Vintage London - The Tweed Run 2011

The registration process for the 3rd annual London Tweed Run was over in a flash. Nigh on 500 places were snapped up online in a matter of minutes leaving many a disgruntled wannabe Tweed Runner bemoaning the process, and if I hadn't managed to bag myself a ticket in those brief minutes back in January I too would not have been best pleased.

However...hurrah for me!! Myself and Fleur sat, laptops on knees, eagerly awaiting the moment we could register, and found ourselves as Runners numbers 143 and 187!!

There was just one catch about my being part of the 'metropolitan bicycle ride with a bit of style'.....I don't own a bike, nor have I ridden one for about 10 years.  But, after one begging e-mail and alot of finger crossing, the wonderful people at Pashley agreed to lend us bicycles!!! And not just any old bicycles but Special Edition Pashley Brittanias!!!!!! HUZZAH!

We both agreed we weren't going to wear Tweed...we'll leave that to the Gents. After all, they wear it awfully well. With an early blast of Summer, why not get out a pretty Summer frock and let it flutter behind in the breeze (being careful of course that it doesn't get caught in the spokes and drag you into the curb).

Naomi used her special skills to blag herself a ticket last minute....yay! and was lent a beautiful Pashley from Tally Ho! Cycle Tours.

Double yay! Go Team Pashley!

Fleur took part in the Tweed Run last year, but I wasn't really sure what I had let myself in for. As we hopped on a bus to the meeting point next to St.Pauls Cathedral, anticipation was quickly mounting....what if I'd forgotten how to ride a bike???

I needn't have feared, the Pashley Brittania is not so much a bike, but more a stylish extension of my carefully put together outfit.....as we moved across the sunny streets of London I felt as though I were gliding round the corners and that people were admiring my blue steed with a glint of green in their eyes.

As someone who has lived in London their whole life I can honestly say that this is the most fun I have ever had travelling across this big old town.
 

Watching the faces of the Saturday afternoon shoppers on Oxford Street being prevented from crossing the road by a throng of exceedingly well dressed eccentrics all ringing their bicycle bells was a blast! As was cycling alongside Ewan McGregor, drifting along under the aromatic scent of pipe smoke, singing Kate Bush as we cycled down The Mall, and finally collapsing into bed that night! The saddest part of the day was seeing my beloved Pashley being taken away....boo hoo! I am going to get me one of those!

I am so glad I participated in this fabulously English happening, which brought together two of my favourite things; vintage and London Town, and introduced me to cycling, which might just well be a new favourite.

 

The queue for tea!!!

Photo from GQStyle

From GQStyle

Here is a video someone filmed from on top of a roof near Old Street.I love the sound of the contrasting angry car horns and lovely ringing bicycle bells. About 10 seconds in you can see me and Fleur pass in front on the bus stop down the bottom right hand corner....

This time lapse video is superb.You can follow the whole Tweed Run in 4 minutes!

There are somebrlliant photos on Flickr, and Fleur has some nice ones that I'm sure she post soon,and a quick google search will provide plenty more.

There is a wonderful blog post following one family's Tweed Run here, and a superb account in chapters here.