LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE TM
& SUNDAY STROLL TM

From: Week on Wheels <wow /at/ lfns.co.uk>
Subject: [wow] Week on Wheels: with watts
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:45:48 +0000

This week, on wheels

* This week: Clerkenwell/Farringdon and the Decongestion Charge skate
* Last week: Sound, safe, smooth, on skates, we said Pah! to the weather
* The Last Enemy, the Movie on wheels
* Budding David Baileys: this one's for you
* Boring legal bit


== THIS WEEK ==

The LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE is a repeat of the rained off route from
two weeks ago: Dan's second attempt at getting home from the pub. Look
for downhills, some lovely smooth surfaces (recently resurfaced
stretches in Clerkenwell), and a circuit of Trafalgar Square on the
way home. Half time is outside Farringdon tube station, and the second
half will be further and faster than the first.

                               http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070223

On SUNDAY we'll be marking the westward extension of the Congestion
Charge with a trip into Pimlico, Chelsea and Kensington. Of course
being a Sunday there's no fee for enjoying Lead Marshal Christian's
return to his home turf (those of you put off by his early Jan
Markus-esque trip to Liverpool Street can relax). Half time is at
Pimlico tube, and we promise to be back in time to catch the England
rugby game.
                               http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070225


== LAST WEEK ==

On FRIDAY Edd led an exploration of the hidden highlights (lowlights?)
of skating London with a tour that explored underground car parks and
tucked away tunnels. Much whooping and exciting echoey places made up
for the absence of the music system - though it will be interesting to
run some of these streets again with Firebrox in tow. Stand by for
ruptured eardrums!

Some lovely smooth surfaces and a few full-on sprints toward the end
made Friday a well-deserved triumph over the rubbish skating weather we
have seen of late.
                            http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070216/1

The SUNDAY STROLL that didn't go to Bishops Park actually ended up at
Parsons Green. Due to excessive traffic on the King's Road, we
diverted down to Chelsea Harbour. But what did that matter: we were
all listening to the tunes blasted out by the upgraded Firebrox - or
"V2" as it's come to be known by the project team. Thanks to Peter C
for riding it, and to DJ Marty for the music mix with mixed reviews.

                            http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20070218/1


== DRUMS PLEASE ==

You've been missing it, we've been slaving away on it. We sent the
music bike away over Christmas to a spa to get its nails done, instead
it had a full facial, some body sculpting and rather more than a nip
and tuck. Was it worth it? We think so, judging by the positive
comments we've seen on Serpentine Road. Judge for yourself:

                               http://www.lfns.co.uk/2007/02/18/73.JPG
                               http://www.lfns.co.uk/2007/02/18/74.JPG
                        http://images2.fotopic.net/?iid=ym3uf5&outx=600
          http://www.flickr.com/photos/coruskate/387255670/dsc00317.jpg


== PJs, DJs AND Wii Js ===

First the humble Disc Jockey, then the less humble MC, and since then
we've had DJs, VJs and most recently Wii Js. Which still sounds
vaguely disgusting, but anyway. Rest assured that the LFNS isn't
going in for any of that post modernist claptrap - we don't have a
video projector and we don't have a Nintendo Wii. What we do have is
an awesome sound system that's VERY loud, and a DJ with no shame,
who'll play almost* anything, no matter how cheesy, how weird, how
wonderful or how wrong it is...

So as we gear up for the Easter weekend, our DJ's thoughts turn to
music selection. If you don't wish to hear the Birdie song, or stick a
deckchair up your nose, or anything by Chas and Dave, then head over
to the Bunnyblog and let us know your alternative suggestions.

    http://bunnyskate.blogspot.com/2007/02/but-while-theres-music.html

* we do our best to keep Sunday's music clean, and no excessive
swearing on a Friday.


== LAST ENEMY / LAST CHANCE : BE ON TV ==

A final reminder that skaters are wanted for the Last Enemy TV
production this Sunday evening at Battersea Power Station (yes, that's
a change of venue). If you want to sign up on the Eastbourne Skaters
site, today is your last chance. Check the serpentineroad thread for
latest information, including the strict "black, no logos" dress code.

             http://www.eastbourneskatersassociation.sk8school.co.uk/
            http://www.serpentineroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23110

Firebrox V2 is expected to be there and glowing happily.


