FNRttC FNRttC Christmas Ride " Reach for the Stars' Monday 28th December 2015
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srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
Thank you to Inspector @akabob and deputy chief @mmmmartin for an entertaining outing. And to @rvw for waiting in for the plumber, whose coming was delayed until shortly before 3pm and who left a kinky pipe behind.
The temperature was remarkably fine for December - I rode most of the way round in a t-shirt and light (Christmas) jumper with the sleeves pushed up. But then I am quite well padded these days.
Our leaders had managed to time the ride almost to the minute, despite one puncture - if we hadn't had to enjoy a lecturette before we set off on the glories of the Wellington Arch we would have rolled into All Bar One on the dot of 2:59.
The route was a circuitous tour around London. HPC - Buck House - Traf Square - Regent Street - Great Portland Street - through the back streets of Bloomsbury along roads I've been riding for 20 years on a commute but still can't name - Chancery Lane - HOlborn Viaduct - St Pauls - across Blackfriars Bridge - Southwark Street - round the back via the fallen women's (alleged) cemetery to the Shard - across London Bridge - through Leadenhall Market - past the Gherkin - back doown Gracechurch Street - Eastcheap - walking around the Tower of London and finally across Tower Bridge. Stopping every so often at tall (ish) buildings of various architectural styles, mostly office blocks but including a prison, a memorial and a cathedral.
It was lovely to see so many there - 64 on the official list, so proably 70+ in total. Good to see old friends and acquaintances, as well as some new ones, with an age range of 2 to 72 and then some (I suspect). Here's to another year of the Fridays.
The temperature was remarkably fine for December - I rode most of the way round in a t-shirt and light (Christmas) jumper with the sleeves pushed up. But then I am quite well padded these days.
Our leaders had managed to time the ride almost to the minute, despite one puncture - if we hadn't had to enjoy a lecturette before we set off on the glories of the Wellington Arch we would have rolled into All Bar One on the dot of 2:59.
The route was a circuitous tour around London. HPC - Buck House - Traf Square - Regent Street - Great Portland Street - through the back streets of Bloomsbury along roads I've been riding for 20 years on a commute but still can't name - Chancery Lane - HOlborn Viaduct - St Pauls - across Blackfriars Bridge - Southwark Street - round the back via the fallen women's (alleged) cemetery to the Shard - across London Bridge - through Leadenhall Market - past the Gherkin - back doown Gracechurch Street - Eastcheap - walking around the Tower of London and finally across Tower Bridge. Stopping every so often at tall (ish) buildings of various architectural styles, mostly office blocks but including a prison, a memorial and a cathedral.
It was lovely to see so many there - 64 on the official list, so proably 70+ in total. Good to see old friends and acquaintances, as well as some new ones, with an age range of 2 to 72 and then some (I suspect). Here's to another year of the Fridays.
redfalo
known as Olaf in real life
- Location
- Brexit Boomtown
What a cracking ride! Thanks @AKA Bob and @mmmmartin for running the show, and thanks to everyone at the Fridays for a stunning year in the saddle. Here are some pics of today's adventures.
mmmmartin
Random geezer
that ride and company was really really enjoyable. it was a great day out.
a thank you email will go out to those on the mailing list in about a week, when today's riders not already on the list have had a chance to sign up. the email will thank those who joined us today and provide an update/reminder on lots of little adventures planned for the rest of the year.
next christmas we plan an introduction to night riding that starts at midnight at HPC and visits the Christmas lights of London - when there will be no traffic and the streets will be magical and empty - possibly including a halfway stop at an all-night curry house in Brick Lane (the real deal, not an English one). It is designed to be
a thank you email will go out to those on the mailing list in about a week, when today's riders not already on the list have had a chance to sign up. the email will thank those who joined us today and provide an update/reminder on lots of little adventures planned for the rest of the year.
next christmas we plan an introduction to night riding that starts at midnight at HPC and visits the Christmas lights of London - when there will be no traffic and the streets will be magical and empty - possibly including a halfway stop at an all-night curry house in Brick Lane (the real deal, not an English one). It is designed to be
- FUN - and you will be shocked - SHOCKED - I tell you, to hear there may be beer available.
- A first all-night ride with bail-out points and an early finish to get people over the hurdle of that first magical overnight experience. Yes, it's winter, but we can't find any Christmas Lights to look at in June.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Love the Brompton photo particularly, and can you tell me about the sculpture made of multiple bike frames?What a cracking ride! Thanks @AKA Bob and @mmmmartin for running the show, and thanks to everyone at the Fridays for a stunning year in the saddle. Here are some pics of today's adventures.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Thank you!
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
And it's outside the gherkin . And I had pics about 2 months ago and was going to post with a funny caption on New Year's Day .
Ride sounded amazing , pity I was at hackney empire watching the panto.
I am up for some Friday style riding this year as I have been so good boy and mrs sub says I can
kimble
Veteran
It's probably fair to say that Bromptons aren't cool any more. (There were a several of Bromptons absent from that photo, because those at the front had no idea it was going on.)
robjh
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire - almost Essex
Thanks @AKA Bob and @mmmmartin for a well thought-out and fun little tour. I now have a cricked neck from all that looking up (though some of the later bits were made easier as we were staring instead into holes where, Titus assured us, tall buildings will be built).
The Thames-side walkway at Shad Thames proved ideal for fixing punctures, and the repair job was obviously OK as it carried me 50 miles home at the end of the day.
A few pictorial reminders of our exploits :
The Thames-side walkway at Shad Thames proved ideal for fixing punctures, and the repair job was obviously OK as it carried me 50 miles home at the end of the day.
A few pictorial reminders of our exploits :
Christ. Brace yourselves for a verdigris edition.
robjh
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire - almost Essex
yebbut..the bugger's going down again this morning. I had a suspicion at the time that the piece of grit I removed wasn't in quite the same place as the puncture in the tube. So back to the drawing board, and, I think, a new tyre for the new year.
