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extending my "season"

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extending my "season"

Old 08-06-09, 10:24 AM
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extending my "season"

this year (season) I racked up 1500-2000 miles between commuting and joy riding with 4 bikes and it has been truly amazing. I've been toying with the idea of extending my season into September and October on nice days.

Can anyone talk about how they may done this transition and dealt with commuting with more cars and darkness? Is the added risk worth the added bother?
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Old 08-06-09, 10:39 AM
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IMO, riding in the dark with good lights is safer than riding in the daytime with none.
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Old 08-06-09, 10:45 AM
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it seems to wear my body alot more, not just commuting for that sake either.. cold and dark just drives me into the ground

so ive been saving up for a trainer for this winter, and keeping riding to short commutes to class
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Old 08-06-09, 10:45 AM
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interesting comment. I do ride with daytime strobes front and rear. I'm thinking I'll use the same lights because I don't think that even at 6:am and 6m I will need lights to see with here in NE in September and October
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Old 08-06-09, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by JeffS
IMO, riding in the dark with good lights is safer than riding in the daytime with none.
I agree, but aside from that, I think I really enjoy riding in the dark, especially before dawn.
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Old 08-06-09, 10:51 AM
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Actually, this is a question that's been in my head as well. I'm in NC, running planet bike flashers front and rear. I don't think it gets dark enough around here 8am/6pm to need actual lighting to see the road. Will the flashers (superflash in the rear/.5 watt LED in the front) cut it in the fall and winter, or do I need to get some more capable lighting?
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Old 08-06-09, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by JeffS
IMO, riding in the dark with good lights is safer than riding in the daytime with none.
+1 When I started commuting in spring '08, I waited till I had daylight for both directions (my workbound commute starts at 6:30am and homeward ends at 6:30pm). When it started getting dark earlier in the fall, I got better lighting and clear safety glasses and kept commuting. Winter came and I got a jacket, warmer gloves, headband to cover my ears and track pants and kept commuting.

Commuting in the dark isn't at all what I expected it to be and now I can't imagine letting a little darkness spoil my rides. And my commute involves everything from 6 lane road traveling at 50 MPH plus to commercial areas with no street lighting to a stretch through the middle of downtown that's lit up like daytime.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
interesting comment. I do ride with daytime strobes front and rear. I'm thinking I'll use the same lights because I don't think that even at 6:am and 6m I will need lights to see with here in NE in September and October

Jeff S., does speak the truth though. The light from most bike lights just gets too diffused during the day to be 100% effective, they definitely work better at night. Dinotte lights seems to be the exception.

Depending on the amount of snow we get, I might be buying a Dinotte this year. Alot of snow means narrower roads, narrower roads plus the same crazy drivers makes winter commuting dangerous.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:02 AM
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Bicycling has seasons?

For me, I just got sick of sitting in traffic jams all the time and figured I'd be happier on the bike. Even when it's cold, wet, and dark out. Turns out, the winter elements aren't so bad and sometimes can be really fun. I tend to think each season has its pluses and minuses so I try to focus on the positives each season brings.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:18 AM
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I ride all year in Maine. Good lighting, studded tires, and of course dress for the elements.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:20 AM
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As a randonneur, I ride in all sorts of conditions, and many of my riding hours are between nightfall and daybreak. Often on majour roadways on weekend nights.

If you're spending less than 3 hours a day in the dark, then there are a zillion options for battery powered lighting. The least expensive decent lights will run you about $100 - $150 for 2.5 - 3 hours of battery life at a very good lamp intensity. Not just a "see me" light, but an actual "light up the road" light. I started out my riding in the PNW with a light like this: The L&M Solo 13W halogen. The DiNotte 200L-dual or 400L single are similar intensity lights.
If you're really serious about getting noticed, a dual lamp setup (one on the bike, one on your helmet) is a good idea. A hiker's lamp like the Petzl Tikka or Princeton Tec Quad can be zip tied through the vents on nearly any helmet, and used to spotlight cars at intersections. A combo of the 200L on the bars and helmet is another, stronger option.
For situations where you're getting a lot of incedental light (streetlamps, car headlights, etc.) and you want to get noticed, you might want to go with either a) a flashing front light/helmet light or b) a brighter headlight. The 600L is visible over traffic interference, so is the Tri-Newt, as well as the Seca 700... But these are all getting up there in the price category.

