Sorry about pic quality as camera was on wrong default settings! Having said that it's better than bringing a digital camera without a battery (Tango Tim's owner) or a film based camera that doesn't get developed for eons (The Jestream God's owner)!!!! Here goes:

We met at Hyde Park outside the cafe overlooking the Serpentine lake on a glorious Sunday. Snafu21 (Sue) very kindly treated us all to tea or cappucino and we sat outside with our folders overlooking the lake and spent a very relaxing 30 mins or so. Sue nearly had her helmet knocked into the lake by Littlepixel (Huw) but Mulleady kindly retrieved it as it lay by the lake's edge near some gunge and mud! (No photos). we then moved on and stopped at a bridge near Regent's Park as we were locating the course of the Regent's Canal that goes through Camden Town and outwards towards East London.

You can see all the bikes on the bridge with Ian (principe_azul) pointing at me in his fluorescent jacket for taking an unflattering angle of his flash Dahon Jetstream P8:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2663660015_d163f83275_b.jpg

Cough. Huw. :)

Huw kindly took this photo. From left to right: Nigelme (Nigel), Snafu21 (The person with the decapitated head, with her helmet on is Sue :D), and distracted at something across the road with a big grin on his face is last but not least principe_azul (Ian).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2664493732_7365e6b884_b.jpg
I would of course like to add the helmet hooligan and master craftsman of folding bike mods himself, the one and only Littlepixel (Huw), first left in this picture below. He looks much younger in real life believe me! I do apologise for the ageing properties of my camera! principe_azul is still distracted, must have been Jessica Alba, Halle Berry and Shakira passing by on Bromptons such is that transfixed grin spanning 2 shots!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2664492474_c69f919460_b.jpg
Below is the eyecatching Red Devil of compact folders made by the one and only LP:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2663663597_6b056bb5a7_b.jpg
Below, Snafu21's Tango Tim (Downtube FS) vying for some attention!:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2664488954_f81aee2113_b.jpg
Riding along the Regents Canal towpath:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/2664500222_cc00011f14_b.jpg
A nice over the bridge shot of Regents Canal near Camden Town in London with a turning narrowboat:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2663672041_fed19d584b_b.jpg
Avery packed and lively Camden lock with a pub opposite:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2664497872_0fd7123918_b.jpg
The lock itself below:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2664496978_d00cbe5c2e_b.jpg
principe_azul paying homage to Nigelme's black Downtube FS. My bike (almost identical bar some mods and different tyres showing its front wheel just behind! Yes 3/5 of the bikes were Downtubes and no it wasn't a PR stunt for Dr Layansky and Downtube lol!:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2663678181_1317979ef4_b.jpg

Finally! We all like folders on this forum but principe_azul sees them as Gods and he believes that Littlepixel's sub 9kg Brompton is the Zeus of them all! Below showing true worship:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2664502040_eda113047c_b.jpg

Well to the truth he was taking a photo of some mods on the bike but it looks convincing :D

Those tight spandexy trousers - which I can now fit into thanks to chalking up 600 miles on the new bike - and that billowing dayglo thing make me look like a Weeble.

Well, I wobbled a bit taking the photo but I didn't fall down...

Well recommended your fine Dahon Jestream P8 to ukelele_boy on another thread to use touring with his eclectic band in the US. He better watch his waistline too now I guess or his pants might fall off in a few months during a live concert! :)

Things were going well for the HPFBS riders, until race leader principe_azul dropped a contact lens...


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2664502040_eda113047c_b.jpg

Not me, I don't wear them.

A few weeks ago I lost a small screw from a camera and idiot that I am I'd been looking for it for five minutes before it occurred to me I was searching for something 3mm wide on a shingle beach... :rolleyes:

Looks ride you all had fun!

Thanks for the report!

It was noticeable today that Lil'Pixles excellent Brommie Fixie got all the attention. Some German chap came up to him in Campden today and seemed to make him a secretive offer that was coldly rebuffed.

