Today was my first experience of the extreme sport that masquerades as cycling from A to B in central London, an activity pursued by most of my colleagues with a disdain reserved by circus riders for the wall of death.
The short ride from Mosquito Bikes in Islington to RCUK’s headquarters in the City of London to fetch the magnificent Zullo Vergine for test as part of our ‘Build up to Bespoked’ theme for March offered an eye-popping experience of life on two wheels on the capital’s busy streets.
Clad in casual attire, trainers, and with the super light KASK Mojito helmet (more of which in future articles) the only cycle-specific item of my ensemble, I pressed on the platform pedals kindly attached to the Vergine by Ed at Mosquito and took to the relentless streets of central London amid a sea of drivers only casually acquainted with the Highway Code.
Random observations:
1) It’s easy to forget how functional cycle clothing is
Harrington jackets offer next to no breathability. Jeans chafe. Cycling in trainers is deeply frustrating (I found myself gripping the pedals’ leading edge with my toes). If the global financial crisis has left you unable to refresh your cycling wardrobe, try a 15-minute ride in ‘civvies’ and fall in love again with the cycle-specific garments you already own.
2) Everyone in London wears an i-Pod
Stopping to ask directions provides momentary respite from the sensory overload of cycling in the City, but the search for someone able to hear your enquiry can be long and fruitless. The only people not listening to music seem to be those employed in retail outlets. Which leads us to…
3) Storage centres welcome bike-toting cyclists; florists don’t
Wheeling in a bike to a self storage centre to ask for directions caused little or no concern. Perhaps they thought I’d come to check in the Zullo and stoically concealed their disappointment when the purpose of my visit became apparent. A nearby florist, however, had no truck with errant cyclists, perhaps sensing the potential for irreparable damage to her precious blooms presented by the Zullo’s chain and cassette. Ironically, on this sample (one storage centre, one florist) florists proved to be a better source of information for the disorientated bike rider.
4) The Zullo Virgene turns heads
All state-funded projects to bring art to the ‘people’ should be halted, and funding reinvested in a fleet of Vergines for each of the nation’s major conurbations. Its Pollock-esque paint scheme drew admiring glances from everyone from cycle couriers (expected) to postmen (less so). Perhaps they were baffled by the sight of flat pedals screwed into Super Record cranks. Perhaps.
5) Tube station regulars double-take when you later return with a bike
Wheeling the Zullo past the tube station I had left two hours previously with bag and newspaper drew puzzled glances from the regular gallery of newspaper sellers, charity reps and shopkeepers gathered in its immediate environs. ‘Was the bike in his bag?’ they seemed to be thinking. ‘Has Boris built a cycle superhighway underground? Just how many forms of transport does one person need?’
