2013-06-21 - Midsummer Madness – London cyclists to greet the solstice dawn

Or loading up on caffeine and sugar to keep them awake til the 2am start.

Ive just got back from a disco. Pondering a sleep or not?

How did you manage to get your username fixed?

oh been to busy to notice this! are you having breakfast at Terry's?
have fun folks.

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.

When I shot up primrose hill I remember thinking.. "Hold on, didn't these guys already do Canonbie today?"

Then I felt silly.

A varied bunch, from geeky 'cumbents to insect bromptons to cocky mountainbikers, all standing around on top of primrose hill with another bunch of weirdos, looking for a glimpse of the sun that never came. Was fun!

Thanks SC.

Who is SC?
Yes, some of us had already been up Canonbie, Blythe Hill, Hilly Fields, Telegraph Hill, Sydenham Hill, One Tree Hill, and the top of Ringmore Rise. That is the Lewisham Peaks- stunning views this year.
Now I have breakfasted at the Island Café with the last few stragglers from the MM ride who wanted to be led southwards, and now I am at work. See you next year- maybe we'll make it a double whammy again!

Great ride. Shame about the cloud.

I'm completely knackered now though. Good job I didn't have to go to work after.

Oh wait...

Who is SC?

Southwark Cyclists, at a guess. Should include Lewisham and Greenwich Cyclists and the Dog and Bell collective, of course. :)

I was being a bit disingenuous. I knew really. It's just that, other groups do organise stuff you know! And Southwark haven't been part of the Dog and Bell meeting (SE London Borough Groups Rides Organisation) for a while now. We miss them, and wish they would return.

I was being a bit disingenuous. I knew really. It's just that, other groups do organise stuff you know! And Southwark haven't been part of the Dog and Bell meeting (SE London Borough Groups Rides Organisation) for a while now. We miss them, and wish they would return.

"SELBGRO"? I prefer the South East London Commissariat for Social Cycle Rides Planning. Or simply the Dog & Bell Crew, though for some this might sound too similar to the Brew Crew. Still, our Glorious Leader Andrew Lord Fergar is an avid ESB drinker, so it's not entirely inappropriate.

Anyways, the ride went without problems, thanks to Saoirse's expert back-marking and our small but hardy team of crack marshals. We arrived at the top of Primrose Hill with half an hour to spare, and a density of humans greater than that of midges, unlike last year.

Other than the Barry-100 of cyclists on the ride, there were a few crusties on the hill, a guy twiddling his balls, and another playing an English Half-Long bagpipe. No sun visible, but still a fine light, and mist over the city to the south.

A fairly large group followed me to the Island Café in Southwark for a 6am breakfast, following a route that took us through Parliament Square and over Westminster Bridge. For me and three others the Midsummer Madness ride ended with an eastwards pootle along the Thames Path to Greenwich.

I have just risen from my pit, and am now looking forward to another 125km of cycling tomorrow, with a day ride along the Waterlink Way for the Dog & Bell Crew, and guiding the Velonotte Albertina through Saturday night and Sunday morning...

www.velonotte.com

Finally, thank you for making it such a wonderful Midsummer Madness!

What's wrong with SELBGRO? It lends an organic/infantile feel to the concept, blurring the images of horticultural compost with useful baby garment. Perfect. Dog and Bell Crew suggests a somewhat rowdy collection of (largely male, maybe due to my own prejudices) drinking buddies out on the pull. I sense a split is in the offing, my friend!

What's wrong with SELBGRO? It lends an organic/infantile feel to the concept, blurring the images of horticultural compost with useful baby garment. Perfect. Dog and Bell Crew suggests a somewhat rowdy collection of (largely male, maybe due to my own prejudices) drinking buddies out on the pull. I sense a split is in the offing, my friend!

Ahem. Much of the rowdiness in the otherwise esteemed Dog & Bell Crew comes from a retiring but far from shy school teacher of female persuasion. The invariably late entrance into the eponymous Deptford hostelry of the newly enthroned matriarch of Lewisham Cyclists strikes fear into the hearts of the more reserved members of the Crew there assembled.

But not me. Back to your onesie knitting, ye grumpy awld woman!

Gutted I didn't know about this. Am on the late shift at the moment so could've come straight from work. Good fun?

I took some photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blatez/sets/72157634246982801/

Thanks to the organisers and all participants for making it a fun ride. Only negative reaction was from some drunk eejit at trafalgar square who started calling us 'geeks and losers' and told us we should 'get a life. Go to a club or something'. Everyone else cheered us and waved us on our way with smiles and applause. Lovely stuff.