Hey folks, I'll be visiting your fair city from Chicago the first week of June and then I'll be back July 7-9 (going to Copenhagen and probably Amsterdam in-between). I'm staying a few extra days to catch the Prologue and Stage 1 of the Tour that second weekend - It'll be a new experience for me so I was wondering if you LFG'ers have any plans to attend the race, cool stuff that's happening around it, whether anyone's planning to see the race outside of London, etc. Second, I'd like to take a nice long ride to see the city in addition to see the sites. Any hints on borrowing or renting a bike?

I'm on the Chicago Fixed Gear Forum. Thanks for your help!

def a people watching the tour & people to show you round town. Mosty pewople at the pub azt the moment so hold up a bit. I just goein .

T

yep, few of us are going to watch the prologue.
keep an eye on the forum

check out the calender,its quite intresting

Hey there. I host ChiFG for Naz, velocity boy on there too.

We've got a load of stuff going down around the TdF prologue, if you're on a bike you can ride in with us and get space on the LCC viewing platform for the day.

The calendar is packed around then, so check that too (tab at the top).

I can't lend you a bike for the first week of June (hasn't that passed already?) but depending on size you might be able to borrow my polo bike for the July 7-9 section of your stay.

Whereabouts are you staying in London? and did you want people to show you around, or just to be given some pointers and left alone?

Hi David, I recognize you from chifg, I also read the London thread on there. I'd love to ride with you guys if I can find a bike. The biggest I normally go is 53-54ish (being a girl) - I appreciate the offer, maybe it'll work out! Perhaps you guys know of a bike shop that would rent me a beater or something if all else fails. (oh, and I meant last week of June).

My itinerary is kind of up in the air. I'm actually going to watch a friend play at Wimbledon and I should be staying with her at least June 23-27, although I can only watch so much tennis so I'll be going to museums, walking/hopefully biking around town, etc. during some of those days. Anyone who wants to do the tourist (or pub) thing with me, come along! Depending on when she's out of the tournament, we were going to travel for a week or so and then I'm coming back to London on the 6th and leaving for home on the 9th. I've no idea where I'm staying that weekend; that's my task for today: find a cheap hotel or hostel. A good friend of mine recommended a place near the Russell Square tube stop (which I remember as being very centrally located from my first trip to London a couple of years ago).

Russell Sqaure is very central. So that would definitely work. Looking a bike up around there overnight is a risk, but if it's a beater then it should be alright.

Sat 23 June - Wed 27 June, not actually a great deal going on;

Bike Polo on the Sunday, if you were here on the Friday you could hang out with us all done the pub.
If you're into indie/alternative pop music, then on the Saturday there is this:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/17139
If you like Pulp/Jarvis Cocker then he's playing at the South Bank as part of the Meltdown series, sold out but you could get tickets from a tout.
Saturday I'm sure you'll be busy just settling in.

Happy to meet you for lunch if you're going near the British Museum as I work pretty much on it's doorstep (not literally, I'm not a beggar, just a building one street away).

On Monday or Tuesday night if you have a bike sorted I'm sure a few of us would be happy to give you a tour of the West End, City, Canary Wharf, Greenwich and back via the Embankment. It'll clock up about 15 to 20 miles depending on how we ad-lib it.

Happy to advise on pubs and restaurants if you give an idea of your preference and budget.

Now, for the second part of the trip, the July 6th to July 9th part. London will be crazy. Tour de France is going to dominate everything.

You're very welcome to join us for viewing it, if you can get a bike you can tag along the whole weekend and just have a blast.

I've got a spare bed if that works for you (no offence will be taken if you tell me to stick it), but the problem is I'm out West about 9 miles from the center, so you can't get too hammered unless you're cool riding a bike in that state. I'm also going to crash the Rapha party on the Saturday, so if you're tagging along I'll get you in too.

Anyhow, Tour de France weekend:

Friday:
Roller party, several other parties, opening ceremony.
Saturday:
Ride in, prologue, viewing stand, Rapha party, other parties.
Sunday:
Early morning all the pro's gather on Westminster Bridge, Start of Stage 1, party, bike polo, party.

I'll ask around to see if anyone has a smaller bike going spare. Would gears offend you?

PS: My email address is on the members page thing, feel free to bug me as you travel around.

bring your bike! It's free on most airlines.

y

roller party on the friday?
where? when?

This is my domain.

tennis is rubbish, gimme a shout if you get bored and want to ride or just lime

The calendar gives this:
http://www.google.com/calendar/event...=Europe/London

Thanks for all your help, I just booked myself into the Columbia Hotel across from the Kensington Gardens. Thanks for the tip, David! I can't wait to meet you guys. I'll think about bringing my bike and, no, I wouldn't be offended by gears.

i live near kensington, ill wisper you my mobile number when i find my phone....

I've found a lady in my cycle club willing to lend her geared Condor race bike that she uses for training and commuting. It might be too small though, it's about 51-ish. It'll be for the TdF weekend only.

Let me know if you want it so that I put you two in touch, or at least let Peta know so that you've bagged it and we can work out the details later.

Awesome, a 51-ish would be great. Thanks! Please put us in touch....and let me know if you guys want anything special from Chi-town.

What's that drink that is absolutely nuts and is pretty much only sold in Chi-town and you either love or hate? I'm thinking it starts with an M.

Malort!

I'd really appreciate two bottles if you can manage it.

One for the LondonFGSS'ers to feel abused by, and one for my ever-gloating hard-drinking mates to be floored by.

Happy to cover the costs.

hmmm....i'll see what i can do, but i was planning on flying carry-on only, and this is a liquid in a container over two ounces. and it's malort, which may be considered an onboard weapon by the FAA. they're getting pretty strict.

Hehe, no worries. I just want to pickle my friends.

Have you tried Stroh?

Yeah, but it didn't have a Chicago flag on the bottle. That makes all the difference.