Do you guys commute in the winter? - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

11-07-2003, 06:11 AM

"Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].co m...
> I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at
6
> PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
> home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave
enough
> to commute 20 miles in the pitch black.

This is my first year riding home closer to commuter hours, as before I was
working only half-time. I'm enjoying watching the season turn. It's getting
darker and darker for that PM ride home.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
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11-07-2003, 06:33 AM

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 03:54:14 GMT, "Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:
>I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at 6
>PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
>home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave enough
>to commute 20 miles in the pitch black. Am I being a wuss or am I being
>sensible by not riding in the dark? I have a dual beam Vistalite and a bunch
>of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.

I'm taking bets on how long before this becomes another lighting
war.
--
Rick Onanian

11-07-2003, 07:06 AM

"Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].c om>...
> I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at 6
> PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
> home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave enough
> to commute 20 miles in the pitch black. Am I being a wuss or am I being
> sensible by not riding in the dark? I have a dual beam Vistalite and a bunch
> of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.

If you're not sure it's enough, get some help from a friend and check
it out. Have your friend ride your bike while you pass by in a car,
from different directions. Do this on the roads you plan to ride, or
their close equivalents.

I commute in the dark. I use a generator headlight and taillight, a
blinkie front and rear and various reflective bits. I've checked out
my bike as described above, and had other people give me their
comments on its visibility. Everyone has been not only satisfied, but
impressed. In fact, several times motorists have given me spontaneous
compliments on my visibility.

FWIW, I've got two higher-powered rechargeable headlights. I used to
use them, but rarely do now. They're just not needed, so I don't
bother carrying them along.

You'll soon get posts from the light fanatics - those people who
believe nobody should ever ride at night without blinding strobe
lights behind, aircraft landing lights in front, and (perhaps)
exploding flares overhead. Obviously, I disagree with that
philosophy. But then, I've only been doing this for 20 years or so.
YMMV.

I think the best advice is to check out what your bike looks like in
your actual riding conditions.

- Frank Krygowski

11-07-2003, 07:35 AM

"Eric Babula" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:Xns942C520B4AC33ebabulacare2com@207.250.5.36. ..
> "Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
> news:GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].co m:
>
> > I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets
> > dark at 6 PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's
> > dark when I get home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering
> > if anyone is brave enough to commute 20 miles in the pitch black.
> > Am I being a wuss or am I being sensible by not riding in the dark?
> > I have a dual beam Vistalite and a bunch of blinkies but I'm not
> > sure that's enough.
> >
> >
>
> I live in Wisconsin. I try to commute all year long - my commute is
> about 14 miles, each way. But, I found that I don't like riding when
> there's snow on the roads. Just no fun having your front tire twist and
> turn in the automobile tire tracks, feeling like you're gonna slip and
> fall at any given time, right under a bus, semi or car! So, in winter,
> I only ride when I'm 'relatively' sure there will be no snow on the
> roads.
>
> I know, I'm a wimp! The snow stops me, but the cold or dark doesn't
> usually stop me. I am usually riding at 4:30am, and going home at
> 4:00pm, so it's dark both ways. Not a big deal. I have the VistaLite
> 15 system (one 5-watt aimed at oncoming traffic and one 10-watt aimed at
> the road) on the front, red blinkie on the bike rack, and red blinkie on
> the back of my hellmet (sic). And, I bought a bunch of the 3M
> Scotchlite reflective tape, and put it on my bike frame, my battery, my
> tire pump, and even my flag stick (yes, I have a US Flag waving behind
> my bike - best accessory I ever put on the bike!). I feel pretty safe,
> riding at night, but think I could use better lights to see with, on the
> front of my bike. Some of my commute is in the suburbs, where I might
> go stretches of up to a mile with no street lighting, and it would be
> nice to have a brighter light on the road, to see the upcoming glass, or
> whatever.
>
> I have been told, by one motorist (who is also a bicyclist, BTW), that,
> even though she thinks I have ample light, it's really hard to judge my
> distance and speed, as I come toward her at night. She actually passed
> me, going the opposite way, turned around, caught up to me, stopped me,
> and chatted with me! Good thing to hear. I think I'm going to add a
> couple white/amber blinkies to the front of my bike, too, just to be
> safer.
>
> On another occasion, a guy pulled up next to me at a stop light, rolled
> down his window, and said, "Thank you for having so much light on your
> bike." That was really cool! He basically told me that he could see me
> from 1/2 mile away, and it's nice when you can see a bicyclist so well,
> because many people have nothing at all on their bikes, and wear black,
> so a driver won't see them until it's too late. So, apparently, the
> combination of blinkies and reflective tape is good enough from behind!
> I'm still considering buying a reflective vest, with the SMV triangle on
> it. Can never be too safe!
>
> Well, that's my situation. YMMV.
>
> --
> Smile!!
>
> __O
> _-\ <,_ Eric Babula
> (_) / (_) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Do you have the reflective tape on your crank arms and ankles or shoes?

Before I started working from home, I used to commute by bike, and found
that adding the reflective tape to the front and back of both crank arms was
very effective for both oncoming and overtaking traffic. It produces a very
noticeable left-right flashing that makes it easier for the drivers to
identify as a cyclist. This, in turn, seems to help them judge the distance
better.

