London Skyride

DonDaddyD

Who went, what time, who did you see and what did you think of it?

I went, left Wimbledon about 11am. Initially I was dissapointed that there was no hub at Clapham Common. I made my way to Hyde Park somehow lost my bearings and followed Skyride signs that lead me to Hammersmith, Sheppards Bush heading towards Acton...

Made my way back went into that park where Soapbox corner is, went completely the other way round and got lost again. I really really needed a Skyride starts here banner and the fact that I thought the Millbank leads onto the Embankment doesn't bode well for a possible new commute to Chancery Lane.

Anyway it was about 1pm when I finally got to Skyride... loads of people, kids - why must they swerve? Personally I thought the left at the tunnel that takes you through the city was needless and caused many a bottleneck as there was a crossing at the top of the road and the road narrowed far too much for the large numbers.

Later on around 2pm I met up with some friends and the ride thinned out and I enjoyed the route a lot more. Enjoyed it about the same as last year...

Crash on Tower Hill, looked nasty.
Chapeau to the kid on the uni-cycle
Chapeau to the kid (had to be about 5yrs old) who rode into a curb went over the handlebars hit the pavement head first and got back up and continued riding in less time it took to crash. Nails!

My photos are 1.45, 2.00 and 3.02 or something.

stuaff

I bailed about the same time you got there. For the second year in a row, had to take the train via Winchester/Basingstoke (engineering work on the more direct line), made it onto the course just before 10. It wasn't too bad at first, I got to hammer a bit in a few places (glad I brought the Viner for that!), but even by 11 it was getting really congested. They really should have stuck with last year's route IMHO, there were so many bottlenecks this year. I was spending a lot of time with a foot down or freewheeling....I just wasn't enjoying it, and hence decided to head home. Even the freebies sucked...But I'm glad so many others had a good time. Now if some of them could learn to ride properly and get decent bikes......;)
If I'd known it was going to thin out so quickly I might have stayed on a little longer...might have scalped you and Karen DDD No, probably not......

londonlivvy

I went with friends (set off 1.15ish) and thoroughly enjoyed the day. I agree with the above that there were too many people, too complicated /twisted a route for the actual cycling to be much fun.

BUT there was much fun to be had in spotting bling / comedy bikes and comedy riders and we laughed a lot. High fives to :
- the teenager on the BMX with no front wheel. He wheelied his way round
- the dude on the bike piano
- the Quadrem (is that the word?)
- the shiny shiny lovely cervelo
- the dude with the gold mudguards on an MTB.

we then drank much beer in the sun. A fun day...

ScoTTyBEEE

Arrived at the start around 10 with my family, friends and children. Watched the BMX and freeride shows, then headed around the route. Much freewheeling but didn't see an issue with this as it was a relaxing day for people to just take their time and chill with. I did feel that riders who wanted to get a move on were in the wrong place for this, it was a chilled out event aimed at families.

A good day enjoyed by all. Witnessed a few offs and heard of a crash where somebody toppled over with a child in a child seat on the back. Not good but there were lots of medical professionals about for such incidents.

I wish they could make it a more regular occurance, but I guess numbers would dwindle if this were the case.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Dup post.

greg66_tri_v2.0

I managed to trick the mini 66s into a ride, which took us down to the river, and then all the way in. Girls were probably most impressed with the pelicans in St James's Park,and had to be bribed with the promise of ice cream in Battersea Park on the way home. But well worth it, and also managed to get them some chaperoned road riding time in light traffic (eg Pt Sq - big stuff!).

Felt a little overdressed on a just-scrubbed Bike 1...

missmarple

Went as event staff marshalling the ride from Bromley South Station to Skyride Center, must admit those swerving kids drive me up the wall. I felt slightly out of place too on my DH FS. But then again I did see a fat old man riding a Trek EX 8 (brand new with stickers on the hubs) in what I can only describe as a "poor effort" - All the gear no idea springs to mind.

I got my free entry to the cycle show though, bit of a bonus - and the anodized blue wheelset I fitted certainly grabbed alot of attention from passers-by!

Another plus, managed to squeeze out and rattle down embankment (sus linkage needed tightening) and get a McDonalds at Victoria before heading back to St James's Park. :P

ScoTTyBEEE

Well done Miss Marple! Quick question. A couple of us were trying to work out if the event had a large cost associated to it. Do you know if most of the marshalls were volunteers? Also how was it arranged. were you asked through a club? Thanks.

sicknote

I went today.

Started from Wood green civc centre at about 10am and got roped in to being one of the event staff marshalls but was happy to have and got the free ticket too plus free food

I enjoyed it and will be taking my son next year but would have liked to have got there a little quicker as some of them where very slow plus some of the kids that mothers took should not have been there, like one girl that still had stabilizers on her bike :shock:

That did not last long as the girl had a wobbly and her mum, I think was going to take her home, good idea.

