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Mini Freewheel Event:  Hounslow Skyride:  9 August 2009

The details of this are now out.There is a group starting from Ealing Town Hall.http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/skyride

Philippa Bond ● 6275d13 Comments

PhilippaThis is not a “mini-Freewheel event”.  It’s one of the five main Skyride events being held nationally this summer, and while it won’t attract the 50,000 people who participated in last summer’s Freewheel in central London, the organisers are anticipating 10,000-15,000 at the Hounslow event.  It’s not to be confused with the “local” Skyrides being held at other locations.Chris Calvi-FreemanHead of TransportLondon Borough of Hounslow 

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6275d

ChrisI understood this to be a mini one because the britishcycling.org website says this:"Keep checking back over the coming months as we keep you up to date with details. If you can't wait that long, this year sees the introduction of a smaller Mayor of London's Skyride Hounslow taking the concept to West London on Sunday 9th August."There are several local rides today including one for younger riders across four central London parks.  This particular one is listed as being 7.something klicks on one page and 13.something on another.  However since kilometres are shorter than miles it is not as long as it sounds.There are more family rides to come in Richmond and Hampton Court to mention just two parks which are shown on the calendar as well as other ones for adults and teenagers.

Philippa Bond ● 6274d

There is a great publicity for this now on the home page of the Hounslow website:  www.hounslow.gov.uk.This ride is of course sponsored by Sky.Groups are being led from Ealing Town Hall and Ravenscourt Park.

Philippa Bond ● 6272d

The Manchester one apparently attracted 15,000."Sunday 2 August - 15,000 people today joined stars from the worlds of cycling and television at Skyride Manchester to enjoy a day of entertainment on traffic-free, city centre streets- the first in Sky's series of five mass participation cycling events taking place this summer."Read the rest of the write up on it on the website and find out about all the other rides.  (There are Local ones running until October.)The route for the Hounslow one (Sunday 9 August) looks lovely through Syon Park and it must be a buzz for cyclists to get to ride down roads where cars have been banned especially for them!

Philippa Bond ● 6265d

Bump. Weather for tomorrow looks good.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6261d

The weather was glorious and it seems the Editor? and daughter enjoyed the Skyride.There is the article on the front page with photos and there are more photos on flickr - the links to which have been posted on the other local NNet sites.Don't forget that there is the London Central Skyride to come in September and there are other Locals listed on the website.

Philippa Bond ● 6259d

Bump since it didn't do it by itself.

Philippa Bond ● 6258d

There are some local Sky Rides planned through out the summer, but from what I've seen they are not very inspiring [Brentford lock to Tesco Hayes?]- but I'll be leading some I hope.Don't forget Ealing Cycling Campaign run a ride on the first Sunday of  the month leaving at 10.00 from Ealing Town Hall. www.ealingcycling.org.uk, last month was a trip to a pick-your-own-farm.We're also having some more gentle family rides around the borough 23rtd August is the next one. A nice 7 miles potter.Then there's another food inspired ride 12th August to Giftos in Southall We're also leading another mass ride into London for the main SkyRide on 20th September. More details when we them ourselves!

David Eales ● 6258d

But David you're a veteran so they may not sound very inspiring to you!Mind you the idea of cycling to a pick-your-own farm does sound very enticing.  What did you/could you pick?How many people do you get on your first Sunday of the month rides?

Philippa Bond ● 6257d

Fair point [although I would not count myself a veteran!]The rides vary - but there's usually at least 20 people, on Sunday to the FreeWheel we had over 60 and last year for the main London one we had 200.At the farm we picked cherries, spinach, sweetcorn, strawberries, raspberries, black/red currants, apples, plums, squash, beans, peas and some more stuff that I can't remember - it was far cheaper than past years for some reason.

David Eales ● 6257d

Sounds brilliant - I remember pick-your-own strawberries as a child:  One for the punnet, one for the mouth...Giftos seems to be a restaurant in Southall (I had to google it) does this mean that it is an evening ride?  Is it a family ride?

Philippa Bond ● 6256d

It was a great ride - nearly all the way on the canal.Yep - Giftos is an excellent Indian in Southall, I couldn't make it this time, but we have sorts of extra rides throughout the year. There's a German place we went to last month mid-week, as well as the sunset ride on the longest day on Richmond Hill. Next ride is the little family ride on the 23rd August and 6th September for a train ride out to Berkshire for a lovely potter around the country lanes.Hope to see some new faces!

David Eales ● 6256d

Register free for this ride for all ages and abilities around a traffic-free central London.http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/skyride/london

Philippa Bond ● 6245d