January's ride was very different in nature as it became a solidarity ride for Alan Hydes, who died after being hit by a car as he was cycling along North Street earlier in the month.
It was also the day when the M5 was closed because of a "Police Incident" resulted in traffic chaos, not helped by a home match at Ashton Gate between Bristol City and Derby County.
The beginning of the ride was visited by a local ITV news crew,
resulting in live coverage in the 6pm West Country News programme.
There were 13 on the ride which somehow seemed fitting.
The ride started out towards the library,
then back round onto The Centre and onto Baldwin Street where the motorbikes started weaving round us.
Then round The Horsefair on Broadmead which was very quiet and the Xmas lights were a distant memory.
After returning to The Centre via Castle Park,
the ride ventured out along Anchor Road.
Here we met the residue of the traffic congestion, sailing past the cars along the bus lane.
Turning left towards Merchants Road we held formation against some aggressive driving
and weaved our way round the cycle track and crossed the river on the old Ashton railway bridge where the crowds heading to Ashton Court became evident.
It was then out onto North Street.
The ride stopped at the location of the crash and held the traffic for a couple of minutes to pay respects to a fellow cyclist.
The ride then continued along East Street
crossing the river and left onto Commercial Road
before finishing at The Ostrich in Bathurst Basin.
Despite the rain and the poor road conditions it was a good ride and there was general agreement that now is the time to grow the numbers taking part. So join the Facebook Group and come along to Critical Mass on the last Friday of every month.
