What are your riding plans for shorter days?

[Livin the Dream]

Cold weather, per another recent thread, is closer than I like to think. Unfortunately, the shorter days that come along with it are going to be here soon as well. For me, my weekday rides happen in the evenings and I don't get home from work until 5:30. I'd love to hear some ideas from other after-work riders about how you plan to keep riding as the days get shorter.

The only thing I've thought of so far as a solution is to haul my bike to work and ride at lunch. There is a nice bike path adjacent to my workplace, I've thought about doing this anyhow.

[dellafalls]

I am going to get a ride into worker earlier in the day, bringing my bike in with me . I then am going to start earlier, and quit earlier to ride home!

[northstar]

Commuting to work. And then when it is too dark in the a.m., carpooling in with a coworker and riding home in the afternoon.

I'm not ready for shorter days!!

[crazycanuck]

Shorter days for you in the northern hemisphere but longer days for us kids down yonder way!!

YAYAYAYAY!!! I might even get to ride in the light one of these fine days!@!!! WAHOOOOEEY!!!! SUmmer is coming..longer riding..I might catch up to Makbike in terms of km's!

C

[Dianyla]

My short-daylight strategy revolves around two key components:

1. Lights. Lots of them. I've got a rechargeable uberbright LED headlight by Exposure, Hokey Spokes on the front wheel, and numerous red blinkies viewable from the rear.

2. Schedule. This is more due to my school schedule than anything else. I can't always afford to spend 2 full hours on bike commuting every day, but I can plan to spend 1 hour. So, I can ride to morning class and then to work afterwards in the midday. In the evening, I'll probably end up multi-mode commuting and using the bus time to get some schoolwork done. I certainly won't feel like I'm missing out on much, especially on those black rainy nights.

[DirtDiva]

Well, I've just plunged myself into shorter days. I plan on making that rather bright, rather expensive light I forked out for earn its keep...

[wiseowl]

I plan to bring my bike to work with me, and ride there after work, rather than driving the 30+ minutes home, and then riding. And after that, I plan to ride during lunch, at least for a few miles. And after that, I plan to ride on the trainer and catch up on some TV!

[shawnada]

I invested in one of those spendy spin bikes. It's not like riding outside but in the winter I still ride everyday. it has helped my conditioning immensely. My work weeks don't allow for outside time. Kids in the morning and then to work and I get off at seven or so

[indysteel]

Denial? Works for me!

This year will be interesting b/c after finally switching over to Daylight Savings Time, the state then decided to extend it into November, so I don't really know from experience how much daylight I'll have to work with in the evenings. I'm hoping that I'll be able to extend my weekday evening riding by a few extra weeks.

I invested in an expensive Light and Motion light last spring for a trip that I didn't end up taking. I'd like to try it out, but I'm pretty nervous about it. It's my understanding that there's a group of local riders who do some night rides in the winter. I'd feel safer in a group so I might try to track them down. Last year, I "contented" myself with taking spin classes 2 times a week and riding on the weekends, weather permitting. For better or worse, there were 10 weeks of bad winter weather during which I didn't ride at all. I was bummed about it at the time, but I ultimately benefitted from the break. I did A LOT of yoga instead, which had some wonderful mind/body effects. Had I forced myself to ride in the worst of the winter weather, I think I would have faced some burn out. Instead, by the time March rolled around, I was more than ready to be back on my bike, physically and mentally.

So, as much as I'll likely miss my bike, I'd like to vary my late fall/winter routine even more this year and incorporate some hiking and climbing into the mix. I've never climbed before, but there's a Climb Time in town that offers women 1/2 price on Thursdays. I'll ramp up my yoga practice again, too.

[Tiffany]

I bring my bike to work with me everyday anyway so no changes in that plan. (I drive a Tahoe and keep the bike with me 24/7) However, once the days start getting really short, I have a route mapped out from my work that I ride. I just change clothes as soon as I get off work and go hop on the bike right away. I can still get in a good 20 miles up until late in the fall almost early winter. After that I use the trainer (which I hate BTW) until about mid February when I can start getting in some real rides again right after work. Usually in Feb/Mar I'm pushing to get in 12/13 miles but hey, at least I'm on the bike.

[anaphase]

Commuting to work on the commuter (when it's not nasty out), and putting the road bike on the trainer. I run outside all year long, even if it's wicked cold, so I've got that going for me.

[mimitabby]

Will commute to work with Raleighdon when it's dark, two lit up bikes makes more light than 1. Going home it's not too dark since i leave at 3pm.
if it's really really crummy out, i'll drive. No super heroics here.

[Livin the Dream]

I knew I'd get a lot of good ideas here. I just love this forum! Don't know if DH feels the same way -- the more I read this forum, the more packages from Nashbar, etc. keep appearing on my doorstep.....

Bringing my bike and riding after work is a great idea.

A total commute isn't a first option for me (my choices are I-75 or curvy, narrow country roads with crazy drivers), but there is a parking area for the bike path that circles the town where I work. If I parked there and rode that would give me a 5 mile ride to work and I could ride the long way back to the car after work and still be able to ride in daylight after work.

The Y has a spinning class that I'd like to take this winter. I'm hoping it will be more interesting than the trainer. I'm with you, Tiffany, I hate that thing. I put my hybrid on the trainer last winter and got on it maybe 3 times. I'd rather walk or hike outside.

Indysteel -- I appreciated your post -- maybe I just need to keep thinking in terms of remaining active all winter and focusing on other activities in January and February. I'm in Ohio, our weather is probably about the same as Indianiapolis. And there are times the weather is crappy enough that I know I won't ride regardless of whether or not it is daylight.

Last weekend I bought an older Gary Fisher Marlin Mtn bike, so I have a ride for the campground and for crappy winter riding

[GLC1968]

I do a combination of rides. I commute to work (14 miles each way) and when it's just too cold for that, I ride at lunch (from the office). This way, both bikes get some exercise during the week!

I also will use the trainer in a pinch...but that's only if the weather is really nasty/dangerous...and that's pretty rare here in NC.

[indysteel]

The Y has a spinning class that I'd like to take this winter. I'm hoping it will be more interesting than the trainer. I'm with you, Tiffany, I hate that thing. I put my hybrid on the trainer last winter and got on it maybe 3 times. I'd rather walk or hike outside.

Indysteel -- I appreciated your post -- maybe I just need to keep thinking in terms of remaining active all winter and focusing on other activities in January and February. I'm in Ohio, our weather is probably about the same as Indianiapolis. And there are times the weather is crappy enough that I know I won't ride regardless of whether or not it is daylight.

Last weekend I bought an older Gary Fisher Marlin Mtn bike, so I have a ride for the campground and for crappy winter riding

LTD, I definitely like spinning class over the trainer. I have a trainer and can ride it for about 10 minutes before I get bored. With the right instructor, spinning can be fun. I like how intense it is, and it definitely helped me advance my fitness level.

Let me know how you like MTBing. I don't have a huge itch for one, but it's been in the back of my mind. If only my bank account were deeper.

K-