Sunday, 28 December 2014

A Chilly Eastward Bimble

We have missed a couple of the  pre Christmas rides due to work I was unable to go. My cycle partner suggested a ride this weekend. At first it was going to be a night ride but due to work changed to a day ride instead.

So with that in mind we arranged to meet up at Trafalgar Square 07:00 bright and early, ok not so bright ;)

Waiting outside National Gallery

Once we met up we headed towards St. Paul's Cathedral with the dawn following us.

Christmas lights infront of St. Paul's Cathedral

St.Paul's Dome
Mr. Orange in action
In front of St. Paul's was the Millennium Bridge to the TATE Modern.

As you can see the lighting was pretty awesome, sunrise seemed to take a long time which was fine with me as we was able to catch some pretty good shots.

The Shard & Tower Bridge at sunrise




Not many people where about at this time of the morning but there was other residents running about as you can see with this urban fox just ran right past us without batting an eye.

Hello Mr. Fox
As we continued eastward there where still Christmas decorations in different forms dotted around London.

Ceiling of stars


Global Christmas Tree
Been to this water feature next to City Hall many times and just had to get a shot but without getting wet.
The Legend within a water feature
I noticed that I seem to be drawn to the simple shapes of builds, especially if they where curved.

City Hall, London
Off we went towards & across Tower Bridge. I remembered one of my friends saying there was a glass floor when you went up the Tower and could see the traffic below. I mentioned this to my partner and made a mental note that we should come back at some point and go up and take in the view for ourselves.

Glass floor at Tower Bridge
Not far from Tower Bridge we came across a statue that I have seen a number of times on rides but the sun this time was so low that you could block the sun behind it. I thought this would make a different kind of shot and I was actually a little shocked at the results I actually got.

"Girl with a Dolphin"

Giant Sundial
Just before we got here, there was some EXTREMELY slippy decking. I slipped a little and just as I was warning my partner he also slipped quiet badly but like a trooper he kept on with the ride, just took it abit more gently.

Mr. O putting chain back on
Sneaking up on some seagulls

Mr. O & his shadow


On we went to Canary Wharf, I'd known there was a fountain here but never really took the time to take any photos of it.


While I was photographing the fountain I found these two characters.

HE & SHE
From what I could tell their are speaking sculptures & on the ground there was a website address you could scan to "hear" them speaking.

Canary Wharf was a basically a ghost town with the workers still on their Christmas holidays it was just us a few tourist & security guards. We pushed on to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel which again was pretty deserted compared to how its been in the past.

Almost deserted Greenwich Foot Tunnel
The dome of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel
The Cutty Sark was waiting for us at the other end of the tunnel and with the sun still pretty low in the sky it made for a great shot.

The Cutty Sark
We then decided to head to the O2 dome for a little break but just before we left I spotted this famous gentleman and couldn't resist taking a shot especially with the sun still so low in the sky.

Lord Nelson
Shadow of the legend

Mr. Orange, my cycle & photography partner



O2 Dome

When we reached the O2, we was abit surprised that it was quiet full. Seemed to be some kind of Frozen event going on as there was alot of Frozen Princess running about with parents.
We managed to find the "Slug and Lettuce" which wasn't too busy & had a pretty big all day breakfast which hit the spot. After our meal we decided to head back to Embankment via The Thames Clipper River Boat. I think my partner's knee was bothering him a little so was a good decision not to cycle all the way back. Seeing we had been over & under the Thames it seemed fitting that we went on it too. Not long after we got to Embankment we headed out separate ways home.

Ride Data: A Chilly Eastward Bimble

Once again its always good to ride with my cycling partner, Mr. OrangeBrompton, to slow it down a little to take photographs of this great city of ours.

Bring on 2015 I say.

Saturday, 27 December 2014

The future is all around us....

Well Christmas is over and the new year is almost upon us.

I have to say 2014 has been a really good year for us here at the HiVE.

One of our goals was to do over 4000 miles which we have achieved on Boxing Day Bimble ride on Bixing day with the London Brompton Club. 

  • Doing the treble at the Brompton World Championships was AWESOME and a MUST.
  • Finally doing a century (100 miles) on a single ride which is something I have said we would do for this year. Had attempted it at the MITIE but that ride was a very hilly ride and only managed to do 40 odd miles before the "swiper" van came and picked us up :(

    Doing the St. Crispin's Day Ride which was over 100 miles was where we achieved our century goal.
  • I decided to to upgrade BBB's gearing so it would be easier to go up hills after the failed attempt at the MITIE. This meant changing my standard 50T chain ring to 44T. Made much easier with the new Brompton spider crank.
  • Going dynamo lighting which looking back I wish we did earlier as we really love having dynamo lights.
    In the future we plan on going on many more rides as always. We may not be the fastest but we give it a damn good go. 

