Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Commuting at night

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.
View Poll Results: What shift do you work and commute by bicycle to
1st shift job
55.00%
2nd shift job
27.50%
3rd shift job
17.50%
Voters: 40. You may not vote on this poll

Commuting at night

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-30-12 | 07:14 PM
  #26  
cehowardGS's Avatar
Motorcycle RoadRacer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,826
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by yep202
That is the same time I ride and for just about the same amount of time to. I run a 200 lum headlight and a 40 lum rear flasher. I havent had any problem with people seeing me. I work 2am - 11am a few days a week so I guess you could say I ride at night 50 percent of the time and in the day the other 50 percent of the time. Your not alone.
My hat is off to you!!
I run two claimed 1600 lums up front, with a claimed 1600 lum on my helmet. Superflash Turbo and two copies in the rear..

I 2nd the comment that 900 lums is bottom line minium or below minium. Yeah, I know, bad spelling.
cehowardGS is offline  
Reply
Old 05-30-12 | 09:35 PM
  #27  
Bent Bill's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 330
Likes: 14
From: AZ.

Bikes: Trek Domane 5.2 Giant Frankenbike Trek Utopia Canondale 3.0 Sun Easy Racer Tadpole Schwinn Tandem Cheap Unicycle

I work 6:00 am til 2:30 pm
I leave at 4:30 so its always dark for part of the ride
and a lot of the year for the whole ride
I have a cygolite 740 turbo on the bars and a serfas tru 600 on my helmet
on the rear I use two blackburn mars 4.0 one on blink and one constant
I also wear a lime vest and have the schwalbe big apples with the reflective stripes on them
The blackburn on the back of my helmet actually lights up my vest when it blinks or so I have been told
I have had co-workers comment that the blinking blackburns are borderline annoying but they also say they can see me from a least a half a mile
cars give me a wide birth at least till it gets light out
I dont know if I like riding better in the dark or daylight
they both have there drawbacks
Bent Bill is offline  
Reply
Old 05-30-12 | 10:19 PM
  #28  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast

Bikes: 8

.. days but I occasionally have a few pints at night on the way home..

roads empty out at night..

to always be there, I run a Dynohub + LED wired lights..

Last edited by fietsbob; 05-30-12 at 10:24 PM.
fietsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 05-30-12 | 10:31 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: CA SF Bay Area

Bikes: 2014 CDale EVO, 2007 System Six, 2004 Litespeed Solano, 2002 Burley Duet

I work a four on four off 6-6 rotating shift schedule. I am either riding to work at 4:30 AM or PM or home from work between 6:30 AM and PM. By far, the 4:30 PM commute is the worst traffic wise. For the morning commute everyone is still asleep, and my evening commute they are usually home by the time I am on the road.
Riding in the dark, I run a Magicshine 1600, a FibreFlare red torchlight on steady, and a blinky on my backpack and one on my seat pack. I have been told I am visible from the adjacent freeway when I am on the frontage road over a 1/2 mile away.
turkey9186 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-31-12 | 12:01 AM
  #30  
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,914
Likes: 1,259
Originally Posted by syciprider
The only thing I hate about that time of the day is having to use the crosswalk light at intersections because there are no cars to turn the lights for me.
4:30 in the a.m., no one around... ...can you guess where I am going with this??
Leisesturm is offline  
Reply
Old 05-31-12 | 12:06 AM
  #31  
Farmer Dave's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Rogue River, OR

Bikes: 2010 Globe Vienna Disc 3

I work 5-11 P.M. Lights and a reflective vest are my best friends.
Farmer Dave is offline  
Reply
Old 05-31-12 | 12:26 AM
  #32  
cyclezealot's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,237
Likes: 75
From: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France

Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike

One time I worked a shift from 6 PM to 6:30 AM... after 12.5 hours, the 90 minute ride home was difficult.. In the winter time, I enjoyed the sense of sunrise/ sunset being near both ways.
__________________
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living










^ Since January 1, 2012
cyclezealot is offline  
Reply
Old 05-31-12 | 11:56 AM
  #33  
enigmaT120's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR

Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93

Originally Posted by Leisesturm
4:30 in the a.m., no one around... ...can you guess where I am going with this??
Jail!

OK, probably not. I've had to run red lights on my motorcycle because the sensors wouldn't detect that bike. I'm sure my bicycle would be worse.
enigmaT120 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-31-12 | 01:00 PM
  #34  
dramiscram's Avatar
ouate de phoque
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
From: La Prairie, Qc, Canada

Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus

I finish work at 8 pm so most of the year I ride back home in the dark wich I much prefer because the cars will give much more way than during the day. I have two 360 lumens light (only one one, the second as a back-up) and a rear blinkie but a LOT of reflective tape all over the bike. I feel pretty safe and , as i alway say, you just need one crazy lunatic on a cell phone to kill you no matter what time it is.
dramiscram is offline  
Reply
Old 05-31-12 | 02:06 PM
  #35  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
Commuting at night

I only commute in the dark when we run out of Daylight Savings time, but I do enjoy riding in the dark. It's an entirely different experience. I went out to dinner last night & Rode home in the dark. It's very enjoyable.
MK313 is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Colorado Kid
Commuting
144
11-24-13 06:12 PM
NABRXX
Commuting
42
07-29-13 03:42 PM
Nutfarmer
Commuting
17
11-01-10 07:33 AM
groovestew
Commuting
92
10-31-10 06:53 PM
no motor?
Commuting
18
12-07-09 09:56 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.