onionbagblog
Comic Timing
'Where's Time out?' asked mrs onionbagblogger.
'It's where it's always been,' I replied. 'On the Tottenham Court Road.'
Boom boom.
| Saturday 30 April, 2005 |
'Where's Time out?' asked mrs onionbagblogger.
'It's where it's always been,' I replied. 'On the Tottenham Court Road.'
Boom boom.
| #permalink |
Mass Debate
The sun always shines for Critical Mass (yeah, right...) and we were just as fortunate on Friday for the eleventh anniversary of the London ride. A pre-ride address on the open mic underneath Waterloo Bridge reminded us that 'Critical Mass is a democracy.' Unlike other 'democracies' that we have been hearing of in recent weeks, this DOESN'T mean that the Mass is devoid of debate, forced to follow focus groups with piss poor policy.
'Critical Mass is NOT political, so no speeches please,' we were reminded.
Um, yes and no... The very act of cycling in London IS a political choice but the only spin you get is when some knobber cabbie cuts you up.
This was the biggest ride since the 10th birthday bash last year. Birthday wishes were sung under Waterloo and there was a real celebration feel. Keeping with the apolitical theme, the sound system was more Norman Jay than Norman Tebbit, with at least one lone kazoo player adding accompaniment.
Over Waterloo Bridge and into The Strand and we weaved our way very slowly towards Westminster. Mr Tony wasn't in town but that didn't stop us parking up outside his pad and discussing his policy on fuel emission. Or maybe we just told him to fuck off?
Once around Parliament Square, past the Palace of Pricks and then Grosvenor Place, a notorious cut 'em up corner for cabbies. But not tonight as I actually discovered that there is more to cycling around the East / West interchange than being kicked out onto the curb. The Friday Night Skaters were at Hyde Park. Nice people, but definitely APOLITICAL, and so not much response for out requests to join them.
'What do we want?'
'Rollerblades on the roads.'
'When do we want it..?'
Nope, doesn't quite work.
The fun Friday sound system was perfect for the peddling, with an astute observation that 'cyclists are more sexier than car drivers.' Boris Johnson cycles around London. There is always a margin of error in these opinion polls.
But there's room for all on Critical Mass. Where else can you see a Camp X Ray orange suit wearing warrior cycling next to a chap padded up in his cricket whites?
Critical Mass' eleventh birthday ride also had a remembrance meaning to it as well. We headed out West to Kensington where last month London cyclist Thomas Sippel-Dau was killed by a hit and run driver on Cromwell Road. The Range Rover driver escaped and the police investigation is still ongoing. A moving speech by Thomas' partner, followed by a moment of silence in his memory.
We then headed back to the West End, and after exactly eleven miles of cycling, the eleventh anniversary Mass ended up at Piccadilly Circus.
Happy Birthday, happy cycling.
Crap Picture Gallery (click on thumbs to see large image)
| Saturday 30 April, 2005 |
The sun always shines for Critical Mass (yeah, right...) and we were just as fortunate on Friday for the eleventh anniversary of the London ride. A pre-ride address on the open mic underneath Waterloo Bridge reminded us that 'Critical Mass is a democracy.' Unlike other 'democracies' that we have been hearing of in recent weeks, this DOESN'T mean that the Mass is devoid of debate, forced to follow focus groups with piss poor policy.'Critical Mass is NOT political, so no speeches please,' we were reminded.
Um, yes and no... The very act of cycling in London IS a political choice but the only spin you get is when some knobber cabbie cuts you up.
 Cyclists are sexier than car drivers |
Over Waterloo Bridge and into The Strand and we weaved our way very slowly towards Westminster. Mr Tony wasn't in town but that didn't stop us parking up outside his pad and discussing his policy on fuel emission. Or maybe we just told him to fuck off?
Once around Parliament Square, past the Palace of Pricks and then Grosvenor Place, a notorious cut 'em up corner for cabbies. But not tonight as I actually discovered that there is more to cycling around the East / West interchange than being kicked out onto the curb. The Friday Night Skaters were at Hyde Park. Nice people, but definitely APOLITICAL, and so not much response for out requests to join them.
'What do we want?'
'Rollerblades on the roads.'
'When do we want it..?'
Nope, doesn't quite work.
The fun Friday sound system was perfect for the peddling, with an astute observation that 'cyclists are more sexier than car drivers.' Boris Johnson cycles around London. There is always a margin of error in these opinion polls.
But there's room for all on Critical Mass. Where else can you see a Camp X Ray orange suit wearing warrior cycling next to a chap padded up in his cricket whites?
Critical Mass' eleventh birthday ride also had a remembrance meaning to it as well. We headed out West to Kensington where last month London cyclist Thomas Sippel-Dau was killed by a hit and run driver on Cromwell Road. The Range Rover driver escaped and the police investigation is still ongoing. A moving speech by Thomas' partner, followed by a moment of silence in his memory.
We then headed back to the West End, and after exactly eleven miles of cycling, the eleventh anniversary Mass ended up at Piccadilly Circus.
Happy Birthday, happy cycling.
Crap Picture Gallery (click on thumbs to see large image)
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Photo Friday
Give the anarchist a cigarette.
'Nothing ever burns down by itself, every fire needs a little bit of help.'
Crap Picture Gallery (click on thumbs to see large image)
| Friday 29 April, 2005 |
Give the anarchist a cigarette.
'Nothing ever burns down by itself, every fire needs a little bit of help.'
Crap Picture Gallery (click on thumbs to see large image)
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