On the morning of 23rd of September I packed some sandwiches, an boiled egg, a bottle of beer, a bottle Jaloviina, some bicycle tools and a spare tube. Everything was carefully wrapped in old tea towels and packed in a large Unika box. I was ready for Bike in Tweed 2023 in Stockholm. This was a special event since it was my 10th year anniversary participating in official tweed rides.
After strapping the Unika box to the luggage rack of the old Hermes, I started my ride. Heading to Evert Taubes terrace on Riddarholmen in the middle of Stockholm and the registration for Bike in Tweed 2023.
The organiser had informed us in the invitations that there would be some news for us riders this year. News like, at the registration we all would receive a tote bag with this years motive containing gifts and treats from the sponsors. We would also receive an pin with our individual number, just to make the peoples voting for best dressed rider easier. A pin! That would make an nice addition to my collection of starting numbers, pins and other memorabilia from the all tweed events I have attended along the years.
Other news this year was that we would be able to track our route online via a link on the Bike in Tweed webpage. That was actually a great idea. All onlookers who wanted to watch us ride along could use the online map, knowing where to stand at certain times for the best view.
There were also a playlist with tweed style music on the webpage. The intention with the playlist was that the riders who had speakers could stream the same music at the same time. When playing the playlist the organiser would also be able to cut in and give the listeners reports along the way. Just like a real live broadcast.
When I arrived at the registration I showed my ticket for the registrator and received two hand written labels with my starting number, one for me and one for my bicycle. The tote bag I was handed was the same bag as we had received every years so far. Not only that, the bag was empty. There were a box of apples standing on the ground beside the desk, we could take an apple if we wanted and by that the registration was done.
To be honest, it was far from what I expected. An empty bag and two paper labels. Since everyone got the same as I did, there was nothing to say about that.
After the registration we were guided to the individual photo session, at the water front with a stunning view of Stockholm city hall in the background. “Stand at the markings with your bicycle please, move a little bit to the left, chin up, that’s it, click”.
After my photo was taken I headed back down to the terrace to meet the other tweedians. It was really great to meet both old and new tweed friends, walking around looking at the large range of bicycles, talking and socializing.
Bicycles from all ages were represented, old standard roadsters, penny farthings, there were even an Itera attending the ride. Itera, that infamous plastic Swedish made bicycle from 1980’s that was one of the biggest failures in bicycle manufacturing. To top everything off, the gentleman from last year arrived, the fellow with the wooden penny farthing that broke down.
This year he came with an rusty old draisine straight from the deep forests of Dalarna. Skidding along the cobblestones with its iron wheels and old train engine headlight. Of course the draisine broke down and operation “last minute mending” started. What is a tweed event without last minutes repairs?
At noon, the time had come to start the ride and it was right at this moment I noticed something was wrong. When mounting my bicycle I felt a ripping in the fabric of my trousers. I knew that my Walker Slater tweed suite was a bit worn, so a slight tear was no worries. An easy fix, a needle and some thread, easy as pie. After all, when dealing with vintage bicycles we get used to mend and fix things. The only thing I hoped for was that the trousers would not get caught in something.
Since I had looked at the route in advance I had two major concerns about the ride. Knowing Stockholm, I realised that the route had lots, I mean lots of uphills along the way. For me that would be no problem, but we were about 175 riders on vintage bicycles, old riders and children. Could they keep up with the tempo?
Because there were no way we could make that route on time. There is a major difference between 5 riders testing the route and having 175 riders taking the same route. To be honest I was a bit worried.
On a personal note, how would my trousers keep up the constant jumping on and off the bicycle all the time? That would really tear the fabric of my trousers now that they were damaged.
We started our ride by riding along the old city towards Slussen. That stretch of road is a part of Stockholm (as many others) that have been under construction for many, many years. There are narrow bicycle lanes, lots of pedestrians everywhere, cars all over the place, mopeds and electric scooters whizzing by at high speeds. You have to check all around you, all the time, when riding up on to Slussen.
According to the planned route we should ride a bit further, passing Slussen, following Hornsgatan a bit to avoid the infamous Götgatsbacken (Götgatan slope) and then turn left into a street by Maria church. I was really surprised when all riders went up the Götgatan slope instead. That is a steep hill, nothing for a vintage bicycle without any gears, packed with bags and everything.
Due to the hill, pedestrians, vintage bicycles and the ever changing speed from snail pace to a standstill. We had to dismount our bicycles several times going up. The tear in my trousers became increasingly larger every time I jumped back onto the bicycle. For each time there were more and more ripping. I discretely felt on my trousers to estimate the damage. The tear was now about a 15 centimeter wide, what should I do? There were no time to stop and fix anything. Just keep riding.
