Riding bright green and red e-bikes, the “jousts” see the armour-clad men charge towards one another brandishing striped poles to knock each other off
Hundreds of people gathered in East London to watch another round of Lime bike ‘jousting’despite safety warnings from the e-bike company. Spectators cheered on Saturday (October 31) as artist Jack Carden and actor Camtholomew the First, whose real name is Cameron Carnegie-Brown, faced off at London Fields in Hackney in their second duel this month.
The two “knights” did so for charity and raised over £1,000 to be split between different causes including a mental health charity, a women’s charity and children’s charities. Riding bright green and red e-bikes, the “jousts” see the armour-clad men charge towards one another brandishing striped poles to knock each other off.
Lime warned its bikes were “not for jousting” and discouraged the stunt. “They’re going to hear us coming,” joked Carnegie-Brown as he walked with his opponent to the jousting site with the metal plating of their armour clinking.
Crowds cheered when the two men arrived at the park, flanked by photographers and supporters dressed in medieval-style clothing. Shouting through a hand-held megaphone, Carden told the crowd: “Thank you everyone, for showing up to Lime bike jousting two.
“This is a very special moment, not just for us, but for London… this is the most viewed joust of the modern era.” Rows of spectators, many dressed for Halloween, watched as the men attempted to knock one another off of their bikes to chants of “joust, joust, joust”.
The pair wore helmets, chainmail and cloaks as they battled through multiple rounds before Carnegie-Brown was declared the winner. Responding to viral videos of the first joust, a spokesperson for Lime said: “While we appreciate the medieval spirit, safety must always come first.
“Lime bikes are designed for getting around the city, not for jousting.” But Andy Deane, captain of the Royal Armouries jousting team in Leeds, said jousting on bikes is a “legitimate” form of the sport, and “absolutely the way to go” if you cannot afford a horse.
He said: “You’ve got hundreds of people getting really enthusiastic, laughing their heads off and cheering on the knight they want to win. “That’s what jousts are all about. They’re loud, rambunctious, brilliant places to perform.
“If I was 20 years younger, I’d already be on the train down there with my bike.”
Lime has been contacted for comment.
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