2011-12-17 - London Lights #4

Nice photos by the way

I had an excellant time yesterday. Thanks all for indulging me in the vagueries of the route and for being good enough riders to take-on the hill; pace changes and the traffic conditions with aplomb.

Thanks for the photos, Oli. I really couldn't be bothered to remove gloves to take snaps.

Favourite moments 'Get your Tron-on!' Having those Gaucho bar habitues come out with all the Tron-references unbidden and Oli, Pete and Steve playing bikes like kids in the Ikea ball-room.

Finding out that Middleofnowhere actually *is *into Strictly Ballroom.

If we actually do plan to storm a guarded embassy on Kensington Palace Gardens, Stonehedge will be the first to get insulation tape across the mouth!

least favourite moment: When Twinkle Park lost all its sparkle because the slimy,fecking decking decked Steve and I. (me twice!).

Dan I've put in an order for those Delorean Back-to the Future decals.*

*which Fox's grandfather, who is one and the same as Fox, can apply for you... in 1966.

That was great, I loved the little alleys and lanes, the twistiness of it all, the bits where a random pedestrian would be walking along a deserted path on a sometimes cold and wet Saturday night to be greeted by a group of cyclists determinedly but politely following their route off into the darkness. That woman in Kensington was funny:
I don't think you're really meant to cycle here
(John) Don't worry, we're off now

Lol. Quite often it felt like the roads were put there solely for our entertainment, especially on the quieter bits. I think we were pretty lucky with the weather, it was a nice clear night after the rain went.

Well done for getting some photos Oli, I forgot my camera but will make sure I bring it next year. Hopefully there are some more to come, I think I saw a few camera phones out?

I think the best thing was that when I asked everybody how far we had cycled at the end, estimates ranged from 20-60mi!

I still have no idea where we went.

The first bit was 20 miles - Ludwig was garminating and said. I think the post-LMNH bit you did was about 25. So I reckon those of us who did the whole thing probably did 45-50 all together, although Ludwig will hopefully post up the whole route to confirm.

It's not about the miles though, obviously ;)

I loved all the little pathways and back alleys we took, turning round dark corners, never knowing what to expect on the other side...

Such as giant, vicious dogs. That was a surprise...

"Do a Tron!"

Lol. In the film I believe the protagonist, Keith Flynn, is transported into the digital world, which has been taken over by the 'Master Control Program'. He then teams up with Tron to defeat the Master Control Program. I think this battle is what the burghers of Goucho wanted us to recreate :)

I think Dan was doing an impression of that Lilt advert - 'Arrest me officer, I've been drinking!'

I should explain that this

*which Fox's grandfather, who is one and the same as Fox, can apply for you... in 1966.

was a Futurama reference! Given the opportunity of time travel, Fry misuses it horribly, killing his grandfather and sleeping with his grandmother, thereby becoming his own grandfather...

^

Ha! he's the one to blame. Decking's just hotels for rats, I tell 'ya.

...Such as giant, vicious dogs. That was a surprise...

The Cerberus of Point Hill. /attachments/47136

1 Attachment

Pete: [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_paradox[/ame]

It was good to see you lot at Holborn.

Was just about to post on Spotted.

Always nice to get a cheery DAS from a tfl van!

It was good to see you lot at Holborn.

Ha Ha!
Whilst the first group was on the road, the folks at Look Mum were tracking (Oli?) on Layar. So I was tickled that when the combined group set out, it took only 200m before Dan and Steve lost us and headed instead for Holborn.

Hey...not our fault that somebody decided to drop my bike and lose my lights just as you rode off!

Not naming any names. http://www.lfgss.com/member16373.html

oli would've repped if i could for the photos and write up. that tron plaza by Gaucho is awesome, i've never seen it.

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/135035273[/ame]

Well done for capturing that Jim. The stats that mattered most, of course, were average temperature 2.3 degrees, minimum -1 degree :)

yay pics! and crazy route map...

the square with the lit up grid is just north of liverpool st station isn't it? did they have the skating on in broadgate circle?

don't know about the skating, the @lit up grid' is usualy nicknamed Tron Square though

I used to walk through it on the way to work but it isn't just blue - isn't it green too?

i've only ever seen blue. maybe it changes with the temperature like the arch at peckham square?

Yes next to Liverpool Street station. The colours do change, I can't remember all of them but blue, green and orange definitely featured. The colour changing makes it even more fun to ride around. We got quite a decent stint before the security guard turned up.

Think I saw y'all roll past Tayyeb's in Whitechapel, unless there was another London Lights ride happening at exactly the same time!!

Tron square looks amazing.

oli would've repped if i could for the photos and write up. that tron plaza by Gaucho is awesome, i've never seen it.

That was my local Gaucho. sobs
I worked in the funny little cyclinder building that overlooks "Tron Plaza".

I used to walk through it on the way to work but it isn't just blue - isn't it green too?

It changes colours.

Finding out that Middleofnowhere actually *is *into Strictly Ballroom.

Is it too late to say I was joking? Ah what the hell, I'm comfortable with who I am, I feel no shame, I can admit to this...

My name is middleofnowhere and I like Strictly Come Dancing.

You seemed pretty sincere when you told us mate. I'm finding it pretty easy to believe you.

Nice to meet you by the way mate.