It’s getting dark and the sun is just about to creep behind the mountains. There are only 15 km left until I reach the city and get home. It’s time to push hard and ride fast. 

I leave the darkness behind and immerse myself in the hypnotic atmosphere of the city. A red traffic light stops me. I unclip my cleat and put my right foot on the tarmac. Suddenly, time seems to stop. I don’t notice the cars’ engines rumbling behind me, the people crossing the road in front of me, the city’s distractions.

The traffic light turns green, and the only sounds I can detect are my bike’s gear changes and the buzzing of the city lights overhead, in a kind of perfect synchronisation. Those neon tube lights, boasting their impressive glow in the city’s night sky, are what guide me home.

I finally make it back, still listening to the rapid electrical sparks coming from those thousands of neon tubes that light up the city.