Historic Herne Hill Pics

The Guardian just did a photo feature on Herne Hill in London.









Check out the rest of the shots here, and help save Herne Hill here.

Velodrome

Great little video by Nick Turpin about Herne Hill. Save the velodrome!

Preview of the London 2012 Velodrome

The Guardian has a 360 degree preview of the brand new velodrome for the 2012 Olympics in London. Check it out here.

Save Herne Hill

A while ago I posted about visiting Herne Hill velodrome when I was living in London. It's a great old track, with tons of history and is the only velodrome in London, but sadly it's a bit run down, and it looks like without some serious financial help the track will have to close. Check out the campaign to save Herne Hill velodrome here and here.

Thanks to Tracko for bringing the campaign to our attention!

Herne Hill in Winter

Watching the video Aaron posted yesterday, of Victoria Pendleton chase some trials rider around Herne Hill velodrome, reminded me that I'd never posted the photos of the track I took over the winter, so here they are. Herne Hill velodrome is old, in fact it's one of the oldest tracks still in existence, having been built in 1896. There's a ton of history at this place (check out Tracko's post from a while back about Tom Simpson racing here) and it was used in the Olympics in 1947. It's still being used regularly for racing today.

The entrance laneway, complete with cycling wall-art.

A reminder of the history of the place. Some of the seating, in fairness, looks like it's been around since 1896.

The more modern seating near the start line. The infield (where Crystal Palace used to play, football trivia fans) was being used for cyclocross this winter.

Turns 3 and 4. I don't think that picnic table is usually there...

Okay, it's not as visually impressive as the velodrome I visited in Caracas, but it's still a great place, and you can see world class riders competing there, especially during the famous Good Friday meet. If you live in London and you haven't raced yet, check out their Open Season races on the first Saturday of every month during the season.


Details on Herne Hill velodrome here.

Safari London

I'm living in London right now, Camberwell to be exact, so I was particularly into this little video from Rick and Roddy, with all its shots of places south of the Thames. It's really, really nice looking, filmed on a homemade rig and everything. It's well peng! Thanks to Rick for the email.

The T-Shirt Story of my Life

From House of Pistard.

Good Friday Track Meet

The Good Friday track meet at Herne Hill velodrome in London is happening on April 10th this year. The event has been going for over 100 years, since 1903, and is not to be missed if you're in London. For all the details and to read about the history of the Herne Hill Good Friday meet, go here.

Rollapalaluza Winter League Grand Finale

The finale of the London's Rollapalaluza Brass Monkey winter roller-race league is this coming Wednesday, March 18th, at Reliance Square studios, New Inn Yard. Lots of prizes from people like Knog and Pig Dog bags, plus you don't even have to be a league contender to race. Just head over there and try it out. Details here.

Rollapaluza Donkey Derby

Does anyone actually race bikes anymore, or is it just roller racing these days? Seriously, I never get emails about track meets or alleycats anymore, just roller races. I suppose it is winter. Plus, these are the only races you can have in a pub, but still...


Rollapaluza Donkey Derby III - Fri. March 20th - The Horseshoe Bar, Clerkenwell, London - Racers must be couriers (this is the Courier Championships) - Proceeds to the London Couriers Emergency Fund - Details here

Bermondsey Bike Parking

Would that all bike parking looked this good. This bike store in Bermondsey, London, holds 76 bikes and was designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects. See more details over at dezeen.

Thanks to Jess for the heads-up!

Bob Jackson and Brick Lane Bikes

Funny, I was just on the Bob Jackson website yesterday, looking at their Vigorellis. I really like them, so it was a pleasant surprise to see these special edition Brick Lane Bikes Bob Jackson Vigorellis in my reader this morning. They look pretty sweet. Check 'em out here.

The Tweed Run

150 cyclists riding through London, all dressed in tweed. Bertie Wooster would have loved it. Thanks to Roxy for the excellent photos, and to Zack for noticing the story on Arkitip first. Some good photos over on Tracko too.

Tweed Run, London - Photo by Roxy.

Very proper at the Tweed Run, London - Photo by Roxy.

Tweed Run group shot, London. Rarely has a larger number of elbow patches been assembled in the same place at the same time. - Photo by Roxy.

This houndstooth GrannyGear cap would have gone down a treat:

Brick Lane Bikes Track Frames

There's something about a cream coloured, lugged steel frame that just looks so good. Like it says on the frame, it's classic. Check them out at Brick Lane Bikes.

Fixed Mag and Macaframa in London

The launch of Fixed Mag issue 2 and the European premiere of Macaframa will happen on Sunday, December 6th, at Rich Mix Cinema, on Bethnal Green Road, in London. I used to live 5 minutes from there! Details on the launch, premiere and afterparty here.

Check out Fixed Mag here.
Check out Macaframa here.

Brass Monkey Rollapaluza Winter League London

I got an email from Adam letting me know about the Brass Monkey roller league, happening this winter in London. First one happens on Nov 19th and the second on Dec 3rd. I wonder if Craig McLean or Chris Hoy will show up? All the details are here.

Neon!

Artist Benedict Radcliffe has worked with (I refuse to say "collabo" or put a little "x" between the names) the FixedGearLondon crew to produce a range of insanely bright neon bikes. My eyes hurt!


More pics over on the FixedGearLondon flickr page. Originally seen on MilanoFixed.

London: Two Messengers Down in One Day.

I just read about this over on Moving Target. Apparently, two London messengers we involved in separate accidents today. They survived, but it sounds like it was touch-and-go, and both are now in hospital. Check out this photo of one of the bikes involved, taken by Todd over on londonfgss.com.


Jaysus, the state of that bike, it's mangled! Messengers work hard for little money, so if you have a few spare sovs, head over to the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund to help out.

[UPDATE] So, this is all second hand info, but I heard that one messenger broke some bones in his foot and will be out of work for a while. The other messenger, however, sustained serious soft tissue damage to his legs, and he may never be able to ride his bike again. More details on Moving Target, including a donation link for these two messengers in particular.