Originally Posted by
Giant Doofus
My last real hurdle is mostly psychological. Even if I'm well equipped and feel comfortable with my night-time riding skills, I still have to contend with the fear that my bike will break down on the way home, leaving me pretty vulnerable on the side of the road. .
I consider myself pretty self-sufficient on the road, so flats and the like don't bother me. However, in the winter I alter my route to run parallel with the bus routes. This isn't so much because I couldn't fix a flat on the road, as much as it's because of the temps. I underdress so I don't get overheated while riding. That means I'll cool very quickly when I stop, so having stores to duck into, or a bas as fallback transport is sort of my plan C. (B is to fix the flat fast). Also being near a bus route gives me a backup if lights fail while I'm still a ways out from the destination.