Tag: Licfield

September 16th – We’re in a real Indian summer at the moment – back to cycling around without a coat, with the sleeves rolled up. The sun has been shining, and the soft, mist-suffused light – particularly in the afternoons – has been a joy to the soul.

Autumn isn’t far away, though; the trees are turning, and when the sun goes down, there’s a distinctive nip in the air my chest and bones recognise only too well.

Here on the Lichfield Road at Walsall, the atmosphere and colour were gorgeous. I love how the trees are sculpted on the underside by  the double decker busses that regularly pass under their boughs.

This has been a great season, and a good year. 

August 20th – I keep seeing interesting bikes parked at Waitrose. This again, is the steed of a lady of a certain maturity, and frankly, I find it a bit baffling. It’s either a refurbed Raleigh 3 speed of the classic variety, or a modern copy. Authenticity is good, and that’s a real Sturmey Archer hub gear. Note the rod brakes and steel rims. I can’t for the life of me think why anyone would choose to ride a bike with such a crap braking system in this day and age. The carrier is also rather heavily engineered. It’s a nice thing, to be sure, but I’m not sure I’d fancy riding it.