78fujis10s

The weather here by me is finally warm enough for me to begin riding to work. Last year I started commuting in the fall and did so a total of seven times. There is one big change between last fall and now, then I was working third shift (9:00pm to 5:30am). That shift has been eliminated and I now work from 2:15pm to 10:45pm, so the ride home will be close to midnight. My distance will be twenty miles round trip and will be down a divided highway that, for most of the way, has no streetlights. My ride is a heavy steel mountain bike with 53c knobby tires. I have a Blackburn headlamp, a Schwinn rear flasher and a Trek cat-eye flasher that I mount on the helmet. One other thing, I will be riding by a sports bar that still has lots of patrons during the commute. Is there anything I need that I have overlooked? Is the idea of commuting that late at night a good idea, or should I just scrap the whole idea? What does the bike community think?

Artkansas 

Well, flashing lights are known drunk-magnets. So plan on setting the blinkies to stay on after you pass the bar.

I would be kind to yourself and swap out the knobbies for slicks, add fenders toe clips and a rack. Also get a reflective safety vest. One bar in 10 miles isn't that bad.

uke

Not true.

To the OP, pack extra batteries.

Artkansas 

That article is just saying that a flashing light does not directly cause the driver to run into it. That is true.

But it does acknowledge that fixation of attention in one direction will cause a driver to move in that direction and acknowledges that drugs and alcohol make a driver more prone to this but does not indicate the degree that this is enabled. Anyone who has witnessed a drunk can guess at how much control the drunk would have in resisting this tendency.

nashcommguy

Good advice there. I work 2nd shift. 3:00-11.30PM. Don't have a bar to deal with, but some 'rural aggression' from time to time. The bar patrons, depending on where it falls in your commute will, most likely still be drinking by the time you showup. Just roll by, don't make eye contact or respond to anything anyone says or attempts to throw...they'll miss...they're drunk. My lighting in the rear is Planetbike Superflash and NR Universal TL. Front is a combo of a Cateye Sport Opticube on blinking mode(daylight) and 2 NR Trailrat 2.0 HLs. My commute takes about an hour-ten in and an hour-twenty-five home.

exile

I think Artkansas made a good point also. I work overnights (in at 10:30pm and out by 9:00am) and dependending on my route can pass up to 5 bars and 2 liquoir stores. Usually I only indirectly pass one bar (on a side street about 50 yards away) and one liquoir store. Luckily I don't have to commute Thurs-Sat nights, but I do pass through the college area on my way to work.

What you have sounds fine as far as lighting goes (although it does depend on road conditions). My suggestion would be to get some slicks for your mountain bike if it's primary purpose would be commuting. You might also want a Hi Viz vest or something reflective to provide contrast to your flashing lights (I'm not familiar with lights you mentioned). I'm not familiar with your area so it's hard to make a determination of what else might be needed. I ride 3 miles and have two handle bar mounted flashlights (200-900 lumens) and a PB superflash and Mars 3.0 tailligt (one on flash one on steady) on relatively well lit streets.

Since this is a bike commuting forum, most members I would think would suggest commuting unless thier was imminent threat of harm to the rider. And even then some members would offer other suggestions (weapons, alternate routes, tactical stealth, etc...) . You'd be surprised what other members go through on their ride to work; I am.

AsanaCycles

i worked 10pm-7am for 6yrs
2pm-11pm for 8yrs

i've always used flashing lights
a seriously bright helmet light, at the moment I have a Light and Motion Arc HID
and a bar mounted light

reflective tape on moving parts is awesome

think fishing lure-tech
anything that moves and catches the eye.

cell phone
maybe with voice dialing if possible.

gmule

I work similar hours and enjoy the night portion of my ride. I suggest getting a mirror that works for you so that you can keep an eye on the cars coming up from the rear. I rarely have any problems at night due to the lack of traffic. I would also suggest getting slicks as well so that you can travel faster.