LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE TM
& SUNDAY STROLL TM

From: Week on Wheels <wow /at/ lfns.co.uk>
Subject: [wow] Words on Wheels: Insert Bad Pun Here
Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 17:33:20 +0100

This Week, on Wheels

* This week: LFNS East, Stroll South
* Last week: A mysterical magic tour / we went to the Tower and came
   back with our heads
* Critical Alas: the current situation and rules of the road reminder
* New lighting in Hyde Park
* Incident with black cab: appeal for witnesses
* Boring legal bit


== THIS WEEK ==

"Just wanted to say a BIG thanx for all the hard work that clearly
goes into organising the Sunday Skate. It was my first one yesterday
and I'm so pleased to not only have got round but I actually really
enjoyed myself too! See you next Sunday". Thanks for the feedback
Kirsti, see you on Sunday!

After a few months off, George is back leading this week's SUNDAY
STROLL. Some 5 years ago, George grew tired of leading Sunday
Strollers round and round Hyde Park and made a break for freedom. That
first route went meandering around the mean streets of Westminster.

He's been using his time off productively, looking around for smooth
skating surfaces and staying in low-traffic areas. It's a 9.7 mile
route - slightly longer than usual, but we should be encountering less
traffic out there, so it should be a smoother ride. Half time on the
south-side of South Kensington Station.

                            http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070527

The LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE is going where we hope Critical Mass
aren't: Dan takes us up through Fitzrovia and Grays Inn and down the
City Road, where there are more nice bits of surface than Government
buildings. Half time is in the London Wall area, then it's south of
the river for a fast run along the river bank, and back through
Belgravia. This is not a protest! Anyone shouting bad words at car
drivers will be asked to stand in the middle of the road and wave the
Firebrox above his head.

                            http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070525

Tonight, our friends at the LondonSkate will be taking us on a route
entitled "Bridging London". Twice postponed due to inclement
atmospheric conditions, they'll be chomping at the bit to get out into
the balmy air this evening. The skaters meet by the bandstand on
Serpentine Road, 7:30pm for an 8pm start.

            http://www.serpentineroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25025


== LAST WEEK ==

On Friday, it was Edd's turn to lead us on another of his themed
skates. Some of you will remember the 'Jack the Ripper' skate from
last year. This time, it was a lighter subject with a trail that took
us round here, there and everywhere connected with the Beatles on his
Magical Mystery Tour LFNS.

Despite threatening clouds and random showers round London, Edd held
his nerve and, pointing at a patch of blue, declared, 'Here comes the
sun.' Edd's enthusiasm meant that a small but determined crowd was
able to come together. The weather had kept the bike off the road but,
in spite of all the danger of rain, it stayed dry and we got by with a
little help from our friends.

Some people ask me why we do it. I guess the only possible answer is,
'Because.' It was a long and winding road but all things must pass and
we got back soon after ten. Now all I've got to do is stop before I
run out of titles. Good night. (Did you get them all?)

On last week's SUNDAY STROLL, 270 people set off on a wonderfully
sunny Sunday afternoon for a rather longer than usual jaunt To the
Tower (and then back again). The eleven-mile trip meant that people
at the back had to skate a little faster than usual and we had a few
dropouts. Sorry, guys! Please try again next week, when we'll be that
little bit shorter. To those who finished, well done! It was a lovely
afternoon.


== CRITICAL MASS ==

The High Court has ruled that the monthly Critical Mass cycle rides
are unlawful. It's potentially bad news for us because the last time
Critical Mass was before the courts, the skate came in for rather more
police attention than we were used to.

This Friday will see the first Critical Mass since the decision. The
police may well decide to focus some of their attention on us. So, a
timely reminder of the key rules of the skates:

1. Follow instructions of the marshals, promptly and safely.

2. Keep left please! Marshals like to avoid being run over too, so
please leave room to pass without forcing us over the white line. That
means skating to the left of the line, not along it. Our life
insurance companies thank you for your consideration.