As we parked by the canal, and the sun came out, many questioned the wisdom of the club's only rule: 'No Swimming'.

There were murmurs of a new club sport, 'Orange Downtube Hurling' - but retrieval of bicycles from the canal would have violated the 'No Swimming' rule, and members, thankfully, desisted.

What's the point of having a 270 page Club Handbook if nobody reads it? Eh?

What's the point of having a 270 page Club Handbook if nobody reads it? Eh?

Why read it when all one needs is their own personal snafu21 to quote it verbatim? ;)

Why read it when all one needs is their own personal snafu21 to quote it verbatim? ;)

Quite.

I dont know, a suspicious bunch like that lurking on a street corner in Paddington like that, you're lucky not to have got arrested ! Good job you have a 270 page handbook to prove your credentials.

Whilst the London Highbrow Folders were enjoying tea and buns, some foldanistas were hammering it between Chelsea and Petersham, chasing Gary Linnaker, and his new bird. 26 miles, and mine was the first blue Mezzo home in a tad under four hours, I know no world records broken, but we were mixing it with horses, old ladies, and sunday drivers (who really dont like it when they are outnumbered by cyclists). About 7000 took part, all shapes and sizes, all kinds of bike ( I spotted a couple of space frame moultons, two bromptons, and a dozen or so dahons of various wheel size). Good course, with two hills both in Richmond park, one the long run up to Star & Garter gate, where just about everything came to a standstill whilst the townies gorped at the deer, and a nasty little climb just inside the Ham gate on the way back. I'm pleased to say that the Mezzo's gearing allowed me to ride up both, definetley no walking. a great day, and the bike was a dream, agile and surefooted.

Hey Snafu (sue)

I didn't get a chance to ask at your departure - How was the chewy fruit pastel saddle (Rido) over the ©11 miles route (what we took)?

Oh and it was lovely to meet you at last.

Hey Snafu (sue)

I didn't get a chance to ask at your departure - How was the chewy fruit pastel saddle (Rido) over the ©11 miles route (what we took)?

Oh and it was lovely to meet you at last.



Yo Nigel!

The saddle, it was like sitting on two pineapples. I hate it more than I hate Jeremy Clarkson. My Downstairs Department was terribly battered when I got home. I got a proper Lay-deees gel saddle to go on, but it weighs, like ten kilos. What price a comfy bottom, eh? Any yuse guys want to try the Rido for a month, I'll bring it along next time. I'm donating it to the Club.

Lovely to meet you, and the rest of the gang. Lovely day out. Lovely. Splendid turn-out.


edit: Slightly riled by coming second in the 100 metre sprint, I@m building a SECRET WEAPON, an Urban Bicycle so, incredibly, er, odd, (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=441045) nobody will ever take it on..

Whilst the London Highbrow Folders were enjoying tea and buns, some foldanistas were hammering it between Chelsea and Petersham, chasing Gary Linnaker

Ah, yes, well done. I saw some of the cyclists on the way in, but they'd all gone by the time we set off.

I did the Bikeathon about 3 years ago on my Twenty and it was a hoot even when I missed a checkpoint or more accurately was mis-directed along the off-road route for about 3 miles lol. It was verr hot and i did about 60 miles all in on the day.

To those that I met - I'm happy to report I found the end-plug from my handlebars in the garden today so no harm done. I hate to take her out with bits falling off. Anyone got any good fixes for leprosy-ridden endcaps on cork tape? ;)

found the end-plug from my handlebars in the garden...

Phew. We was going to organise a whip-round.:thumb:


What was that chap saying to you at Campden lock? Did he want to buy your bike? Or was it one of those:

" I also haff der Brompton und vaaht do you tink off der sprocket metallurgy?"

moments?

What was that chap saying to you at Campden lock? Did he want to buy your bike?

The guy in Camden was just one of those 'How much does one of zese bikes cost... Where can I get it from...' people which is hard to reply to when your steed is all custom. I said 'about a grand - it's custom' though your version of events makes it sound a lot more spy-movie and intriguing!