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CRAGs peloton at London Freewheel bike ride, Sunday 23 September - please join us!
Thread started on 5/9/2007 21:49

Jessica

Jessica

demonstrations

freewheel 2007

http://www.londonfreewheel.com/default.asp

I posted about this a while ago and haven’t got round to doing anything about it since. Thanks to all those who’ve already said they’d like to join in, and I’m hoping many more of you will too! If you don’t have a bike, borrow one, or you can even hire one (Ken’s set up a special hire deal with bike shops – see the website).

Mayor Ken is kindly blocking off a nine mile route around London for bikes only. There will be hundreds of people coming from all over to join in the fun, many of whom will be eco-warm, and many eco-virgins. And there’ll be a bike festival with all kinds of stuff going on is St James’ Park all afternoon. Seems to me to be a prime opportunity for CRAG-advertising while having a jolly good day out.

The plan is simple: meet up and ride together in a ‘CRAGs peloton’, with nifty CRAGs flags flying from the backs of our bikes, in our CRAGs T-shirts if possible, get everyone to look at us in admiration and want to know who we are and what we are doing, and hand out lots of CRAGs leaflets to the bikers on the ride and at the fiesta afterwards. Also to sit down and talk CRAGs in the park with good food and drink and generally have a CRAGs get-together. If the weather isn’t perfect I know plenty of good pubs we could adjourn to. For anyone who wants to come from outside London, we may be able to find you places to stay, so get in touch.

More detailed plan:

1. The main ride seems to kick off at 11am, although there are feeder rides from various hubs. I propose we meet at 10.30am in St James’ Park, by the war memorial which faces Horseguards’ Parade.
2. Please bring your digital camera so we can get some good pics for the CRAG website!
3. I will organise leaflets and flags (thinking A4 cards with CRAGs logo on garden sticks to fix to back of bike or handlebars). Please can someone volunteer to help me organise, espec someone who can help with sizing graphics and printing? May need to ask you all for small monetary contribution when we meet.
4. Bring CRAGs T-shirt if you’ve got one. Vey Straker may have some still to sell… they’re serious but stylish in true CRAGs fashion.
5. Bring horns, whistles, bells, bright colours, stupid hats and any noise-making or attention-drawing equipment you may have!
6. Please post to this tag if you think you’ll come, so that I have an idea of numbers. AND YOU HAVE TO REGISTER ON THE FREEWHEEL WEBSITE TO JOIN! They send you a welcome pack and everything…
7. Maybe bring food and drink if looks like picnic weather.

Very excited already! Hope to see you there.
Jessica

‹ Peckham's "Green and Healthy Living Fair" this Saturday, 15 September Venue / type of October meeting ›
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Hi Jessica, I can give a

written on 7/9/2007 13:13

david

david

Hi Jessica, I can give a hand with the graphics resizing, and I hope to come along too. I’ll give you an email.

 
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Freewheelin'

written on 13/9/2007 12:15

Reevesie

Reevesie

I should be there too. Thanks for pointing out that you need to register.. i was just going to roll up on the day ‘til you said that..

- reevesie

 
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maybe not...

written on 13/9/2007 12:20

Reevesie

Reevesie

seems like registration is full already. might go along as a marshal though..

 
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Please help make a plan for Freewheel!

written on 16/9/2007 21:47

Jessica

Jessica

https://www.londonfreewheel.com/register/register.asp

Hi, it’s a bummer that they’re put a limit on numbers, apparently. You can no longer formally register. I assumed registration was just so they could have an idea of numbers and get people’s email addresses. I would be really surprised if they actually stop people joining, as the route is open all day and there are several entrance points. For those of you keen to come and who haven’t been able to register, I’m not sure what the best plan is.

My suggestions are:
(1) just turn up to meet us on the day and see if you can get in – we’re meeting 10.30am in St James’ Park, by the war memorial which faces Horseguards’ Parade
(2) try to join as a volunteer marshall, and hook up with us first
(3) meet up in St James’ Park lunchtime and hang out for the bike carnival – we can have a get-together then, and distribute leaflets and talk to lots of people about CRAGs

I would still love as many people as possible to read together on the route, as I am making posters, leaflets etc and a few of us would make an impression…

Please let me know who wants to come, how many of you have succeeded in registering, and what you think we should do about those who can’t register. Many thanks. Jessica

 
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You don't have to register for Freewheel

written on 17/9/2007 09:37

john ackers

john ackers

I have been told that you can still turn up for freewheel even though it is ‘full’, just turn up on the roads or at the hubs.

Update: I’m at another event until about 1.30PM; I will call to find you.

 
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So we meet at 10.30am at St James' Park! Who is coming?

written on 17/9/2007 11:04

Jessica

Jessica

Great! I’ve not been able to get through to the organisers on the phone, so thanks for finding out, John.

So – plan revert to the original! Let’s meet 10.30am in St James’ Park, by the war memorial which faces Horseguards’ Parade. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE COMING!

Please bring along: digital cameras, CRAGs T-shirts, horns, whistles, bells, bright colours, stupid hats…

I’ve heard there will be food stalls, including some free stuff, at St James’ Park.

Jessica R

 
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Meetin'

written on 19/9/2007 15:31

Reevesie

Reevesie

I should be there on the day, but dunno if i’ll make it up for 10.30, as i’ll be out the night before.. (i’m sure i’d make it, but i dunno if i trust my friends!) Anyway, you can reach me on 07854 324982 and call me over to join in.

 
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This was an excellent day out...

written on 25/9/2007 17:35

Jessica

Jessica

A few of us turned out with bells on and CRAGs flags on our bikes! We took some photos so will hopefully post them on the site soon.

Jessica R

 
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Photos are up ...

written on 28/9/2007 19:56

david

david

Yes! It was a really fun day out, and really encouraging to see so many cyclists (40k+) turn out to take advantage of the rare privilege of cleared central London streets. There were loads of families with kids (which added an element of unpredictability to the ride!), but no other environmental groups that I saw. BMXers blasted some ramps, and there were plenty of cycling stalls with information on London routes, as well as the Mayor’s new DIY Planet Repairs campaign (gotta love that slogan!) – not to mention free food (albeit Cape apples, not great).

Guy has uploaded some excellent photos, which you can find under “Freewheel 2007 > Files” above. They are also now featured on the front page!

I have also started a very brief wiki write-up at Freewheel 2007. Please edit Jessica, or others, if you’ve anything to add.

 
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