The second annual Tweed Run was held in London on 10 April 2010, setting off from Central London at midday, on a 14-mile route passing the British Museum, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Savile Row, stopping off in the park for a spot of tea and ending with a bit of a knees-up in the City of London.
What is the tweed Run? It is 400-odd cyclists who gather to don British tweeds and traditional cycling raiment for one day every year, in the name of adding a dash of splendour to a world over-populated by velour and Lycra. Though the ride is, of course, free of charge, collections are made for the good people at Bikes4Africa.
Proper attire was, naturally, expected. Cyclists put aside their luminous blue all-in-ones and their fancy alien-shaped helmets, and favoured instead full tweed suits with plus fours, flat or eight-sectioned caps, Tootal scarf and stout pairs of brogues. Ladies donned tweed skirts and thick stockings, ensuring their bicycles were adequately secured against oil leakage.
As to the bicycles themselves, the organisers of the Tweed Run are partial to vintage British-made lugged steel bicycles, while the more eccentric cyclists choose a penny farthing. The helpful staff at Bobbinbicycles.co.uk are always happy to assist in the search for a vintage-looking velocipede. The Tweed Run awarded prizes for the best vintage bicycle and the most nicely-decorated bicycle.
For further details and to view photographs, visit Tweedrun.com
January 29, 2010