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

Whizz into town and back

On Tuesday night I whizzed into town...I did think that the ride may be slightly doomed as I reached for my bike off the rack in the garage to find I had a puncture (how did that happen?).  Whilst my wheel was being changed for me...the clock was ticking towards 8pm now...I got changed into layer upon layer of clothing.  I got downstairs to pump up my new tyre only for it to "pop" again and rapidly deflate...two punctures? Was someone, somewhere trying to warn me against going out on a dark winters evening?  With third inner tube now in place and safely pumped up...off I went, once again into the dark abyss as I left the comforting orange glow of the street lights behind me.

I enjoyed the ride, there is something really great about being out there in the silence - in the distance I could see the orange glow of the city and decided to head towards it.  I cycled around the area where I was brought up, past old houses of friends and had lots of giggles to myself.  I sped towards the park in the middle of town but thought best to avoid an instead headed towards the bustling student area of cafes and bars and the smell of food...as I passed one street I was dazzled by the white lights on the exterior of the houses - obviously celebrating Diwali the "Festival of Lights".  I stood for a while and took this picture (the IPhone doesn't really do it justice!)...and wondered how quickly their electricity metre was whirring round when they flick on the switch!

I headed towards home past the old houses that have become student accommodation for Leicester University and the playing fields and astro turf of their sporting facilities, flood lit and buzzing with activity.  Leaving the playing fields behind me I reached the road towards home, not a single car passed me for about four miles...it was just me in the dark, with my trusty light (which by the way, is rechargeable and lasts for three hours on full beam and about 12 on partial beam...it has a light on the back you can see that goes from green, amber and red so you know you are reaching the end of the charge)...complete silence, just the whirr of my wheels on the road.  I was half expecting to see some wildlife - yet to see a Badger that isn't run over - but saw nothing.

I really enjoy that peace...on the last leg I stopped momentarily and looked back at the orange glow of the city and all of the lights.