winter means shorter days, so more nite rides?
#26
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Great topic RR! Absolutely, I get up early and try to get as much cycling in during daylight hours. I will even try to convince the boss to adjust my work hours so that I can get home during dusk or at least to start out before the sun sets (whenever possible). Doubly so if there's a storm in the immediate forecast.
Or the other idea I have is to adjust your schedule in order to alleviate the traffic, so get in early and stay later on certain evenings so as to avoid rush hour home
RR-appreciate the topic. I think the "battery debate" may spark a lot of comments. I personally use USB powered lights on most of my devices whenever possible because they are more reliable, lighter and rechargeable (and cheaper). But to each their own! I do not proselytize about batteries LOL
I do use Monkeylectric on my spokes and I love them. I find that the 3 Energizer lithium batteries last at least one winter season per new pack of batteries. And they are amazingly colorful and bright. The kids on the side of the road see me and ask me if I'm a UFO LOL. So I know that the cars can also see me
Or the other idea I have is to adjust your schedule in order to alleviate the traffic, so get in early and stay later on certain evenings so as to avoid rush hour home
RR-appreciate the topic. I think the "battery debate" may spark a lot of comments. I personally use USB powered lights on most of my devices whenever possible because they are more reliable, lighter and rechargeable (and cheaper). But to each their own! I do not proselytize about batteries LOL
I do use Monkeylectric on my spokes and I love them. I find that the 3 Energizer lithium batteries last at least one winter season per new pack of batteries. And they are amazingly colorful and bright. The kids on the side of the road see me and ask me if I'm a UFO LOL. So I know that the cars can also see me
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#27
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When I was working, I would arrive at work at 9EDT, 8EST all year. My wife would hate it during the winter because I would be going to work in the dark. But at the 7 - 8am hour EST during the winter, the streets would still be empty as not many cars be on the road.
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convince the boss to adjust my work hours so that I can get home during dusk or at least to start out before the sun sets (whenever possible). Doubly so if there's a storm in the immediate forecast.
Or the other idea I have is to adjust your schedule in order to alleviate the traffic, so get in early and stay later on certain evenings so as to avoid rush hour home
Or the other idea I have is to adjust your schedule in order to alleviate the traffic, so get in early and stay later on certain evenings so as to avoid rush hour home
#29
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Someone once told me, the morning commutes are usually chill because people are in no hurry to go to work. But the evening commutes are much more dangerous because people are often in a rush to get home each night.
haha I now have flexible working accommodations. I work from home so it's not even an issue any more.
But I told you guys that during the government shutdown in January 2019 (so 3 years ago now) that resulted in my regular job (5 miles round trip) getting stalled and I had to find a temporary new job to make ends meet. And as an extra "bonus" the temporary job gave me a 20 mile round trip to work each day in some rather gnarly cold weather (and cold rain storms).
And the new boss claimed he was very flexible. But whenever I asked him "for permission" he always said no. And this included popup snow and wind storms. So eventually I just stopped asking "for permission" and just left whenever the weather-awareness required. And then asked for a pardon later.
Luckily for me, the government shutdown ended in early February 2019 and I was fortunate that I resumed my regular job (with the shorter commute) at that time. So it never "came to a head" with the inflexible boss. The inflexible boss eventually said, 8-5pm, those are our hours. I was glad to get out of there given my transportation needs at the time.
But yeah, the other trick I encourage is to arrive later in the morning and then leave later at night, after the rush hour commute eases. I also recommend the back roads away from traffic. The 5 mile commute job had no set hours so that was what I usually did.
haha I now have flexible working accommodations. I work from home so it's not even an issue any more.
But I told you guys that during the government shutdown in January 2019 (so 3 years ago now) that resulted in my regular job (5 miles round trip) getting stalled and I had to find a temporary new job to make ends meet. And as an extra "bonus" the temporary job gave me a 20 mile round trip to work each day in some rather gnarly cold weather (and cold rain storms).
And the new boss claimed he was very flexible. But whenever I asked him "for permission" he always said no. And this included popup snow and wind storms. So eventually I just stopped asking "for permission" and just left whenever the weather-awareness required. And then asked for a pardon later.
Luckily for me, the government shutdown ended in early February 2019 and I was fortunate that I resumed my regular job (with the shorter commute) at that time. So it never "came to a head" with the inflexible boss. The inflexible boss eventually said, 8-5pm, those are our hours. I was glad to get out of there given my transportation needs at the time.
But yeah, the other trick I encourage is to arrive later in the morning and then leave later at night, after the rush hour commute eases. I also recommend the back roads away from traffic. The 5 mile commute job had no set hours so that was what I usually did.
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#30
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#31
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Last edited by rumrunn6; 12-17-22 at 09:37 PM.
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#33
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even if I don't plan a nite ride. just doing errands & getting out late, means better bring a lite
#34
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with the darkness & colder temps my performance is sad. but I guess it's still good to get out
not a lot to see
not a lot to see
#35
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I guess this is from 1-5-23
#36
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One of my Monkeylectric lights burned out this week when the lithium energizer batteries did not replenish the light. So I guess the shelf life on the Monkeylectric is 6 years (good deal).
I am buying another one this week to replace it.
I am buying another one this week to replace it.
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I don't know if you know but they've been out of business for 3 years now. I wanted another one for my other bike but could not find any Monkeylectric products. Of course there are lots of knockoffs but none compare to my m.232.
If you do find something cool make sure to share with the forums. TIA
#38
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#39
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road bike w/ the leather saddle was just fine for this January nite
#40
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maybe shudda called this thread winter rides in "darkness" because I'll still ride after work, at night, just not in darkness
or maybe not? just saw this definition for "night": "the period of darkness in each twenty-four hours; the time from sunset to sunrise."
or maybe not? just saw this definition for "night": "the period of darkness in each twenty-four hours; the time from sunset to sunrise."
#41
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I'll probably end up riding this evening. It's one of those days where it is going to warm up overnight. It was -22C this morning and should be -8C or warmer this evening, though the wind is going to pick up. I went for a ride yesterday at -9C which was fairly pleasant, and at least I didn't need to clean off my drivetrain afterward.
There are numerous types of darkness. https://www.timeanddate.com/astronom...-twilight.html I noticed during a 400 km ride that it never gets completely dark here mid summer. Throughout the ride I could see a brightness difference between the sky and ground at the horizon.
There are numerous types of darkness. https://www.timeanddate.com/astronom...-twilight.html I noticed during a 400 km ride that it never gets completely dark here mid summer. Throughout the ride I could see a brightness difference between the sky and ground at the horizon.
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#42
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Astronomers have another distinction. Morning is from midnight to noon. Night is from sunset to midnight. Afternoon is not of any real interest since nothing except the Sun can be studied.
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ha! those are great!
wonder what could be found for the term "awake" as I start my coffee ...
wonder what could be found for the term "awake" as I start my coffee ...
#44
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Days don't change. They are always 24hrs.
It's daylight and nighttime that fluctuate.
I use the Skytime App to tell me the exact sunset and the twilights for my location.
It's daylight and nighttime that fluctuate.
I use the Skytime App to tell me the exact sunset and the twilights for my location.
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#45
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Channel 7's website up here in Boston has some impressive weather resources. It has a 7 day forecast, it has an hourly forecast and it has a sunrise/sunset feature.
There's also this site that logs sunrise and sunset times localized for your city (whatever that might be).
https://www.timeanddate.com/
There's also this site that logs sunrise and sunset times localized for your city (whatever that might be).
https://www.timeanddate.com/
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snuck in another last night
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#47
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Days are getting a little longer, I can go out for an hour or so after work. Snow is getting gone as well however, I think there is still a few more snow rides left in the year I'm sure we'll get a few more storms in the 5" -7" range.
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a little mystical tonite
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#49
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Short daylight hours don't generally drive me to night riding. I am more inclined to ride in the dark in the summer heat. I generally go trail riding at about sunrise every day. I have gone in the dark in the winter if I had to be somewhere and needed to finish my ride early, but that is a rare ocasion. Going real early before sunrise in summer is more common for me.
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In the days before Zwift, when my weekday rides were outside pretty much all year round, I found that my weekday evening rides shifted to much later times. Seeing as they were going to be in the dark either way, there was no particular motivation to squeeze them in before dinner, and I'd end up riding at 9 or 10 at night. The cold, dark, and quiet made for some very satisfying rides.
5-8 years later, if I'm going to ride at that hour, I'll do it on the trainer with Zwift. It makes more sense and it takes less time, not having to suit up into winter kit. But I kind of miss those night rides.
5-8 years later, if I'm going to ride at that hour, I'll do it on the trainer with Zwift. It makes more sense and it takes less time, not having to suit up into winter kit. But I kind of miss those night rides.
Last edited by MinnMan; 02-05-24 at 07:35 PM.