Way to go, TriGirl!!!

I love biking to and from work and relish the stunned reactions of a few of my (rather sedentary) colleagues and I bike only 24km each way (about 15miles I think)

When I am biking home at the end of my day (like you 7-8 hour days) I eat a late and significant lunch about 2pm. Breadroll or wrap or quiche and also some fruit. I eat so I feel full. My house is 600metres above sea -level so the commute home from work (which is virtually sea level) is quite an effort after work.

When I eat nutritous stuff and no later than 2 hours before I plan to leave, I find I have the energy (though still hungry when I get home).

I'm like you with the darkness. I have no probs with dawn-riding, but dusk bothers me. I thought about it alot and came to the conclusion that in the morning, I know the day keeps getting lighter and more and more people will be about... but in the evening, it only gets darker and fewer people are progressively about as they are all going home.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy... commuting is such a feel-ggod way to spend time on the bike