FNRttC - new London startpoint?

[thom]

Anyway, Thom, what say you to Trafalgar Square? It would be good publicity for the FNRttC - one sure way to get 'column inches' just by turning up.

It's probably ok to try if road closures cause problems.
Somehow I was under the impression we deliberately avoided it because when going east, we eschew the shorter route of charging down the Mall to Admirality Arch and T square before getting to Embankment.

I can't think of rain cover though and of all the places suggested, I think this can be the most likely to get passing attention, wanted and unwanted. But it is safe - CCTV blanket coverage - and it is spectacular. Sometimes you might find you overlap with other events in the square.

If you're trying to find a more eastern location for Whitstable, Southend, Harwich rides etc., it doesn't really help that much.
For the southern rides, well I guess you can go along Whitehall, past HoP and along the embankment to Battersea park, which is actually pretty nice but the route from HPC probably won't be effected in that case.

 

[srw]

I like the idea of Trafalgar square, particularly as the Charles 1st statue is the datum for measuring road distances,

Not according to the BBC, who are Always Right.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml

 

[velovoice]

Not according to the BBC, who are Always Right.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml

"... the actual point for measuring the distance to and from London is located at Charing Cross, Westminter."
"The original cross was... where the statue of King Charles I now stands. A plaque can be found on the floor behind the statue stating that mileage distances on road signage are still measured from this point."

Now both statements can't be right, can they?

 

[srw]

Goshdarnit. Outpedanted.

 

[dellzeqq]

thankyou for reminding me of the Clapham Artic - although veterans may remember van on the A3, which was far, far scarier...

I don't know why I didn't think of Trafalgar Square, but, having thought about it for a bit, and refreshed my memory with a look at google maps I think it would be jumping out of the frying pan in to the fire. The traffic to the south of the Square is very, very difficult to predict. I don't think it would be practical to break the flow. We'd almost separate as we got away down Northumberland Avenue, and I'm with Claudine and Slo'mo' in thinking that it's nice to get away with a bit of a swing. Having said that - I'm tired of HPC. It's a nice place to meet, but the start is fraught.

I'm struck by the (not entirely unanimous) support for HPC. My current thought is this. The ride to Whitstable will have an experimental start. Like srw I'm fond of the City, but one has to accept that there are disadvantages - it's very easy to get lost, there are very few public spaces, it's really not clever for the Brighton and Felpham runs (Tooting High Street is a dream compared to Borough High Street).

I'm a big fan of the More London, Tower Bridge, Butlers Wharf area, having seen it come from nothing to its stylish present, but, again, it's no good for Brighton and Felpham, and it's not fun to get to from Paddington, Victoria or even Waterloo.

Kings Cross/St. Pancras is pretty fancy, but I suppose I have to take in to account that the biggest wodge of riders comes from the south, southeast and west, and (I may have got this wrong) there's no obvious space for the signing in and the safety talk.

So, for the moment, I'm pondering the South Bank as a one-off. I'm going to have to pop up there for a bit of recce, but, taking the rides in turn...

It adds half a mile to Brighton and Felpham, although it effectively does away with the Fulham Road Variation.

It shortens the Whitstable and Southend rides by two miles (before you start measuring, bear in mind that we take a lengthy tour along the Embankment. we can schlepp along the riverside for a bit, and maybe go under Tower Bridge for an architectural diversion.

If people don't like it we'll revert to HPC - but after six years I would like at least to try a new start point.

 

[User10571]

thankyou for reminding me of the Clapham Artic - although veterans may remember van on the A3, which was far, far scarier...

.....

Royal Mail artic descending Reigate Hill FTW?
Screaming weegie in tow....

 

[theclaud]

For Easterly rides, what about Tower Hill? Historic location. There's cover where the ticket booths are. The defunct entrance for the Tower Subway for someone to lecture us on.

Like your thinking. String 'em up first if they look like trouble - saves having to shoot 'em and leave in a ditch later.

Or is that not it?

 

[dellzeqq]

Goshdarnit. Outpedanted.

there's always a chance The User will turn up......

 

[srw]

As it happens I was riding along the South Bank this morning (Upper Ground), and what struck me was quite how nasty the road surface is. There are sections of cobbles in sleeping policemen which are falling apart, and the tarmac is one large mend.

But there are a couple of parks (although the one under the Eye is being dug up at the moment), and if you can penetrate through to the river some good views.

As a daytime commuting route it's useful. At night - I'm not so sure.

 

[martint235]

As it happens I was riding along the South Bank this morning (Upper Ground), and what struck me was quite how nasty the road surface is. There are sections of cobbles in sleeping policemen which are falling apart, and the tarmac is one large mend.

I'd forgotten about that. The surface could easily become a problem particularly if it was wet. I started avoiding it while I was still commuting to Westminster it was that bad. I preferred to mix it on the Waterloo roundabout.

 

[thom]

For Easterly rides, what about Tower Hill? Historic location. There's cover where the ticket booths are. The defunct entrance for the Tower Subway for someone to lecture us on.

This is one of the places I suggested before: Tower Hilll Terrace, which is after all next to Legge's Mount !

One place in the city with space I think is the Guildhall. There is a toilet next door too but it is true that the city is hard to navigate around.

It is interesting just how conservative the general opinion is on this !

 

[thom]

I'd forgotten about that. The surface could easily become a problem particularly if it was wet. I started avoiding it while I was still commuting to Westminster it was that bad. I preferred to mix it on the Waterloo roundabout.

It shouldn't be a big deal though - you can get off it away from the roundabout pretty quickly.

 

[dellzeqq]

I'd forgotten about that. The surface could easily become a problem particularly if it was wet. I started avoiding it while I was still commuting to Westminster it was that bad. I preferred to mix it on the Waterloo roundabout.

interesting. I know Upper Ground and not thought of it as a problem. Then again...I zip along Clink Street.

I'm looking at Upper Ground until just before Blackfriars Bridge Road, then south, then east along Southwark Street (the traffic lights across Blackfriars Bridge Road being set up in a safe way) then Sumner Street, Park Street (sorry mmmmartin) and along Clink Street to Tooley Street. If it's wet we might go down Marshalsea Road, Long Lane and Abbey Street.

 

[User10571]

So who is going to be posted on HPC duty?

To go and collect all those who, despite your assiduous instructions, will inevitably be waiting under a tumbleweed covered arch at midnight.

 

[ianrauk]

I was wondering who was going to volunteer for that one.

Some one very tall......