I'd also recommend ankle or shoe reflectors of some sort, for the same
reason...the up and down motion helps drivers recognize you as a cyclist.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

11-07-2003, 07:51 AM

"Rich Clark" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>...
> "Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].co m...
> > I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at
> 6
> > .........
> > of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.
>
> Lots of people commute in the dark routinely. Many of them actually feel
> safer, because their lighting and reflectors make them visible to other
> traffic to a degree not really achievable in daylight. I'm one of them.
>
> My 13-mile route takes me from downtown through industrial areas to the
> suburbs, on secondary, arterial, or residential roads, so there is street
> lighting (although sometimes rather ineffective) most of the way. I use
> bright (15- or 24-watt) headlights, multiple blinkies, lots of reflective
> tape, and a large reflective triangle.
>
> I might feel less confident on unlit rural roads during commuting hours;
> it's been too long since I've ridden in such circumstances to say how I'd
> feel now. I never had a problem with it when I was younger.
>
> RichC
I agree with Rich. I have a 30 mile commute across the city. I light
myself up like a Christmas tree and use reflective tape. I feel as
safe or safer than during daylight.

Last year I started putting a blinker on each side of my bike, hanging
on the front panniers. That seemed to make a big difference for cars
pulling out from sidestreets and cars coming from the other direction
that make a left turn across my lane.

Tom

11-07-2003, 08:04 AM

"Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].co m...
> I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at
6
> PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
> home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave
enough
> to commute 20 miles in the pitch black. Am I being a wuss or am I being
> sensible by not riding in the dark? I have a dual beam Vistalite and a
bunch
> of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.

A matter of preferences of course but I find the amount of urban/suburban
light pollution hereabouts to be adequate for me to see and front and back
blinkies along with some reflective strips acceptable for others to see me.

--
'Sell your sin
Just cash in' -Jewell

11-07-2003, 09:42 AM

"Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].c om>...
> I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at 6
> PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
> home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave enough
> to commute 20 miles in the pitch black. Am I being a wuss or am I being
> sensible by not riding in the dark? I have a dual beam Vistalite and a bunch
> of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.

I ride 17.5 miles each way to work and lately it has been dark on my
ride home. Most of this is over very lightly travel rural roads with
no lighting and no lines. I have a dual logic 25w hallogen headlight
and it works fine. I use it full blast when I'm out in the sticks and
on the low setting if I'm riding through a well-lit area. (battery
life isn't quite long enough for high beam all the way). I average
about 16 miles per hour with this light and can descend a hill at
25mph comfortably. I have a red blinky on my back. I haven't had any
problems with cars so far. If you have a good rechargeable
water-bottle lighting system, you should be fine.

11-07-2003, 11:09 AM

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 06:52:18 -0700, Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> from
Habanero Cycles wrote:

>"Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>>I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at 6
>>PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
>>home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave enough
>>to commute 20 miles in the pitch black. Am I being a wuss or am I being
>>sensible by not riding in the dark? I have a dual beam Vistalite and a bunch
>>of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.
>
>Something to consider is that you probably show up better at night
>than during the day. I commuted in Florida for years, much of it in
>the dark and enjoyed most of the night riding. A good light and
>blinkies on the back make all the difference.

Hey, we agree on something! Are there earthquakes in divers places, too? We may
be in for some turbulence ...

--
real e-mail addy: kevansmith23 at yahoo dot com
a yellow wallpaper poem is a dirty clip,

11-07-2003, 01:44 PM

"David Kerber" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net...
> In article <GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> ,
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> > I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark
at 6
> > PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
> > home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave
enough
> > to commute 20 miles in the pitch black. Am I being a wuss or am I being
> > sensible by not riding in the dark? I have a dual beam Vistalite and a
bunch
> > of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.
>
> What are the roads and traffic like along your route? That *is* a
> long commute, especially in the dark...
>
Well, I live in a county heavily populated by retirees. The traffic on my
route isn't very bad at the times I ride it, but there are tons of elderly
drivers. I have never been hit but I suppose there's a first time. :-)

11-07-2003, 07:03 PM

"Slider2699" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:GHEqb.114544$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].co m...
> I live in Florida, so winter weather isn't a problem, but it gets dark at
6
> PM or earlier during the winter. I work a 9 to 5 so it's dark when I get
> home. I have a 20 mile commute, and I'm wondering if anyone is brave
enough
> to commute 20 miles in the pitch black. Am I being a wuss or am I being
> sensible by not riding in the dark? I have a dual beam Vistalite and a
bunch
> of blinkies but I'm not sure that's enough.
>
>

Yep, I commute in the winter, although I've only done it two winters. I
have a NiteRider Digital Evolution headlight and red LED rear light
(sometimes I blink, sometimes I leave it steady) and my commute is only 8
miles roundtrip right now. But my office is moving in January and the move
will increase the commute by 10 miles round trip. That along with the fact
that I like to spend some time in the gym some days guarantees that I'll be
riding at some time that I need a light.