2012-04-28 - Love London, Go Dutch - The Big Ride

I was there, and enjoyed it on balance, although I sort of agree.

At the start, at the back of the ride the marshalls were telling everyone to speed up and bunch up with the main group, which led predictably to congestion and a slower than walking pace. After a few minutes of scooting along in the cold and wet we decided to stop off for a coffee.

After the coffee we enjoyed a ride along a deserted, closed street (still marshalled - we got told off for going through a stop sign) and rejoined the back of the ride some 15 minutes later.

Event was badly marshalled / planned IMHO. Would have been much better (more enjoyable and more visible) to let people set off at a slower pace and with bigger gaps between the riders.

Sorry but I can not be bothered with this sort of negativity yes it was not perfect but actually we got 10,000 cyclists on the streets and it was pissing with rain so stop being so bloody negative

Your post was constructive and there is no harm in criticism . It was an achievement getting 10000 people on bikes in London. (how does that compare to skyride?). I still think that there is a certain ambiguity as to the aims and message of the event as well as the visibility to the general none cycling world.
@zebra cyclist do you not think here is value in discussion here and feedback to improve and focus future events and campaigns?