Commuting - Test run.

I did my first test run of my new commute, after moving a few months ago. Distance is 16.2 miles, work is at the top of a rather long and steep hill. It took me 52 minutes to make it to work, and just 30 minutes to make it home. (However, i did have a nice tail wind, and the hill coming home, my max speed was 43 MPH... I doubt i'll hit that commuting!)

Next step, is to purchase a nice helmet mounted light and backpack. I hope to start riding to work full time by next month.

Good to hear you are all set. That must be a nice ride home, but a sweating one coming in. This morning/night I (ugh) had to drive to work. I am pulling a 3am overtime shift and it is 0 F with a bit of wind. I'm biking tomorrow, I tell ya...I'm biking.

Perhaps I'll just be a fair weather commuter, but I made my first commute to work yesterday at 3:30am!:D It's 13 miles one way and not too bad a trip. My wife was worried about my being on the road and the last thing she said was "You better hope you don't have a flat". Well she cursed me rite there on the spot! I had a flat that I got to fix while sitting in the frost covered grass! Thank goodness for that street light, if it had happened at some other spot on the trip I would have been holding my detachable led light in my teeth at the same time. A thumb tack! Would you beleave a thumb tack in the middle of my tire just like some one put it there, I accused my wife but she didn't think it was funny.
I plan on making many more trips as the weather becomes better, and you ought to see the way people look at you when you tell them that you rode the bike to work and back, like you'v lost your mind!;)
They just don't know that I have found it! I felt like a million bux by the time I arrived home in the evening.

Have you done the helmet mounted light before? I tried one once and gave me a terrific stiff neck. My neck found that the handlebar to a much better place to mount the light.

Yeah, about that helmet-mounted light. They're great for plunging down singletrack in the dark, but not so great for riding in traffic. Very confusing to the other traffic, and potentially dangerous when you turn your head to "check six" and hit some driver in the eyes with a 15w halogen beam.

I's give that some more thought, unless you already have.

RichC

I have the Solo Logic from Light and Motion and love it! It is feather light, the beam is adjustable for angle, tilt and pan while on the fly! The power adjust from 6W to 13W and I can't immagine needing more than that for a commute.
I told my coworker, who is a biker also, that hills arn't as big in the dark either and he should try it. I just think you don't see the hills from as far off so you don't dread them.;)
That was my first experence with riding on the road at night and man it was actually fun and relaxing.

I work 2:00pm to 10:00pm. I will only use the light on the way home. My commute will also be on empty country/back roads. I am not at all worried about drivers, i am however worried about pot holes, and seeing where i am going.

The reason i want to go with a head light, is i'll be riding my road bike or mtn bike to work, depending on the weather / my legs. I don't want to have to mount and dismount the light each time i change bikes, or go for a road ride.

All i know, is i need a GOOD light, i'll look into all types before buying :)

If Money Were No Object, these would be on my serious list:
http://www.supernova-lights.com/48sevenUSA.html
This is the light of the future, of course if the battery and LED's are excluded from the warrenty, I guess they only warrenty the mount and cable.

I reccomend a Deuter Joe. I've got the Bike 1 that I picked up from sierratradingpost and it is one of the few purchases I have made that I am 110% pleased with. It has turned out better than I expected.

Originally posted by Joe Gardner
All i know, is i need a GOOD light, i'll look into all types before buying :)
Joe, here's my 2 cents. If you want a GOOD light get a NiteRider. Plenty of light to see potholes and trash in the road and plenty of battery life.
I have two NiteRider NightOwls (the older non-digital model) and get about 2-1/4 hours of battery life between charges. That's enough time to get me to work in the morning (1:10) and home again in the evening (1 hour).

Good luck with the search for the "perfect" light. :thumbup:

I 2nd the NiteRide system. I absolutely love mine. (Digital Pro 32w) I have plenty of light.. between 1.5 - 7 hours depending on the wattage I have selected. This lets me customize the light for the conditions. And I don't feel afraid to take an extra 15 or so miles on my way home on days I feel good.

The flashing mode has proven extremely effective in poor visibility conditions, and always gets peoples attention.

The tailight is VERY bright. And being able to control its operation from the handlebars is great!


Andy also has the same one I have and swears by it. Its pricy, but worth every penny IMHO.

I forgot to mention that the Road Rat and Trail Rat models are very similar to the 10W NightOwl.