First Proper Dark Commute

[Lazy-Commuter]

Last time I rode in, it was getting dark in a twilight kind of way, but it wasn't proper dark. I wasn't at work last week so now I'm facing my first proper ride home in the dark.

I did a few night rides of 5-10 miles in September by way of getting used to it, but I'm still getting a strange mix of anticipation and nervousness as I stare down the barrel of this first one.

I'm also trying to decide whether to do some of the off-road sections for a laugh on the way home: it looks pretty soggy out there at the moment so I'll have to see how I feel I guess. Still, at least this morning's headwind has now become a tailwind.

 

[bazzadigz C+]

I had this 2 weeks ago, it kinda felt like it did just before my first ever home commute

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I had this 2 weeks ago, it kinda felt like it did just before my first ever home commute

Yeah, exactly that. Not long to go now.

 

[Maizie]

I'd done some commutes in, starting in the dark with it getting lighter, they were nice.
Last week (after the clocks changed) I got my first journey home where I started in the dusk and it was proper-dark by the time I got home. I enjoyed it...strangely I was surprised at how dark it was, when of course it's just as dark in a car at night...
But I did enjoy it. Especially the last mile and a half with it chucking it down with hail

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Well, I made it.

It was good fun, which tbh I was more or less expecting after my practice runs. I was pleasantly surprised by how much space cars gave me - it seemed to be more than usual, although that could just be the impression I got - but I don't know how to accruately test that one!!

What did almost catch me out was the stealth pedestrians: a couple out walking their dogs who were doing a great job of hiding in the shadows .. until one of their furry friends legged it out into the road in front of me. Plus all the usual yoof with their dark hoodies on and that innit who delight in walking slowly across the road in front of any vehicles .. they were harder to spot.

A slight downer was the light drizzle that kept fogging my glasses up, which was more of an annoyance than it ever is during the day.

Still, roll on tonight ..

 

[HLaB]

Congrats LC

I had my first dark commute since Jan or Feb last month as I had to work late. I was away in Sardinia when the clocks changed and I can't believe how fast it gets dark in the evenings now. Yesterday evening was my first dark commute leaving work at the usual time. I can already feel S.A.D comming on!

 

[J4CKO]

I am really enjoying it at the moment, especially given the nice weather, the autumnal sights and smells, dark is fine if you are well lit, I do some unlit lanes, my 2 Tesco torches and Cateye Single Shot Plus make it fun, trying it on a single five quid blinker would be frustrating.

Must say drivers have been very patient of late, I am doing a route with more 30 mph zones as the Chelford road (Fast A road) scared the poop out of me, why do drivers of BMW 330D's go everywhere flat out ? and there are less HGV's, and the ones there are tend to behaving as its a more complicated road with more going on.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I'm looking forward to a bright crisp night, hopefully with a little bit of less-than-first-half moon out. I have a pair of short off-road sections - quarter of a mile or so through a wood, a bit less than a mile round a lake on a country park - and a mile or so drop down an unlit lane. The rest is all lit.

The unlit lane is exciting: it's fairly steep, tree-lined (so v dark) and the surface is abysmal. Plus some lorries going to the farm up the top of it have liberally smeared it with mud and grit and all sorts. The only saving grace is that it's a no through road so apart from acess to the farm and a few houses there's no traffic.

It was on that road that I saw an owl on a practice run the other week. There's usually foxes hanging around up there too. But then they're all over the place.

I've got a Cateye EL-530 and 320 up front, plus a variety of flashing and steady red LEDs hanging off the back of the bike and me. The setup is good enough for what I do, though I will supplement it with a 3-LED head torch tonight just to see if it helps when I want to go round a corner in the woods by spilling a bit of light in the direction I'm looking before I turn.

 

[bazzadigz C+]

Well, I made it.

A slight downer was the light drizzle that kept fogging my glasses up, which was more of an annoyance than it ever is during the day.

Still, roll on tonight ..

This really annoyed me yesterday, had to stop 6 times in 8miles! everytime i went past a white light it more or less blinded me!

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

This really annoyed me yesterday, had to stop 6 times in 8miles! everytime i went past a white light it more or less blinded me!

It was a proper pest. After a while I thought, "my lights are getting dim, what's going on?". Then I realised .. just me being dim.

 

[Downward]

It's black outside
Been off this week but it looks like it's going to be another dark commute tomorrow.
I ma sure last week there was still a bit of light at 5.15pm

 

[HJ]

Most of my commuting over the years has been entirely urban, but on my current contract I have a rural section to it. As soon as pass the vet school the street lights stop, I have come to the rapid conclusion that I need some new front lights (either that of ride backwards, my DiNotte 140L lights up the road behind me brilliantly). Lights which I thought were bright in town hardly light the road ahead out in the country...

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Last night was fun .. no drizzle this time so I could see where I was going more easily, helped by a slight adjustment to the alignment of my lights. I was much more confident on the off-road sections and so quicker. Just need to avoid over-confidence now, I guess.

 

[goo_mason]

Used to dark morning commutes when the traffic is quiet (6am), but twice in the last two weeks I've not left work until after 6pm so I've had a dark ride home itoo, but this time in heavy traffic.

This is new to me as up until late April I was using the paths on my MTB, now it's roads on a roadie. It's actually a little nerve-jangling; can't see hazards / potholes / sunken drain-covers so far in advance in the dark, and despite the Ay-Ups and the eye-searing Cateye rear light cars seemed to cut me up / pull out on me far more. I can see I'm going to have to change my cycling style and be even MORE defensive and cautious, especially since it'll be dark around 4 all too soon. And I'll be going much slower too (before anyone thinks I won't change that habit