LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE TM
& SUNDAY STROLL TM

From: Week on Wheels <wow /at/ lfns.co.uk>
Subject: [wow] (Green)wich on Wheels
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:35:51 +0100

This Week, On Wheels

* This week: LoopFNS, and Stroll to Greenwich (one-way)
* Last week: Caught by the Fuzz
* Thames Festival - Sunday
* Profile view: Kate & David
* Named that Bike: welcome the FIREBROX
* The LondonSkate: our nearest neighbours
* Battle Slalom

== THIS WEEK ==

This week the LONDON FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE takes a loopy route - one loop
around Battersea Park, a few twists and turns down sidestreets, a
quick look at the magnificent view across Waterloo Bridge and the
Aldwych loop followed by the downhill onto Embankment - a firm
favourite with LFNS fans. Markus is leading but he's promised to be
good - so no cobbles, stairs or potholes this week, just miles of
smooth sections and and a couple of nice long runs along the Thames
for him to stretch his legs. We'll have you back home by 10pm in time
for a pint or two. Half time is at Vauxhall (the ramp is admirable -
but even Markus says it's not skateable). We hope not to attract the
attentions of the constabulary this week but please be extra careful
about not skating on pavements, keeping left and all the things that
the police care about even if you don't.

                               http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20060915

The SUNDAY STROLL is a special one-way skate to Greenwich. An old
favourite with many skaters, the Greenwich Stroll has proved
problematic in the past because we have to go through the foot tunnel
and one or two people's thoughtlessness led to complaints from
pedestrians. Sunday, though, is Car-Free Day in Greenwich and, as part
of the activities for the day, they are closing the tunnel briefly so
that we can go through it. So it's a jolly afternoon on the river as
we follow the Thames from central London to further east than you ever
thought you could skate! Actually, it's only about twelve miles and
we'll be taking it easy, allowing around three hours to get there. We
finish by skating up to the observatory - a fantastic view over London
which allows you to say 'Wow! Did we really skate all that way?'
Smile nicely at the marshalcam and there should even be a photo on the
web site that you can show your friends.

                               http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20060917

Remember to bring shoes and train fare unless you want to skate home
again.

And after the Stroll, don't forget the Thames Festival (more below)

== LAST WEEK ==

A lot of the LFNS marshals were on a speed skating course this
weekend, and the guy running the course came out to video them on the
skate. They were obviously doing their best to impress him because we
kept up a blistering pace. Not one, but two, back marshals demanded
more speed from the crowd as Edd led us on an imaginative
reinterpretation of some old favourites and a few exciting new twists
as well.

The route headed north to Little Venice and under the Westway, where
we had the unusual sight of a police car blocking off the roundabout
for us. Half time was at Notting Hill. The second half started with a
short but punishing uphill but everyone seemed up for a good run and
we kept well together before dropping down to Kensington High
Street. The run back was livened up when the night's Prom finished
early so we passed the back of the Albert Hall just as hundreds of
concertgoers were trying to cross the road. It must have been a good
show because everyone seemed happy to wait for us.

Back at Hyde Park Corner, a quick show of hands asked for more, so we
set off to Victoria to run some of our usual routes but in the 'wrong'
direction. We raced along Victoria Street from the station to
Whitehall, up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, through the back streets
to the Ritz and then a last mad dash down Piccadilly.

                            http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20060908/1

Sunday's superb weather meant that the SUNDAY STROLL saw a huge
turnout with lots of first time street skaters. Obviously Lead Marshal
Christian thought it was down to his choice of route, which took in
some of the nicest surfaces in Westminster, but we think our music
manager Joby's 80s music was probably more of a draw.

As those of you who were there will know, we had an unscheduled stop
courtesy of the Metropolitan Police, who seemed to believe we were
running an illegal demonstration (not true!). On behalf of the
marshals, thank you for cooperating with us in getting the skate back
to the park in one piece.

                            http://www.lfns.co.uk/route.php/20060910/1

Please rest assured that we want to carry on running street skates and
that we are working to ensure that we are able to do so. For now it is
business as usual and we will continue to keep you informed via this
newsletter and our website. Thank you for the many offers of
assistance we received; if there's anything specific we need your help
with, then we'll be sure to ask. For now, the best thing you can do to
ensure the skates continue is to keep turning up.


== THAMES FESTIVAL ==

For those who find that a trip to Greenwich just doesn't offer enough
skating for a Sunday, the LFNS is also joining the parade at the
Thames Festival.

Over 470,000 people attended the Thames Festival over the weekend last
year, and this is our opportunity to show off to those watching the
Sunday parade. It's a great opportunity to promote unified,
diversified skating in London.

We'll be there tricked out with son et lumiere, flying the
(metaphorical) flag for skating. Don't expect it to be a streetskate
- it's walking pace when it moves and static when it doesn't. Think of
it more as a mobile beach - plans are for conveyor belt slalom,
sliding, jumping, dancing, and even some skating in circles. The theme
is LIGHT, so get thee down to Woolies or your local cycle shop, or up
to the loft to find the Christmas tree lights.

Meet at Embankment station for 7:30. Wear something in red and black
to co-ordinate with the sound system. For more details and advice on
wardrobe co-ordination, check the thread on SerpentineRoad.

