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!

 

   

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

Mixed Weekend.....

A mixed weekend, the Lichfield Re:Cycle project held its AGM on Friday evening, so as a nice night I took the "Tall Bike" for its first trip of the year.

Saturday, again as a nice day, decided to dust the canoe off, and spent 40 minutes paddling, quite nice it was too, Saturday evening, another trip to "town" on the "Tall Bike"!

Sunday up early and a ride of the Ride Lichfield Sportive "long" route, at just over 60 miles the longest ride of the year, at 14.6mph average, a nice ride in good weather.

This was followed by a 6 mile walk....... roll on Monday and a rest!

     

Re:Cycle Valentines Ride 2019

Although a little damp, a small but perfectly formed group set off on our Re:Cycle Valentines Ride.

The past two years we have had to cancel this ride due to the weather, so we were quite happy to get out this year.

Coffee and cake where enjoyed at Mabel`s Cafe at Curborough.