Pre-Dawn Commute...
 

I usually drive when I have to be at the office before 7:30, but today I decided to ride. Although I ride home in the dark in the winter, I haven't biked to work in the dark in years... And never this route.

it's not quite as dark as it looks in the video.

good music, almost thought it was the old Batman theme music! love early morning dark commutes - not as many cars on the road! altho you seemed to have plenty. what was that that ran across that single track? I saw a bunny last nite but didn't have the cam going at the time. I'll bet you remembered your office key, huh?

I've been riding in darkness for almost two months now, having to be a work by 7AM. Though before I've before it'd get light before I arrive, now it only gets light half an hour after I arrive.

As long as you are well lit, riding early in the AM is preferable to the afternoon ride home.

I ride pre dawn to get to work, its really isn't too bad. No traffic, fewer stops, etc.

I agree. Much rather ride to work in the dark morning than the other way around. Although that time is coming soon.

How do you find so many teleports? They seem like they'd be disorienting, but worth it for a 2.5 minute commute.

I forgot it once, 25 years ago. It is now on the same key ring as the bike which is locked the locked shed. If I can't get to the bike, I can't get the building.

:lol:

forgot mine once too. was a frosty winter commute. sunny but bitter cold. got there after 13 good miles a tad wet & under dressed to just stand around in those temps. miraculously, the business Owner's Dad showed up unexpectedly early & let me in

I AM the traffic
 

I go five miles in the morning from 5-530ish. No one really out but me. 8/10's of my last mile is downhill, which means that the first 8/10's of my ride home is uphill. I could level it out on the return, but it would add 2 miles to the ride home.

i love night riding, or early morning. something very soothing about it.

I'm a late worker, typically 10am to 6pm, so my dark commute is in the evening. Every year, the cyclists are getting smarter, and lights on bikes have become pretty common. This year, I notice joggers carrying or wearing lights, too, and I deeply appreciate that; I see them from farther away. Joggers' lights don't need to be bright at all to be effective.

Same here, I like being able to ride in after the roads have dried off and home in the dark.

Early morning, dark these days around here for a more than a month now, I pass by Starbucks coffe stire and I see few vehicles waiting to get to the drive through window for their early morning stimulation in a an expensive time consuming cup. I just get my stimulation peddling hard to my bus station, Cheers!

I need both. Grazie, Sr. Bialetti.

http://78.media.tumblr.com/7ad9ab0b6...158mo1_500.jpg

I also need both. In fact, this my first un-caffeinated ride in years. I managed get some coffee in at the office before the no-coffee head-ache hit.

I always say that it's my last remaining vice. And people always laugh because all of my coworkers and even a lot of my friends have only known me as a professional, home-owning, husband and dad.

Wholeheartedly agree. Something special about being out there in relative quietness and knowing that the rest of the world is still asleep or at home. Though last time I was out before sunrise there were quite a few joggers with headlamps and way more cyclists than expected on a Wed at 6:30am. But this was on a heavily-traveled MUP and all were well-equipped - see below.

I travel on a heavily-used MUP near a key train station and there are always a lot of pedestrians near the station. I noticed that more and more have been bringing either lights or reflectors. I have a strong flashlight to spot out ninja walkers so a passive retroreflector is visible from waaay further away than a weak light is. So if you're a MUP pedestrian reading this, the least you can do is put a retroreflector on your backpack or yourself.

I just started riding earlier and leaving the house before sunrise. But I am normally not a morning person and it is hard for me to get up early. But I want to. The lesser traffic is definitely a plus.
But in summer I rather ride home later to avoid the afternoon heat here in Texas. Much more pleasant when the sun is gone.
And also here: No start of the day without some good coffee. But I retired my Mr Bialetti some years ago for a Jura.

Giving it up was kind of hard for me. I didn't have too many bad habits to begin with, and giving up something with so many benefits just didn't seem fair to me. Kind of like giving up my motorcycle, coffee and motorcycles are a lot more exciting than tea and bicycling, but I'm better off for the switch.

Wait, we are talking about coffee, right? That's not a vice!

at dusk last night I saw a blind woman with a cane walking on the MUP I was on. I said "on your right" as I passed cuz she was kinda wandering down the middle leaning to the left. she said thank you. on my way back I saw her walking the opposite direction carrying a small shopping bag. it was really dark by then but she had reflective stripes on her cane, which I saw 300 ft away. she didn't need a light obviously, but it would have helped me

You need to watch out for those tired night shift workers coming out of parking lots, half dazed. I almost got taken out today by just such a person. I had two lights 300 lm on flashing and 400 lm on steady, plus florescent jacket with reflective stripes. Didn't make any difference. He just plowed right out of the driveway as if I wasn't there. Fortunately I anticipated that he might do just that and managed to swerve out of the way. But f@#k! Idiot zombie drivers!:mad:

I enjoy the early morning dark ride to work. Strange how shadows in streetlights sometimes look like something they aren't. And I like observing homes with their curtains open, TV's on... I imagine it's toasty warm inside and I wonder what the people are getting ready for..

I also had to mount a light to my helmet because I couldn't see which gear I was on my brifter.

Don't have indicators on mine, but even when I I can see it from the street lights. Your route must not be very well lit.