Critical Mass London: last friday of the month South Bank by National Theatre, 6.30pm

this will be my first critical mass, 'syked.

hell yea, what time is it leaving southbank?

That was a really cool critical mass, apart from the stretch along clerkenwell road.

Positives, hundreds if people really nice route, from waterloo, round downing street, parliament square, the mall, a few circle of buckingham palace, hyde park, park lane, piccadilly, shaftesbury avenue, then along the hipster spice route to a party at the foundry.

Negatives, some guy probably being a dick, and getting arrested next to the rapha cafe, then a mob formed around the police, they were only a few guys, and they had hundreds of cyclists having a go at them, they called backup, and within a minute or so another 8 police vehicles arrived and moved people on. Generally they were pretty cool, I had a good chat with one about whether he should get a langster. But some people were being idiots, and were provoking them, even opening up the police van to get the guy back out.

It's a nice ride around town but CM creates far too much aggro to be of any benefit to 'the cause'. Good weather for it though..

That was a really cool critical mass, apart from the stretch along clerkenwell road.

What happened there? I went past around half 11 and there was quite a few cyclists and some police walking around them.

was at the duke as CM went by and about 15 minutes later we went to LMNH but got caught up in the confusion of what happened

A police van decided to give chase to a cyclist (not known why). The van deployed one officer who was armed with an activated expandable baton and chased the speedie cyclist on foot. The cyclist left the foot officer in the dust while the van attempted to cross into the path of 500+ cyclists. Suddenly within 3minutes the whole area was covered in police vehicles and officers on foot. I estimate about 30 marked and unmarked cars including police bikes were on the scene.

With the rapid appearance of all of these cars Im greatly concerned how fast they must have travelled across central London at high speed to be on the scene.

Last year I was a vicitim of crime and when I contacted the police they were not able to assist due to other calls. Tonight I was shocked on the high volume of police cars in such a small area for one suspect! I hope there was not somebody seeking assistance elsewhere while they detained their solo cyclist.

Anyway I believe they got their single suspect.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48644287@N00/4733775027/in/set-72157624357807462

video of the arrest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1zZK6H7SvA

Looks like the Raphapriceybutnicey thread en route to loot the Raphé

I love the commentary...

Hey Guy,
I thought i'd post a video of the Critical Mass ride for you lot.

http://www.vimeo.com/12926415

Sam

Hey Guy,
I thought i'd post a video of the Critical Mass ride for you lot.

Critical Mass - London June 2010 on Vimeo

Sam

Really nice video, you seem to have had me on camera a lot of the time, never noticed you (I'm the guy with the black t-shirt, dark blue bag, and white and light blue cap). I love the music too

Haha really? I promise I wasn't stalking you.

Glad you liked it. :-) cheers.

Anyone planning heading up this time?

hell yeah!

maybe

bit of a stupid question... where does CM meet now? is it still outside the BFI? i havent been since december 08. still 7pm right? cheeers

just found the cm website. thanks anyways guys

Anybody riding tonight? Haven't been to CM in ages but fancy a spin on a lovely day like this

Going to this tonight. Will be wearing my new lfgss cap.

potentially in, meet by the stones?

I think i'm out tonight, my rack was delivered and is waiting for me at home so I'm more excited about going and attaching that to my bike!
No more sweaty bag back!

Could be up for this. Will also be sporting new cap. Where are the stones, Vélo Libre?

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=London+SW2+2DP,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.507452,-0.114793&spn=0.000876,0.003007&t=h&z=19

stone circle.

roger that. will be there from 6.30 ish.

I'm out. Have fun and Mass Up!