It did give my the chance to ride a bit quicker to catch up with the rest.

Mr_Cellophane

ScoTTyBEEE wrote:

Well done Miss Marple! Quick question. A couple of us were trying to work out if the event had a large cost associated to it. Do you know if most of the marshals were volunteers? Also how was it arranged. were you asked through a club? Thanks.

Anyone could volunteer though the Skyride site. I think some of the "static" marshals were the Mayor's staff. No one got paid, we did it for the love (and free lunch )

the boy who crashed outside Billingsgate at about 14:00 was quite badly hurt - lots of blood and stuff The was on a racing bike and either hit a pot hole or manhole and hit his head when he went down (3rd hand report from one of the girls on the crossing)

DonDaddyD wrote:

kids - why must they swerve?

The kids swerving I can take - we all had to learn. I had some stupid woman swing 90 degrees across the road in front of me, just because she had drifted away from her bloke. I had a few choice words with her. :roll:

stuaff

ScoTTyBEEE wrote:

Much freewheeling but didn't see an issue with this as it was a relaxing day for people to just take their time and chill with. I did feel that riders who wanted to get a move on were in the wrong place for this, it was a chilled out event aimed at families.

Wouldn't argue with that- but at times it was hard to move, let alone get a move on! I know I would have had to get there really early to have a fast lap- I don't mind pootling, it was all the stopping that got on my nerves. I think last year's route was better simply because it seemed to allow the traffic to flow (much) better, only one or two choke points. And the crossing points seemed to work better last year too...

missmarple

ScoTTyBEEE wrote:

Well done Miss Marple! Quick question. A couple of us were trying to work out if the event had a large cost associated to it. Do you know if most of the marshalls were volunteers? Also how was it arranged. were you asked through a club? Thanks.

Yes it was all voluntary, after all I needed to test out the bike along Embankment 8) . You can register with the website to be a marshal, attend a briefing at city hall etc. I came across it as I am very good friends with around 5-6 London Cycling Campaign Members - 2 of whom were leading the rides local to me.

DonDaddyD

Mr_Cellophane wrote:

the boy who crashed outside Billingsgate at about 14:00 was quite badly hurt - lots of blood and stuff The was on a racing bike and either hit a pot hole or manhole and hit his head when he went down (3rd hand report from one of the girls on the crossing)

That's the aftermath of the crash I saw, looked bad can't say I remember a pot hole or man hole - enough to cause that kind of accident on its own - along that road.

deptfordmarmoset

I got there just after midday and I have never ever seen so many bikes in my entire life! I found it much less nerve-racking on the way home. I guess I'm a sociable loner when I'm on a bike.... but a good day out and beautiful weather. I've bunged a quick blog online: http://deptfordmarmoset.blogspot.com/. Are any of you in it?

Big Wib

I looked out for everyone but didn't see you. I was wearing a yellow high-viz if that helps

My son & I are glad we did it but won't be doing it again next year. Arrived about 12 after a slow guided ride in from Edmonton - via Olympic Park! The run up to St James Park was OK the first time, but the full circuit after lunch was maddeningly slow, can't complain too much about kids swerving as mine was one of them - although not as bad as some and the adults were worse.

Was a bit of a fierce intro to riding in a bunch for the lad......

Dave-M

I really enjoyed it, it was a bit slow but I knew that in advance.

Did anyone see the planes fly over around 12.30? A spitfire and a modern fighter jet?

I got the crapiest pic ever....

Mr_Cellophane

Dave-M wrote:

I really enjoyed it, it was a bit slow but I knew that in advance.

Did anyone see the planes fly over around 12.30? A spitfire and a modern fighter jet?

I got the crapiest pic ever....

Just saw it out of the corner of my eye. They had probably been/going to somewhere else.

deptfordmarmoset

The circuit itself wasn't too bad for kids, I didn't think, but the journey in for me (Deptford, SE London) was an incredibly bad introduction to road cycling for kids - through red lights, cars trying to pull out into the constant stream of traffic ( bikes for once a year for about 2 minutes - get a grip, motorists!), swearing cabbies, the whole she-bang.

rubbercolin

meh

it was a slow ride ... great to see the kids out , but boy do they swerve....

BTW -- DonDaddyD

were you wearing a black/red top on a khouta ?

clocked you in vauxhall? I think?

D

DonDaddyD

rubbercolin wrote:

meh

it was a slow ride ... great to see the kids out , but boy do they swerve....

