laura*
05-20-2011, 07:32 PM
I'm not sure which forum to put this, but I'll put it here as it is something I encounter while commuting.
I've recently found a wonderful new route that basically connects two "worlds". Previously I could ride everywhere in the hills, or everywhere in the flat, but couldn't get from one area to the other. All connecting routes were either too dangerous (cars) or required too much climbing. A while back, a road washout was finally fixed. The repair had taken many years partly because the government was suing itself. The repaired route has a moderate amount of climbing and next to no traffic.
I've now "commuted" home twice after dark via this new route. There is a segment with absolutely no lights - no streetlights, no houses, no other traffic, and even no starlight/moonlight because it is deep in a forest. The main highway is on the other side of a hill to my left, and there's a deep canyon to the right. The road twists and turns, and climbs and levels off.
My headlight is the only illumination. It is a dyno hub powered light, so it is otherwise plenty bright enough. I can't see anything except a patch of asphalt in front of me. I can't see far enough ahead to identify changes in grade. Somewhat to my left are the ghostly white markings defining the center of the road. The road has no other markings nor reflectors, thus I'm staying away from the right edge. In short, my world consists of black darkness, a gray spot, and the single white stripe.
Both times riding through that segment I've gotten spatially disoriented. Because of the darkness, I can't see my gear indicators. My cadence is high and I'm pushing hard. The disorientation is such that I can't tell if I'm still climbing or if I've leveled off and am accelerating! :eek: The only hint of what's happening is when I try to push the shifter to go into an easier gear - it won't budge 'cause there isn't another gear.
Does this happen to anyone else?
I've recently found a wonderful new route that basically connects two "worlds". Previously I could ride everywhere in the hills, or everywhere in the flat, but couldn't get from one area to the other. All connecting routes were either too dangerous (cars) or required too much climbing. A while back, a road washout was finally fixed. The repair had taken many years partly because the government was suing itself. The repaired route has a moderate amount of climbing and next to no traffic.
I've now "commuted" home twice after dark via this new route. There is a segment with absolutely no lights - no streetlights, no houses, no other traffic, and even no starlight/moonlight because it is deep in a forest. The main highway is on the other side of a hill to my left, and there's a deep canyon to the right. The road twists and turns, and climbs and levels off.
My headlight is the only illumination. It is a dyno hub powered light, so it is otherwise plenty bright enough. I can't see anything except a patch of asphalt in front of me. I can't see far enough ahead to identify changes in grade. Somewhat to my left are the ghostly white markings defining the center of the road. The road has no other markings nor reflectors, thus I'm staying away from the right edge. In short, my world consists of black darkness, a gray spot, and the single white stripe.
Both times riding through that segment I've gotten spatially disoriented. Because of the darkness, I can't see my gear indicators. My cadence is high and I'm pushing hard. The disorientation is such that I can't tell if I'm still climbing or if I've leveled off and am accelerating! :eek: The only hint of what's happening is when I try to push the shifter to go into an easier gear - it won't budge 'cause there isn't another gear.
Does this happen to anyone else?