Whilst there’s no shortage of great rides to do in London, in 2012 we can add a new one to the list. The London Revolution is certain to make its way onto many cyclists calendars.
The ride takes place over the course of a weekend and covers 180 miles. It will be open to 2,500 riders and will take you all around the most scenic parts of London.
But I’ve only just started cycling..
The bike ride is meant to be open to all, so if you are new to cycling and looking for a good way to take your cycling one step further then it will appeal. The organisers will be providing training plans and guidance to help you complete the ride. Along the route they’ll also be teams to help with any mechanical problems.
For the more seasoned cyclists amongst us, the sections up Box Hill that form part of the Olympic Road Race will be a highlight.
Box Hill…Windsor Castle… The Chilterns…
The route covers some of the most popular destinations for London’s cyclists. During the 102 miles (approximate 8-9 hours of riding) you’ll be seeing Epping Forest, Lee Valley and the Chilterns. You’ll then continue onto to Windsor Castle. For those completing the two day ride this is when you rest up, shower and enjoy the evenings entertainment. This will include a big meal (including pasta of course) and then later on a bar as well as Q&A session with various cycling experts.
After breakfast, there’s another 80 miles to be covered. Once again there are some fantastic locations to be seen along the route. Including Ranmore Common, the North Downs and Crystal Palace. The route ends at Tower Bridge. There’s plenty of hill climbing in this section so if you had a few too many drinks on the Saturday night you’ll regret it!
Sounds good?
The London Revolution looks set to be one of the most complete rides around London’s best cycling sights. The places included along the way should be enough to get most people tempted. The evenings entertainment should seal the deal.
If you like your organised rides with all their benefits of mechanical teams, camping, food, hot showers and someone to carry your gear then take a look at the London Revolution.
Andreas,
Do you have any info on direct action being taken at Kings Cross this coming Monday evening ? Would be great to get a discussion going.
cheers.
Hi there Pete – no this hasn’t entered my radar what so ever. Where did you hear about it?
I think it came through a Critical Mass mailing list originating from an organisation called Bikes Alive ?? see this link:
http://bikesalive.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/bikes-alive/
I’ve mentioned this on twitter – I’m interested to see whether people think this action is extreme or whether that is what it has come to.
Hello all
I can’t acess the link from my work PC. What is the proposed action? I joined one of the Blackfriars flashrides. Considering TfL’s stance I think this type of direct action is exactly what cyclists should be taking.
here’s the text………
Bikes Alive
by bikesalive
Killing of cyclists: enough is enough
Polite meetings and symbolic action are having no effect. We need to act. The time has surely come for cyclists to (nonviolently) defend ourselves.
Transport for London (TfL) is quite clear that it is deliberately putting cyclists’ lives at risk (not only passively, but actively by designing dangerous “cycle superhighways”), in preference to re-balancing road usage to prioritise people over machines. TfL says that nothing must be done to slow down motor vehicles.
On the contrary, restraining the inherent violence of motor traffic is essential for a safe and civilised city. Much of the traffic which threatens and poisons us should not even exist in its current form. For instance, there is no reason for most journeys by private car in inner London – other than the selfishness of the driver.
Major changes at busy, dangerous junctions are essential. There must be cycle lanes and cycle priority at places like Kings Cross, irrespective of the slowing of motor vehicles. Traffic lights must be rephased to have longer gaps between conflicting green phases, so that slow-moving traffic such as bikes, and pedestrians, are well clear of the junction before the next vehicles get a green light. This wouldn’t be needed if drivers obeyed the rule “green = go if the way is clear” (not “green = go, regardless”) – but they don’t.
It has been suggested that if TfL won’t make an immediate commitment to such basic essentials, then cyclists and others must take our own action.
So what next?
What if scores, perhaps hundreds, of cyclists decided to come together to peacefully close down a dangerous junction like Kings Cross for an hour? We could – according to taste – ride very slowly round the one-way system, or simply not move at all for an hour.
What if, unless TfL made firm commitments to make changes, hundreds of us returned the following week and closed the junction for an hour again? What if we did this every week until there was a guarantee of the changes needed to make us safer?
And once one junction was made safer, what if we then chose another dangerous junction, and closed it down every week until…
In this spirit, it’s been suggested that on Monday 9 January (the first working Monday of the New Year, and barely 3 months after the last time a cyclist was slaughtered at Kings Cross) cyclists gather at the York Way / Pentonville Road junction, at Kings Cross, to calm (and preferably stop) the Kings Cross traffic for one hour, from 6pm to 7pm.
Will you be there (at least in a supportive role, even if you don’t want to be involved in stopping the traffic)?
Please spread this message far and wide.
Contact “Bikes Alive” on bikesalive@london.com
Transport for All are also staging a protest in response to the removal of pedestrian crossings: http://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/pedestrian-crossings-under-threat
It’s happening at the same time as the go-slow ride, which I found out about via a leaflet I was handed at the King’s Cross vigil that happened just before Christmas.
I think this kind of action is required because when I speak to people I know who don’t cycle or aren’t aware of the Blackfriars scandal they have no idea about this “smoothing traffic flow” business. Most of them agree that it’s unfair on the majority of road users, especially in London where the roads are already congested. I feel that the more we get the word out to those who aren’t aware of the problem the more support there will be for more user-friendly roads.
wow! this is exciting! count me in! 🙂
i mean on this kings cross/ york way protest.. 🙂