Team Tweed gather before the whistle goes. |
You could be forgiven
for thinking you were imagining things, if over the weekend you saw traffic
come to a halt, to allow for hundreds of tweed clad cyclists tipping their hats
and cheering “Tally Ho!”
What you were in-fact
experiencing was the third London Tweed Run, which describes itself as ‘a
metropolitan bike ride with a bit of style’.
Participants apply
online for one of 400 extremely coveted tickets. Successful applicants are sent
the location of the meet, where everyone convenes at 10:30 am, before setting
off.
As the name suggests,
tweed is the cloth of choice. Passers by were bemused by what looked like a
scene from Downton Abbey meets the Circus! There was a selection of Penny-Farthings,
Bromptons, fixed wheels and glammed up Borris Bikes – their owners standing
alongside them beaming, like proud parents on sports day.
Sunday’s route took
cyclists on a leisurely twelve-mile tour across Central London. Tea was served at
the Imperial War Museum, where cupcakes were handed out freely and Murdocks were
available to shape moustaches.
Then it was off for
the second leg, which wove around East London, before the finale at a pub
called the Blacksmith and the Toffeemaker. Graham Coxon awarded
prizes to the most “dashing dame” and “dapper chap”, before a band took stage
and revellers danced the night away.
In the bustle of
London life, it was most refreshing and enjoyable to share this experience with
such friendly people, all enthusiastic and willing to have a good time.
Sir Plus recommends
applying for next year!
James Sleater from Cad and the Dandy wearing his Sir Plus Boxers |
Sir Plus waistcoats |
Photos courtesy of Marcus Dawes: http://www.marcusdawes.com/
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