Last month the Red Hook Crit came to London for the first time, so we went down to Greenwich Peninsula on Saturday 11 July to catch the last few qualifying races and the two finals. The Red Hook Criterium is one of the world's best track bike races, featuring pro road racers, track specialists, semi-pros, bike messengers and keen amateurs with the odd fixed gear newbie thrown in.
wearing my Dad's vintage running tee and metallic Topshop skirt
It was a fast, technical circuit which required excellent bike handling skills to turn the tight corners at high speeds, in a bunch, over multiple laps. As the sun set, the finals started: the women's race comprised 18 laps and was won by Ainara Elbusto Arteaga from Conor Wrc and the men's race was 24 laps, won by William Guzman from Impulse Stage. There was a bunch of vendors selling burgers and beers, slick bikes to marvel at and people-watching with the hipster crowd. It's free to attend and the thrilling high speed action is ace to watch, so makes for an entertaining couple of hours.
I love road cycling but it was inspiring seeing all these badass fixie girls fly by and made me want to try riding fixed even more. The Red Hook Crit is in its 8th year in Brooklyn, 6th year in Milan (10 October) and 3rd in Barcelona (5 September) and will return to London next year. See you then.
