Bike Week 2002 in Tower Hamlets

Bike Week 2002 index

The Great Beigel Race : 15 June 2002

Report and photos

The entrants gathered at Island Gardens and were given their beigels to deliver to the Sundial Centre in Shipton Street. We staggered the leaving times depending on mode of transport with the aim of everyone reaching the finish at about the same time.

First off with their beigels were John and his faithful wheelchair-pushing nephew Johnathon who headed off to the DLR and Rayna who headed for the bus stop.

Next to go were Alix (bicycle & trailer full of plants and stuff!), Manda (the brightest and most colourful tricycle you'll ever see), Peter and Simone (tandem) and Ray and Chandon (both on their cool DHL quad-cycles).

Finally, Barry and Ben (tandem), John Biggs (our bicycle riding GLA rep), Caroline (brompton), Gary (bicycle), David (bicycle) set off closely followed by ex-councillor Mark Taylor (black cab) and Owen (car).

Meanwhile, Alex, Tom and Colin were waiting at the Sundial Centre with more biegels and refreshments to welcome the travellers.

Quiet roads as everyone got ready for the big footy match (that's our excuse anyway) meant the fastest time was posted by Mark in his taxi (first time a cyclist hasn't been quickest) and he was duly awarded the winners wreath of beigels.

Finishing times in minutes together with prizes awarded for best performances:
Mark Taylor (taxi) 20 - wreath of beigels
Owen Pearson (car) 22
Barry & Ben Spencer (tandem) 29 (having cycled from Ilford to take part!) - lights
Gary Cummins (bicycle) 30
Caroline Fenton (bicycle) 30
John (bicycle) 30 - lights
Alix Stredwick (bike & trailer) 34 - lights
Manda Halal (tricycle) 34
David (walk & bicycle) 37
Ray Doyles (DHL quadracycle) 40 - 1/2 a gold beigel
Chandon Paul (DHL quadracycle) 40 - 1/2 a gold beigel
Peter & Simone Mayer (tandem) 45 - gold beigel
Rayna Milkova (D7 & D6 buses & walk) 58 (lost 10 mins getting off at wrong stop!...)
John & Johnathon Per (DLR, D6 bus & walk) 70 (lost 15 mins waiting for a wheelchair accessible bus...but put on an impressive display of sprinting to the finish line) - gold beigel

Reports from previous editions of the Beigel Race as they appeared in East London Cyclist: April 1997, March 1998, June 1999 and August 2000.)

Photos by Alix Stredwick and Colin Waters.

Bike Week 2002 index