Ride the lights
Hold on come back, cycling is for everyone! Even if you don’t own a cycle perhaps becoming a regular reader of ‘On yer bike’ might inspire you to start thinking about enjoying this great and fashionable activity whilst you save the planet at the same time. That’s it the Olympics are over and our heart rates can now return to a more sedate pace after all the excitement and gold winning performances. It is said that just 30 minutes of exercise a day can improve our well being and long term health and so for many cycling is the logical choice that allows us to continue to perform in that gold medal winning way.
This week I have been out and about in the late summer sun to enjoy a lovely ride in Blackpool. Ride the Lights has gained momentum over the last few years drawing an ever increasing crowd of participants from all sectors of the cycling community. Every year the Tuesday before the Blackpool Illuminations are switched on Blackpool Council close the promenade to all apart from cyclists, emergency vehicles, trams and walkers. At 7pm the road is closed and that’s when the fun begins. Cyclist’s from far and wide descend on the northern resort to enjoy a heartwarming free spectacle of thousands of cyclists sharing the seafront whilst the sun sets and the illuminations begin to dazzle all. Many of the cyclist’s take the spectacle to heart by decorating their treasured cycles in lights themselves, tandems, unicycles and pedicabs, tagalongs, stabilizers and every colour and style of cycle was on the road. The feeling of unity and joy amongst the crowd was distinctly audible with the clamour of horns and bells everywhere. Some were riding sedately, families were chaperoning their siblings, but the combined feeling was of freedom and positivity as everyone allow themselves a sense of being that somehow cannot be copied elsewhere.
As the sun disappeared and the black skies descended the younger ones started making their way home though the cacophony of noise and light. I remember seeing the lights as a child from the rear seat of a slow moving car many years ago and although still a spectacle I think in hindsight this way would have engaged me better.
Keep peddlin’
If you have any further comments or stories then please drop me Ian a line at Ian462@msn.com or telephone 07596557553
