This week was all about the build up to the London Freewheel event.
Registrations had closed once the 38,000th person signed up but the
official advice was to turn up anyway. The organisation had been
patchy with welcome packs being sent out at the last minute. A
confusion with the system that allocated feeder rides meant PHC were
looking at 300 people starting at the library at one point. This was
reduced to a mere 30 not long after but it was actually 33 that turned
up, most with the red bibs that had been sent out.

The route to Clapham Common is fairly direct, crossing Tooting Common
on the cycle path and making use of back streets to reach the
destination. The organisers farcical idea was that a feeder ride to St
James Park would leave Clapham Common every two minutes. Obviously
that was ridiculous so we stuck to our plan of making our own way
there along the London Cycle Network route. Another 10 or so joined us
on the way.

St James Park was really busy as it was hosting the Freewheel
Festival, lots of cycling-related stalls and free Hovis sandwiches. As
we rode around the closed streets, the group split, mostly due to the
sheer number of cyclists on the roads. At various points, crossings
had been set up to allow pedestrians over the route and this caused
tailbacks. You were very much dictated by the pace of the other
cyclists due to the volume of bikes.

Everyone regrouped at St James Park after passing various iconic
London landmarks on traffic-free streets - the first time this has
ever been possible. 25 returned to Clapham Common for cakes at the
veggie-friendly cafe before riding back to Pollards Hill.

Out for 7hrs, 27 miles. See the pix on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157602124156260
or
http://tinyurl.com/ynsaxw

(More pix will be added as I get sent them)

===

Next week is a new rural ride with some great views as we ride along
the North Downs Way. Lunch at the basic cafe at Reigate Hill
viewpoint. Some hills to ride up but no real mountains. Even so, not a
good beginners ride. 9:30 at the library.

The October rides will go up on the website soon but I need more
volunteers to lead rides. We can give as much help as you need if
you've never done it before. Over the two years we've been going,
we've compiled a useful guide to leading rides. Without more
volunteers, we'll be struggling to have a ride every week so do please
come forward by emailing me if you think you'd like to have a go.

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189

http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk