It's definately winter
 

I cycled in this morning in almost complete darkness due no doubt to the heavy rainclouds overhead.

Still I suppose the clocks go back in a week or so so that will give us a bit more light in the morning for a week or two but also means it will be darker at night (from about 5 pm.)

I'm not sure which is riskiest, coming in with drivers still waking up, or going home in traffic where drivers are tired and tetchy after a busy day.


What do you think?

Hi Chewa,

I'd kinda like to think that drivers are always alert, whenever they drive...unfortunately that's just not the truth!

I guess I'd go with it's riskier after work, as drivers might not need an excuse to plough into the back of a cyclist...at least in the morning, they might just be sleepy or something...

Hmmm, still doesn't help, does it.

Rich

It wasn't exactly pitch-black for me (living a few hundred miles south) but I needed lights all the way.

The chain decided it prefered the bottom-bracket to the gear I was trying to change down to just at the point the rain started :(, four miles from home, nine miles from work. I still had a smile on my face as I cycled in though! :)

I've only tried cycling home as well as in the once, to be honest cycling a moderately hilly 14 miles in the morning is enough for me at the moment. I'm up to three times a week, hopefully four from next week, probably both ways from the spring.

Keep smiling Richard

I'm not looking forward to the clocks going back and darkness for the home ride - coz my route takes me thru the Windsor Great Park, so about 4 or 5 miles of the total 10 is virtually traffic free.
But there are signs all over the gates saying visitors not alowed after dusk, and I was stopped once last winter by a warden who told me I shouldn't be there after dark.
So I'll have to mix it with the traffic for the whole trip soon, although I'll probably continue with the Park until a warden hassles me again.

Stew
ps: Most hardware shops sell latex disposable gloves (like hospital staff wear) they're real cheap, and I always keep a pait with my tool kit. Comes time to change a flat or dick about with the chain, use the gloves and hey presto! - no black grease on hands - therefore no black grease on bars and bar tape.

Great tip Stew...

Do you use them when you're out hunting game in Windsor Park?

Come on...we all know that's the reason you go there...

Rich :D

And I thought it was Fall, Hah! Just kidding. It is getting pretty darn cold here too, and when it gets dark, it only takes about 1 minute 7:59 PM, its still light outside, 8 pm dark, lights out.

Just make sure you don't have an accident in the Park when I go by . . .

I wish they'd hurry up with those euthenasia laws :D

Stew

I often ride in complete darkness, but then, that's because of university lectures at night :cry: .

But winter? What is that?