Sunday 15 November 2009: Wat Tyler Meet
Tony Fincham (Waltham Forest LCC Rides Co-Ordinator) writes (edited):
The idea is a morning ride to a
social meet up, for coffee and/or breakfast / brunch perhaps at
Thames Barrier Park
or
Trinity Buoy Wharf. [Now confirmed - meet at The Fat Boy, Trinity Buoy Wharf between 10 and 11am. Nearest tube is Canning Town, but it's
closed on this day, as is the District line between Tower Hill and Upney. Nearest rail is East India DLR - but no non-folding bikes on DLR]
This is to provide an opportunity for cyclists living in the North-East and South-East London Boroughs to meet
up socially at a convenient venue, to discuss subjects, be they cycling or otherwise, of common interest.
In West London there are a number of bridges facilitating movement between South and North, in East London none at all after Tower Bridge. We're dependent upon
just two foot tunnels and a ferry.
Perhaps for this reason, misconceptions have arisen. One 'northerner' has suggested
that there's 'nothing' south of the river, except Greenwich, and 'even that's best viewed from the north side'. Nobody who has cycled across the monotonous
flatlands of Newham, crossed the river, and then cycled upwards to enjoy tea at Charlton House, or the panoramic views of Eltham, could share such an opinion.
Some readers may be familiar with the legendary Wat Tyler. Little is known of this medieval peasant rebel, but it's believed that he came from Essex, and
crossed over to Kent to organise a co-ordinated march on London. Hence, there's a Wat Tyler country park in Essex, and a Wat Tyler pub in Kent. How he crossed
the Thames is not known, though any suggestion that he used the Woolwich foot tunnel is historically suspect. Indeed, there's uncertainty about his very name,
as peasant leaders liked to use pseudonyms in an understandable attempt to avoid detection - medieval punishment for rebels was, well, pretty medieval. Wat
Tyler may have even been one Jack Straw. At the time, men known as Tyler were tilers, and those called Straw, thatchers. Why, exactly, did the peasants finger
folk working in the construction industry?
In the 21st century conditions have eased for London cyclists. However, are we still regarded as the peasants of the public highway? Why is there no
ecologically- friendly cycle & pedestrian bridge, and why are the foot tunnel lifts subject to such erratic service? Could we forge a new north-south Thames
unity, with history turning full cycle? If so, let's hope any leadership fares better than Wat Tyler, who, according to one account, was dragged out of St
Barts hospital, following injury inflicted by the Mayor of London, and finished off, but it seems unlikely that a cycle-friendly Boris would go quite so far.
Tuesday 17 November 2009, 8pm: Cycling across America
At
Wanstead House, Celia and Harry Lyons will tell us
about their adventures on a six-month
ride across the USA earlier this year.
Unmissable.
Friday 10 - Sunday 12 September 2010: Cycling Weekend in Colchester area
The main purpose is to ride around visiting churches on the Saturday (see below), but we make a weekend of it, travelling
up Friday afternoon / evening and back on the Sunday. Anyone is welcome to join us on all or part(s) of the trip.
If you are planning to travel by train, please let the organisers know so that sharing of
railcards and
Goldcards can be arranged and/or
Group Save
discounts organised.
There is apparently no hostel or similar in the Colchester area that we can use as a base, so the current plan is that we will be put up by local people who
wish to support the Friends of Essex Churches Trust, or possibly sleeping bags in a village hall. Spaces could be limited, but we will look into other
possibilities. You can of course book your own accommodation somewhere more sybaritic, but please check the Saturday ride is going to happen before you spend any £.
The total cost each usually includes a £10 (minimum)
gift aided donation to
Friends of Essex Churches Trust in the form of
sponsorship of
June.
Colin will also be seeking sponsorship.
Contact
Colin to express your interest and for more information nearer the time.
Saturday 11 September 2010, 10am - 6pm: National Churches Trust Bike Ride/Walk
The
National Churches Trust is a charity that raises money to maintain the fabric of church buildings.
On the second Saturday in September people all over the country cycle or walk a route
visiting various churches. Others help out by staffing churches so that they can stay open
- and provide soft drinks and biscuits to visitors who walk or cycle. Money is raised through sponsoring these activities.
In Essex (old Essex including East London in this case)
the National Churches Trust branch is called
Friends of Essex Churches Trust
and the walk /
ride is called "Ride and Stride" in several counties including Essex.
Colin has
done a ride on this day many times, but not as many as
June who holds
a record.
See the entry above for a weekend away incorporating this ride and watch this space for
any other related local rides / events I get to hear of.
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September 2010: London Open House Weekend
See
www.openhouse.org.uk for more details of this architecture weekend. Dates tbc.
Sunday 19 September 20109, 9-10.30am (date and times tbc): Feeder rides to
London Skyride (formerly Freewheel)
Skyride (formerly Freewheel) is a mass ride around a c. 10 mile central London circuit made of roads open only to cyclists, passing many major attractions.
Estimates say 80,000 people took part as cyclists in 2009.
If you plan to travel to/from the circuit by train, do check for engineering work.
In 2009 these feeder rides (among others) left from east London - going to Tower Hill. 2010's arrangements are to be confirmed, but likely to be similar:
9am from Ilford Town Hall for a ride in along the canals. See
Redbridge LCC's website
or contact
Alan.
10am from Aldersbrook Service Station, Aldersbrook Road, E12 (opposite Harpenden Road) for a ride in along the canals. See
Redbridge LCC's website
or contact
Alan.
10am from Barking station (outside "The Barking Dog") on a route through Docklands that's off-road as much as possible. Contact
Colin.
10.30am from Stratford Station. Contact
Bernard.
The official return rides were at 3pm from Tower Hill.
This is a massive event and many helpers are needed.
LCC will have organised feeder rides to Skyride from most parts of London, so
please offer to help. If you're an experienced cyclist there'll be informal
opportunities to help and encourage new / less-confident riders, but you could also offer the feeder ride organiser your help in advance, or offer it to LCC centrally, or - best of all - register as a marshal.
Spread the word to your non-cycling friends, too. Whatever
you do, register at the
Skyride website.
If you want to be in touch with your ride organiser on the day of the event, establish contact well before the feeder ride. The organiser will be busy as the
feeder ride starts and once the ride gets to central London with so many people about, it is too late to establish contact.
Riders should make sure their machines are roadworthy before the ride. It is illegal and dangerous to ride an unroadworthy bike on the road and it is the rider's responsibility
to ensure that their bike is safe and legal.
The basic "ABC" checks are: AIR - Pump up your tyres to the pressure shown on the sidewall(or as hard as you can get them if using a hand pump;
BRAKES. Check that both brakes operate correctly and that the rider can stop the bike qickly and safely; CONTROL - check you can control the bike and that the handlebars will not rotate when the front
wheel is held still between the knees.