Videos

February 11th – Coming up Hatherton Street in Walsall to turn right on to the New Ring Road. Clear behind, then as I roll into lane an engine revving hard behind my right hand shoulder.

Why she did this, I have no idea. Just as well I know the junction and the Advanced Stop Line for cyclists. It’s about the only time I’d ever use one. It visibly irritated her. 

I don hope she got to work or wherever in a foul mood.

(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)

February 6th – I’m also getting used to the regular pebble-dashings from gritting trucks, spreading salt as a de-icer on the roads. As a cyclist, I’m generally quite slow moving, and because I ravel at particular times of day, my journeys often coincide with the council salt runs. On cold days they’ll be out in force, plodding down the roads of the borough, making the surfaces crunchy to ride on.

Many people have a mental block with grit: they expect it to be magic, like fairy dust, and when they find roads still icy, they’ll tell you the trucks never came, or that the council is useless. In reality, spreading rocksalt is not an exact science, and is only to improve conditions, not complete ameliorate them.

Driving skill we still be required after the glitter has gone.

I often feel for the crews, who work long hours on a generally thankless task. So I don’t mind the evening coating of grit.

Up the council gritter!

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

November 11th – Riding along the Darlaston Road in Pleck, Walsall at about 5:30pm, towards Walsall. I’m on the left as I’m hauling uphill and the banjo in the taxi overtakes me and turns left, not too far from wiping me out.

Fortunately, he hesitated, and I saw what he was going to do, so I drifted to the left as he pressed towards me. Long time since I shouted at a driver.

This was not a case of not seeing me. He saw me, he went for it. Thankfully, I have my wits about me.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

September 11th – Less charming than the sunflower, but fascinating to me, just under a bridge in Pleck, I pull up to a halt to allow a rat to get out of my way. Brown, and in good nick, it loops around the path before diving into a drain hole in the bridge underwall. If you watch closely, it briefly pokes it’s nose back out of the hole.

Rats are a fact of life with canal cycling, and there are lots in urban areas. Previously, I’ve seen them swimming here. Humans have a symbiotic relationship with rats, and we’ve co-existed for millennia.

I don’t find them repulsive, I find them fascinating. Their adaptability and nimbleness are fascinating.

Worth watching full screen. Click on the little square box on the vide toolbar.

September 7th – Hopwas Hays Wood. A downhill from the north tip I’d not done before. Difficult, unexpected, exhilarating. I’ve pussyfooted around with this damned bad foot too long. Time to wig out.

I’ve also not done any ride cams for ages, and have a bit of a project on the boil. More later.

This is filmed real time, max speed about 35mph. Music the gorgeous “Close Behind’ by Calexico. In the western classic I’ll never direct, the hero and heroine ride off into the sunset to this music.

May 26th – The family that preens together, stays together. Cute as buttons, fighting fit – 8 cygnets on the canal at Catshill, Brownhills.

The music is ‘Peppermint Patty’ as played by the remarkable George Winston, but originally by Vince Guaraldi.

This one’s for Woz, because he’s off his feet at the mo, and can’t go look for himself.

April 25th – This one’s for Trevor in Oz. You may miss life here when it’s sunny… but not on a went Friday afternoon.

A horrid ride. They guy soaking me in the last 10 seconds just clinched it.

The audio is the remarkable ‘Rain Dances’ by 1970s prog-jazzers Camel. Recording used at normal speed.