Another week up in Stockport, another three more after-dark 29er rides… I’ve ridden more in the last week and a bit than the last two months put together due to work and knee injuries.
On Tuesday evening I ventured up the canal from the last ride, but in the other direction. There were no locks or impressive bridges in this direction, but the track was good and fast. Until, that is, I discovered the flip side of the lights remaining bright right up to the end… one minute the lights were as bright as normal, the next they were fading fast. Somebody had forgotten to charge them after the last ride…
I had my backup light with me to find my way back, but it didn’t half seem rubbish now. At one narrow bridge I decided that it wasn’t really bright enough to let me ride through comfortably, so I dismounted… badly, with the 29er falling to the ground behind me. Initially, at least…
Splash! Into the canal bounced the unicycle. It did look pretty, the red lights around the wheel and under the seat glowing from just beneath the black surface. Unfortunately taking a photo was a lower priority than rescuing it, so you’ll have to take my word for it. Luckily it fell close to the side in the narrow bit under the bridge, and the tyre and airseat floated well, so unicycle fishing didn’t prove difficult.
Still… at least it’s nice and clean now… 
Admittedly, cycling alongside canals after dark probably isn’t the most sensible way to amuse oneself on an evening; sooner or later something is going to end up in the water. The worrying thing is that now the uni has been in it’s got to be my turn next. I take a change of trousers, so I don’t have to walk through the hotel splashed with mud; maybe a towel would be a good idea from now on…
The second ride was on Wednesday; I met up with Steve Colligan for a ride on the other side of Manchester. We rode a nice loop of fast off-road trails and a section of canal towpath (aargh!), but luckily nothing fell in the canal this time. I can’t help but wonder what goes through the mind of other people seeing lights flying along an unlit track through trees atop two people on unicycles…
The third was on the way back home; I stopped for something to eat in Malvern, and with the Malvern Hills so close I couldn’t say no to another ride. This was great fun; the tops of the hills and the woods behind them have some nice singletrack, and are remote enough to make it a real experience. Wildlife abounded, and was very visible in the spotlight; loads of rabbits, a cat, a fox and a random unidentifed creature; its eyes were either wider than the rest or doing weird things with my depth perception. Maybe the axe-wielding maniac following Steve around decided to see the sights…
A most enjoyable week, which if the weather stays nice I want to top off with a trip to the Quantocks tomorrow; no canals for miles around, but plenty of streams to fall in. Hopefully this time my tyre won’t explode…
Phil