My personal choice, due to both length of use and ease of use, is a generator system. Not typically as intense as a battery system until you get into high-powered LED setups, generators have the advantage of never needing a recharge. You can get into a nice generator setup for around the same price as a mid-range battery system ($160 for a wheel, $130 for a good LED lamp). The disadvantage is that unlike a battery system, you can't remove it easily for lockups or use it as a flashlight in the case of changing a flat in the dark.

For rear lighting, I prefer 3 lights: solid, wired taillight and 2 blinking PBSF Superflashes.

For reflective visibility I have my bike and fenders outlined with scotchlite tape. I wear 2 reflective ankle bands and a reflective sash. My helmet is outlined in scotchlite tape.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:25 AM
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I don't know how long into the off season I will ride but I am all set with lighting. I think riding when it gets colder will be easier. I have no prediction
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Old 08-06-09, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by CACycling
+1 When I started commuting in spring '08, I waited till I had daylight for both directions (my workbound commute starts at 6:30am and homeward ends at 6:30pm). When it started getting dark earlier in the fall, I got better lighting and clear safety glasses and kept commuting. Winter came and I got a jacket, warmer gloves, headband to cover my ears and track pants and kept commuting.
This is the progression that I took as well. Turned out that I only missed the month of December because of the constant snow that fell. I'm not planning on riding with snow covered roads. The cold temps and the darkness can easily be overcome with proper gear. Layers will be your friend.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Timber_8
I don't know how long into the off season I will ride but I am all set with lighting. I think riding when it gets colder will be easier. I have no prediction
I have read somewhere on these forums that your speed in the cold is reduced by around 10% due to denser air and that your components are not as efficient and that you have on much more clothing. My experience does back this up somewhat.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by kgriffioen
I have read somewhere on these forums that your speed in the cold is reduced by around 10% due to denser air and that your components are not as efficient and that you have on much more clothing. My experience does back this up somewhat.
It's at least 10% for me, and maybe even closer to 20%. That's mainly due to heavier clothing and tires, extra caution while riding in the dark or on icy spots, thicker air, plus less enthusiasm for riding when it's cold. It's slower for sure, but still beats getting stuck in traffic.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by JeffS
IMO, riding in the dark with good lights is safer than riding in the daytime with none.
The dark and the cold both cut down the number of other people out, and most of the ones staying away are the ones who make things less enjoyable for me in the daytime. Dogwalkers are the exception, the thin leash and fido are both a lot harder to see in the dark. They usually are more aware of me coming though, so it's kind of a wash.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by kgriffioen
I have read somewhere on these forums that your speed in the cold is reduced by around 10% due to denser air and that your components are not as efficient and that you have on much more clothing. My experience does back this up somewhat.
I don't think I'm slower in the cold. The heat seems to sap my energy out, while the cold invigorates me, or so it seems. In the cold, I pedal faster to warm up. In the heat I pedal slower to avoid heating up.
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Old 08-06-09, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by DJFlowe
Actually, this is a question that's been in my head as well. I'm in NC, running planet bike flashers front and rear. I don't think it gets dark enough around here 8am/6pm to need actual lighting to see the road. Will the flashers (superflash in the rear/.5 watt LED in the front) cut it in the fall and winter, or do I need to get some more capable lighting?

Everyone's comfort level is different. I have no problems riding in the dusk/dark with a single superflash.

I prefer a more substantial front light - though I honestly have no idea what a .5 watt LED looks like. I think adequate depends on what you're used to. I don't recall anyone saying their headlight was too bright. You should be prepared for pitch black though.

I was between front lights one time (sold one, replacement hadn't arrived), left work early to get home before dark, hit something and flatted both tires and smashed my rear taillight. By the time I got the flats fixed it was dark and I had to ride the remaining 4 miles with no lights. I was not happy.

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Old 08-06-09, 12:04 PM
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To me September in Boston is one of the best months for riding (if not the best) - the days are getting shorter but the weather can be nearly perfect. October starts getting rough as things start cooling off and it is completely dark after work. As others have said if you have some decent lights on your bike you'll be fine in the dark.

I don't think I will ever be a winter rider though - it just isn't fun riding around in freezing temperatures no matter how bundled up you are (to me). Luckily I have an easy bus ride into work as an alternative. Freezing temps and bike lanes full of plowed snow are really tough.
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Old 08-06-09, 12:20 PM
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Be carefull.... extending your season may turn you into a year round cyclist

After my 1st Sprint and Summer of commuting I'd read about winter cyclists and figured they were all nuts. Then the fall arrived and I had no desire to stop cycling. I add good lighting front and rear, and a high-viz vest to enhance my visability. October rolled by, then November.... I was still enjoying the riding. At that point I added studded tires as we get enough potentially icy roads. I don't like the amount of extra effort the studded tires cause, but I love the comfort knowing that I won't hit the road hard because I hit a patch of black ice. As I entered into December I had to add some approriate winter cycling gear mostly the E-Vap coat from Lou at Foxwear.net, and later the power shield pants. Now I ride year round.

