Timebends #1 - June 9th - London Nightrider

I'm switching back to missing posts from earlier in the year.

#1. London Nightrider - 100km Ride (for the National Autistic Society)


The  idea of cycling around London in a big circle through the early hours of a Sunday morning was really appealing. I have always loved cycling at night and this just seemed like one of those cycling events that had to be done.


Some areas of London such as the approaches to Alexandra Palace and lanes around Hampstead were quiet at 4am but many places we rode through proved that London never sleeps. If folk weren't spilling out of late night lock-ins they were queueing to get into clubs. Plenty of entertainment on offer as inebriated young women staggered and slipped on big heels and young lads too tanked up to take offence cheered us on!

Start - Crystal Palace 

I couldn't find my Charity's tent at all at the starting point in Crystal Palace so I just got ready to depart at the allotted time of 00.30.

Not far out we crossed Blackheath. Against the darker open space a lit up All Saints church looked eerie at one in the morning.

Tower Bridge

The whole event was notable for a real sense of camaraderie between hundreds of participating riders.
At the time we stopped for the first drinks station near Tower Bridge you could taste the sense of a shared passion, Here I got talking to two Irish girls who were doing the whole ride on an ageing steel framed Tandem. Bless!

Though my friend Ruth and I started at different time slots (different charities) we did eventually catch up with each other at Ally Pally and, the other start and finish point for those riding from North London.

The view East and South showed that dawn was about to break.

Looking east from Alexandra Palace

Leaving Ally Pally with the coming daylight

After a five minute stop to re-fuel and take some pics I was off towards Highgate and Hampstead.


















A couple of tough climbs then past Spaniards Inn, a pub I cycled to last Summer with the GMV boys









Coming down past Regent's Park and into the West End early on a Sunday morning seemed really strange but most areas were still busier. The exception was Covent Garden where nothing stirred but Nightriders!

We wheeled around various parts of central London as the day got under way. Highlights here were the various bridge crossings: Southwark, Westminster and Battersea bridges.

Seat of Power

London Eye 

Streatham - nearly there.

Ruth & I - back at Crystal Palace......time for breakfast and the drive home

Tourist dodging, Nordic sounds and a Cyclist's Cafe

Chiswick to Barbican and back for an evening concert of Sibelius. 
19.22 Miles. 9th December 2012 

After following the Thames path up to Hammersmith Bridge, the spin around four lanes of traffic on Hammersmith Broadway is not or the faint hearted! High Street Kensington also presents a few challenges on a Sunday in December: Tourists, Shoppers, Buses and Taxi's are all over the place. Getting into Hyde Park and later moving down the Mall provided a more relaxed ride though the approach to the Palace was rammed with tourists many of whom wandered aimlessly into my path. Obliged to do a good deal of Bell ringing!

Did the tourist bit myself at St Paul's. I used to work near here with this in view everyday so it's kind of special to me.

Rode up to Old Street and stopped for a Mocha at the 'Look Mum No Hands' cafe which was buzzing, Interesting mix of people here and some cool bike stuff on sale too.

It's not big but it's a bit clever. 

Re-fuel Hub 

Beers & Gears

Transport upgrade - Goodbye to the grey & the blue.........Hi ho Silver, away!

Reckon my 1993 Dawes Discovery Hybrid was the best £75 I ever spent. True, I  had spent a bit more updating and improving her since acquiring the bike second hand 2 years ago. With some tender loving care, some servicing and 2 replacement chains, cassettes and rear mech this bike served me well on commuting miles and for teaching purposes in schools. Most nnotably it gave me total reliability and doing several trips to and from London (c40 miles each way).

Luckily she has gone to a friend who will provide a good home! I have agreed to provide ongoing repairs, cleaning and servicing when needed.

The new Dawes Horizon Plus provides a sturdy replacement that will in addition allow longer cycling tours.



Outgoing




Incoming



Upton Grey Kinda Guys

Ride around Odiham, Greywell, Upton Grey, Herriard, Lasham, Golden Pot, Froyle, Long Sutton, Well & Crondall   27th October 2012
31.7 miles

Favoured local lanes often take me through the picturesque village of Upton Grey, south of Odiham, but if their Guy Fawkes competition is an annual event I obviously missed previous efforts. This year's Guy offerings are very eye-catching!



Guy that looked a bit like Nicola Roberts....



Just a regular Guy



Spy Guy - in 'The Guy who Loved Me' (ouch!)

The Guy in the Striped Pyjamas

Guy Dog!

The Silent months....

I have shamefully neglected posting here through the Summer and Autumn this year. I didn't stop cycling....honest!!
So I've got some catching up to do! There will be some retrospective posts to come which will look back to other events and rides that I did but was just too busy (or lazy!) to post.
Suffice to say I'm still out there.

Apologies and note to self. Must try harder!

Liphook Classic - Ride it Sportive - 22nd July 2012

My first Sportive.

I thought I could do hill climbs but  today's 90 miles over and around some of the South Downs threw up some crunching hills. Ouch. Feeling somewhat humbled. Beautiful countryside!

Says it all - didn't do it for me!!



Start - Bohunt School, Liphook



Downs looming -  oh no!



Forest Ride








Counter total



Sussex Summer view



London Reunion Ride - June 2nd 2012 : Train to Surbiton then a ride up to Primrose Hill via West London & The West End - return ride all the way back via Twickenham, Hampton Court, Walton, Weybridge, Frimley etc 

71 Miles total 

Reunion with a group of old colleagues. Have done the ride to and from London to Hampshire a few times now but it's always a bit of a daunting prospect. Getting around the busier parts of London is always a challenge. Lot's a Union Jacks on show a day ahead of the Royal Pageant.

Also surprised at the huge numbers of people using 'Boris Bikes', especially in Hyde Park.

Relaxed setting in the garden of the Albert, Primrose Hill.

Phone Pics only so not 'scenic' pics but you get the idea.

Old Trusty takes the Train



                                       

                                                     No Through Road - Red Wall in Oxford Street

                                                       





Return to Marble Arch - Red wall 2





Kindred Spirit - Rickshaw being 'squeezed' at the lights