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LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE TM |
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W E E K O N W H E E L S |
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This is the "Week on Wheels" free weekly London skating email newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your email inbox each week.
From: Week on Wheels <wow /at/ lfns.co.uk>
Subject: [wow] One Way on Wheels: Greenwich Stroll Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:36:13 +0100 == THIS WEEK == == FRIDAY SPECIAL. OAPs HALF PRICE == Markus is having another birthday and, in a desperate attempt to pretend he isn't getting older, he's leading not one, but two, skates this weekend. First up is a trip vaguely eastward and then over the river to explore a few freshly re-surfaced roads in the deep South-East of Lun Dun. And we get to skate a flyover. Wheeeee! Half time is on Union Street. http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070622 == IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TIME, SKATE TO GREENWICH == This Sunday sees the second of this year's one-way skates so don't forget shoes and travelcards. We're off to Greenwich but this time (presumably to avoid problems with cabs) we'll be running sarf of the river. Expect a wide mix of surfaces (Lead Marshal is Markus, remember) and some incredible views. Look out for the buried Russia Dock, and of course for Stave Hill. (No one says you have to go up: we only recommend it). End point is at the Greenwich Observatory. That's only because the Cutty Sark is a bit depressing these days and has nothing to do with making us skate up the hill. Two rest stops on the way. http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070624 == TONIGHT! === Our whacky Wednesday mates are off to Camden. (Barnes is postponed to next week.) Forecast is dry. Get yourselves over to Serpentine Road and join them! http://www.serpentineroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25586 == LAST WEEK == A TASTE OF THE COUNTRY Fans of the run out to Barnes finally got their taste of the country on Friday when the forecast torrential downpours held off long enough for Bren to lead us out to the Far West. A pleasantly relaxed skate still made good speed over the straight roads and smooth surfaces favoured by the burghers of Barnes. And Marcus's mix of skating golden oldies seemed to keep the wolves away on Barnes Common. We seemed to have a few newer skaters who kept determinedly struggling on. Congratulations to all who finished! SUNDAY MARATHON STROLL Sunday's Stroll was run by the few marshals who had forsaken the pleasures of a trip to Brighton (of which, more below). The skate was officially led by Christian but the person at the front was Ruth, putting herself in pole position for the first time in over a year. Welcome back to the sharp end, Ruth! Despite the low marshal numbers (and hence no music bike), it was pretty well business as usual with a leisurely meander through Westminster and along the South Bank before heading into the City for a half time stop at St Pauls. The run back to Hyde Park Corner involved some serious rerouting as the Falklands commemoration had traffic backing up all across London. So we had a unique opportunity to skate Whitehall twice in the same run as Ruth and Christian shepherded us safely home. The diversions meant a rather longer Stroll than usual. Well done to all who completed it. == LONDON TO BRIGHTON == Sunday saw many of London's skaters taking a day off from the capital to join the London to Brighton bike ride. On skates. As you do. As if this was not clear evidence of insanity in itself, they decided to start at around 6.00 am (something to do with beating the crowds). The hills were long and steep and the road surfaces were very rough and still slippery from the previous day's rain but it was more than worth it for the downhills. By mid-morning our intrepid heroes were half way, when rain threatened to stop play. But, undeterred, they sought refuge in a local pub (why are we not surprised?) and ate until it got dry. (At least, some of them did. Rumour has it that some people were already practically in Brighton by then but we don't talk about that.) The afternoon was dry, allowing skaters to make good progress to the infamous Ditchling Beacon - a mile of 1 in 8 incline that some people admit to finding a little taxing after 50 miles of skating. Skaters who made it to the top, though, claim that: "Nothing can describe the euphoria you feel once you see the road level out." Or, in Saffy's case, the euphoria at the thought of ice cream at the summit. After Ditchling, it's an easy run down into Brighton. About fifty London skaters completed the 54 mile trip in times ranging from five to ten hours. Three of them skated for charity, raising around £2,000 between them. http://www.justgiving.com/robertm http://www.justgiving.com/londontobrightonskate http://www.justgiving.com/dans-l2bskate Despite the hills, the L2B is not, as you might think, an exercise purely for the super-fit. In fact, skaters of all abilities travelled together with at least some of the groups sticking to a pace where it was comfortable to chat and waiting at rest stops to make sure everyone was refreshed before moving on Many thanks from London's skaters to the BHF who put a great deal into organising this event. Without their support stations along the way it would be impossible. http://www.bhf.org.uk/ == RED LORRY, YELLOW LORRY == Next Tuesday and Wednesday (all day) two HGVs will be parked up in Trafalgar Square as part of a road safety initiative by the Met. The idea is that you can sit in the cab and see what the driver can (and can't) see while cycles and pedestrians duck and weave around the vehicle. You also get the chance to talk to the police and some drivers and explain what it's like cycling near a lorry. The press release from the London Cycling Campaign strangely neglects to mention the possibility of skaters joining in the fun but, hey, we're mentioning it now. Apparently, the exercise aims to educate lorry drivers and trainers. You can take part in video filming of your moves and reactions and tell them what you think and feel. The videos will be used to help train lorry drivers in London. So if you fancy a conversation with an HGV driver where the presence of a large man in a blue uniform should significantly reduce the danger of physical assault, then here's your chance. http://www.lcc.org.uk//index.asp?PageID=892 Can't wait for the one with black cabs! == THE SMALL PRINT== Feedback, comments, complaints, suggestions, please drop us a line through the feedback form on the site. To unsubscribe, see the link in the page footer (down a bit, yes, there). If you email us, it will bounce. http://www.lfns.co.uk/feedback.php#contactus Material in this email is protected by copyright; it may be reproduced unchanged in full provided that credit is given. All trademarks acknowledged. The LFNS is not responsible for the content of external web sites. Our apologies if, due to technical problems, this print is not small enough. -- Sent from the London Friday Night Skate - http://www.lfns.co.uk/ Check out any time - see http://www.lfns.co.uk/unsubscribe.php?list=wow |
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