deanp

I made my first commute to my graveyard shift job tonight. I was interesting riding at 10pm on a Sunday evening. The streets were very quiet and things were calm. It won't be like that in the morning. It's about 12 miles each way. I missed out on bike to work week last week. The weather and my schedule just didn't come together. This week is different, forecast is clear all week and no appointments or meetings. I might make it all five nights.

RT

I work four nights this week, but I leave for work at 5:00 p.m. and leave work at 6:00 a.m. - busy both ways. If this is your first time commuting at these hours, try to choose a less-travelled route as folks are coming home from the bars between 10:00 and 2:00 and depending on when you get off, the morning commute is beginning. Welcome to the Graveyard Club!

deanp

The route in is fairly easy and lightly traveled, not the same for the return trip. But now it will be light and it shouldn't be a problem. I'm looking forward to it.

TheatreME

I have done those rides before, cussed metro closing at midnight in DC. I enjoy it now that its warmed up, but I hate long-ish rides during winter nights.

+1 welcome to the graveyard shift riding club

scattered73

I love my 2nd shift 3:30-12:30 very little traffic going in or going home and I can get stuff done before going in to work. Plus no lines anywhere.

Jonahhobbes

+1 Also as I posted on another thread, watch the ride home, your body is designed to sleep at night and be awake in the morning and by the time you set off home you'll be feeling a little strange. It's easy to become distracted, whoozy and feel weak through low blood sugars. Also I suggest taking your sunglasses along as early morning sun glare can be really overpowering.

Apart from that there is something great in watching everyone going to work when your on your way to bed.

exile

Well a 10pm'r to 8am'r here four days a week. If you are new to the late late night shifts after a while you become used to them. I have more problems with people driving at night compared to the morning (though not that often). It seems like people will deliberately try to do stuff under the anonymity of night compared to the bustling morning commute to work. Of course being able to see all 5'9" 240#'s (solid) of me might deter some people compared to those dazzling syncopated lights.

hairnet

night rides are the best. I never feel as close to my bike as I do at night

dirtyhippy

I love night rides - you get the whole street to yourself, and you have headlights to serve as an early warning system for cars. Just avoid intoxicated folk and you'll be alright!

deanp

The ride home this morning was without drama, as was the return to work ride tonight. I'm certainly looking forward to more. I didn't realize until yesterday how heavy my lunch and coffee is, the stainless tell thermos was a killer. I left it at home tonight and made coffee here. The company stuff is not as good as my mail order brand, but the backpack was certainly lighter.

RT

No doubt on the lunch issue. I sometimes make the trip to work on an off day with four days of food to stick in the fridge so I don't have to carry the load.

dingster1

I live too close to my job to bother riding in. Its literally next door! Bu the hours are great for riding during the day.

dirtyhippy

I find that good coffee is worth importing into work - good for you if you're willing to give it up to enable the bike-commute, though!

deanp

I might bring a bag of my ground coffee, I'm not really rocking the house brand. About the only thing worse than bad coffee is no coffee.

pdxsteve

+1 graveyard!

10pm to 9am twice a week.

enjoy, night biking is the best!

devildogmech

Man, I just CANNOT work 11-7's. I'm a Nurse. I can do it once in a while, but after about three days in a row, I get sick.... How ya'll do it, I just don't know. The commutes are easy though, aren't they?

RT

Coffee = Goodness. I drink two or three cups, and I have to limit myself because I like coffee more than I like beer. Last cup usually six hours before I ride home.

dwr1961

One word of wisdom, nighttime rider:

DiNotte.

Ken Wind

I remember a serene night filled with stars, the quiet of a fixed drivetrain, and glistening snow gently falling all around me. Snowflakes sparkled like tiny diamonds, illuminated by the moon's countenance. It ended, as it had begun, in silence. I, speechless and breathless, rode slowly while jewel-covered roads prompted my tires to roll silently homeward.

Dr_Robert

I've been working 11-7 for about 5 years. I love the ride in to work - there's nothing like having the road to myself.

-DR

deanp

I brought my my own coffee in tonight and a made a pot here. I didn't want to drink their stuff again. This is better. My first pot is a little weak, I have to get used to their industrial service size thermal pumper pots. The next one will be better, something to look forward to.

Dr_Robert

Buy yourself a cheap French press and leave it at the office. Problem solved.

-DR

nashcommguy

+1 My shift goes from 3:00PM -11:30PM and I find the ride both directions to be rather low stress. One must take care riding at night in being able to be clearly seen, but good lighting and dependable equipment take care of those concerns. Being almost 100% rural I may go 3-4 homeward rides w/o seeing a car...plenty of nocturnal wildlife, but very few cars. Maybe 10 per week. Even when it's cold it beats driving hands down. Love it. It's 17.5 each way w/a 500 ft drop in and a 500 ft climb homeward. One hill has an 18% grade for 0.5 mi. It's a toughy, but worth it at the crest.

AsanaCycles

I worked graveyard for 6yrs
then worked the evening shift 2-11pm for another 8yrs.

in those days, i did a lot of riding at night.

dciskey

I'm about to leave for a 4AM-12:30PM shift; does that count? Starting today I'll be doing these twice a week, along with some 6AM shifts (which I'm more used to). I don't anticipate much traffic, but I still plan on lighting up the night.