Halloween 2020 - Covid Edtion

Halloween, maybe my favorite time of the year! This year, 2020, it was set to fall on a Saturday, with the Friday before also being a Critical Mass ride... the fun we had planned!.... then along came Covid-19.

We did still plan to have a Mass ride, but kept the "promotion" low with the rule of 6 in mind, we did read that protests could still take place, within the current "social distancing" guidelines, but we decided  that we would avoid causing any "bad press". This, as it happened was the right decision, as as of Midnight on the Thursday, we were placed into the higher tier 2 restrictions and so really should not have been meeting at all! 

As it was the core group of our Critical Mass group turned out and we had 9 riding a short city based route, ending up on top of the one of the City car parks where we planned to have a play with some smoke bombs, purely for the photo opportunity!    

As we had a quick chat, we where taken aback by a visit from the local Police!, as it turned out after a photo for their "social media"! - taking little interest, if any, in the fact there where 9 of us! - we did wonder what would have happened had they arrived 5 minutes later when we were drinking beer and riding with smoke bombs!!

Saturday, in line with tier 2 restrictions was a quiet day in comparison to a usual Halloween, taking the rickshaw on a ride into town for a coffee at the Melbourne in Lichfield and then a swift pint, or two, at Bittersuite-micropub. The ride home was a long one as I stopped at the numerous requests for a photo!

Here`s to 2021 and a more normal Halloween - the planning has already begun!                  

 

Twilight Follow the Dog

While happier clocking up miles on the road, I do enjoy a ride on my MTB, helped by the fact it is a Mercian! So, as Autumn is in full swing and the evenings are getting a little darker, I decided to take a twilight ride around Follow the Dog on Cannock Chase, easy for me as just a 10 minute drive away!

My closest parking spot means I join the route just after the first section, as dusk was approaching, I was surprised to see so many others seemingly just setting off, finishing the first section at least, even more surprised that I was catching and leaving most behind, I gave them the benefit of deciding they had done "other" routes or 1 lap or already!

Good lights are needed and I must get some! I use two "Cree" ones off Ebay, cheap and cheerful and on the road commute are great, on the lumpy Cannock Chase routes, well they move about a little, meaning that constant adjustment is required! 

Now, I am not the most skillful mountain biker and even a small descent down rocks can cause me to  un-clip, but in the fading light, you don notice some of the obstacles and so riding them without "fear" is easier, or fool hardy?, any way I do think that it also helps with confidence and improving skill.   

On my own and in the growing darkness, owls hooting, occasional red eyes picked out by my lights, it does bring out a certain primeval feeling and the heart beat does rise... but its great fun - and I must do more of the same..... see you on the Trails!

 

   

Christine Bottrill Cancer Research UK 4.3TT

For the second year running we attended the Christine Bottrill 4.3TT, a 4.3 time trial organised by Christine`s son Mark, hosted by Coalville Wheelers and run on their 4.3mm TT coarse.

Fun is the aim, alongside raising funds for Cancer Research UK, 2020 was the 4th year for the event, with a sum just short of £3,000.00 raised, a total over the 4 years of just short of £10,000.00 - you can donate Here.

Last year, the Wheelers clubs house was full to overflowing, tea and cake in plentiful supply and lots of "banter". We were not sure of what to expect, a full on TT or madcap fancy dress event, in the end it turned out to be somewhere between the two, so me on my "tall bike" and James riding the Shopper "swing-bike" fitted in well and we were welcomed, and questioned about our choice of "rides". Not sure if there is a World Record for a 4.3 mile tt on either bike, we maybe should have checked. We enjoyed ourselves enough to place the date on our 2020 calendars.       

Along came Covid, events cancelled here, there and everywhere, but with some Covid guidelines and sensible planning the ride was cleared to go. 11th October dawned, following the wet and miserable day before, bright and sunny, as it was last year. Bikes packed and then the short drive to Griffydam and Coalville Wheelers Clubhouse, staggered arrivals and the Clubhouse being closed (apart from the toilet) might have made for a more subdued event, but laughter was in the air and the various fancy dress outfits made for a great morning.

James was dressed as a "courier" on his "fixie", myself Elliot and ET with a Halloween theme! 

I also removed my 1980`s Coalville Wheelers jersey from its (picture) frame and managed to fit in to my "costume". 

A great event, and one already on the Calendar for 2021.

 

         

Bicycle songs... songs about bikes, bicycles......

 As a cyclist, i often am in need of putting together a "play list", usually for one of the rides i help with, and am amazed at how few they are, actual songs about bikes, cycling, ..and for the record, Katie Melua doesn't count! although you can listen here if you must!

There are some others that spring to mind, Queens Bicycle Race, watch here, (oh, parental guidance advised!), is another that should be in the list, but.... ok then, the video is ok i guess! The list of "cover" versions of Bicycle Race is vast, so if you don`t like Queen, i am sure you will find an option!

One of my favourites, watch here, is Handlebars by Flobots, although apart from "handlebars" being the title, the song has little to do with bikes! Another we need to add is Pink Floyd`s Bike, a little dated, but in the main is about a bike!

The list of musical genres though, for such a small list is vast, from the "folk" of Beryl by O`Hooley and Tidow, "heavy rock" in My White Bicycle" by Nazareth, through to electronic (?) from Kraftwork - Tour de France

I have pushed the boundaries a little, Bombay Bicycle Club, i picked Luna, Critical Mass, no sorry it has nothing to do with Critical Mass, by Nuclear Assault, makes the grade as i couldn't find another song referencing Critical Mass!

I would like nothing more than for you to suggest more titles, please!, and as i find more i will add, but here you go - Hope you enjoy and please pop back to see if we have manged to find more!

31 9 Million Bicycles - Katie Melua

30 Tandem Bike - Emma Jayne - Listen Here (new entry)

29 Bicycle Race - Queen (plus 100 covers)

28 Luna - Bombay Bicycle Club

27 Daisy Bell - Harry Dacre

26 Riding on my Bike - McBusted 

25 Critical Mass - Nuclear Assault Listen Here

24 Handlebars - Flobots

23 Bicycle Built for Two - John Fahey (many other versions!) 

22 The Bike Songs - Grave Architects Listen Here (great video!)

21 I like my Bike - Kimya Dawson Listen Here

20 Pushbike Song - Mungo Jerry

19 Physics of a Bicycle - Clouddead Listen Here

18 The Kickstand Song - Darren Hanlon Listen Here (another that is growing on me!)

17 Bike - Pink Floyd 

16 Terry Keeps his Clips on - Vivian Stansall Listen Here

15 Pedal Pusher - Abdominal Listen Here

14 Bicycle Wheels - Ugly Kid Joe Listen Here

13 in true cycle racing tradition - we don`t have a 13 

12 Boy on a Bike - Stereophonics 

11 Death of an Bicycle - Rosebuds Listen Here

10 Yellow Bike - Pedro the Lion Listen Here (the more i listen the more i like!)

9 Bike Ride to the Moon - Dukes of Strastophere Listen Here

8 Bicycle - StVincent Listen Here

7 A Lilac Harry Quinn - Half Man Half Biscuit Listen Here

6 My White Bicycle - Nazareth

5 Beryl - O`Hooley & Tidow Listen Here

4 Tour de France - Kraftwork 

3 Bicycle Song - Red Hot Chilli Peppers Listen Here

2 The Bike Song - Mark Ronson Listen Here

1 Bike Rider - Mungo`s Hifi Listen/Watch Here