Critical Mass, London
A leisurely pedal around the centre of London
(Photos ©urban75, Saturday, June 26th, 2009)
A cracking summer's evening saw a bumper turn out for the monthly Critical Mass bike ride.
The ride meets on the last Friday of every month, underneath Waterloo Bridge on the South Bank - cyclists usually assemble from 6pm onwards, with the ride setting off around 7pm.
Like the London World Naked Bike Ride two weeks before, the unplanned route took in a few of the sights of London, including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham palace.
Apart from some positively psychotically incandescent cabbies (and, to be honest, one or two testosterone-overcharged cyclists), this was a fabulous ride, with hundreds of cyclists enjoying a leisurely, car-free saunter around the streets of central London.
Here's some photos from the ride:
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-01.jpg)
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-02.jpg)
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-03.jpg)
Guy with a Segway checks out the penny farthing bike. Penny farthing bikes were invented by James Startley, an Englishman born in Albourne, West Sussex, in 1831.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-04.jpg)
Waiting for the off.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-05.jpg)
Segway and penny farthing.
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![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-06.jpg)
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-07.jpg)
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-08.jpg)
Past Lambeth palace.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-09.jpg)
Houses of Parliament.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-10.jpg)
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![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-11.jpg)
Parliament Square, where the ride paused for a while.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-12.jpg)
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-13.jpg)
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-14.jpg)
Through Admiralty Arch and along The Mall.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-15.jpg)
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![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-16.jpg)
A cycle ride outside Buckingham Palace.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-17.jpg)
Several sound systems were playing Michael Jackson tunes after his untimely death the night before. We trust Her Majesty enjoyed them.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-18.jpg)
Outside the gates.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-19.jpg)
Cheery armed police by Buckingham Palace.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-20.jpg)
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![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-21.jpg)
Befuddled cop by Hyde Park.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-22.jpg)
Up Park Lane. Moments before two absolute arseholes on superbikes had swerved their way through cyclists at dangerous speeds, revving their bikes to a screech if people didn't get out of their way instantly.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-24.jpg)
Piccadilly Circus.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-25.jpg)
Looking back up Regent Street.
![London Critical Mass bike ride from Waterloo through central London, 26th June 2009](../critical/images/critical-mass-june09-26.jpg)
Cambridge Circus.
It kicked off here with a bizarrely incandescent cab driver who nearly drove over several bikes. It's weird how some drivers will patiently sit in line if the traffic jam is caused by other cars, but when it's human powered traffic - BAM! - they go apoplectic with rage.
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