Off to Mass

No not that one, the Critical Mass monthly bike ride in London. We had been looking forward to this as we had missed the February ride and I seemed to be getting withdrawal symptoms. Cycling really is my drug of choice these days.

So a recap of the day, I was out of work at 2pm and back indoors by 2.30pm. The mission was quite simple, get a quorn balti curry cooked before we set off to London. This all went well and as we left the house at 5pm the curry was in a cast iron casserole pot, you know one of those French ones, ready for our return later in the evening.

So we are at the station, waiting for a train into Fenchurch St Station, when I notice a poster on the wall giving info about taking bikes on trains. Only at certain times, and tandems will not be carried. Getting around this country using anything other than 'normal' transport modes is a nightmare. Anyhow I am going off subject here and into a topic I am sure to cover in the future.

Well we managed to get the fast train into London, and made it into capital in good time as we wheeled our iron steeds from the station and onto the street. It was raining lightly, with the temperature dropping. Not a nearly a spring evening, to me anyway.

So we are on route to the National Film Theatre, under Waterloo Bridge on the South bank. This involves us following the Embankment up to Westminster Bridge, over to the other side and a short distance back along the river to the theatre. The first time I rode in London I have to admit I was scared. Its busy and seems totally chaotic. But once you get used to the volume of traffic its not as bad as you might think. But you do have to take care.

It seemed a relatively small turn out for the first BST mass. Maybe the rain and general cold weather put a few off, plus the National Beer Festival was on as well, which may have explained a few missing faces. But still by my counting approx 300 cyclists there, with 30 or so cycling Police to escort the ride.

There has been a number of cycling fatalities in London this month, and word went round the mass would be visiting two of the sites that evening. Its strange because there is no defined route for the ride, but to pay respects for a fallen cyclist is very emotional and something that brings home the real dangers of cycling.

The ride made its way up to Kings Cross and took a long pause on the Pentonville Road at the site of the fatality. I would like to add here the Police where brilliant. Despite the ride blocking a junction for nearly ten minutes they did not try to move the ride on. Maybe because they are on bikes as well gives us common ground. Whatever the reason it was a nice show from them, and emotional moment from me.

Prior to this ride had also visited Russel Square, I think, also the site of another fatality.

Eventually the ride made its way down Oxford St and Regents St and onto Traffalgar Sq, at which time we peeled off and headed back to Tower Hill and the train home.

Overall a good ride, no trouble from taxi/irate motorists, with the Police being good company for the ride, as the normally are.

When we made it home at around 10.30pm the oven was on, rice re-steamed, and twenty minutes later we tucked into a delicious Balti (curry, a Friday tradition in the UK) with chapati bread, mmmmm.

Fixed Wheel Good

In the thirty years of cycling I have always found myself shying away from the fixed gear bike. To much like hard work I would convince myself.

Then last year I came across a Steve Goff Prodigy for sale in Scotland. Thank you for the Internet. It was the right price, right size and the right time in my life. After some consultation with my partner I bought it.

I made a few changes to the bike once it got to me, the first being to change the chainset and more recently a new chain, 16 tooth sprocket and bar tape.

Now some six months later where is the hard work I had feared. These bikes really are a buzz to ride. After the initial fixie moments, stopping peddling then realising you have to pedal, not being able to get foot out of pedal at traffic lights etc, I was and still am truly hooked.

Sorry if this has begun to sound like some sort of tekkie cycling site. It was never meant to be this way, honestly.

Take care
Pen

So whats it about

Well here’s me, a forty something just not happy with what I am seeing in the world today. Of coarse its impossible to change these things, we all know that, so what can you do.

I can have a seethe about my day to day feelings on here and try to express my feelings for the day.

So what are my likes?

Cycling takes first precedent here. Many times I threatened to put the bike away but I always come back to it. As I have gotten older I realise now it has quite possibly saved me from total self destruction. Remember the book ‘the loneliness of the long distance runner’
How many times have I got out onto the quieter roads around Essex and been able to think things through. When I have been fit I have been able to spin the peddles for four or five hours, and when I am not so, one to two hours.

The older I have got the more it has fitted in with my life. I now find a car parked in the street for most of the time, my bikes being used for more and more tasks. Commuting to work, to the supermarket etc. It’s a sheer joy some mornings to roll into the car park at work and see the frustrated drivers battling for spaces.

So this is going to an attempt by me to share a bit of my life with you. I cant say for sure its going to interesting, but one thing it will be as honest as I can make it. So sit up and enjoy the ride.

Cheers
Pen