Enjoy the ride,
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Old 08-06-09, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by riddei
I ride all year in Maine. Good lighting, studded tires, and of course dress for the elements.
Represent!
I am excited to do some more winter riding this year. Bring it on!
 
Old 08-06-09, 01:53 PM
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I ride all year in Maine.

A tip of the helmet to you ... that's true tough-guy riding.
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Old 08-06-09, 01:59 PM
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Wow, different perspective here. Summer is so hot that I am generally sticking to shorter rides. I enjoyed some really nice long comfortable rides around the December holidays. As I post, sunrise is around 6:30AM and sunset around 8PM - and it's still HOT so it seems unfair to need lights also. But in the winter we do have a little more daylight hours than up north.

The daylight thing - I was able to use a "follow the sun" work flextime schedule last winter and do some work from home or work extra hours on non-bike days. I have HiVis jackets, illumiNITE tights, reflective vests, construction worker mesh T's with broad reflective striping, and lots of lights. I enjoy riding in the dark on quiet streets, but it can make poorly-lit wide intersections particularly scary-creepy. It is easier to see cars that have their headlights on. I don't commute downtown, so most of my route is not well-lit with streetlights.

I strongly advise both a headlight on the bike AND a helmet mount light. I've had lights fail halfway home and was grateful that I had extra batteries and more than one light. Past commutes on a blacktop country road were so dark that even with a $60 headlight I still could not see the edge of the pavement; it was like trying to balance with my eyes closed and was very disorienting. So I velcro an extra light to my helmet - small very bright and expensive-to-run 3"-long flashlight that throws a LOT of light just for special cases - it costs $10 in non-rechargable special lithium batteries for 2 hours use, so I only used it for a few blocks at a time.

Speaking as a car driver, recently some kids rode their bikes across the street in front of me after dark. They were otherwise utterly invisible but those dorky-looking reflectors attached to the bike spokes immediately caught my attention and made it very clear that bikes was moving across my path.

Each season has its ups and downs, try to enjoy the best parts of each one and ride when it feels good.
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Old 08-06-09, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by bmt074
To me September in Boston is one of the best months for riding (if not the best) - the days are getting shorter but the weather can be nearly perfect. October starts getting rough as things start cooling off and it is completely dark after work. As others have said if you have some decent lights on your bike you'll be fine in the dark.

I don't think I will ever be a winter rider though - it just isn't fun riding around in freezing temperatures no matter how bundled up you are (to me). Luckily I have an easy bus ride into work as an alternative. Freezing temps and bike lanes full of plowed snow are really tough.
Lol, well - do you have a heated waiting area where you wait for the bus?

:-) A lot of us who have tried winter biking debate about whether it's more comfortable to bike or drive a car in the winter, but we all seem to feel the same way about the comfort of riding the bus vs biking - winter biking (with decent gear) is waaaaaaaaaaay warmer than sitting around outside at the bus stop waiting for the bus to show up - your body heats up as it gets moving.

(If you don't have a decent route for winter biking, that's a different matter)
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Old 08-06-09, 02:50 PM
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Early spring and late fall (times that drivers think of as borderline winter) certainly do provide some of the best riding conditions imaginable (but when it rains, yuchhh...). Only the heart of winter is on the tough side; getting dressed and undressed for it can become a big production. And snowbanked roads can bring me to a nearly complete stop. Only if I can time my rides to minimum auto traffic do I even attempt it. But with that said, winter riding can be surprisingly enjoyable.

For lighting I will advise a minimalist approach. "The more, the better" might seem to make sense, but my experience is that it is not so. When I've had a lot of lights on my bike it only seems to confuse the drivers. They know that they are seeing something but they don't know just what. They stupidly keep on at cruising speed. When their perception finally resolves you as a bicycle, they're right on your tail and panic. Rear flashers have a similar effect. All they can see is that flasher and they can't even tell how far away it is.

I use two lights front and rear. Two mostly for redundancy; if one dies, I have something to get me by. They're basic LED bicycle lights. I run the rears in steady mode, though I will run one in flashing mode if visibility is bad. For the rest, rely on reflectors. Drivers understand them. They understand reflective vests terrifically well, too. You can see them (if you have mirrors) moving over a long way back.
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