Commuting - Pre-Dawn Patrol

Well folks, all this talk of riding during the night got my juices going. So I determined that 1-2 am this morning was the time! You see in my neighborhood we have a "neighborhood watch", we refer to it as a "prayer watch", because we don't just patrol, we pray for the needs of our neighborhood and its families. Normally, I would have driven, because the entire route is around 7 miles and it's dark out there!

So off I go in the cool 1:00 am air! What a treat that is, in beautiful Augusta, Georgia...COOL AIR! Whoooa! The streets meet few cars, so I am having a grand ole time zooming on my bike Zoom! :) It was wonderful, my only concern was that I would get such a rush from the ride that I might not be able to get back to sleep for the usual 5:50am routine! :D

It all went well, despite not having much of a lighting system: I have this antique chinese generator with a front and tail light that meet the code of the law, but don't do a lot for helping you see. Fortunately, the street lights solve that for the most part. Sounds like I've got an opportunity to upgrade!!! :D

(Do the credit card companies exist off cycling dollar$ alone?) :(

It was a wonderful experience, and I don't know if I would have thought about it, had it not been for BFC. Thanks all. One more area of transportation taken over by the bike! OohRah! :dance:

Welcome to the dark side. :D

As Rich says,

"Luke...I, am your father." :eek:

Cool weather, lack of traffic, a real rush...sounds like my daily commute! Make ya jealous?? :D Riding and life is good, isn't it!

Originally posted by nebill
Cool weather, lack of traffic, a real rush...sounds like my daily commute!

Well, I don't envy your winters though! ;)

Right on AlphaGeek! It may be hot and humid here in the Deep South, but at least we don't have to worry about freezing to death changing a flat! I worry about you guys in the northern U.S and Canada.
Regards,
Raymond

Last winter was no picnic...but the two before that you could have ridden your bike most of the winter without wearing too many clothes! A small price to pay to live and ride in God's country!:D

Winter in the Midwest is cool! :D

You can say that...BRRRR....again!!!!!:D

I work construction in AZ, so starting time is always just before sunrise. The length of ride varies, but is usually 10-20 miles. For the last several months I've been working on a project 1/2 mile from my house. I miss my early morning ride. I'm finishing this project in the next week or two, and am going to a job 22 miles away. I know it's wierd, but I can't wait.

Originally posted by mwmw

I know it's wierd, but I can't wait.
Weird, maybe, but also good. Hope you have two bottle cages!:)

Originally posted by mwmw
I miss my early morning ride. ... I know it's wierd, but I can't wait.

Absolutely! I've been at a family reunion, requiring lots of driving a car (ouch! But I would have had to take off a MONTH to cycle that far!) I pulled the bike off the rack every chance I could get. It has gotten to where I hate driving and want to bike everywhere! What a problem! ;) :) :D

That sounds very nice. Did you sleep for a few hours before your patrolling?

I rode in at 6:30 this morning. Also a great time for decreased traffic. I did worry that I wouldn't be able to trip some of the less-sensitive lights without other vehicles. There was, however, always one car to help trigger each light. I doubt that even on a non-holiday week that time would be much more crowded.

Jonathan

Originally posted by jramsey
I did worry that I wouldn't be able to trip some of the less-sensitive lights without other vehicles. There was, however, always one car to help trigger each light.
I emailed several days ago to a person at City Hall (Kansas City) whose name I found on a cycling website, inquiring about the feasibility of changing the sensors so they respond to bikes, for I know it can be done. So far, no reply. Maybe he's on vacation....:(

Originally posted by JonR

I emailed several days ago to a person at City Hall (Kansas City) whose name I found on a cycling website, inquiring about the feasibility of changing the sensors so they respond to bikes, for I know it can be done. So far, no reply. Maybe he's on vacation....:(

Sooner or later, I will probably make some similar calls to the traffic people in Kansas City, MO; and Prairie Village and Overland Park, KS.

This morning, I left early again, and I hit most of the lights just right. I hardly had to wait at all. That makes it difficult, however, to figure out which ones I'm not tripping.

Jonathan

I can't remember who said it in this forum, but I've taken the philosiphy that "I yield to cars that have the right-of-way, not the light that gives it to them".

Originally posted by mwmw
I can't remember who said it in this forum, but I've taken the philosiphy that "I yield to cars that have the right-of-way, not the light that gives it to them".
That's what it's often necessary to do. John Allen in his handbook for cycling on the road, which I found is also used by the State of Pennsylvania to educate cyclists about safe road use, points out that if a sensor light won't change for your bicycle, you can run it legally--because it's a defective light.