If you have read any of my past ramblings, you will know that I am rather partial to the odd night ride. (If it is to the coast, even better). Though I have written about night rides several times, I thought I would try and explain further their undoubted appeal.
Night rides for me started several years ago. My partner in crime, Andrew (Bumblebee) and I decided that we would go on something called the, Velonotte CLICK HERE back in 2012. Before, during and after this ride, I think that both of us might have wondered what possessed us? However, it was not that long until I wanted go on something similar. I now cannot count how many times I have been on a night ride.
#1 Anticipation
There is quite a lot of looking forward to a night ride coming round. Before the ride, one has to make sure that ones Brompton, cycling gear and lights are all ready. On the day of the ride, it remains in the back of your mind. Questions pop up, such as what will the weather be like? Am I crazy to do this? What do I need to take with me? Am I crazy to do this? It all adds to the anticipation.
#2 The people
On these rides you get to ride with and chew the fat with old friends. Conversations go from humorous to everything in between. You do meet and chat to people from all walks of life, ages and cultures. All of this makes the mile fly by and even when the rain is howling down or it gets cold, you always have someone to share the journey with and have a chat to. It makes things a great deal more interesting.
#3 SolitudeThe opposite to #2 is that you can quite happily cycle along on your own. There are moments where for a few miles, one follows the tail light of someone in the distance in total solitude, escaping in your own thoughts.
#4 The halfway stop
On official rides (and unofficial) the halfway stop is like claiming sanctuary. It provides warth, a proper toilet, a hot drink and often homemade cakes. The homemade variety can be viewed as near manna from heaven. Once inside I often find difficulty stringing a sentence together, trying not to nod off. If there have been hills, the rain has been pounding down, it has been windy or cold, it really is something to look forward to.
#5 After the halfway stop
Without exception (even during the summer months) once the halfway stop is over and one heads outside ones bicycle to ride off again, I start to feel the cold. This feeling of being frozen, I liken to the shear cold experienced by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his many polar adventures. Is is perhaps also like one of those en vogue techniques to invigorate the mind body and soul such as an ice bath or wild swimming! (I'll stick to just exiting from the halfway stop)!
#6 Nature
Once you have cycled a few miles out of london, you cycle into that transition from urban to open countryside. Once you enter the latter there is an abundance of all things nature. Foxes, badgers, deer. Sheep, horses, cows. Owls and when near dawn the copious chorus of song birds. It really is quite wonderful to see, hear and experience.
#7 Bragging rights?
Once the night ride is over and I arrive back at a London railway station, I head for home. Occasionally, a passer by might ask about my Brompton and what sort of rides I go on. Many are shocked to hear about cycling through the night from London to somewhere on the coast and then getting the train back. At work the following Monday there is invariably something to say when someone asks, 'do anything over the weekend?'
#8 Sunrise
At some point on these rides, there is the chance to experience sunrise. The colours of the sky and along with #6 and the sound of the dawn chorus can all be quite magical.
#9 Well-being
There are many studies out there saying that it is a good idea to get out and do something. This could be a walk, meeting a friend for a coffee, going for a run, doing some exercise, going for a cycle ride... I do think that cycling is a good thing for ones well-being and #2, #3 and #6 experienced on a night ride all help.
Well put, thanks, enjoyed reading that.
ReplyDelete