Tag Archives: Leicestershire

Riding around rainbows.

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Rain & sun, 6°C, brisk SW

Sunday ride, tracked with with MapMyRide! Distance: 52.1mi, time: 03:39:22, speed: 14.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/449529887
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A long ribbon of dark cloud ran from the south-west. Under the darkest parts, the wind whipped up to quite a cold wet blast. William Turner would know this, I thought of him as I was blown along.
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That tantalizing clear air did blow my direction, only about half an hour after this picture was taken outside Twycross Zoo.

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Derby lane snowdrifts.

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4C,cold light snow showers.
Rode in Leicestershire with MapMyRide! Distance: 51.22mi, time: 03:44:45, http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=9110435700007763969
Dry but Derby lane was impassable because of snow drifts. Other cyclists warned me about the route, but the northern end of the road was clear. So, I turned in. Snow has drifted where there were no fences and wind had blown straight off the fields. I walked the bike over the crunchy snow/ice; bemused.

That dreadful easterly wind has eased too. Shame I didn’t get photo, but it was too cold to stop.
A great way to start the Easter holiday. 51 miles has left me all warm, right through a night that reached -4C.
All is well. Today, I will take the winter bike in for a service so will ride the fixed for the next week.

Avian miracle II

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23°C, wall to wall blue. CK:50 miles

Riding near Mawdsley Lancs., I saw a bird lying in the road. As I passed, it was obvious that it was still alive. So I turned around and went back, if left it would get driven over. It was a bull-finch, sitting in the pale sun-bleached tarmac with one leg sticking out at an awkward angle. So ( like last time) I picked it up with one hand, and suddenly it flew away towards a tree with other passerines swirling round.

Further proof that I can do miracles, as if any were needed.

I suppose it had an injured leg that prevented it jumping enough to take off. A very similar thing happened a few years ago in Leicestershire, I have blogged about it here but can’t locate it right now.

Conditions perfect

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23°C;wind=nil;clouds=nil(or as near as damnit).

67.0 miles – first to Staunton Harold, the place with the right-handed house martins. Then onto Bosworth Water Trust, specifically Cafe Kouts.

I was clever enough not to get burnt. Though didn’t feel very strong all day, plenty of stamina, but average speed was low (@15.7mph). As low as a winter ride on my (heavier) winter bike.

Two weeks ago- a Miracle!

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As ever,Sunday- out cycling – something happened that day though that had a real effect on me.

Cycling in Leicestershire from Staunton Harold heading south, Normanton Le Heath I think it was. It was a beautiful day, witha light wind from the North West. Suddenly, right in front of me a bird flew low over the road, which they often do – probably to use ground effect but this one crashes in to a tumbling heap and fluttered violently into the gutter. I hate seing birds dying.

I rode on a little way, thinking what can I do and as soon as it was safe, turned round. When I got back to the spot, it was lying motionless on it’s back, a sparrow. I decided to move it to the grass verge just to er.. let nature take care of it. So I took my gloves off and cupped my hands around it to pick it up.

Suddenly it jerked itself upright, and was standing on it’s feet. I carefully put my hands around it’s lil’ fragile body ready to lift it without damaging any feathers. It wriggled free and with aflutter flew from between my thumbs towards a tree across the road, ( in the direction it came from first). this time it seemed to have no trouble flying straight, no trouble at all.

So as you can see, it’s a Miracle. One of my cycling friends suggested that it was woken from it’s state of shock/concussion by the warmth of my hands. But of course they are wrong, I do miracles!