2008-03-15 Sat - Monopoly Night Ride

pj i have been having similar experiences with the bendy number 12s in peckham of late. not to mention the bmw driver who took it upon himself to force me off the road in ealing yesterday.

i swear it's getting worse, and i'm sorry about your really shit night, david. it sucks.

It's definitely getting worse, I've had a near miss every day this week except ironically today/tonight. And when i say a near miss i mean getting run off the road. On thursday a van pulled across my path resulting in me hanging from the spike of a fence which had pierced through my jacket 2 inches from my neck, on friday I had to do a spectacular bunny-hop onto the pavement to avoid a bus doing a ridiculous manoeuvre...

Oh, after helping polybikeuser with his phantom bearings, and helping (hindering) the repair of delphina's puncture, i got sick of being at the back of the pack and headed back to brixton for a chinese.

My businessman costume has dyed my shirt every colour under the rainbow... quite impressive considering it was black.

Well I just got back after deciding enough was enough! I couldn't believe the turnout though! People stuck to their guns and some of the costumes were hilarious. Photoben covered in ivy as was his bike! (Vine St) and as for the guy who came as a green hotel! Amazing! At first I thought how on earth is he going to ride with that on...but in the end was jealous of his cozy dry waterproof hotel! Then there was the tax man type thief/superhero! (Mouse). And a few jailers. Slamm...great minds think alike! There should be pics tomorrow.
It's mad out there. I opted for costume over waterproofs which is why I couldn't go on. I was drenched and freezing and the roads are crazy. Sorry to vanish as we got closest to my area. It was a split second decision. I wanted warm dryness!
Thanks to Dogs for trying to keep it all together with a smile (and massive backpack which looked bigger than himself).
The treasure hunt seemed to bow down to the rain. Wasn't sure if anyone was actually recording anything down. Not easy to write on a soaking treasure map. Prizes looked great though.
Saw a few punctures and bike probs yet unlike previous rides, most people moved on to get to the map points and checkpoints.
It was still brilliant and had I have gone with the waterproofs I'd still be there.
Hope you all have a great night and go easy.
Shame you didn't make it David but at least you're safe.

what were you wearing todd? Yeah it's a shame that people didn't stop for bike problems.. that's why I went home in the end, cos i was one of the few who did which meant I was playing catch-up all night. To be fair though, the rain was shit, I can't really blame people for not stopping in that weather!!

But still you gotta look out for people. There was a lot of splitting up due to the nature of the treasure hunt.
One guy had a massive nail through his tyre! Someone else's rear wheel jammed! Puncture to a (650?) HED Trispoke. (Hope it wasn't a tub). I saw 3 punctures in the first 20mins. I was dreading a flat in that weather. I'm making it sound like a bad night....it wasn't. Just my sweatshirt and jeans weren't up to it yet the hat kept my head totally dry. Might have to become new riding necessity.

I had the bowler hat with the floating lightbulb! ;-)

It's not a lfgss ride if there's under 10 punctures within any given hour.

Ha! Usually. The Australia Day one had none though. I still talk about that like it were yesterday. I will remember it with such fondness! A miracle.

Oh yeah I saw you, I was wearing a black blazer and a blue and red smeear hat, riding a blue geoffrey butler.

By the way that 650 trispoke was a tub. Me and polybikeuser bumped into poor emilie somewhere near tower bridge road. He was apparently going to get the tube to islington or something! I hope he got it sorted.

I bailed out just after Angel when i could no longer feel my hands or feet (and it was the closest point to home). By that stage the big group had dwindled a bit... Shame cos the big pack was quite a sight to behold!
I went for waterproof instead of costume, but from the waist down i've never been so wet (just like dale's mum). Still, i was grinning the whole time and it was a great vibe from the other riders.
great idea for a ride tho, can we attempt a re-run in summer and hope for a better night?

PS Not saying VB's bus driver incident is one of these but it's important to remember that when the weather is that bad it seriously affects drivers' vision, and i think a lot of the time they just can't see you. It pays to keep that in mind and play it super safe when it's raining.

[edit] double post damn mobile phone intarwebz

@asm
That's a shame. Always a risk with tubs. :-/
It's still raining like mad out there.
Wonder how they're all feeling....?

Sure we'll find out soon enough...

Ffs.

Yep. In other news, it rained tonight.

Ive just peeled my jeans and t-shirt off and am now basking in my warm living room with a warm brew. It was my first social ride tonite and I really enjoyed it apart from not being able to feel my hands, legs or feet. Met some good people and it was good to feel part of a group riding through town. I hope everyone gets home safe and ta for a good nite.

I did get a bus driver rather unhelpfully point out that he couldn't see me, on a roundabout, as I was about to go for a gap in the traffic. He practicallly shouted it in my ear, and I nearly fell over because of it. To be fair I was wearing all black and didn't have a front light, because some fucker stole it off my bike at a party yesterday :(

I just got home, and I've never felt so relieved to have a hot shower and jump into bed.

I left just before Kings Cross and went to meet a mate in Camden - made a big puddle on the floor (only rainwater) and attracted a lot of stares. Didn't realise how cold I was getting though, and had to ride back to Brixton.

Great ride, despite the weather, cheers to the people who organised it.

Ahh...... the rainnnn man!
Awesome night!! Lovely meeting you guys!! Thank you Dale!!!!!
And thanks to the people who helped me with that darn flat, I will now learn to make the chain longer ^^

Thanks for an awesome albeit chilly ride!

just got home. wet trough 5 layers. A well earned spokes card. Godd to see everyone. Thanks for organising it dogs. I have a hot bath now.

Wicked ride. I'd like to say that I wet through but Bond street station approached and the fruits of my labors payed off. The green house kept me bone dry.Much respect to the £1 shop. Proper christmas cracker territory but today shined through. Only got stupidly wet cold feet which are now warm enough to feel.Thanks for the prizes whoever donated the saddle. If anyone is up for a regular ride maybe sundays i'm game.

I'm dry! but wrinkles and memories remain.
thanks again to the disorganiser and everyone for turning up - having 42 riders reach the end was amazing!
(I suspect all of you wanted to win an Archies Grobag.. am I wrong? 268 is a lucky lady.)

^ hey Dylan - I was the other house! the Ti saddle was donated by Roberto Bicicletas.

just got home.

good meeting you all.

nice ride home east through the city with the bag winner (macknz), robofox and rjs. good to meet u guys.

thanks to the organisers us and to the sponsors etc.

shame about the weather and the drivers.

but i reckon a few londoners liked our effort and our costumes etc.

and hi to the other top hats !

good ride guys and turnout, i have a feeling it will be repeated with people actually doing the treasure hunt

Big up to Cardboard and gaffer tap. Inventions of the gods...

Wicked ride, thanks Dale!

Cheers for the rims, should look good one my new bike :-) It was 43 riders finished, I didn't take a raffle ticket at the end.

Scot, you'll be please to know you are starting to get brand recognition, my girlfriend saw the winner cycle past and told me "some girl just went past with a bag JUST like yours, but camouflaged".

Sorry to hear about the wanker of a bus driver VB, hope you're okay.

Awesome night, and fantastic turnout considering it was pissing it down all night!