Nightrider!

It was a very strange sight, to say nothing of a bit dodgy. 1500 people, mainly clad in lycra, hanging around a deserted park in the middle of the night. But this was no ordinary night; no, this was Nightrider night! A 100km/63 mile ride around London to raise money for our own choice of charity – Camille’s Appeal for me of course.

It’s hard to know where to begin, so many sights and sounds and memories from that one night. We started from Crystal Palace at 11.30pm, cycling off into the darkness with our bells ringing and lights blazing. We passed through the mainly deserted residential areas of Lewisham and Greenwich, stopped for a photo by Tower Bridge, and then on to the City and Docklands. Very bizarre whizzing through manned security checkpoints at speed, with no-one daring to stop a zillion cyclists On A Mission! St Pauls Cathedral was beautifully lit up and after a brief stop for chocolate (yes, free chocolate every 20km!) we viewed Arsenal and set off on the long climb up to Alexandra Palace.

Boy, was that a steep hill! Some of us *might* have walked up part of it, but the stunning views across London from the top were worth it, just as the sun was starting to emerge. Of course what goes up must come down, and the thrill of a 30mph+ descent soon got the adrenalin going again! Through a murky Hampstead Heath and into the really fun bit – Camden High Street, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden – where we dodged drunken pedestrians, chased buses and zipped around taxis. Another great photo opportunity on Waterloo Bridge, with the Gherkin and Shard and a stunning sunrise over the Thames on one side, and Big Ben, the London Eye and early morning joggers on the other.

And finally, after yet more chocolate outside the Imperial War Museum, we were on the home stretch. The Royal Albert Hall loomed around one corner, and the streets started getting busier with people and traffic. Oh dear, another hill and another wee walk, but we triumphantly careered down the last incline and back into the cheering and clapping crowds at Crystal Palace. A cold beer and a bacon sarnie kept our spirits going as we desperately tried to stay awake long enough to stumble back to the van, to join up with the faster members of our team who'd been kipping for a couple of hours.

It was a night I will never ever forget. From the camaraderie of our team and fellow cyclists, to the smells of curry and fried chicken from the East End; the burning of my leg muscles as I powered up hills, to the sheer exhilaration of speed and confidence as we tackled London’s traffic; the high-fives and cheers from passing revellers, to the giggling at yet another row of SPD-clad cyclists toppling over like dominoes at traffic lights. And of course the knowledge that we were in fact doing something that would really make a difference kept us going through the small hours. Thank you Team Camille’s Appeal, for the support and company and laughs – I think we’ll be back next year!