the tweed run

those of you who saw gary fisher this past weekend know that he's a snappy dresser. his three-piece bespoke cycling suit caught a lot of attention, what with the spiffy knickers and wild socks, and screamed "i'm not from iowa." but take a look at this, and check out the flickr photos, and you'll see he really was just wearing the proper attire.
what are the odds of such a gathering in iowa? right.

Ladies. Gentlemen. Announcing the first LFGSS Winter Dress Club Run: a social ride with a bit of style.
....
We will be gathering for 2pm in Hanover Square. Please be prompt; at 2, we'll head down to H Huntsman & Sons, 11 Saville Row to begin the ride. The route will be a fairly leisurely ride through London. No need to pack Kendal Mint Cakes, the ride will include a stop at a tea shop at Tour de Ville for mid-ride fortitude, and will finish at the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club for refreshments and cheer.
....
Proper attire will of course be expected, so dapper gents and elegant ladies, polish off your lugged steel beasts and prepare your best outfits. Suggested attire: woolen plus fours, harris tweed jackets, flat caps, fair isle jumpers, alpaca coats, merino wool team jerseys, cycling skirts and perhaps a jaunty cape for the ladies, cravats or ties for gentlemen, and of course a hip flask of brandy.
....
Be sure to dress with a bit of panache, there will be prizes awarded for:
Most dapper chap
Most dashing dame
Best moustache (open to both men and women, of course)
Most enviable period bicycle
The Doff of The Cap award for most civilised behaviour on the day
....
There will also be a spiffing tombola draw for some lovely prizes benefiting bikes4africa, an organisation that refurbishes bicycles and gives them to rural African schools so that students who live far away can get to school.
....
A big doff of the cap to those who have donated the marvelous prizes: Hudson’s Hats (The Bonk), What Goes Around Comes Around (JD), Ved, The Chap Magazine, Brooks Saddles, Hendrick's Gin, Geo F. Trumper, David Saxby's, Dashing Tweeds and Rapha.

Tally ho!

flickr photos here. rest of story here. make certain to read the comments; they're hilarious. what an outrageous, wonderful ride. having spent time in london, on my bike, i can't think of a better way to do it, in such delightful company.

i might have to dig out some of my old pipes for my next spin, eh what?

thanks, jason!

.....

on an unrelated note, check out this bike polo video from a nyc tournament, and ask yourself this: why DON'T we play bike polo in des moines? do we hate fun here?

NYC in Madison - Jan 2 & 3, 2009 - Highlights from Mr.Do on Vimeo.