Without trying to sound like too much of a cyclist, I think it’s well worth drawing attention to the fact that we make very little noise. This is a good thing, but also can be pretty dangerous- pedestrians often step out from behind cars using their hearing to detect if they’re about to be squashed or not- I’ve hit someone like this before and had a massive crash. They stepped out from behind a bus and we both went down.

They came off far worse off through, as I had my speed to roll- they were knocked flat to the floor. And they learned.

But recently I was the pedestrian, this time out walking in the hills in an area where I ride.

A guy came past me so fast, and so close that it made me jump- I didn’t even hear his tyres until he was right on me. His bike was quiet too.

As he blasted off down the trail I looked over my shoulder to see if there were more, but the coast was clear. Luckily for me things like this don’t affect me, but had I been on old timer out enjoying the woods it would have scared me to death, and I’d be furious about it.

If I’d have stepped to the right milliseconds before the rider blatted past, he would certainly have hit me and it would have been messy for both of us. I can’t believe he took the chance.

He should have made himself known.

I always make my presence known- I’ll cough, change gear in the distance, lock up a wheel for a split second- what ever. Letting people know you’re there decreases the chance of hurting someone, and increases the chance of them moving out the way. You don’t have to be blunt- a cheery ‘morning’ often does the trick.

I even use a bell on the towpath now, but not to be a good cyclist, it’s because I’ve had so many run ins with 5 abreast walkers that I can’t be bothered with the hassle. I just ring and ride by now.

I’ve even had arguments where walkers have told me I shouldn’t be on their footpath, and I’ve had to point out towpaths were actually built for horses to tow canal barges- and that now it’s an equal use system. It’s no wonder more walkers don’t end up in the drink…

Like most mountain bikers, I always have the strange urge to get out on my bike in the snow when we’re lucky enough to have a decent snowfall. Quite why though, I’m not sure as it’s not very nice to ride on, you get cold feet and you always end up throwing snowballs at one and another, ending up with equally cold hands. But I’m drawn to it like child to a christmas tree.

Over the last couple of years we’ve had a fair bit of snow, but not a niffle over this way yet- until saturday. I was doing some work on the house, and had acknowledged that it was settling outside, but presumed it would be gone soon as it wasn’t even the right conditions. But come mid afternoon and there were a few inches on the floor and it didn’t look like it was stopping. And that’s all it took- in minutes I was out the door and off in to the snow to play, Remembering how tough it is to climb was the first thing, but once pointing the bike down across some fields it was all about carving big fast turns, sliding around and laughing at my inner child who was desperately trying to escape. And it seemed I wasn’t the only one- I ran in to a bunch of local riders gooning around on the hills who’d been out in the snow all day.

It’s quite hilarious how a bunch of grown adults turn to kids at the first sight of snow. Why is it so magical? As predicted, it was just a matter of time before one of the riders mentioned the golf course, and we were all over there to hit the bunkers and slalom in an out of the kids on dustbin lids and for sale signs.

I was kind of hoping the snow would stick around, but this morning it was warm outside and the moisture had turned back to drizzle- there wasn’t even a sign of snow, anywhere. Was it all a dream? Maybe I’d just ben quaffing too much cheese and my imagination had got the better of me…