Had a [censored] of a day at work, and after munching on last
nights leftover pizza I decided it was time to go out for a
ride and test my new light, the cateye HL-EL300. I've only
recently come back to cycling after riding everywhere on my
racer up till my early twenties. That was ten years ago, a
lot has changed!
Living in Chiswick I decided to pop down through Hammersmith
and over the bridge to the track running alongside the south
side of the Thames. I left home just before midnight, and
cycling along I noticed a few 'older' gents riding along on
unlit bikes. Strange, I thought, that they would be riding
at night along an unlit track that is basically pitch black
in places. I rode to the end and turned into the smaller
backtrack on the right just before you reach the end of the
gravel track. I almost shat myself when I nearly rode into
another middle aged fellow who was walking out of the side
track at the same time I turned into it.
I ditched the idea of the backtrack and rode back along
until I reached the cycle route that leads to Richmond Park.
Along the way I swore I saw at least two more gents in
different places almost trying to blend into the bushes at
the side of the path.
So, have I stumbled into a Hampstead Heath type arrangement?
Has anyone else come across this or am I just being a
paraniod homophobic type?
Anyway, rode down to Richmond Park and sat looking at the
stars for 20 mins or so. The clouds blew away and it was a
fantastic view. Very calm, very tranquil. Of course being a
muppet as I was riding along one of the roads I was looking
off to the right and next thing found myself ass over [censored] as
I veered off the road. Thankfully it was the softest crash I
have ever had, complete with a 2 1/2 somersault along the
ground as it sloped away from the road. Could have been much
worse, as that section has those mini logs sticking up on
the side of the road and landing on one of those would have
been a touch unpleasant.
And the light? Not really impressed. I was only on the bike
for 3 hours and by the time I got back home I noticed a
distinct drop in brightness. Coming back along the Thames
track I really had to concentrate so I didn't have another
prang. I think I'll go back and read some older threads on
recommended off road lights, this light unfortunately just
doesn't cut the mustard.