I used to be fascinated with lights when I was a boy. Floodlights in particular used to hold me spellbound with the strong beams of light they projected. The handlebars of my bike accommodated no fewer than three of these, which were fitted with bakelite switches to enable them to be turned on and off. Nothing gave me greater pleasure that cycling through a dense fog so that the beam of light cast ahead was clearly visible, albeit pretty much useless. Huge and totally unexciting black bicycle lamps fitted with a tiny switch were also available at the time, enabling the operator to switch to a sort of "sidelight mode for the cycling family man", but it was not until much later that I was able to appreciate them for their nostalgic appeal. I suddenly remember that this type of adjustable bicycle lamp was probably designed during World War II so as to enable the user in the event of approaching bomber aircraft to comply in good time with the black-out requirement while retaining a modicum of visibility, but I was still playing with my rattle at the time, or busy tossing my brother's building blocks about the room.
Cycling along sandy dirt roads had its moments, too. Weather and cycling speed permitting (it had to be sufficiently dry while maximum speed was of the essence), I liked to swivel 'round on my seat to admire the small clouds of dirt I was kicking up. Obviously I have always been attracted to kicking up dust …
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