General Cycling Discussion - Savor those eveing rides!

I hate the end of summer. I really enjoy coming home from work and going for a ride. It is very relaxing. I doubt that there are many evening rides left this year. Just not enough daylight. I really hate the end of summer.:(

Yep I know what you mean. I'm getting my lights ready for days when the temp is at least tolerable. Also getting the rollers and trainers + videos ready.

Wimps! Night riding is great.

But I'm thinking about getting the rollers/trainer gizmo thing for when it snows and I still need to "bike" 30 miles.

Do they allow different levels of resistance pedaling?

I enjoy riding at night, in some ways more than during daylight. The air is cleaner, of course the traffic is less if you ride late enough. Give it a try, just pick up a couple of (maybe 3) lights and go for it. I like a light on my handle bar as well as on my helmet, and at least one tail light.

And I've been thinking how great it is that we're finally getting more daylight here! By the time Rowan and I get back home, it should be light out till at least 6:30 (instead of shortly after 5:00) and it should be starting to get a bit warmer ... I hope.

I do not look forward to daylight savings time here with darkness settling in around 4:30 PM.

I don't really care. My weekday rides are during lunch. It is always light during lunch.
Weekend rides will need to end a bit sooner. All in all it is more the temp than anything that irritates me. I like it warm out.

I don't mind riding @ night but it's the rain I don't enjoy. I live in WA where when Oct hits expect rain for 3 - 4 months. No fenders either :(

Mostly commuting so either way I am out in it. I am however looking at some sweet Dyno setups for the winter!

When I lived in Limburg (which is nearly at the same latitude as Alaska), the sun would go down as late as 11:00 at night. I'd get off work at 5pm and get in a hilly 150kms before the sun went down. Usually I was so exhausted by September it was almost a relief when the days started getting shorter. (Which was soon followed by a depression that would set in at daylight savings time, which would be the last I'd see of the sun for 4 months.)

I don't mind riding @ night but it's the rain I don't enjoy. I live in WA where when Oct hits expect rain for 3 - 4 months. No fenders either :(

I feel ya :cry:

Buy yourself a good headlight with rechargeable batteries. Personally I think riding at night is more peaceful.

Wish my night rides could be more peaceful; around here, because so few people ride, drivers are oblivious to even a well-lit bike. But there are a couple months when I ride anyway, even after dark (commuting). For that, I have a blinky taillight, a helmet light, and this year, a bar light and a snazzy lil LED contraption that will mount to my right fork leg. I WILL BE SEEN!

Other than that, my evening rides happen before I get home in the evening.

I really don't enjoy riding at night. It is hard enough to not get hit during the day. Narrow roads and few have shoulders. You could be lit up like a Christmas tree and still get run off the road.

We have a crazy woman that runs on the roads in the wee hours of the morning in all types of weather. I must curse at her every time I see her because I don't usually see her to the last minute, during dark mornings or bad weather. I don't want any one cursing at me, saying "there goes that crazy guy on the bike again". :)

Wimps! Night riding is great.

But I'm thinking about getting the rollers/trainer gizmo thing for when it snows and I still need to "bike" 30 miles.

Do they allow different levels of resistance pedaling?

Mine does, and you can always change gears on your bike.

Once I came to embrace winter, and learned to enjoy a lot of the aspects of an winter evening ride, it goes by so much quicker now.

^^ agreed!!!

I'm now living near the equator...what is this "winter" you all speak of?

I don't mind riding @ night but it's the rain I don't enjoy. I live in WA where when Oct hits expect rain for 3 - 4 months. No fenders either :(

Ahhh our Raincouver winter. Fenders may prevent water sprays from the road. But one can still get pelted in the eyes. Worse is when the my glasses fogs up.

Same same for me. When I leave the house it's dark year around. I work 10 hour shifts or more, so in the winter it's dark when I go home. Same diff. I just carry my headlight and rear blinky year around.
Ernest

how are the "big box store" headlights? I don't want to spend an arm & leg on a light that I may or may not use. However, I would like to get one that can be EASILY removed, as in snap/slide on, snap/slide off.

how are the "big box store" headlights? I don't want to spend an arm & leg on a light that I may or may not use. However, I would like to get one that can be EASILY removed, as in snap/slide on, snap/slide off.

I use the Bell Ipulse 3 led light. It's a good light for the price, about $15.00. Has steady and pulse and clips off easily.
Ernest

I use the Bell Ipulse 3 led light. It's a good light for the price, about $15.00. Has steady and pulse and clips off easily.
Ernest

thanx, I'll check it out. I dont want to leave the light on the bike all the time. If its daylight, no need for the extra gizmo......for my kids to play with during breaks.

i went out for my usual after-work ride yesterday. normally i do 8-10 miles. well last night it was so nice i ended up past 20 miles and wasn't ready to stop, but it was dark and i have no lights. thats probably the farthest i've ever ridden at once (i'm still new at this ;)) and it was because it's so nice outside, and i was right on the water. i'm gonna look into that $15 light so maybe next time i can keep going.

15$ lights? There are some things you should never never skimp on and lights are one of them.

My $5 lights have been working for years...

why does something need to cost $200 for it to do the job? it it's cheap, and gets the job done... whats wrong with that?

Hell I would duct tape a $5 flashlight to my handlebars if it wouldnt look like crap. $15-$200, what does it matter, as long as it gets you from A to B.

I've tried a few eBay lights deals and I've had bad luck. First off some are not as bright and others just don't last. I had one tail light last about 4 days then just quit. Hardly worth the time and money to return to China. Since then I got a NightRider SOL and couldn't be happier. It did cost $89 but it's bright and reliable.

evilbay, thats your problem. you reeeally have to watch what you buy on that site now days. either you'll receive complete junk or get ripped off. but, you can also find some real gems, just takes some searching.

I'm savoring the rides...

Middle of I205 bridge between OR and WA

Sunset is 6:02 pm ... and getting later!! :D That means there is still light out there till at least 6:30 pm now. Lovely!!
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=152&month=9&year=2009&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1


You can check yours here:
http://www.timeanddate.com/

I just set a computer reminder for me to check in with this web site and start looking at weather reports for warm riding days to start commuting again - probably won't start again 'till the end of February 2010 ...