Pic of London this morning....
Discussion
Set the alarm for 7.20 to get a few miles in on the bike before a busy day.
Wind was my friend and saw me average over 17mph over almost 20 miles. Anyway, what was great was riding through central London and having the roads to myself! As Big Ben says, this was taken at 8.15 and there isn't a soul about
Wind was my friend and saw me average over 17mph over almost 20 miles. Anyway, what was great was riding through central London and having the roads to myself! As Big Ben says, this was taken at 8.15 and there isn't a soul about
VeeFour likes this.Garlick, I must try and find a similar pic my Dad took with a "brownie" camera in the very late 1950s or early 1960s. In those days London wasn't the wall-to-wall traffic (human and cars) one expects these days (but which you've proved isn't always true) and despite it being a more sociable time of the day, he was one of only a handful of people there.
I'll dig it out.
I've driven across there in my Caterham. It was considerably more populated then but both the cars and people parted like the the sea in front of Moses. Caterhams sometimes had that ability.
I'll dig it out.
I've driven across there in my Caterham. It was considerably more populated then but both the cars and people parted like the the sea in front of Moses. Caterhams sometimes had that ability.
Mars said:
Found the pic. Dad must have been ~18-20 which would make the date 1958-1960.
There are rather more people in the pic than I remember... even so...
Brilliant photo There are rather more people in the pic than I remember... even so...
At risk of being banned, I'm a bus driver, quite often I'm the only thing on the road driving through the local town centres at 5-30am, it's brilliant.
ShampooEfficient said:
Brilliant photo
At risk of being banned, I'm a bus driver, quite often I'm the only thing on the road driving through the local town centres at 5-30am, it's brilliant.
Me too, I drive over that bridge all the time. Funny thing about Sunday mornings in London is that at 5am there are still hoards of hoodies wondering around but by 8am everyone has gone. At risk of being banned, I'm a bus driver, quite often I'm the only thing on the road driving through the local town centres at 5-30am, it's brilliant.
Great pic, bet that bike's worth a fortune now!
Returned to the centre today, just as quiet pedestrian wise but few more cars about. In this pic a red light had just changed to green so looks busier than it is. Good pace again as had most roads to myself. A few roads were closed for a run later in the day but I was allowed through meaning flat out and no problem with red lights (controversial)
There was a few folk around so I didn't stray far from the bike to get a pic
Returned to the centre today, just as quiet pedestrian wise but few more cars about. In this pic a red light had just changed to green so looks busier than it is. Good pace again as had most roads to myself. A few roads were closed for a run later in the day but I was allowed through meaning flat out and no problem with red lights (controversial)
There was a few folk around so I didn't stray far from the bike to get a pic
Garlick said:
Great pic, bet that bike's worth a fortune now!
Dad's gone now but I doubt it would be worth much these days. The technology has really moved on. Having said that, I understood that he largely built it up himself though, so was probably a decent selection of the components available at the time.This is it:
Over the years that bike took Dad all over the UK. We live in the Midlands. He rode to Torquey in one day once which is something some people would baulk at in a car today. He and his mate would get up early and ride to Western Supermare for lunch. I doubt I'd make it to Stratford-upon-Avon and home in the same day.
We believe he rode every single coastal path (possible) on that bike in "slices" through his teenage and early twenties. He has a book of his trips which contains hand-drawn maps (he was fabulous at drawing) and photos. Mom is looking it out. I'll find a way of scanning it in a posting up.
Edited by Mars on Monday 30th May 18:53
Garlick said:
Also, I like how he's wearing his normal clothes! Even a few miles these days and I'm head to toe lycra
My wife's got me wearing lycra too, and I'm not even a "proper" roadie. I can't work out whether she finds me strangely (very) attractive in it, or she was short of ideas to buy me a present when she was away for a week. 
Dad's bike isn't too far from the modern norm but get a look at that light..!! I can't imagine it did more than glow dimly for an hour or so, and probably weighed a kilo, whilst being temperamental in wet weather. Modern lights are increadible really. Bought my wife a pair of Knog Bullfrogs (front/rear) and they're almost painfully-bright.
Mom and Dad also went around Europe in a Ford Anglia in 1966. Despite to the world cup win, and the not-so-distant memories of WWII they were surprisingly (to them) welcomed all through Germany. I have since travelled through Europe in my Caterham and felt "pioneering" in doing so but I was in the company of 20+ others and a support truck, with my modern engine with fuel injection. Mom and Dad did it all on their own in a car which was revolutionary back then (a high revving engine) and carbs, and they didn't have any mobile phones AND didn't speak any local lingo.
We have definitely got it easy these days.
Not fancy some proper riding? Would only take you 30 mins to get into the surrey lanes etc
I did about 80 miles this weekend over the surrey hills and out to windsor, overall average was 18.9 mph which given we took in Box and Leith Hills I'm happy with.
Got to 40 mph in a little sprint through the epsom roundabouts too, I'm coming for you Cav
I did about 80 miles this weekend over the surrey hills and out to windsor, overall average was 18.9 mph which given we took in Box and Leith Hills I'm happy with.
Got to 40 mph in a little sprint through the epsom roundabouts too, I'm coming for you Cav
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff