Critical mass, London

hamboman

Anyone going next Friday? I'm thinking of going for the first time. What's it like? Many people?

Porgy

It's good - been a few times

Lots of people 8)

hamboman

how about in the winter - is it dead?
cheers dude

Porgy

hamboman wrote:

how about in the winter - is it dead?
cheers dude

Not in my experience - especially with the weather we've been having this week - reckon there'll be a fair few people - wouldn't like to put a figure on it though.

I might be there myself next week.

hamboman

nice one, might see you there - I ride a 1984 Raleigh Record Sprint in black and gold. You can't miss it, it's so retro it makes me want to wear flairs

Chewy Cheeks

Flares in 1984...... No No No - in the middle of The Smiths era, national health glasses, checked shirts. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Forest Fire, great times.

Wearing flares before 87 would be toooo much.

Gambatte

Did a google search for CM in Sheffield.

Found a site with some piccies.

8 riders, and 2 of them were the police cyclists 'escorting'.

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Random Vince

hamboman wrote:

nice one, might see you there - I ride a 1984 Raleigh Record Sprint in black and gold. You can't miss it, it's so retro it makes me want to wear flairs

tis same age as me then!

you can't wear flares for the 80's, you'd need to be on my 60's carlton for that!

Totalnewbie

I think I might have seen you hamboman, or someone with a bike just like you. If you use the Hyde Park path that is. Either way it's a very nice bike!

ChrisLS

...don't go hamboman, CM is just a bunch of hippies and hangers-on on a wind up...don't waste yer time...they give a very bad image for cycling...

prj45

ChrisLS wrote:

...don't go hamboman, CM is just a bunch of hippies and hangers-on on a wind up...don't waste yer time...they give a very bad image for cycling...

I did join the ride once, for about five minutes, I left when people started shouting at cars and holding their bikes up in the middle of junctions, this was a while ago, don't know if people are so militant now..

The best thing I saw was a young girl with a shopper, complete with basket and sign attached to it saying "Stop pollution!" ... SMOKING A F*****G CIGARETTE!

graham_g

ChrisLS wrote:

...don't go hamboman, CM is just a bunch of hippies and hangers-on on a wind up...don't waste yer time...they give a very bad image for cycling...

I went to one in Birmingham once. As above, just antagonistic and pointless.

mrchrispy

did a few in Newcastle years ago but the dogs on a string kept getting in the way.
too many hippys just wanting to cause trouble, doesn't really help our cause.

hamboman

Hmm, might give it a miss then - thought it was an organised ride where you could see lots of the city traffic free

TotalNewbie - Yup, I ride through Rotten Row at the bottom of Hyde Park before cutting through to Brompton Road(Street?)

prj45

hamboman wrote:

Hmm, might give it a miss then - thought it was an organised ride where you could see lots of the city traffic free

That's the Hovis Freewheel: -

http://www.londonfreewheel.com/

hamboman

Yeah, couldn't go last year

pst88

Was thinking about going to the Birmingham one next month. I might as well give it a go as the start point is (almost) on my way home from work anyway. I can always ride off if I get annoyed/bored. Of course there is the risk they'll all follow me back to my house.

andrewc3142

Don't be put off until you've tried CM. All types turn up, me included. There's always a few plonkers, but that's true of anything, really. I think they're great fun. If you don't like it, there's no obligation to finish but you won't know unless you've tried, will you?

Also went to the Hovis Freewheel in the summer (with my eldest, 8, on the tandem). Also good fun, in a more organised kind of way.

snakehips

I would say go and make up your own mind about it. Undoubtedly different people go for different reasons, just like anything else really.
I have been on one , late last Summer , and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was a balmy evening with a large turn out. Most people seemed to be there just to enjoy themselves , and I think they did.
Several riders were carrying/towing sound systems which added to the enjoyment of the cyclists and observers.
I only saw one incident , one guy was having an argument with a taxi driver, but that doesn't necessarily mean the cyclist was the one who provoked the incident!
With regard to lifting your bike above your head , that could just be part of your 'celebration of cycling'. It's a way of saying 'I'm so happy with my chosen method of transport I want to show it to the world'.

Why not 'suck it and see' what you think of it

Snake

Totalnewbie

In that case sounds like it was you hamboman. I'm on a dark grey Spesh Globe with hub gears, but won't be commuting on the bike for about a month due to coming off and fracturing my elbow last week. Harrumph.

hamboman

owch, bad luck