3. Stay behind the Lead Marshal at all times, ESPECIALLY when the
   skate stops at junctions.

4. DO NOT skate on the pavements. Pedestrians can emerge unexpectedly.

5. If you see trouble brewing en route, leave it to us to handle. We
appreciate your support, but adding more people to an incident makes
it more confrontational, not less, and it's better to let marshals
defuse things. If you really want to help us out, email
recruitment@lfns.co.uk and volunteer your services as a marshal.

6. Have fun and stay safe.


== ILLUMINATING FACTS ==

Night skaters among you will be aware how badly lit the Broad Walk is
(that's the path which borders the eastern side of Hyde Park, parallel
to Park Lane). Rumours are that the street lamps work in reverse and
actually suck light out of the universe.

In an exclusive report from Bren, our correspondent of all things
buildy like, we've learned that new (albeit very basic) lampposts are
being installed at much more frequent intervals along the path so that
we may at least have a chance of avoiding the cyclists who still think
we're in the blitz. He is a bit disappointed that they have not
replicated the existing ornate designs, but it is better than nowt.

Bren has a special reason for being interested in the Broad Walk
lighting - he was nearly hospitalised last year when he skated
straight into one of them after the LFNS. Marshal Kensey describes the
incident thus: "You know those sound effects in Roadrunner when they
hit something, well his head sounded just like that."

[This week's editor writes: Lights, Brendan. Even though it's lighter
in the evenings you need to skate with lights after dark when you're
on your way home from the Vic. Luckily, we've covered just that topic
before in a previous edition.]

                http://www.lfns.co.uk/wow_archive.php/wow/msg.011#151


== UK MARATHONS START NEXT WEEKEND ==

For those that find the LFNS just a bit too slow or a bit too short,
(and yes there are some) the marathon season is about to start in the
UK. The nutters who partake in them maintain that it's much easier
skating a marathon than running one, with the quicker skaters
despatching the twenty six and a bit miles in ninety minutes or less.

First of this year's three events will have a bunch of Londoners off to
Preston on the 3rd of June to the YMCA's NORTH REGION INLINE MARATHON
with the boys and girls in blue and white (that's LondonSkaters Speed
Team) hoping to retain their team trophy.

On the 29th of July, we head down south for the GOODWOOD ROLLER
MARATHON. This charity event on the historic motor circuit is ideal
for first timers, with no hills and a relaxed atmosphere.

It all comes home on the 2nd of September when London hosts the party
with the LONDON INLINE MARATHON, which will for the first time be held
on the Hillingdon cycle circuit. If you don't fancy the full distance,
remember that a half marathon is hardly any longer than an LFNS (and
rather shorter than the Circle Line skate). So don't be shy of
starting with that.

A word of warning, though, the Marathon bug is a virulent one and
before you know it you will be travelling all over Europe to get your
fix of long pacelines and smooth tarmac in France, Italy, Switzerland
and Germany.

                                  http://www.northregionmarathon.com
                                  http://www.goodwoodmarathon.co.uk
                                 http://www.londoninlinemarathon.com

== APPEAL FOR WITNESSES ==

Sunday's fun was spoiled toward the end, when a black cab hit a skater
near the junction of Thayer St and Bulstrode St (after New Cavendish
Street). The guy was quite badly cut and taken off by ambulance but
the paramedics said he will be fine.

Police attended and were generally sympathetic. They would like to
speak to the driver of the cab involved, which did not stop. If you
saw the incident and can identify the cab, please get in touch with
the police. There is a telephone answering service available on 020
7230 0565 or call your local police station. It would help if you
quote the police reference number - CAB No 7126 20/5/07.

This incident may well be the subject of legal action so we don't want
to talk about it too much. Please be reassured, though, that such
incidents are very rare.


== WHAT SAY THE LAWYERS? ==

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