Cycling...at night...in winter

I think I may be bonkers...not only am I cycling in the pitch dark but in winter!  Last night I did my normal 14 mile route into town, away from the countryside heading towards the bright lights of the city.  Two things happened...firstly, as I left home with three layers (two thermal), overshoes, headband covering my ears and a flourescent top that is slightly too large and buzzes in the wind, and a scarf...the wind hit me.  Today it has been 24 to 28mph and I don't think last night was that different...I only managed to average a speed of 13mph - having difficulty to see through the tears streaming down my face!  I thought to myself "this is really not a good idea" but determined, and through gritted teeth to prove a point that if I am cycling in this...then come summer I will be having a ball.

The second thing that happened was the near miss by lady driving her Merc, around a mini roundabout without indicating whilst holding mobile phone to her ear (you know, in that way people do, with their hand flat against it so they think they look like they are resting their head on the palm of their hand?).  I knew what she was going to do but continued to ride across the roundabout as she headed towards me breaking...now I felt I was in a position to swear, gesticulate and saying something about using a mobile phone whilst driving
and not indicating...I was safe though and knew I could cycle out of her way if need be...I just wanted to make a point and feel so much better for it.

My final rant of this blog is how crap the cycle lanes of Leicester City are...in fact my next bike mission will be to photograph some of them.  Some are only metres long, some make you cross endless junctions of side roads, some stop just before roundabouts...I have tried and tested many of them and have decided to stay on the road regardless of cycle paths...I mean I have a right to be there as anyone in car...don't I?

Yup, I'm going out in this weather