BTW -- DonDaddyD

were you wearing a black/red top on a khouta ?

clocked you in vauxhall? I think?

D

Mostly red top on a Kuota yes, with a bag on my wrist heading home.. or no bag heading in. Yes it was probably me.

A lot of people notice me on my bike...I better start being nice online...

d.n.f

Went with the boy (4) and had a great day, tis all about the kids and having a pootle where you can't normally take em, averaged about 6mph round the whole loop.

He maxed at 17mph on upper thames which he was well chuffed with, then let go of his ballon and got all upset!

he wants to go back next year so ill be there again too.

Bassjunkieuk

Just posted about this on the RIde Reports thread but I'll stick a bit in here to.
I took the train up with the eldest and go there around 10:30ish. Knowing that the course gets manic busy we set off for our first (and only) lap which took just under an hour to complete. I did have to have a few words with her about trying to avoid swerving around and we got around fairly cleanly. Almost had one incident where an older bloke come through and brushed a younger boy ahead of us that caused him to wobble and initiated a fantastic emergency stop on the mini-BJUK's part! Most annoying part was that the gent who brushed the lad didn't even seem to realize.....

Enjoyed pointing out the various landmarks around town and I can't believe no-one's mentioned the distraction up near Tower Hill.....unfortunately we just missed them making pyramids :-(
I'd have to agree with some previous comments that the extension before BF did seem a bit pointless and was mysteriously quiet compared to the Embankment.....also the marshal stops didn't seem to work so well and the actual marshals with the signs where a bit less then visible, usually just standing at the side of the road with the sign up rather then mid-road like last year which was a lot easier to spot - did witness an amusing incident when the chap with the bell on Upper Thames Street yelled (Brian Blessed stylee) at a couple of blokes who ignored/didn't see the stop signs.

The main hub area was stupid busy but I think we did get to see the MTB trials demo, including an amusing incident where the chap jumped off the platform and made mini-BJUK jump back as his front tyre ended up a few inches from her face, the look of surprise was priceless!!

Also managed to sport Chris Hoy and BoJo in the VIP area :-)

itboffin

Greg66 wrote:

Senior moment

fixed that for you

prj45

It is all for the kids really, great to see the little ones wobbling in, I clocked 35 miles over the whole day, that's quite a journey for sombody on wheels the size of dinner plates but they all loved it, didn't see one complaining.

Have to say I enjoyed the ride in and home more than riding round the actual car free circuit, only two car drivers were knobs through the entire journey.

Very busy this year, 80,000 people was it?

Sure there were some log jams, but can you imagine if it was 80,000 people in cars?

mcmullej

Cycled in from St Albans. The Edgeware Rd is nasty even at 8am on a sunday morning. Lights, potholes, stoopid agressive drivers etc.

Got there early. Did a few laps before it officially began. They were lots of fun. Empty roads - just like PGR4. Managed 50kph from a standing start through BF tunnel with the music blaring.

Started to get busy around 10. But 'twas very cool to see all these bikes, all the kids - and then the sun came out.

Met up with family. Had lunch. Saw pelicans and fighter jets. Saw a guy cycling a piano.

Edgeware road on the way home was no fun at all. Can only imagine what it's like during the week.

All in all - a great day out.

Wore my bib this morning.

Dave-M

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I can't believe no-one's mentioned the distraction up near Tower Hill.....unfortunately we just missed them making pyramids :-(

I've got pics....

Clever Pun

Missed this, bit annoyed but the back of my house has been painted, so at least I did something... :?:

davidmarsden

I had a great me and the mrs. It was fantastic to see so many people cycling.
I thought the kids were great: pure Enthusiasm.

It would be great to see a fraction of the turnout on the roads on a regular basis.

I cannot get my photos at the moment went through Trafalgar Square at 13.56 but the search is returning no results.. gutted

clanton

We were there with a group of friends, cycled in from home so just under 50 miles for the day. Really enjoyed it actually despite the stop/start nature at times. Saw a number of wierd types and wierd bikes which added to the fun. Must say though I'm glad I don't commute to London on the A24!

Porgy

I didn't go - I don;t enjoy crowds too much. But get into work this morning (10am) and there are more bikes chained up round Holborn than I have ever seen before - many stands treble or quadruple parked and every tree and signpost used up - took me a while before I found somewhere to put the bike. It'll be interesting to see if this increase lasts or disappear as soon as we get the next bad weather.

One comment - if the Mayor intends to encourage cyclists like this on an annual basis then can we have more parking spaces please? That'll be the next limiting factor for commuting cyclists.

il_principe

I didn't go this year - couldn't be arsed with a pootle fest as the GF had backed out. Watched both derbies on the telly instead :oops: