Commuting - The Nite Shift

Anybody out there commute to work for the graveyard shift? I have about 35 miles one way. Either a choice of a park (no lights, deserted, or partygoers) or busy streets. Another problem is that I'm of the female persuasion. Should I invest in padded football shoulders & a real tight breast compression wrap to disquise myself? or maybe not commute?

I work shift work, so sometimes i do the night time commute. I would recommend the busy street route, just for the personal safety factor. Another good thing to get would be an air zound horn and keep it at its highest level, that should scare anyone away, either in a car or on foot. As for clothing, baggy would be best. Pepper spray might not be a bad idea.
35 miles one way is a huge commute, are you planning on riding both ways?
Andre

As a radio announcer who used to do the 8pm to midnight shift I used to be riding home at 1am.

It was a little spooky at times going through unlit areas relying only on my headlight. Just as well I'm not superstitious considering I had to go past a very dark cemetery.

Even being male wouldn't have helped me if someone had decided to do something nasty. Some of the places I went through were quite deserted with plenty of bushes around.

I hate the idea of discouraging anyone from riding but all things considered it's a tough call. I wouldn't want my wife out there at night.

35 miles one way is really too far to commute. If you are "outashape" for real, that would be a good 3 hour ride or possibly more. That would require at least 14 hours of your day working and riding. No time for anything else except sleep.
Is there a way you could drive part way and ride part way? If not, I'd advise against riding.

If you have no alternative, get a good lighting system (They aren't cheap) and bright tail lights and a reflector vest. It's very important to make yourself as visible as possible to motorists and pedestrians alike. I don't know that camoflaging your body would be a necessity unless you would be riding through a dangerous part of town. In which case, you shouldn't be riding anyway.

If there were a way for you and your bike to hitch a ride to work in the dark and then ride home in the daylight would be a much better and safer alternative.

I also do shift work.. My commute is 26 miles. Often, I do it in less than two hours. Hills slow me down.. I have a great lighting system... However, my night commute is not often very much in the dark- because my shift is 12.5 hours-- 6:00 pm to 6:30 am.. So mostly day commuting for 'night shift..' Lucky that way..
I work like 'fireman's hours.' Ironic- commute on bike first night shift, but normally only work two night shifts in a row..So not a big deal. But anyway, I feel when I commute to work on bike- I have MORE energy. A shower at work and power bar and I am good for night. I commute for this night shift at least once a week.. Can not commute for day shift assignments, because, then hours are 6:00 am to 6.30 pm. Have to leave at 3 am. not for me. As to commuting to work- feels great.. If not for hills a 26 mile commute would be a cake-walk to me. But here in California, do have hills to slow me down.. Two hour commute- gives me ten hours to sleep..

outashape..Michigan is my original home state. What part of the state do you live in..?

CycleZealot:
I live in Novi and work in Allen Park/Dearborn area. I usually cycle around 150 miles per week, so riding to work & back shouldn't be a problem. I feel guilty driving to work, then driving out to the Ann Arbor area to ride my bike where the traffic is less and the hills are more. I was thinking of riding through Hines Park, a 30 mile linear park following the Rouge River. I keep my roller skates, golf clubs, and bicycle in my car at all times (plus the gear/clothing for each sport) (I DON'T have any room for passengers) Anyways, I have ridden my cycle home, but then I have to have someone drive my back to work...see all the gas--pollution... am I creating a DEMON?? I just want to ride my bike. Whine, Whine. To top it all off, I usually drive 3-4 hours somewhere in Michigan on my weekend (Wed/Thur) to ride my bike. I love to explore. Do you see the need to redeem me? Cycling is supposed to stop pollution--not increase it.


ljbike: I look 'outashape' but I physically sturdy, athletic, solid & unfortnately ffffat. I do everyting with zest, including eating.

Outashape. I sort of have the same guiding principals.. Do not use auto when I can ride.. I do errands on bike. To take bike, if not need to would violate them. But we have to be practical too.
Novi to Allen Park,.. criticism of Michigan and cycling is roads are not geared for cyclists. Particularily in metro Detroit???
I was raised in the Ann Arbor area. Riding out to Chelsea/Dexter would be a delightful ride.. Yeah, that Hines park would give a rider accesss to north/south routes as I remember..
Another location in Michigan I lived out in Allendale, west of Grand Rapids- now that would be awesome I suspect..
Sometimes, I find a way to put the bike on a bus, to maneureur a way to leave the car in the garage.. Or trains,... Nothing like that works...
I feel proud, my Tuesday/Thursday bike friends- I ride to the start point...eliminates about a 1,000 miles of gasoline consumption a year... Also, My weekly commute to work, save the use of my Jetta about 215 miles a month- times 12. Proud of that. Best luck in cycling.. You will feel better physically, before you know it...

I don't work third any more. I did a few years ago, rode 14 miles one way to get there, on a rails to trails route. In the mornings I'd extend the ride some 10-15 miles just for sh*ts and giggles.
Now, I work second shift and commute, it's a straight 6 mile shot, but I take routes that turn it into10-25 mile route.
Late night lately there have been youngsters in the parks making out, usually there haven't been anyone out. And on the roads it's after bar closing so added precaution to the guys in steel coffins.

I've been working nights for the past seven months or so. From what I've read so far in this threat I can hardly classify my trip as a commute but more of a 25 minute sprint over 3 or 4 miles.
I stick to the main roads because it's quicker and there's much more space. I usually take the right lane to myself. I love it and prefer to ride late at night recreationally too. Daylight people are very annoying and slow.
The one big downfall of riding at night is that I have to memorize where all the potholes are. They're just too damn hard to see. Street racers are a little freaky too but they're easy to hear wit their lil' ricers buzzing away. I dream of one day scareing one into a light pole.