I really hope that they always do it. And that just before they decide to ride they merely look at each other, say "it is the time" and then each disappear in to their own private booth, coming out fully masked up and ready to ride.
On the charity ride note, there were in excess of 80 bikes going out through Welling yesterday morning, I'm not sure whose idea it was to start a mass ride in London traffic at 8am but I'm sure they had their reasons. Initially a peloton of around 20 whizzed past, then as I did Shooters Hill pockets of bikes were coming down it, and climbing up it. A fair mix of stuff (well, hybrids and racers) mostly riding light although some ruck sacks and one guy who looked equipped to climb Everest.