Lime Bike Jousting Returns to London Fields on Halloween
Medieval armour met rental e-bikes in east London on Halloween. A second Lime bike jousting event drew scores of spectators to London Fields, even after the bike company said its bikes were not made for the sport.
A rematch with a record claim
The duel on Saturday was a rematch between artist Jack Carden and actor Camtholomew, whose real name is Cameron Carnegie-Brown. Earlier this month the pair sparked a social media frenzy when they sparred on rented Lime bikes.
Riders wore helmets, chainmail and cloaks and charged with striped poles. They went through several rounds, trying to knock each other off their bikes to the crowd's chanting. Mr Carnegie-Brown was declared the winner.
Carden took a megaphone and told the crowd it was "the most viewed joust of the modern era". Many spectators had dressed for Halloween.
Lime's warning
After the first duel, Lime released a statement. It said that while it appreciated the medieval spirit, safety must always come first. The company said its bikes were "not for jousting" and discouraged riders from attempting similar events on its bright green bikes.
The organisers of the second event nonetheless hoped the bouts would encourage more people to stage such spectacles.
Money for charity
The duel raised more than £1,000. The money is to be split between different causes, including a mental health charity, a women's charity and children's charities.
What the crowd and a professional say
A steward named Sonny, aged 20, said the event had exploded overnight. He said he hoped it would inspire people to be more creative and to try things they had not tried before.
Kieran, 27, said people are seeking escapism and called e-bikes a valid form of jousting. Steward Bella, 23, said she and Kieran already take part in fully armoured medieval fighting as a full-contact sport.
Earlier in the week a professional had made a similar point. Andy Deane, captain of the Royal Armouries jousting team in Leeds, called it a "joy" to see the bike jousting capturing the spectacle of the medieval sport. He said it was a fully legitimate form of jousting for people who could not afford a horse.
Our view
The gap between Lime's safety message and the size of the crowd may be worth watching. It is unclear from the report whether the company will respond again, or whether a third event is planned. Organisers appear keen to see the idea spread beyond one pair of riders.
Source: Evening Standard