Did my second ever dark of the morn commute yesterday, with number three here in about a half hour. My Magic Shine is terrific - I can get by with it on medium most of the ride. 4 reds on the back in various modes of blink, and a blinker on my helmet for lasering the cars if need be. Great, but cold (and colder today, only 35F).

Then the ride home.

Right hooked twice. Another just squeezed by car pulls out from a side street. Chased by the psychoweinerdog for three blocks (if I'd just spun one rev backward woulda cold-cocked the little booger...). One care trying to read my mind and gumming up the whole busy intersection by waiting on me whilst I was stopped waiting on her.

All reminders to stay awake, pay attention, take the lane (would have turned off the right hooks) appropriately, and that it is great to be alive.

I'd suppose I just had too many peaceful rides in a row...

This is a Pcad post, just getting my count up to an even 300........

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Please don't banish me to Road Cycling....

My morning rides are almost always in the dark except for mid summer. I much prefer the morning ride to the afternoon ride in the heat and smog.

At least it keeps you alert, right?

You don't want to ge there!

Psychoweinerdog!!!

If it's 35F out, you could blast 'em in the face with freezing cold water, that seems to work for the smaller dogs.

The cold water works with some dogs. Keep your easiest to reach water bottle with the top open. Squirt/spray them and go on. The cold and wet together work on them. Sometimes they need another "innoculation".

Less eventful today, but I learned something neat!

Used my MagicShine on flash on the way home in the daylight - I saw three cars that held off pulling out from my right, and I know the light must have had something to do with it. I am a convert to the bright flasher during the day on my commute home (tho the end of daylight savings will plunge the go-home into darkness come Monday).

Something else I learned - I could ride danged near nekkid if I have good gloves (well, I'd need a good g-string, too......). Wore my goretex shells with liners today - it was 34F - and that was the difference between misery and a comfortable ride. Still trying to balance the layers properly so I don't overheat and sweat so much, but the gloves are an absolute must.

Sorry about the g-string comment. At least you don't know me by sight - but I just put a picture in MY mind I am having a terrible time erasing.....

I've decided that I prefer the really-dark-thirty rides to the just-barely-getting-light rides. When it's almost daylight but not quite, some drivers think that it's OK to drive without lights, which can make for a scary road crossing at poorly lit intersections when you suddenly realize that you've just pulled out in front of a dark car running without lights. So far, I've not had the same problem when it's really dark and everbody knows that you need your lights on.

I definitely feel safer with regard to cars when it's dark because I have two bright headlights and 2-3 tail lights, plus I generally wear a neon yellow vest, jacket or jersey. One of my lights is on my helmet, so I turn and look directly at any cars pulling out from side streets and parking lots -- the LED light stops them in their tracks. However, you do have to be more careful about road obstacles, potholes, sticks, rocks, etc. when riding in the dark because they just don't show up as well as in daylight -- no matter how good your lights are.

At 4:00 a.m. my morning rides are dark any time of year.