Should I Ride There?

[jp173]

Saturday morning, I have to be someplace almost exactly 10 miles away from home by 7am. And I NEED to be there at 7am.

I keep thinking that I should ride there. What I'm wearing and sweat/dirt are not an issue, so there won't be a problem if I show up in sweaty riding clothes with "helmet head" (not that I have much hair anyway).

HOWEVER -- it's all hills (ups and downs) between here and there -- with at least three climbs that will require me to use granny gear over 1 mile stretches. Knowing my ability (or lack thereof) on hills, I can't expect anything better than about 9mph average on this route.

That means leaving my house at 5:45am. Really 5:30am to play it safe. 5:30am is dark here (sky just starting to lighten, but no real light on the streets), and I'll be in the dark for about 15-20 minutes (if this morning is any measure). I have a fairly decent headlight, but no experience riding in the dark.

It's all roads I've ridden. They're in decent shape but not superb. They're mostly low traffic density suburban roads, with one higher density road (but probably not a lot of traffic at that hour).

Anybody want to try to talk me into going ahead with riding it? Or try to talk me out of it?

By the way, I ride a Trek Pilot 1.2 road bike. With clipless pedals. Yada yada yada. I'm slow, what can I tell you.

[Little Darwin]

I would say if you are agonizing that much over it...




Do it!

If you wanted to hear no, you wouldn't ask. :D

Although I would have to admit that it depends on the criticality of being there on time. I think with a 5:30 start from what you said, you should be able to even fix a flat if needed.

[cruzMOKS]

If it was me I would go for it.
Front and rear lights with a reflector vest.
Don't go faster than you can see with your lights.

[DnvrFox]

Can you drive the car part way and ride the rest - when it gets lighter?

[Big Paulie]

Are we talking about your daughter's wedding, or a pancake breakfast to help fund Youth Football...big difference!

[Digital Gee]

Are we talking about your daughter's wedding, or a pancake breakfast to help fund Youth Football...big difference!

And what's the difference? :D

[bobkat]

Sure - do it! If you are worried take along a cell phone for plan"B"

[NOS88]

If you're in SW CT, at least the weather won't be freezing this time of year. I say go for it. I used to live in Danbury, CT and we used to take sunrise rides twice a week just to enjoy that time of day.

[BubbaDog]

Wedding, pancakes, wedding, pancakes? Ahhh, I can always see the wedding photos later.... :D

B'Dog

[Big Paulie]

Are we talking about your daughter's wedding, or a pancake breakfast to help fund Youth Football...big difference!
And what's the difference? :D
Isn't it obvious? His daughter will get divorced and remarry at least twice in her life, so it's no big thing if he doesn't make it on time. But pancakes are pancakes...you miss one stack, and it's gone forever! :) Some Episcopalean ******* will get it insead of JP 173!!!

[Monoborracho]

Get a light, get a reflective vest, get some reflective bands for the ankles, get two blinkies for the back and go for it. Just remember that shifting tends to be less efficient in the dark as to figuring out which gear you are in.

[seafoam]

I'm in a somewhat similar quandary. I really want to commute at least 1x/week to work. It's around 18 miles on mostly country roads. I need to be there at 7:00 a.m., but I can fudge a little bit - even a whole bunch, if need be. Dauphin and I have ridden it once, without any time pressure (or near-dark!) and it was a pretty fun ride. That, coupled with the fact that I use back roads when driving due to 3 different areas of road work makes a bike commute all the more attractive. I'm just a big baby, afraid of getting a flat in the area where my cell phone goes dead -- without dauphin to rescue me. Even putting that in print sound impossibly wimpy, but there you have it. I have the tools in my bag, I know how to do it...I've just never HAD to do it. Think I'll take the next REI "Basic Bike Maintenance" workshop.

[dbg]

Wear one of those bright canary yellow pearl izumi jackets. When I go out at dusk wearing mine, people I pass along the streets tell me I am glowing. It's better than lights until absolute pitch dark.

[Webb Diego]

I really want to commute at least 1x/week to work. I need to be there at 7:00 a.m., but I can fudge a little bit - even a whole bunch, if need be.
Why is it every time a woman takes to the road, the word "fudge" isn't far behind? Like fudging on your written driver's test. Or fudging the proper maintainence of your vehicle. Or fudging coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Or fudging pulling over when an ambulance comes up from behind, possibly carrying a citzen with a life threatening injury that needs immediate attention. No, Lady, I've been on the beat too many years to have much faith that the fairer sex can handle much of anything when it comes to the rules of the road. Oh sure, I've heard you ladies are great in the sack, and what woman isn't a whiz in the kitchen? But when we start letting the gals behind the wheel of a car or straddling the seat of a bicycle at 7 A.M, then we have a snootful of problems that need to be addressed.

[scottogo]

fudgecycle

[gear]

I ride to work at 4 am; its a 12 mile ride with almost no traffic. I ride home from work at 1 pm same distance but with lots of traffic. The early morning rides are the best rides. Make sure you have blinkies so drivers can see you when approaching from behind and watch for pot holes. You will probably discover that morning (especially when its still dark) is a great time to ride.

[pastorbobnlnh]

Some Episcopalean ******* will get it insead of JP 173!!!
What, pray tell, BP, is a "*******?" And I think your spell checker went on the blink. It should be "Episcopalian" (not that I am one). Unless of course "Episcopalean *******" is some sort of sausage that Stapfam finds on one of his English Breakfast rides over in the UK!

[Big Paulie]

What, pray tell, BP, is a "*******?" And I think your spell checker went on the blink. It should be "Episcopalian" (not that I am one). Unless of course "Episcopalean *******" is some sort of sausage that Stapfam finds on one of his English Breakfast rides over in the UK!
An "Episcopalean" is a fan of Joe Piscapo, who also is a paleantologist. Sheesh. Don't they teach you guys anything in the convent??? :D :D :D

[Webb Diego]

fudgecycle
Before the war, I used to pack fudgecycles onto a truck. Why do you reference them, anyhow?

[Little Darwin]

Before the war, I used to pack fudgecycles onto a truck. Why do you reference them, anyhow?
Webb (or is it Mr. Diego?),

I suspect that you used to pack fudgesicles onto a truck... The previous poster replaced "sicles" with "cycles" as a pun... Connecting the thoughts of fudge (as mentioned earlier in this thread) and cycles (the primary topic of the forum).

Of course, the way you connect thoughts is unique and awe inspiring, but your view is perhaps a little narrow to understand the pun intended. Perhaps you should be PUNished. :D

I have no doubt that Timothy Leary would have understood the reference. So, maybe you need some mind expanding substance to help you embrace the non-linear thinking sometimes presented in these forums by the citizens you are sworn to protect. I do sometimes wonder how can you protect what you can not understand...

[Digital Gee]

Of course, the way you connect thoughts is unique and awe inspiring, but your view is perhaps a little narrow to understand the pun intended. Perhaps you should be PUNished. :D


Around here, we have a law: Use a pun, go to prison. It's the law.

[centexwoody]

Episcopalians needs all the pancakes they can get at this point: haven't you kept up with the worldwide controversy?

[centexwoody]

Go for it - seeing the light come up at dawn while cycling is a phenomenal experience.

Just make sure you are visible to the half-awake concrete contractors in their double cab trucks picking up all the laborers living in mobile homes scattered around the county...

[stonecrd]

Saturdays or Sunday mornings are generally nice and quiet. I would go ahead and ride, just make sure you have adequate lighting.

[Chuck5.2_in_CA]

NO..Cars are occasionally useful, if you have one use it. why risk it? And if you absolutely positively have to be there...what about a flat?

[stapfam]

What, pray tell, BP, is a "*******?" And I think your spell checker went on the blink. It should be "Episcopalian" (not that I am one). Unless of course "Episcopalean *******" is some sort of sausage that Stapfam finds on one of his English Breakfast rides over in the UK!

I Would only find them at the bad restaurants. I like to know what I am eating.

[Leary Diego]

Webb (or is it Mr. Diego?),

I suspect that you used to pack fudgesicles onto a truck... The previous poster replaced "sicles" with "cycles" as a pun... I have no doubt that Timothy Leary would have understood the reference. So, maybe you need some mind expanding substance to help you embrace the non-linear thinking sometimes presented in these forums by the citizens you are sworn to protect. I do sometimes wonder how can you protect what you can not understand...
That's been my premise since 1962...cops wasted on blotter acid would be much more effective out on the streets.

[Webb Diego]

Webb (or is it Mr. Diego?),

I suspect that you used to pack fudgesicles onto a truck... The previous poster replaced "sicles" with "cycles" as a pun... Connecting the thoughts of fudge (as mentioned earlier in this thread) and cycles (the primary topic of the forum)...

OK wise guy, I get your drift. Some knucklehead replaced sicle with cycle, and that was supposed to be a joke, us being in a bike forum and all. Well, the joke's on you, Buster, because I'll just drop the cycle/sicle, and state it in language even you can understand. I used to pack fudge. Is that clear enough for you neandrathals?

[Carusoswi]

I don't know just how important it is for you to absolutely be there at 7, but you sound like you'd really like to make the ride. Ten miles is still only ten miles - even if it is uphill. Talk to whomever you have to meet at 7, tell him/her/them that you plan to ride your bike. Take along your cell phone. If you find yourself four miles out with a flat, give them a call at 6:30 and have someone come "rescue" you for your meeting. Deal with the flat after the meeting.

I take my bike whenever I have the choice - and have used the cell phone as described above more than once.

It's Saturday, now, duh, and well past 7, so, I am sorry not to have shared my excellent advice with you earlier in the week - tell us how you made out.

Caruso

[jp173]

Well, I did it!!!

I'm inordinately pleased with myself because this is the first time since I was a teenager (I'm now 57) that I used my bike as transportation and not just as a means of exercise and recreation.

It turned out to be an easier ride than I expected. The hills that I was dreading weren't quite as bad as I expected. Could it be that all the riding I've done this summer has been improving my conditioning???? :rolleyes:

It only took me 55 minutes, so I was actually quite early (having left at 5:30am). Dark was not a problem -- there was more than adequate street lighting for the first two miles, and by then it was getting light. I wore the uFlash vest that I use for running in the winter before sunrise, had two Serfas (??) blinkies on the back of my bike and a Planet Bike Super Spot LED on the front. At about 1/2 mile I passed a police car that was stopped talking with someone. The same car passed me at about 1-1/2 miles and gave me a big thumbs up as he passed.

I did take my cell phone, but it's a good thing I didn't need it. Just for jollies, I checked the reception about halfway through the ride and I had no signal at all. Have I mentioned just how bad Verizon's network is????

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement and suggestions. I'm going to have to do this again next week.

[DnvrFox]

Good for you. I love it when I can use the bicycle for real transportation, and I do that quite a bit.

[Carusoswi]

Ha, no Verizon signal - just know that you can always count on me for reliable advice. Congrats on the ride.
Caruso