Wimped out on commuting in the dark

[divingbiker]

Actually, I should have said I wimped out on commuting in the dark in the evening, because I enjoyed riding in the morning in the dark (before the time changed). There's much less traffic then, and people aren't as frantic as they are in the evening when they're trying to get home. The good part about leaving early is there's a lot less traffic on the road at 4:30 than there is at 5:30, so not only is it daylight but the congestion is not nearly so bad. Not sure I feel "smart" about choosing to ride in the daylight, but I sure feel safer.

[KnottedYet]

Better to be safe.

My mom can't see in the dark, her eyesight is going. Sometimes she does have to drive in the dark, even though she truly tries to avoid it.

I worry for bicyclists and pedestrians then. (and dogs and bears and deer and cattle and any other critters that might be wandering in the hills near her road)

[xeney]

I wish I had wimped out on commuting yesterday. I had to ride my road bike instead of my regular commuter, because my mixte has the bottom bracket out for replacement, and I should have thought about super skinny tires + road debris + low light conditions. As I was turning onto my street I hit a small stick in the street, leftover from my neighbor's lawn raking, and I nearly went over -- caught myself with my foot just in time.

The mixte has fatter tires (still road tires, but I think they're 32s) and I don't even worry about small objects in the road. I think I will be walking to work until that bottom bracket is replaced. Should be today, I hope.

[Geonz]

If you rode, you weren't a wimp. Period.

[Trek420]

KnottedYet "My mom can't see in the dark, her eyesight is going. Sometimes she does have to drive in the dark, even though she truly tries to avoid it."

That was part of the reason my Mom moved to a smaller place in town.

I hate this season, the fall weather is great, right now it's mostly clear but crisp.

The mornings are light and I see cyclists in the morning and on my afternoon walk and think "oh, I should ride".

Then I leave work, early aroung 5:30 or 5:00 and it's already dark Oh, that's why.

My ride home includes a bike/ped bridge that's a little dark and deserted, that's my excuse so far. But I did reach my goal to start comuting earlier this year and keep going later. I expect that trend to continue and to find ways to do it year round. Right now that means on days off and or weekends getting a ride or errands in during the day.