E-bike jousting returns to London despite safety warnings

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 12:15 · Archive

A second e-bike jousting event took place in London on Halloween, with hundreds watching two men in armour duel on Lime bikes.

A second e-bike jousting event took place on Saturday in London Fields, Hackney, with hundreds of spectators watching two armour-clad men duel on Lime rental bikes. Artist Jack Carden and actor Camtholomew the First, whose real name is Cameron Carnegie-Brown, faced off in a rematch following a viral event earlier this month that drew similar crowds. The "jousts" involved the riders charging towards one another brandishing striped poles, attempting to knock each other off their bright green and red e-bikes.

The pair wore helmets, chainmail and cloaks as they battled through multiple rounds, with Carnegie-Brown declared the winner. Spectators, many dressed for Halloween, cheered and chanted "joust, joust, joust" as the two men competed. Carden told the crowd: "This is the most viewed joust of the modern era." The organisers said they hoped the events would encourage more people to create similar spectacles and that London needed something like this.

Lime has issued repeated safety warnings about the trend. After the first duel, the company released a statement saying "while we appreciate the medieval spirit, safety must always come first" and that its bikes were "not for jousting". The company discouraged riders from attempting similar events using its bikes.

However, Andy Deane, captain of the Royal Armouries jousting team in Leeds, said the bike jousting was "absolutely a legitimate form" of the medieval sport and praised it for capturing the spectacle of traditional jousting. He noted that historically there were various unconventional forms of jousting, including "piggyback jousting" in the 14th and 15th centuries and jousting on water.

The event raised over £1,000 for charity, split between a mental health charity, a women's charity and children's charities. A steward at the second event said the trend had "exploded overnight" and reflected public appetite for such events in London.

How it is being reported

• Lime issues warning against jousting trend where people battle on bikesRiding bright green and red e-bikes, the “jousts” see the armour-clad men charge towards one another brandishing striped poles to knock each other offMyLondon · 1 Nov, 11:36
• 'Any excuse to wear armour': The Londoners embracing e-bike jousting for ‘escapism’Scores of people turned out in medieval attire to watch the Halloween re-matchEvening Standard · 31 Oct, 18:27
• 'Bike jousting revives the medieval spectacle'A second duel has been planned following a viral e-bike jousting event in Hackney a few weeks ago.BBC London · 30 Oct, 16:40

In this story: Jack Carden · Camtholomew the First · Lime · London Fields · Hackney · Andy Deane · Royal Armouries

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