh at TS's breakdown of you, Dammit. Wierdly I was picturing you in your volvo at the time.

That's fine, I wasn't talking as a motorist, but it makes it easier to dismiss what I was saying, so I can see why your thoughts turned that way.

I think CM harms the "cause" of cycling in London, you don't, end of discussion really.

yeah, I didn't mean to be unkind Neil. I just had this image of you, stuck in traffic, with a large bath or fridge freezer on the roof, with that very reserved yet exasperated expression that you're so good at.

I take your point about 'harming the cause' but somehow I don't buy it, or even the supposition that cycling is, or has, a cause. Or that CM is about a cause.

I think the hundreds of dickheads who ride on pavements, straight through pedestrian crossings and the like, day in, day out do far more to harm the "cause" of cycling in London than a motley collection of crusties, trustifarians, reinsurance lawyers and lycra clad pony tailed Germans riding slowly around central London once a month.

I think the hundreds of dickheads who ride on pavements, straight through pedestrian crossings and the like, day in, day out do far more to harm the "cause" of cycling in London than a motley collection of crusties, trustifarians, reinsurance lawyers and lycra clad pony tailed Germans riding slowly around central London once a month.

I think both of them harm the "cause", and both of them should be considered just crap.

Things not to do on a CM ride - shout at cars, ride as slow as possible, get run over.

Things that do happen on CM rides - riders shout at cars pissing them off, riders going as slow as possible so cars can't even cruise along is 1st gear, because of these first two points people have been driven at.

I would join my local CM ride but it's full of activist intent on pissing everyone else off. The few times I have ridden the guy on a chopper was leaving people behind they were going that slow. I felt more in danger of being run over when I was riding in that group than I do whenever I ride my bike.

its "reclaim the streets" on wheels no?

This is reclaim the streets:

Not many dogs at CM, occasional stiltwalker, some smoking and drinking moments of synchronicity (yeah) waterloo sunset moments, buckingham palace regae, oxford street rammed with massers bad language good language, mellow some tense, occasional silence, rubber necking angry driver interaction slow downs, NFT meeting & drinkin & waiting &waiting.

Been doing it for years and will do some more
(miss Reclaim The Streets though)

I think the hundreds of dickheads who ride on pavements, straight through pedestrian crossings and the like, day in, day out do far more to harm the "cause" of cycling in London than a motley collection of crusties, trustifarians, reinsurance lawyers and lycra clad pony tailed Germans riding slowly around central London once a month.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to andyp again.
.

yeah, I didn't mean to be unkind Neil. I just had this image of you, stuck in traffic, with a large bath or fridge freezer on the roof, with that very reserved yet exasperated expression that you're so good at.

I take your point about 'harming the cause' but somehow I don't buy it, or even the supposition that cycling is, or has, a cause. Or that CM is about a cause.

There are many causes and thats why CM is just old fashioned PROTEST.

Can be good
Can be embarassing

Cool

I've only been on 2 CMs, but I have to say that riding fixed is defo the best way to go, cos' let's face it, if there's one thing fixed is brilliant at, it's riding real slow.

Also, don't go with an attitude, it don't help anyone
Also, do go with a couple or 4 beers though
Also, pick a CM when it isn't raining

Do topple into someone when stopped somewhere.

Don't mention cm on Lfgss, you'll just start an argument about whether it's worthwhile.

It's nice riding in a group, even really slowly for 2 hours. I don't think it's usefullness is as important as whether you have fun doing it.

In reality it's impact outside of the cyclists who take part in it is basically non existent. Ask all the non cyclists you know if they've heard of it for evidence of that.

I've only been on 2 CMs, but I have to say that riding fixed is defo the best way to go, cos' let's face it, if there's one thing fixed is brilliant at, it's riding real slow.

Also, don't go with an attitude, it don't help anyone
Also, do go with a couple or 4 beers though
Also, pick a CM when it isn't raining

I thought it was illegal to ride and drink?
From what people have said and looking at some vids of cm i think going without an attitude is the best advise.

I've witnessed this too, that Oliver Schick is the most aggressive cyclist I've ever seen

Oh yeah.

       [2009-09-12 Sat 1pm - LFGSS Track Day 4: Fear of a Tarck Planet Herne Hill](http://www.lfgss.com/thread25827.html)

Attacking from the gun FTW. Worked one time out of three. >)

I think the hundreds of dickheads who ride on pavements, straight through pedestrian crossings and the like, day in, day out do far more to harm the "cause" of cycling in London than a motley collection of crusties, trustifarians, reinsurance lawyers and lycra clad pony tailed Germans riding slowly around central London once a month.

Like the surrounding of motorists, jumping on bonnets, vandalising of cars, swearing and offering out for a fight. Yeah they love it, them drivers.
Not sure how common this is but I could never do a CM after those scenes.

^ never been on one (and prolly never will) does that shit really happen tho?

I gave up CM, when some guy being a dick got arrested, then loads of people started threatening the police, and tried to open the doors of their van to get him out.

It ended up police piling in from everywhere.

Not something I really need in my life.

^ never been on one (and prolly never will) does that shit really happen tho?

I've only been on the last 3 or 4 but never seen anything like that. I've seen a couple of cabbies get out of their cars, but they're usually just spoken to calmly by corkers and gently coaxed back behind the wheel.