== FLASH BANG WALLOP WHAT A PICTURE! ==

We love to get photos of the skate for our website. (Have a look at
the photos of last Friday's skate that Nandor Laszlo sent in.) If you
have good quality images that you'd like to share with the London (and
world) skating community, please contact us through the feedback
form and we'll tell you how to send them in.

A few tips on taking photos of the skate in the dark:

1/ Get toward the front of the skate and take photos of people coming
toward you. Photos of people's bums can be good (like the one that
we've used on the website this week) but photos of their faces are
generally better.

2/ Be cautious in using flash. It reflects off the stripes on hi-vis,
creating irritating dazzle effects that ruin your pics. And it can
'freeze' the action so that an exciting skate looks like a group of
people doing silly walks. Use a really fast setting on your camera
(ISO 1600 or 3200 if you're lucky enough to have it) and an exposure
speed around 1/25 of a second. (Longer would be nice but you'll end up
with nothing but blurs.) The picture will be dark but you can fix this
with a photo manipulation package. The one that comes with the free
Picasa program (picasa.google.co.uk) does a good job.

3/ Choose places that are well lit. Junctions on main roads have
intense street lighting. Photos on side roads tend to come out badly.

4/ It's difficult to get a well composed shot of moving figures in the
dark, so take the time to crop your pics. Again, Picasa will do this
for you.

5/ Edit ruthlessly. Take as many photos as you can and then throw away
the rubbish ones. Ten good photos impress everyone. Add the twenty
less good ones and people don't recognise your genius.

We look forward to seeing your pics and putting the best ones up for
the world to enjoy. Thanks!


== SKATEFRESH GOES STROLLING ==

We don't often feature paying courses on WoW, but when we heard that
skateschool 'Skatefresh' were rebranding one of their street skating
workshops as 'Intro to Stroll', were both flattered and curious and
sent along Lead Marshal Natasha to find out more.

"I turned up on week 4 of the 5-week "Beginner - Street Skater"
course. Most of the participants were complete beginners before their
course, but after only 6 hours of tuition were tackling kerbs, turns,
uphills, manhole covers and controlled braking down the hill from
Speakers Corner to Serpentine Road.

We started with a refresher of the techniques learned so far from
instructor Matt. Then for the next 45 minutes we covered street
skills such as acceleration, surface changes and keeping pace with the
skaters ahead of you. As Skatefresh's owner Asha had joined the group,
I stopped avoiding manhole covers and scissored over them as I'd been
instructed.

In week 5 (this coming Sunday), the group goes on the Stroll with an
instructor. To prepare, we set off on a mini-streetskate, negociating
The Mall's challenging surface, stairs leading up to Pall Mall and the
uphill on St James's Street. Countless manhole covers and a few
cobbles later, we emerged into the tranquility of Green Park for some
more downhill practice before arriving back in Hyde Park at the end of
the 2-hour lesson.

I was impressed by the small pupil to instructor ratio: only 6
students in my group. It's aimed exclusively at converting the
beginner to a group street skater in a very short time. Instructors
change every week, so the skater is exposed to a variety of teaching
styles, although all follow the internationally-recognised ICP
syllabus and techniques."

Skatefresh instructors wear vivid pink t-shirts so we can spot them
and their students on their first Sunday Stroll, but we wish them well
and hope to see their happy, flushed faces in the pub afterwards.

The next 5-week beginner course starts this Sunday, 25th February, at
12pm. There's also an "Intro to Stroll" 2 hour workshop on the 1st
and 3rd Sundays of every month, from 2pm - UKP15, minimum skills apply,
see the Skatefresh site for details.

                         http://www.skatefresh.com/group-lessons/150/
             http://www.skatefresh.com/group-lessons/intro-to-stroll/


== A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH ==

The LFNS would like to congratulate Steve and Anna on the birth of
their son Finn. Steve and Anna own and run serpentineroad.com (the
website, not the road - that's the Parks Authority). Both are long
gliding members of the London skating scene, although we doubt that
they will have much time to put on wheels at the moment.


== TAILING OFF ==

   "Aggressive skater" - Oy! Get off my road, punk!

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