Ride the Lights..........

[fossyant]

Anyone going - Blackpool Tues 1st September ?

http://www.visitblackpool.com/site/whats-on/festivals/ride-the-lights-p45440

We are hoping to, weather permitting. Chips on the seafront, then a pootle up and down the front to look at the lights....8.00pm to 10.00pm.

Not a big fan of the place though, but should be fun on bikes.

 

[bugslop]

Not heard of that one. Although if the weathers nice it could be a good night.

 

[PaulB]

Here's a question about that one. Since it doesn't finish till 10, do you need lights on your bike? After all, you're riding 'neath a starry sky full of them aren't you?

 

[fossyant]

Apparently you do need lights. The kids have a smart superflash on the rear of their bikes - what you say...yup....superflash !!! ...picked them up for £4.30 from PBK about a month ago.

 

[Globalti]

What tyres for riding through urine, vomit and broken glass?

 

[fossyant]

What tyres for riding through urine, vomit and broken glass?

LOL - that lot will be turning up this Friday.....for the Big Switch On......I hope....

MTB tyres I feel - the fixed won't go on my roof rack (guards in the way - front fork clamping).....

 

[PaulB]

Here's a fact most people aren't aware of; Blackpool has more public urinals than any other town or city in the United Kingdom. To be fair though, the other towns and cities call theirs "shop doorways".

 

[fossyant]

Here's a fact most people aren't aware of; Blackpool has more public urinals than any other town or city in the United Kingdom. To be fair though, the other towns and cities call theirs "shop doorways".

Ha...these are the 'official ones'.......

http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/NR/rdon...nveniencesMapLocationoftoiletsinBlackpool.pdf

Would you believe it - a map of loos..........

 

[fossyant]

Well, that was rather good.

Weather remained dry, despite heavy rain showers on the way. It wasn't half windy. Very strong Northerly Wind - difficult getting the bikes off the roof....

Got there at about 5.30pm, got some food, then unpacked and we were on the road for 7. Rode down from Bispham to Star Gate whilst it was still light along the coastal path. My daughter of 6 did really well into the head wind.....5.5 miles later and we got to Star gate at 8.00pm.

The crowds then started rolling....loads and loads of cyclists - all sorts of bikes etc. Now the wind was on our tail, so this made for a pleasant ride back. Lots of little 'uns cycling too.

Stopped off for doughnuts, and carried on. Apologies to the blinded pedestrians..... a fair number were 'good god they are bright, I can't see', to my Hopes . I suppose 'good' lights, compared to the cheap stuff is a lot different. Even my old Cateye 510's that were on my son's and wife's bike appeared very bright in comparison to 95% of everything else.

Spotted some Ay-Ups - gosh they are tiny....

We eventually arrived at Bispham by about 9.40 and packed away and off for 10.00pm, by then the wind was really up.

Great evening, and my 6 your old daughter managed the 11 miles very well - I'd only told her it was 6...........and she's only done a flat 5 miler a couple of weeks before.....

Anyway, if you are within travelling distance, this is well worth doing next year, especially if you have kids........

 

[Globalti]

We went at the last minute; saw that it had dried up and didn't leave home until about 8.30. Started at the southerly end and got blown all the five miles to the northerly end, then had to ride back against the wind. My wife and 10 y.o. son on his Islabike were getting pretty tired by the time we finished around 10.30.

Blackpool is so dingy and scruffy that there were a couple of moments when I had a strong feeling that I was riding through some awful east European city like Bucharest or Belgrade, late at night.

 

[Globalti]

Ha...these are the 'official ones'.......

http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/NR/rdon...nveniencesMapLocationoftoiletsinBlackpool.pdf

Would you believe it - a map of loos..........

The old Victorain loos are massive - hundreds of urinals in big, ceramic-tiled toilet buildings. You realise that at one time the town was just there for the mass conversion of beer into urine. I do like the idea of a 24hr helpline for the public toilets, I'd like to ring and ask how to get to Cocker Square.

 

[fossyant]

Three reasons why we started from Bispham.....

1. Easy to Park
2. Wind Direction for the return..that was a howler...
3. Quite Nice - not a dump like it is down near the Pleasure Beech.