curiouskid55

Today will be my last after work weekday ride. Thursday is weight training and Fiday is date night. So by the time Monday rolls around it will be total darkness by 5:30. Kind of marks the end of the year for me. Been kind of a rough year for us but won't complain. Lost some dear friends and companions but many are still with us. My real estate did not catch on fire and it is finaced with a low fixed mortgage. Broke my thumb in a crash in February but was back in the saddle by May and managed to get in a few races. Best of all I have been riding almost everyday since then, have done some TT's and have a solid training plan that has already started for next season.

I will miss riding after work. There are still the weekends but I think the weekday rides have a larger impact on my quality of life. I will continue weight training and stationary training until the return of the sun. I will get in some big miles on the weekends. But look forward to this period with melancholy. Not so much a vital component but a necessary procedure to be carried out.

Bring back the sun. Give me light. Let me ride.

Happytime

Darkness can be your friend.

Get lights. No traffic at 5am. Then go ride!

curiouskid55

Have lights. I have to go to work in the morning.

Happytime

There's even less traffic at 4am than there is at 5!

onthetake

Use 'em if ya got 'em!

curiouskid55

Lets see. Have to be at work at 6 get up at five to accomplish that now. So if I'm going to get in a two hour workout I would have to get up at arond 3:30. So to get 7-8 hours of slepp I would got to bed about
7-7:30. That's two hours after I get home from work. I don't think I can take care of the rest of my life in two hours so that is not going to work.

curiouskid55

I don't ride in crazed commuter traffic in the dark lights or not.

roadfix

If you have lights you can still ride after work like before and go to work in the morning like before.

onthetake

For weekdays rides I usually head out at around 7pm and do 20-25 miles. Most of the commuter traffic is off the roads by then and HB isn't super crowded in the first place. Top up the ipod, grab the bike and I'm a very happy camper.

Mr. Beanz

If I feel like riding in the dark, I'll find a industrial center without traffic to do some laps. Little red blinky light, Illuminit vest, reflector straps on the ankels and ride! I use the time to do some hard efforts, sprints, intervals etc.

curiouskid55

Not making anything out of it, but I ride faster than my 52 year old eyes can see in the dark.

haimtoeg

Here

DScott

Sounds like you've got it worked out. See you in the spring, Phil!

urbanknight

+1 lights will allow you to ride the normal hours even though it's darker.

I will add that riding at night with lights on is probably safer than riding into the sun at dusk. The sun blinds them and a bike is that much harder to see.

I bought some lights, but an even better solution I will be trying next week is to commute to work every Tue and Thu. I'll use my drive Mon/Wed/Fri to take a change of clean clothes to work and dirty clothes home, so all I have to carry on my ride is my wallet, phone and keys. This will be a 20 mile commute, btw, making me leave for work at 5:30am.

Sewellymon

Rose Bowl is a VERY safe night ride venue. been doing it once, twice a week. nobody is out riding, so i am also more apt to just spin easy and smell the roses...

jpconrad

During the winter it's great there after dark!

Sci-Fi

It's always a bit crazy when Daylight Savings Time ends. Gets cold and pretty dark fast with some cars darting in and out trying to get one car length ahead of the rush hour traffic. A rear helmet mounted blinky light, some helmets come with one...usually part of the adjustment knob, works well and can be seen better since its above a cars fender and around a drivers line of sight. Planet Bike makes a 3 led one for about $12 and includes the helmet mounting bracket. Might look too dorky for most, but it works.

Garfield Cat

Some of us work and have to commute so riding in the morning is not an option. For those who work less than 15 miles away, good for you...if you can ride in the morning. Enjoy the daylight savings, for a while at least.