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I've considered this for two years running and failed to get out of bed in time twice.
3rd time lucky!
There is of course a perfectly simple solution to this problem.
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Bring your bed to Cutty Sark?
Splendid idea; the "Royal Borough of Greenwich" will be delighted!
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Hah, yes that renaming is so pompous isn't it. I was aghast when it happened - and very glad I live in the good old Socialist Republic of Lewisham.
Better than the Stalinist Kingdom of Greenwich, eh? I'm a Blackheath resident, on the Lewisham side of the borough boundary.
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Bumpity bump. Good work Francis.
As I said on email, have to drive down to Hertfordshire on Saturday for important family bizniz, making the ride a bit tricky.
I'd been waiting yonks for it to fall over a weekend again too :(
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Set your alarms and be there. I have promised to back mark this ride, so somebody better be there for me to back mark! In the past, we have had quite big numbers. I am leading the Peaks of Lewisham Ride earlier that evening, so you can do the double in celebration of Bike Week! In fact, forget the alarm, do the Lewisham Peaks ride, stay in the Dulwich Woodhouse where we finish the ride (drinking non alcoholic beverages, of course) then ride back to Cutty Sark gardens and wait for the Midsummer Madness Ride to assemble! Sounds like a plan to me!
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Oh, and by the way, my earlier post about sitting with me in the Dulwich Woodhouse after the Lewisham Peaks Ride till the meet up time for Midsummer Madness, was a joke! Thought I should clarify this, as a couple of people have already contacted me, seeming to think it was actually what I was planning to do. After leading the Peaks of Lewisham Ride on Thursday evening, I will be heading home for a few hours nap, setting my alarm and waking up about 1am to head off to Greenwich for 2am. The alarm setting plan is the only one I really recommend. You are all of course, welcome to join us on both rides. If I can manage to do a day's work afterwards, anyone can. It is possible. You just sleep very well on Friday night.
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This is to remind you that the Midsummer Madness solstice ride from Greenwich to Primrose Hill via Southwark Needle takes place in the wee hours of Friday morning. See the press release above for details.
I recce'd the ride this evening, and there was no problem with the route. During the recce I stopped by Bar Italia, and had a chat with the guvnor. He's looking forward to seeing us at 03:00 on Friday morning.
Declaration of interest: the café guvnor presented me with a funky Bar Italia cycling cap, and asked me to wear it on the day. Fair enough. The caps, which sell for something like £12, are black with a pink peak, and the Italian green, white and red tricolour stripe running front to back. See? It's not only our dear Miss Mouse who has the cheek to hawk trendy cycle clothing in London's online cycling forums. :-)
Saoirse is helping lead the Midsummer Madness ride, and on the night/morning will be back-marker. We need more marshals, so please volunteer! So far we have Miss Mouse (maybe) and three others (definite). That's too few to lead a ride with >100 participants. For those who agree to help I can supply a GPX file of the route.
Francis
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There is also a Google Map, fully validated by the National Security Agency and Ministry of Defence, and not subject to any DA Notice. It is complete save for the first few hundred metres from Cutty Sark Gardens SE10 9LW to Deptford Creek...
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There is also a Google Map, fully validated by the National Security Agency and Ministry of Defence, and not subject to any DA Notice. It is complete save for the first few hundred metres from Cutty Sark Gardens SE10 9LW to Deptford Creek...
Map's private? I only get USA...
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This is to remind you that the Midsummer Madness solstice ride from Greenwich to Primrose Hill via Southwark Needle takes place in the wee hours of Friday morning. See the press release above for details.
I recce'd the ride this evening, and there was no problem with the route. During the recce I stopped by Bar Italia, and had a chat with the guvnor. He's looking forward to seeing us at 03:00 on Friday morning.
Declaration of interest: the café guvnor presented me with a funky Bar Italia cycling cap, and asked me to wear it on the day. Fair enough. The caps, which sell for something like £12, are black with a pink peak, and the Italian green, white and red tricolour stripe running front to back. See? It's not only our dear Miss Mouse who has the cheek to hawk trendy cycle clothing in London's online cycling forums. :-)
Saoirse is helping lead the Midsummer Madness ride, and on the night/morning will be back-marker. We need more marshals, so please volunteer! So far we have Miss Mouse (maybe) and three others (definite). That's too few to lead a ride with >100 participants. For those who agree to help I can supply a GPX file of the route.
Francis
Trendy? Ha! I know nothing!Really miffed I cannot be there on Friday :(
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Oh, and by the way, my earlier post about sitting with me in the Dulwich Woodhouse after the Lewisham Peaks Ride till the meet up time for Midsummer Madness, was a joke! Thought I should clarify this, as a couple of people have already contacted me, seeming to think it was actually what I was planning to do. After leading the Peaks of Lewisham Ride on Thursday evening, I will be heading home for a few hours nap, setting my alarm and waking up about 1am to head off to Greenwich for 2am. The alarm setting plan is the only one I really recommend. You are all of course, welcome to join us on both rides. If I can manage to do a day's work afterwards, anyone can. It is possible. You just sleep very well on Friday night.
Any more details on the peaks ride?
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What saoirse says. And BTW, as Midsummer Madness ride leader let me say that any tins of Special Brew spotted on the ride will be confiscated, to be consumed at my leisure on Friday evening.
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Any more details on the peaks ride?
Departs Cutty Sark Gardens at 18:30. The route is around 125 furlongs in length, taking in Deptford, Telegraph Hill, Hilly Fields, Ladywell Fields, Blythe Park, One Tree Hill, Horniman Gardens and Sydenham Hill, with the end point at the Dulwich Wood House. As for steep ascents, the most severe is on Canonbie Road. With my 48-year-old body and a 69-inch gear, the final stretch defeats me. The youngsters among you may make it to the top with nerves and knees intact.
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About
2013-06-21 - Midsummer Madness – London cyclists to greet the solstice dawn
Posted by
@FrancisSedgemore
With Britain’s cold, wet spring now a fading memory, we can all look forward to midsummer.
Friday 21 June 2013 is the longest day of the year, and since time immemorial people of all faiths and none have marked the occasion of the summer solstice by rising to greet the dawn. London cyclists do this in their own special way, by riding through the night from Greenwich to Primrose Hill, following a tradition established by the late great Barry Mason.
This year’s Midsummer Madness ride will follow a familiar but never entirely predictable pattern, with the early risers setting off from Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich at 02:00 on the morning of the solstice. We then stop at Southwark Needle by London Bridge to collect more riders.
Previous years have seen hundreds of London cyclists foregoing their beauty sleep, giddy with excitement at the prospect of experiencing the rise of the midsummer sun. Overcast skies and rain are no deterrent, for Midsummer Madness is a community happening, fun whatever the weather.
Following the sunrise some will cycle back across the river for breakfast in a Southwark café, before heading for work or home to sleep. Others will hang around Primrose Hill or do their own thing, with all bidding a fond farewell to friends old and new, promising to return next year for more of the same.
The Midsummer Madness cycle ride is brought to you by the Dog & Bell Crew: an informal collective of southeast London-based social cycle ride planners and members of the London Cycling Campaign. This year’s ride leader is science journalist and fixed-wheel cycling evangelist Francis Sedgemore.
There are no rules other than those of the road, good sense and common courtesy.