On the other side of the hill we rode straight on Götgatan for a while before turning left and taking the bicycle lanes towards Nytorget. Where we had the traditional gathering and pause. That is usually good opportunity to take some photos and talk to each others. Soon it was time to once again be on our way, heading back to Götgatan but in the opposite direction.
Along the ride at Slussen and on Götgatan we were being honked, yelled and stared at by people that simply did not care about a silly bicycle and tweed event. It is strange, I have been in many citys riding tweed and bicycle events. But it is only in Stockholm people are rude and have no regards at all for our event. But most of the onlookers waved and smiled, took photos and cheered. That is the positive spirit that a tweed event brings. Having a fun and great time.
We made a turn at Medborgarplatsen and went across the square, down to the narrow paths and out on the road again. Passing Mariatorget and on to Hornsgatan, one of the most trafficked streets in Stockholm. Trying to keep up with the organiser in the front we passed several red lights and swerved between lanes. It felt a bit unnerving at times to say the least.
The ride took us down to Tantolunden, a park at the sea side. And here came the part of the ride that I really dreaded, the organiser had of some reason planed the route to go by Hornstull strand.
Firstly, Hornstulls strand is a very narrow stretch of walkway, there is water on one side buildings and walls on the other. Secondly, in September there is a market there on Saturdays and Sundays with vendors and street-food stands all over the place. It is completely packed with people, prams, children, dogs and elderly pedestrians having a good time watching the market and having food from the food trucks.
There are no margins for any error at all if things should go wrong. Having 175 vintage bicyclists riding through is simply dangerous. Things can go very wrong very fast. During all rides I have attended I have always recommanded the organisers against using that specific leg of the route every time. There is a great bicycle road just 100 meters up the road that is a perfect rout. But to no avail.
This time a fellow tweedian lost his balance and fell straight in to a vendors stand, almost overturning the stand. Yelling and panic ensued, the tweedian was laying in a painful mess of bicycle, upset vendor and soda cans.
After the chaos we arrived at Långholmen, the prison island. Once again we deviated from the earlier map, and headed out on the island. We rode on a gravel path up further on until we came to a really, really steep hill. We dismounted our bicycles and started to walk upwards even higher up the hill to finally enter Västerbron, the large bridge that leads from Södermalm to Kungsholmen. Here we were, standing on the bridge, just keep on going up on to the crest of the bridge.
It was really nice to just coaster down on the side of the bridge after all walking uphill so far. After descending from the bridge we turned straight into Rålambshov park and after some further riding we arrived at the picnic and group photo location at the Rålambshov amphitheatre.
When we arrived at the concrete amphitheatre the organiser told us that we were 30 minutes behind the schedule. By then we all started carrying up the bicycles on to the ledges of the theatre for the group photo. Instructions on how to stand for the group photo, “move left, go up, turn around and smile… click”.
Now it was time for the picnic. But we had only until 14:30 before it was time to move on, that made our picnic about 45 minutes long. The picnic is the main social feature at any tweed event. We can talk, dance, enjoy music and have fun. So 45 minutes to pack up our food and drinks, have a bit of rest and then be on our way again felt rather hectic.
I quickly set up my Unika box with my picnic on a ledge and was joined by a good friend and fellow tweedian. We had a really nice luncheon, complete with a ginger ale and Jalloviina highball as dessert. There were no time to relax as it was soon time to pack it all up, secure the box on the luggage rack and be on our way again. When I was mounting the bicycle my trousers ripped even more, now the tear was about 30 centimeters in length and rather embarrassing for me since the ripped cloth was located in an sensitive area.
After leaving Rålambshov we rode along Norrmälarstrand towards Stockholm city hall. That is when I started to notice a faint smell of burnt rubber and heard a strange squeaking sound from somewhere. A fellow tweedian that was riding behind me told me that there were something wrong with my rear wheel. I stopped right away and had a look.
The reaction arm that secures the rear brake, had somehow slipped out from the chain-stay and turned with the wheel and struck the mudguard bracket on the left hand side with force and bent it along with the luggage rack bracket rather badly.
It had made the entire rear wheel along with luggage rack and mudguard to shift, so much that the tire had become stuck against the brackets on the right hand side and were rubbing against the metal creating friction and heat. I was asked if I had any tools to men my bicycle? Yes, I had some tools in my box. I will fix it right away and join you further on – I said. The tweedian wished me luck and rode away.
I opened up the Unika box and got out the tools and directly realized that I had brought with me the wrong tools… I could not fix the bicycle and join the event. What to do? I jammed a screwdriver into the brackets and bent them so the wheel could rotate freely. At least so I could get the bicycle home.
I could have walked to the finish at Observatorielunden (the Stockholm old observatory, built in 1748). Right beside the observatory is café Himlavalvet (café the firmament) where the after party was held. But with torn trousers and a broken bicycle I took the walk of shame home instead.
Bike in Tweed 2023 and my 10th year tweed event anniversary had come to an end.
schneebremse 