2010-05-15 11am - Lee Valley River Ride

Also leave a crayfish trap on the way out, pick it up two hours later on the way back...free crustaceans for dinner!

Now this does interest me, what do the traps look like? Are the crayfish alright to eat?

So, just looked out of the window, lovely sunshine. It's on...

how long is the ride>?

Not a cloud in the sky!
bring sunblock.
It's going to be a lovely ride.

light bike with drops or heavier bike with risers????
i may still be in :-)

how long is the ride>?

That depends how far we go, and whether we ride back, or take the train. See the first post.

light bike with drops or heavier bike with risers????
i may still be in :-)

I'd probably say the second, but I guess whichever is more comfortable, and more stable, being on a towpath.

Weird to be up at this time on a Saturday without a hangover...

it's gonna be a good ride in the sun :)

Heading from West to park now... hopefully I'll get there for 11, if not just a little after

on my way!

We started from nearer home and stopped in markfield park cafe to feed the littlen. I think I just saw all the fixie skidders go past. Have fun.

..big thanks to this thread...Inspired me to go for a ride along the canal myself, unfortunately couldn't hang around 'til 11 as childcare this pm...but a nice ride to Hertford and back.....

It must be a while since I've done this ride.....a lot of the rutted muddy towpath sections have been replaced with paths.....nice.

Saw you guys seconds before I pulled off to head pack to Finsbury Park, thought I might, hope you have a good ride. Nice to see some smiling faces amongst you, not from all though...I must've encountered over 50 adult adult cyclists on this ride ranging from guys training on cross bikes to nodders in hi viz jackets (why?) without exception they all said "Hi" or made some kind of acknowledgement to a fellow cyclist...except for four or five guys in your group...who totally blanked me when I said hello, nodded or smiled....WTF is that all about?

Yes the Lee is crawling with invasive (American) signal crayfish that are officially a pest, yes you can eat them and they grow much bigger than native crayfish some approaching the size of small lobsters...I had no luck today though with my trap...they are available on ebay for about 4 quid....the traps that is.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-DELUX-CRAYFISH-CRAB-EEL-TRAP-NET-POT-SEA-FISHING-X1-/320532102569?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_SportingGoods_FishingAcces_RL&hash=item4aa133bda9

Oddly when I got home I discovered that a fixed wheel owner has moved in next door to me, watched him ride up the street, dismount walk right by me....he aslo completely blanked me despite my smiles and nods....what is wrong with me?

You've become intolerant of anti-social wankers.

Apologies for the sudden bail out at Enfield Lock but couldn't handle the gravel any longer - just had to get back onto tarmac so came back down the A1055 which, although a busy road, has a separate pedestrian/cycle way.

Great day - hope you all enjoyed the rest of the ride - and heal up Babar!

An enjoyable ride. As far as I got anyway. And I got back to see Chelsea win the FA cup, so a good day.

So chilling in A&E with CB. He looks funny with his head in bandages. Will let you know

All I have to say:

Fantastic ride though, rest of the photo's are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirth/sets/72157624067310222/

Well that was a great ride, apart from the injuries, I think 5 people were bleeding at some point or another.

Pity we didn't make it to Hertford in the end, but after CB's second accident it was probably best to stop.

I didn't expect it to be quite a boozy as it was, but I think that made it even more fun.

So thanks for coming, and I'll organise another one for later in the summer.

Carnage! doubleyoo tee eff happened?

I am wondering the same...

Carnage indeed! Can we have a post-ride synopsis. Looks like a really eventfull ride.

Well. first Babar got taken out by a 3 year old, who suddenly lunged in front of him, he tried to get out of the way, and ended up faceplanting.

Then CB went up a ramp, and ended up on his face, before having another accident, which I didn't see. Others will explain, I'm sure.

To be fair people had drunk a lot of alcohol, 2 bottles of whisky were drunk, along with lots of beer, which probably didn't help.

Babar's was pretty impressive, it's a tie between it and CB's final crash. CB just hit a bump next to a tree. Used his head to stop a couple of mtr's down the path. Pretty harsh. Thats when we called it, and got at train back to Liverpool St.

Took CB to Whitechapel, for the Royal London. Left him in A&E with a good friend who came to collect him.

im now home in bed bleeding over the sheets (from the elbow) the doc says head is fine:-) My camera and phone are both destroyed tho. Ill try up load pics. Kirth, how did you do it cause all i get are thumbnails.

Winston - i think a lot of us were stunned to see your rolla top, i know i was. You put a MASSIVE smile on my face but i may have been a bit late in acknowledging you cause of the shock. None of us meant it.

John, brilliant ride, not sure what happened on the last accident but many apologies.

THANK YOU to all. i realise i may have been a little dazed.

im eff'd again

CB, I uploaded to flickr then right clicked on the picture and hit view image. That's the URL I put into LFGSS for the two lovely shots above :)