Starting a 10 mile commute at this time of year?

[skudupnorth]

It's great winter commuting as long as you are well lit and weather proofed...... Plus everyone at work thinks you are barking so they stay away I'm topping up the rear end lighting this week though,only got one Cateye LD1100 and an inkle one on the helmet.front end is sorted with a Cateye flasher and Nite-rider x 2 on half beam (strobe up-sets box drivers ! )

 

[biking_fox]

Just do it. And enjoy it. Depending on where you are exactly there may be the day or two when ice makes it less sensible - but I'm not sure driving would be any better!

Stay well lit! as said. Take spare batteries. And have at least two front and two back lights in case one fails unexpectedly. Carry waterproofs. Don't worry about the cold you soon warm up. Ditto rain. Only problem is ice, even snow isn't that much of an issue.

 

[Arch]

Now to convince the wife...

I actually have the Tesco torches and Fishlock things, but charging batteries (that are too big!) seems a pain.

I know, excuses...

But, I feel strangely compelled....

Would feel better with a purpose built fit and forget type setup with dynohubs etc, but then it starts to seem like too much faffing.

Maybe start on the road bike on dry days and see how it goes?

Ah, but the point of 'fit and forget' is that once you've faffed once, that's it....

On the country lanes - only you know what they are like. There are some country roads I'd happily cycle on at night, and some I'd rather not, due to higher levels/speeds of traffic. And a route you are very familliar with is easier than one you aren't and so on.

Give it a go and see. There's no rule says you have to do it everyday.

Now to convince the wife...

And then tell me why I thought you were a lady.

 

[SilverSurfer]

And then tell me why I thought you were a lady.

Cos I have better legs than you?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Would feel better with a purpose built fit and forget type setup with dynohubs etc, but then it starts to seem like too much faffing.

Maybe start on the road bike on dry days and see how it goes?

Dynamo lights are by far the best option for riding regularly at night. And they're no faff at all once they're fitted. Who needs to be messing about charging batteries, or carrying spares and having to change them by the roadside? Just get a good quality dynamo setup, back it up with a decent flashing LED at each end and off you go. That's what I use to get to my nightshift job 12 miles away on rural roads.

 

[Alan Whicker]

Yeah, go for it. One thing I would add - as well as ice, watch out for animals, and not just the small ones. I rounded a bend one dark night to find a gigantic stag standing in the middle of the road, eyes glowing in my lights and steam blasting from its nose. Didn't help that this lane was reputed to be haunted by "the barguest" (Mythical Yorkshire demon dog).

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I remember riding from the middle of nowhere to Wolverhampton at around 2 o'clock one morning. At around 3am, I was passing a place on a hill in the country which must have been a hunting kennels or something, and it must have been feeding time because there was the most unearthly wailing as the hounds clamoured to be fed. It was November, and misty and dark, and I never went up that hill faster than I did that night.

 

[GAVSTER]

My commute is about 16 miles each way. At this time of year it's dark in the am and the PM. Some of the route is on unlit roads.

Just give it a go - it's fun.

 

[upsidedown]

Best time of year, go for it.
I take a camera with me for the occasional shot that you just wouldn't see in a car.

Get yourself of couple of Smart rear lights for 3 quid each, free p&p

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=14828



and away you go.

As previously mentioned, watch for ice, wet leaves, wet painted lines, wet drain covers.

Try not to ride through puddles when it's very cold, from experience i can tell you that the road surface can break up in to a very large hole in the space of a day......

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Watch Out for Owls

ooh, ooh, yeah, upsidedown has just reminded me.

One of my bestest experiences ever was on the way home from work one night last winter when an owl (don't know what make, sorry) flew parallel to me a few feet to my side down the lane into my village for 50 yards or so. It was right on the edge of the cone of light from my front lights .. lovely.

 

[adds21]

ooh, ooh, yeah, upsidedown has just reminded me.

One of my bestest experiences ever was on the way home from work one night last winter when an owl (don't know what make, sorry) flew parallel to me a few feet to my side down the lane into my village for 50 yards or so. It was right on the edge of the cone of light from my front lights .. lovely.

Exactly that happened with me earlier in the year as well. Fantastic.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Exactly that happened with me earlier in the year as well. Fantastic.

It was - especially for an outdoorsy tree-hugging hippy type like me. You get used to foxes and bunnies and so forth, but that was pretty special.

 

[BentMikey]

And seeing a badger cross the road...

 

[adds21]

And seeing a badger cross the road...

Have to say there appears to be an abundance of badgers on my commute home when it's dark. I'm always amazed when I talk to people who have never seen a living one.

(Sad to say, there is currently a dead one on my trip home as well... and even sadder is that I almost look forward to seeing it because it means I'm near the top of the hill!).

 

[skudupnorth]

OWLS ! They like to swoop at moving things in the dark !!! I had one do that to me once just felt a big woosh.....love wildlife but not when it's trying to get me !