                                                    http://qurl.net/PB
             http://www.serpentineroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20489


== CUPID'S CORNER ==

Mr & Mrs Duracell (as the marriage registrar pronounced them, to the
merriment of the assembled skaters a week or so ago), also known as
David and Kate, met on Serpentine Road in the summer of 2003. Funnily
enough, they were introduced by a LFNS marshal (Peter C). Three years
later, and they both marshal the LFNS, as well as volunteering for
monthly Sunday teaching for Skate Patrol.

David's "Duracell" nickname is from his first marathon - Goodwood in
2002, where he did the 11 laps to complete 26 miles, an extra lap to
keep someone company on their final lap, and another few laps with
some late starters, in torrential rain! Someone then suggested that he
do a full double marathon, which challenge he cheerfully accepted, if
anyone would keep him company. (Strangely, there were no takers.) Both
David & Kate are members of the LondonSkaters Speed Team, and will be
off to Berlin for the inline marathon on 23rd September.

Kate and David are both active members of Skate Patrol. We asked Skate
Patrol what their jobs were and they said that David had some official
title or other while Kate "basically keeps the whole thing
running". Kate is heavily into organising people - it was her efforts
that got the two LSST women's teams to the 24 hour Le Mans race.

Unsurprisingly, their relationship so far has involved much
skating. David proposed by taking Kate back to Serpentine Road (on
February 13th 2005, but it was Februrary 14th in New Zealand, his home
country), skating up to her, sliding in on one knee, and presenting a
gold-sprayed skate wheel as he asked "will you marry me". Apparently
he was seen practicing at Queensway ice rink during the week before in
case it was raining and he couldn't tempt her to Hyde Park! She said
yes, and they've been gently moving towards the married state ever
since (house, car, etc).

They regularly turn up in the park with friends' children being taught
how to skate, so we'll wait and see how long it takes them to produce
a display team of tiny skaters of their own.


== NAMED THAT BIKE ==

"It's not the Messiah, it's a very noisy bike"

After many hours of heated debate, wrestling and pistols at dawn, we
have finally (just this minute in fact) chosen a name for our New
Music Bike...

Ladies and Gentleman, the marshals of the LFNS (tm), in conjunction
with you, the skating public, are proud to present your new Music
Bike - FIREBROX

Those who voted for this initially will be contacted shortly, to
arrange the celebrations.

Thanks to everybody who entered. The final shortlist was: Brian,
Decibelle, Dorothy, Firebrox, with the last of these winning by a
short head.


== WEDNESDAY SKATE ==

In the four months or so that Week on Wheels has been running we've
talked about all kinds of skating events, people, and groups, but seem
to have omitted one very big part of the London skating scene.
Perhaps because, like us, they do it every week and you don't notice
these things until they're gone; perhaps because they have their own
email list anyway. We refer of course to the LondonSkate (a.k.a
Wednesday Night Skate), which is now drawing to the end of its season,
so this week is nearly our last opportunity in 2006 to redress the
balance.

LondonSkate is the longest-running mass-participation streetskate in
the UK, started back in 2000 as the BettyBlade. Since then they've
grown and grown up (just like us): the 2005 season saw the
introduction of the "BassFreight" sound system and Stevie B's eclectic
mixes, and in 2006 this was upgraded and bolstered with the
radio-linked "Asbox" backpack sound reinforcement systems.

Like the LFNS and Stroll, the LondonSkate is a regular weekly skate
around the streets of this fair city, with marshals to stop traffic,
and a mobile music system on a bike. The pace is usually somewhere in
between that of the Stroll and the LFNS - if you can finish the Stroll
comfortably you should definitely try it. Although it's a different
group co-ordinating it, you'll see a lot of familiar faces - many of
the LFNS marshals either marshal it or turn up as regular
skaters. This past year has seen the two groups co-operating much more
closely, too: we've been able to borrow their sound system while we
were busy building ours, and they've borrowed our Google Maps route
planner and from time to time our bike riders. We're still hoping to
borrow Stevie (please? we'll give him back ....) - with luck he'll be
providing the music for the Thames Festival this Sunday.

So: this week and next, Wednesdays "7:30 for 8pm" at the bandstand on
Serpentine Road (slightly west of the Sunday Stroll start point).
After that they pack up for winter, but will be returning in December
for the SantaSkate (we'll be there too, with the FireBrox dressed up
as SleighBrox) and possibly another special event or two yet to be
announced.
                                          http://www.londonskate.com/


== FREESTYLE NOTTINGHAMSTYLE ==

On Saturday 7th October 2006, Europe's top Freestyle inline and
roller skaters will be descending on Nottingham to compete in the
first Battle Freestyle Slalom competition to be held in the UK.

What's Battle? We were hoping it would be RollerJousting or something,
but no, it's about "creating a slalom competition that is gripping and
nail-biting for competitors and spectators alike". The competition is
accessible to skaters of all levels, and the winner gets to take home
the "Battle Seba Cup". As well as Freestyle Slalom, the event will
showcase other competitions including Speed Slalom, Jumping and Dance
demonstrations.

Registration is now open. There will be a London contingent
travelling up: check Serpentine Road for details of lifts and places
to crash and so on.

             http://www.serpentineroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19300
             http://www.serpentineroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20482


== WHEEL BE OFF NOW ==

That's all for this week. See you on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday, and
if you want to get in touch please use the feedback form on our web
site. If you want to unsubscribe (why?), use the link in the mail
footer - right at the bottom after the copyright notice. Usual legal
blurb applies: material in this email is protected by copyright; but
may be reproduced unchanged in full provided that credit is given.

                         http://www.lfns.co.uk/feedback.php#contactus


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