Just got back from my first Critical Mass

[PBancroft]

If I do go, I'm more than happy to meet people...just give me a PM nearer the time if you are thinking about it and I'll pass out my mobile number or something.

Would you be doing the London one? I just took a train up after work.

Almost certainly.

 

[Jake]

never been either, good for you for going

 

[Radius]

When I was falling asleep I remembered I did see you...and having seen the photo I remember the bike! I bet £50 one of your mates was taking the piss out of how much your bar tape cost at the start....and you started by a tree, next to the road where it was on the corner. I was all of about 3 meters away - so we basically met.

He was taking the piss out of it full stop, because it was green , and I was indeed next to the tree, so yes, we bascially did Drop me a PM next time round if you're going again

The only reason I remember all that is because the messenger I was talking to was taking the piss out of your front wheel - he wasn't a fan of it....I do like the bar tape though!!

Yeah lots of people don't like them at all, they're seen as 'hipster' and whatnot, but I kinda do, and figured I needed some form of escape from being a 'roadie', so went to the opposite extreme
Someone (another roadie who I later exchanged numbers with) did actually ask me if I was a courier . Not sure whether that is the ultimate compliment or shows just how hard I'm trying to be something I'm not

I only saw a few helmet cameras, a few on handlebars and the only other helmet camera, was on a lady on a penny farthing (obviously not me ). I had a look at the footage last night and, the first half of the ride isn't covered as something went wrong and the file is corrupt and what I did record isn't really that good. The camera is aligned for cycling, rather than stopping and standing everywhere so it's caught a lot of sky and cheering. I'll try and cut something together though.

I think I must have seen you at one point then, I definitely remember picking out a helmet mounted camera, which was definitely not this person, who was the lady on the recumbent (and that is her video)
Cheers for having a look tho

 

[thomas]

I think I must have seen you at one point then, I definitely remember picking out a helmet mounted camera, which was definitely not this person, who was the lady on the recumbent (and that is her video)
Cheers for having a look tho

Go to 2.07. I'm just on the right of the middle...look for the orange/black speck, with black shorts and a sandy colour top. That's me, for future reference

I'm just chomping up my footage now. It's not great, but it does show the atmosphere. I'll be uploading a few clips in a little bit.

I'll hopefully be up for the July one, hopefully with a friend, so I'll PM you nearer then if I definitely am. I'll be in Vietnam when the June one is on.

 

[ttcycle]

Good for you Thomas! I was up there too - it was an amazing turn out Friday - loads of people.

 

[Joe24]

I did see a helmet camera, it stuck out a mile, but couldn't see the rider (head in crowd), so it could have been you! I ended up in the market too, riding around so you probably saw me then as well...
See if you can find me on my bike in your footage, I'd love to know what it looks like being ridden

That is ****ing ugly.
Being asked if your a courier makes you a fakenger does it not?
Mind, i cant say much. You could class me as a hipster sort of. The grips on my cut down flat bars are bright pink Oury's. Which makes me ****ing amazing
Oh, and i did a critical mass a while back. It was boring. None of the fixed riders around here could trackstand, or trackstand well, we pissed many people off, got cold, had some dick leading us around who nearly got killed, there werent many of us. It was basicly cold and dark and foggy, and not that nice. Oh, and they classed a slight slope in the middle of town as a hill

 

[thomas]

That is ****ing ugly.
Oh, and i did a critical mass a while back. It was boring. None of the fixed riders around here could trackstand, or trackstand well, we pissed many people off, got cold, had some dick leading us around who nearly got killed, there werent many of us. It was basicly cold and dark and foggy, and not that nice. Oh, and they classed a slight slope in the middle of town as a hill

There was a Critical Mass group in Norwich, it's not going any more...I saw a photo, and it looked like it might be taken too seriously

 

[Joe24]

There was a Critical Mass group in Norwich, it's not going any more...I saw a photo, and it looked like it might be taken too seriously

The critical mass here was just boring. There wasnt enough to block a 2 lane road one time, and too many idiots out that will crash into the back of you for some reason, or just brake for no reason at all

 

[thomas]

The critical mass here was just boring. There wasnt enough to block a 2 lane road one time, and too many idiots out that will crash into the back of you for some reason, or just brake for no reason at all

The photo of the Norwich one included about, maybe 10 - 20 people...probably no more than a club ride to be honest. I know it has got to start somewhere, but at least the London one gets noticed.

I thought I would be dodging lots of idiots, but it was okay. The odd "whoops" from me and others, but nothing that was a problem.

 

[mickle]

Is it me or is the fork bent backwards?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I wouldn't go on another CM ride if I was paid to. Easily the most dangerous thing I've ever done on a bike and all it achieved was to show motorists what a bloody nuisance we can be if we try. Possibly it's different in London, but I can't imagine it does anything for our image.

 

[Radius]

That is ****ing ugly.

Fine, it's my bike, not yours, and I like it (but might change the tape)

Being asked if your a courier makes you a fakenger does it not?

Yes, and I don't care because I like riding like that.

Mind, i cant say much. You could class me as a hipster sort of. The grips on my cut down flat bars are bright pink Oury's. Which makes me ****ing amazing

Well then, and no it doesn't.

Oh, and i did a critical mass a while back. It was boring. None of the fixed riders around here could trackstand, or trackstand well, we pissed many people off, got cold, had some dick leading us around who nearly got killed, there werent many of us. It was basicly cold and dark and foggy, and not that nice. Oh, and they classed a slight slope in the middle of town as a hill

London is different, very different. There are some highly skilled riders, and lots of people in general. Yes, some wobblers, but it's to be expected.

Is it me or is the fork bent backwards?

A little, but not as extreme as it looks from the camera distortion (phone cam), and the stand isn't straight, so it was leaning over a bit as well.

 

[Joe24]

How does having bright pink grips not make me amazing
You like pretending to me a messenger?
I actually dont think its the bar tape thats making it bad. Infact, i like the bar tape. Its nice and bright. But its all too one coloured. Theshiny wheels blend in with the white frame.
Get more bright colours on it

 

[Joe24]

I wouldn't go on another CM ride if I was paid to. Easily the most dangerous thing I've ever done on a bike and all it achieved was to show motorists what a bloody nuisance we can be if we try. Possibly it's different in London, but I can't imagine it does anything for our image.

Thats what i thought, i was having to watch out for the other people on bikes, who were very crazy on their bikes, not keeping a line. I had the feeling i was either going to have a clipless moment, or have someone take out my wheel.

 

[Radius]

No, I like using a courier-type bag (which I part-constructed myself), and riding fixed, which may make me look like a messenger, whereas in fact I am merely doing it because I like doing it, and that's got nothing to do with messengers.