Photo: On the way to the start.

Remember the pandemic? Of course you do. This event reminded me just how long ago it was. Six years have passed since it hit the UK. This was the 7th edition of London Lockdown, organised by Mark Kowalski, that he started during the 2020 lockdown. This particular virus took a while to establish itself then really started to infect riders from 2024:

A 100 mile night ride marking the outline of the Corona virus and a syringe. All in aid of the Lewisham Bank of Things that helps young people between 11 and 25 living in hardship.

It was also a chance to ride with two long standing Islington Cycling Club friends David and Paul. We started as a four but somehow we lost Paolo soon after the start.

Talking of the start. That was interesting. For the first 5km we were accompanied by the London version of Critical Mass. Progress was slow and noisy. As Paul put it, “a different demographic”. And a different smell. Let’s just say the aroma took me back to my university days.

Once we split at Albert Bridge, the ride could begin in earnest.

Weaving our way through South London Paul knew where we were at all times. I had no idea until we hit the south bank of the Thames and headed West towards Greenwich. Getting back to the more familiar territory north of the river was also interesting. The lift of the Greenwich foot tunnel wasn’t working so only one way down.

At least the lift back up was working.

After every up, there’s always a down.

“Steps” shouted David. “What steps?” I thought. Ah, those steps, as I hit the brakes hard. I stopped before the steps but had no time to unclip before I fell off, hitting my head on a wall. Not for the first time in my life was I grateful to be wearing a helmet. I was wedged under my bike against the wall not able to get up. Fellow riders rescued me. Thank you. The main pain wasn’t physical but from the embarrassment.

After Canary Wharf a quick stop at a 24 hour McDonalds for coffee, then towards home territory of North London. A small detour to David’s house for a very welcome breakfast in Crouch End. By the time we’d restarted it was light again. The three of us agreed that time had flown by during the night, much like the time since the pandemic. The older I get the more I realise time isn’t linear. I remember as a child thinking that after Christmas it took an entire year, or a lifetime, before the next one. Now the years just pass in a blink of an eye.

We decided our finishing photo should be somewhere more appealing than the start/finish car park so we picked a little place in Victoria.

We finished in about 11 hours. We were tired but happy.

Happy that even though I’ll be a state pensioner soon I can still ride through the night. Happy to have ridden with great riders and friends. Happy for a great route around the capital. Happy that the ride raised over £10,000 to help young people.

Congratulations and thanks to Mark and his band of volunteers, which included Tom Costello from our club.