2010-04-10 Sat - The London Tweed Run 2

What about a variable donation? Donations would be compulsory, but amount is entirely up to the donor but a recommendation of £5 or something is made.

I found it way more successful on here during the initial funding to not try and force a price point but to let people pay what they could afford or wanted to. It opens the door to people getting sponsored and raising more than the stated minimum donation.

...but it did take forever to get everyone round, Ed! At an average of about 2mph most of the time.

I remember, especially when we did a second loop outside Big Ben by accident...

I think a charge is perfectly reasonable. It's not like you're pricing anyone out of the fun by charging a tenner. I had a really, really good time last year. Way more than £10 worth of fun.

I just think it's great that there are people willing to put in the hard work to ensure that hundreds of people get to enjoy a thoroughly unusual, special and memorable event.

Also, on the route length - my other half did it last year, at the time she barely rode anywhere and yet found the distance just fine. It's a relaxed pace.

it was actually longer last year than in 2009. but who's counting, anyhow.

And I guarantee all of you went further than the Rapha van did :)

I'd be happy to pay.

Velocio's variable donations sounds fair.

Good idea to make the charitable element stronger not everyone was aware of Bikes4 Africa donation last year I suspect.

Last years change from setting off in 'packets' of riders to one big mass, taking up a whole lane, worked and kept things moving and caused less disruption. It also looked/felt more impressive.

+1 to variable donation.
Defo pay.

Good idea to make the charitable element stronger not everyone was aware of Bikes4 Africa donation last year I suspect.

a million plus one to that man there, first year I only just heard of it when purchasing a spoke card, last year I'm aware of it when signed up as a marshall.

the more people know, the better.

Last years change from setting off in 'packets' of riders to one big mass, taking up a whole lane, worked and kept things moving and caused less disruption. It also looked/felt more impressive.

I think that is the best way to go, allowed all the ground to move smoothly, having it in batches would mean a lots of catching up every now and then and it would end up being annoying.

I was very surprised at how well we worked together in marshalling the route, the recce is definitely paying off the great co-ordination.

There may be a bigger debate to have, but i agree with CB in some respects.

We've become a nation where people want sponsoring for keeping fit and healthy (running marathon, big bike rides), for walking around a park in a coloured t-shirt to match the particular charity brand, for going on grand treking holidays, and even for practicing various niche fetishes (bath of beans anyone?).

Back on thread though, if i decide to try to register for tweed ride this year I won't object to paying an entry fee to take part for the benefit of the charity mentioned.

Will you bring the horde or will it just be the Prince of Darkness on his own?

I think it will be a solo mission this year, although I have yet to discuss the matter in detail with Mrs Lucifer.

I'd imagine you wouldn't thank me for a bottle of single malt this year?

lol

There may be a bigger debate to have, but i agree with CB in some respects.

We've become a nation where people want sponsoring for keeping fit and healthy (running marathon, big bike rides), for walking around a park in a coloured t-shirt to match the particular charity brand, for going on grand treking holidays, and even for practicing various niche fetishes (bath of beans anyone?).

In some ways I agree with this sentiment, and that of Cornelius Blackfoot, but I do think a charitable aspect to the event gives it a little more justification in the eyes of the general public. It is the general public, after all, that are slightly inconvenienced on the day, and when people shout questions as to why we are disrupting London traffic, I would rather shout back, 'It's for charity!' than, 'because we're bonkers and wacky!'
There was some initial sneering from some corners of the press over the Tweed Run last year, that is until they discovered the charitable side of the organization, and suddenly it became a noble and just cause.

Another aspect to remember is that Transport for London and the Met Police wll be more likely to cast a favourable eye on the Tweed Run if it is for charity. Who knows, they might even allow a greater attendance!

The charitable side of the Tweed Run was very subtle last year, and I hope it will be so this year, so that people can actually just enjoy the day without thinking about charity, yet the end result will be a fat donation to a worthwhile cause.

And I shall repeat; I still think part of the donation should go to setting up a Tweed Fund, a budget that will allow the organisers to create this incredible event without being out of pocket themselves.

That'd be a bit of a shame, while I find the route last year a bit short (compare to 2009) I though it was quite a good run, just enough to enjoy the ride, but not long enough for those who hasn't cycled for quite a while.

Last year was too far for my mrs. She and I walked it from BlackFriar's bridge because she could not ride any more due to old nerve damage causing her right leg to go completely numb. OK, that's a rare complaint, but even without that 12 miles was a big ask for someone who's only ever ridden a bike about 15 times in her life.

I'd be more than happy to pay.

I would be happy with a variable donation going to charity or alternatively £10 set donation where half goes to the organisation of the ride and the other half to charity.

I'm with the anti-Chariteers though in general. I abhor the 'big society' idea and disagree that volunteering/charity should make up the short-fall of a smaller government.

^ I'm not anti charity (I work for one!) but am against some of the fund-raising methods used these days.

Charity has become Big Business and marketing /media messages have conditioned the public to think that we shouldn't do anything "unusual" without hanging a fundraising bucket on the back of it (edit - and as GL mentions above, it makes it easier to justify doing that unusual activity).

This makes promoting an activity such as Cycling harder as many non cyclists can see a bike ride as "an exceptional event, to raise funds for charity" rather than a way of getting around, having fun, and staying fit and healthy.

To be honest though, the Tweed Run is a exceptional event. You can't really dress it up ('scuse the pun) as an exercise in getting fit and healthy.

There are other platforms for promoting cycling as a fitness activity that can be enjoyed daily, but I don't think the Tweed Run fits that bill.

I never said Tweed Run was an excercise in getting fit and healthy.

You can say it promotes cycling as a way of getting around, and having fun though.

The exceptional side of Tweed is good as it's more like to get press coverage (as seen last year) than a similar event (monthly CM rides around London for example) and a better reaction from the public (again most ped's were smiling and joining in with the banter last year).

So........................ what's the date?

:-)

last years tweed run was one of the bet days of the year for me, so i'm more than happy to pay an entry fee.

plus it would cut down on people bailing.

So........................ what's the date?

:-)

josh. banned.

Soz, couldn't help myself.

Oh, and teddy - would you do me a favour and 'follow' me on twitter. I get all the Tweed Run tweets but can't respond.
Ta.

http://twitter.com/#!/generallucifer

Probably not about for it this year. But here are the pics I've finally upladed from last year.

The remainder are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70219301@N00/sets/72157625909849616/

i bet you, up to no good them two :-)

I look like I'm eating a tiny Jacqui's head!