Glorious sunshine was the order of the day as that elusive yellow orb made an appearance in a clear blue sky- result! Before riding off on the Pashley and Colourbolt, me and the dashingly dressed Boy checked off the VCG list of essential Tweed Run requirements...
Outfits: pressed and presentable ü
Bicycles: roadworthy and clean ü
Phones & cameras: charged ü
Picnic: wrapped & packed ü
Appetite: large and roaring ü
We don't usually set off for the event on empty stomachs, but this year was rather different as we cycled to Clerkenwell for the Tweed Run Brunch. Held at the beautiful Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings and hosted by fizzy rascals Pol Roger, the day was kicked off in splendid style with a couple of glasses of chilled champagne and an incredibly hearty menu to follow. Consisting of hot scones, tea and Potato Hash/Poached Eggs with Salted ox cheek, it was a good job we did arrive hungry... this seriously set us up for the day!
Champers quaffed and stomachs full, we took a leisurely ride to Trafalgar Square, the starting point for the ride and traditional official photo call to open the day. I'll never tire of arriving to a sea of beautiful outfits and bicycles in all shapes and sizes, all gathered in one place for the Tweed Run... and how it unfailingly gets an inquisitive and friendly response from onlookers.
A very special person I saw before the tide of tweed swept into London, was the amazing woman who created the Tweed Run poster and essentially designed my outfit for the day... Eliza Southwood! I've a lot to thank Eliza for - it's still a huge honour to have a cycling illustrator as talented & well respected as her base the poster on me. The reaction from fellow riders on the day over the outfit was something I'll never forget and will always treasure - and of course it was an absolute blast getting it made and putting it all together!
Earlier on I mentioned that the poster came to life a bit beyond the outfit... as The Boy and I pulled up to Red Lion Square for the Tea Stop, we were greeted by Mr Tweed Run himself, Ted, with what I can now call a mischievous sparkle in his eye. We were instructed to park up our bikes and stay right where we were... and off he vanished. A few moments later Seb (one of the lovely Marshals on the ride) appeared... with his Tandem! Of course it had to be done, and with neither of us ever having been on a Tandem before (if you got one of the pictures of us almost coming a cropper on it, please let me know!) you can imagine there was a bit off a "same foot - balance!" issue...
It was a wobbly and rather hilarious experience! We managed a few rotations on it, and then Seb hopped back on, to take me for a spin around the square...
It was a fantastic day & certainly one I will not forget. As always, a huge thank you to Ted Young-Ing for organising another amazing Tweed Run, Eliza Southwood for THAT poster, all the Marshals for their sterling efforts in getting us around London... and to Ian James (The Boy) for always being my tweed partner in crime (you can see his full set of photos here).
Goodness knows what brilliance next year will bring to top this Tweed Run, but I look forward to the next one already... tally-ho!
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