Saturday 31st May - 140th anniversary of the first bicycle race

According to my desk diary, Saturday 31st May is the 140th anniversary of the first recorded bicycle race (it having taken place in Paris on that day in 1868).

Should this be celebrated by a French themed ride or alley cat? Start at the French embassy, cut past Les Miserables, etc?

Any ideas? And is this too short notice to organise something?

12 days to plan and try a route is doable.

Given that it happened in a park in France over 2km, I was thinking a half arsed French theme but wasn't sure about the length of the race. Options are:

2km with a French theme (Jubilee Gardens, Waterloo, Waterloo Bridge, end in Trafalgar Square)

2km in a park (Regent's park inner circle?)

A slightly longer ride (start in Trafalgar square, over Waterloo Bridge, round the round about, back over Waterloo Bridge then up through Angel to end at The Bastille pub on St Pauls Road). (5 miles?)

Longest option would be to start in South Ken (institute Francais), go past the French Embassy (Knights Bridge), go through Trafalgar Square, over Waterloo Bridge, then swing back over the river a bit further up to end at The Bastille again. (10 miles?)

Would anyone even be bothered doing one of these?

Still a little short at 10 miles but totally worth a ride none the less.

2k is just silly :]

Still a little short at 10 miles but totally worth a ride none the less.

2k is just silly :]

Would be funny though, if it was a mass start - 30 guys just booting it down the Strand is one massive pack...

140th anniv. make it 140k or 140mi or 2k x 140 = 280k or or or..

So what's happening with this Tom. It needs to happen?

So what's happening with this Tom. It needs to happen?

Christ knows, and my week has just got really busy with trying to find a new housemate.

I like Hippy's 2km x 140 thing, but it's not too practical. If people chip in with suggestions, I'll try and get something worked out over the long weekend.

How about 140 divided by 2km = 70km?
Much more sensible for an all encompasing night ride.

31 x 5 x 1868 x 2k = nice, easy, fun-for-the-whole-family ride :)

What about this: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=6395458414907906462,51.511510,-0.122780%3B11092240374836820017,51.515990,-0.125470%3B16153583730107008204,51.510781,-0.133901%3B2232791886506357531,51.494070,-0.174591%3B14277015808050195572,51.490772,-0.182995%3B3056472011690721331,51.485000,-0.176330%3B8654489451228265177,51.481160,-0.172570%3B14339547614163529297,51.473586,-0.162970%3B30297737612084529,51.473155,-0.161605%3B15699805511770877453,51.494328,-0.100778%3B10905153897793490676,51.502912,-0.116048%3B2243249753535787821,51.507841,-0.128934%3B12522453118380021255,51.507628,-0.129603&saddr=Henrietta+St+%4051.511510,+-0.122780&daddr=A40%2FHigh+Holborn+%4051.515990,+-0.125470+to:A401%2FShaftesbury+Ave+%4051.510781,+-0.133901+to:A3218%2FThurloe+St+%4051.494070,+-0.174591+to:A3218%2FOld+Brompton+Rd+%4051.490772,+-0.182995+to:Beaufort+St+%4051.485000,+-0.176330+to:A3220%2FBattersea+Bridge+Rd+%4051.481160,+-0.172570+to:A3220%2FAlbert+Bridge+Rd+%4051.473586,+-0.162970+to:A3205%2FBattersea+Park+Rd+%4051.473155,+-0.161605+to:A3%2FElephant+and+Castle+%4051.494328,+-0.100778+to:A3200%2FYork+Rd+%4051.502912,+-0.116048+to:A4%2FTrafalgar+Square+%4051.507841,+-0.128934+to:51.507581,-0.128875&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=12&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11&doflg=ptk&sll=51.507073,-0.128253&sspn=0.007359,0.020084&ie=UTF8&ll=51.4925,-0.113983&spn=0.05889,0.160675&z=13

It's roughly 18.68km (in honour of the year), starting at Cafe De Paris and taking in the French Embassy, Institut Francais, etc, finally finishing with a 2km sprint from Waterloo Round about to Trafalgar Square.