Kidical Mass at the Reading Cycle Festival
Kidical Mass Reading joined the crowds at Reading Cycle Festival, running a circular ride through Caversham.
The ride started in the dry, meaning that we had a good turnout – just over 60 riders joined us. However, about ten minutes from the end of the ride the heavens opened. There were a few pauses as people who had remembered to bring them put on waterproofs and rain covers.
One marshal joked over the radio that we would have to stop as it’s obviously impossible to cycle in the rain – yet somehow we managed to continue (as we all do when it rains on the school run, etc, etc).
For the first time in Kidical Mass Reading’s history we had a police escort! Fortuitously, they had the stand next to us at the festival (for bike marking against theft) and – I’m not sure how as I wasn’t party to the conversation – two of them were persuaded to join us. By all accounts they enjoyed the ride, even if they did peel off near the end to take shelter under a tree until the rain died down.
Back at the festival, Kidical Mass attendees got closer together than ever as everyone who didn’t leave immediately huddled under the gazebo to eat cake (thanks Kat!). The rain didn’t last long – it often doesn’t – and our kids enjoyed an afternoon of riding on the ramps, watching the amazing stunt show and playing with their friends.
It was great to see so many of our cycling friends at the festival, from Reading Cycle Campaign to WATCH (Wokingham Active Travel Community Hub) to Avanti. We’d love to see you too at any of our future rides.
Hilary Smart