    We would like to take this chance to thank everyone that reads this blog and for all the people we have rode with this past year and ofcourse in the future. 

    Extra special thanks to my cycling partner in crime Mr. OrangeBrompton. Inspiring us to do better each and everytime we ride together. Without his encouragement we wouldn't be the legend we are today. 

    David who is our chief navigator on many a club ride guiding us safely along & always giving us someone to attempt to keep up with.  

    Anne for the great flapjacks, hug, smiles & beauty along the way. 

    MickB who I have missed on our rides but is always there in spirit. 

    Also our crazy Cyclious gang that we ride with who are just a bunch of crazy loveable nutcases. Love you guys

    So what for 2015? 

    What do we have planned? 

    Well we have no idea, all we know is that it will be...




    LEGENDARY!!!

    Thursday, 25 December 2014

    Merry Christmas to all our readers

    We'd like to wish ALL our readers a very Merry Christmas. No presents for the Legend just yet but then again what can you get a legend that has everything?

    Answers in comments please ;)

    Now go enjoy your celebrations how ever you and your family do it and maybe go out for a little ride on your B if possible.

    See you soon
    BBB

    Friday, 19 December 2014

    "I see dumb people!"

    Now on this mornings commute into work was fun. 

    Coming down a slight hill & a car does a U turn in front of me. Didn't look or indicate. I had to slam on my brakes abit but had plenty room to spare. He sped off as if nothing happened then taxi came along side me with his window down saying

    "How could that guy not see you coming? You got good lights on"

    I said " dunno, his just an ass!"

    He laughted & said sorry for the guy that did the U turn. I was abit surprised at that bit appreciated it none the less. 

    Abit of traffic up ahead and I spot the same guy that U turned in front of me, I come along side him and guess what. His on the mobile. 
    I shout at him to get off the damn mobile & that he nearly took me out when he did his U turn earlier. He put the phone down & the traffic moved off. 
    I caught him up again further down & guess what. His in the bloody phone again, this time I get angry and bang on his window telling to him get off the phone. 

    Seriously sometimes people are just dumb and need to be sorted out. I can see why more & more cyclists are getting helmet mounted cameras these days but I personally think they attract that kind of trouble cause it's only once in awhile I have that kind of thing happens to me. I just let rip right there and then and whoever I'm having a go at know not to mess with the legend.

    Bee safe out there folks.  

    Have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. 2015 is going to be even more lengendary if that's at all possible. 

    Tuesday, 16 December 2014

    #YearoftheBus Westminster & River trails

    Wanting to finish off doing the Year of the Bus trail with the Legend so me & a good LBC buddy Daniel R embarked on our London adventure.
    I have to say I was glad I had Daniel with me cause navigating in central London isn't my strong suit.


    We met up of the Edgware road at our starting point "Come rain or shine" of the Westminster YOTB trail as it was out of the way compared to the rest.

    Come Rain or Come Shine Bus


    Busby Bus


    My AccessiBus


    Poppyfields Bus


    Swinging London Bus


    Rock 'n' Roll


    Cath Kidson London Scene Bus
    Daniel R looking badass in Piccadilly


    Travels with Edwards Bus


    London Skyline Bus


    Trafalgar Panoramic Bus


    Daniel R & I


    Lest We Forget Bus


    Lest We Forget


    London Telephone Bus
    This sign doesn't apply to legends does it?

    London Takes the Bus


    Gull Graeni Straeto


    Buckingham Palace Bus


    Westminster Bus


    Tunnel Vision Bus

    This was the final Westminster trail bus. Daniel R & I decided to have a lunch break in Victoria so we headed inside the rail station. It was a little hard to decide what we wanted as there was ALOT a choices in the station itself. We finally decided to head over to The Beer House and once there treated ourselves to a Hot Chocolate and a BBQ Chicken burger with Chips. The hot chocolate didn't last as we had worked up abit of a hunger. With us cycling we kept warm but as we stopped we could feel the cold a little. In time we finally got our burgers and enjoyed them very much. They where served on a wooden boards which I guess is the done thing these days.



    After our rather good lunch we headed out to do the River trail.

    New Routemaster


    Legible London Bus


    Brolly Bus


    Route Masters Bus


    Oria Kelly Bus


    Spectrum Bus


    Dazzle Bus


    Tower Bridge Bus


    Twenty Four Seven Bus


    All aboard the Number 8 Bus


    Push Once Bus


    Kids Company Bus


    Punk'ed Bus
    Now I have done the Olympic Queens Park, Westminster & River Year of the bus trails. Recently the Croydon trail has been opened so me and Daniel are planning to do that trail before the event finishes.

    Garmin Ride Data: 2014 Year of the Bus: Westminster & River Trails

    From 24 - 25 January, all 58 bus sculptures from across London will spend a weekend at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park before they're auctioned off for charity.