Commuting Question

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6 miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention the
possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride home, of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.
Thanks, Ned

I say go for it! Some advice I will offer:
Get good lights especially for the rear of your bike. They let you be
seen much more than no lights with reflectors only. Don't trust
reflectors only please!
Get some puncture resistant tires. Nothing is worse than having to
change a tube on the side of the road and then be late for work too! The
ones I have on my bike have over 3300 miles on them with only 1 puncture
flat.
Make sure YOU follow the traffic laws. No sense in becoming a statistic
for something silly like not stopping for a stop sign or other minor
thing like that.

Enjoy the ride!
Ken
--
New cycling jersey: $49
new cycling shorts: $39
Not being a slave to the petrol pump: priceless.

Quoted message said:

I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.

You know the drivers in your area better than I do, so I'll skip the
issue of drunk and/or inattentive motorists except to note that the
majority of DUI arrests around here happen between 11PM and 3AM; YMMV.
The main hazard as I see it would be if the traffic tends to be in the
form of clusters of vehicles moving at a significantly greater speed,
rather than single cars. In my experience, on a two-lane busy
highway, the real danger is from the second or third vehicle in a
pack. The first will almost always swerve to avoid a cyclist, but the
second or third may not see you until the closing distance is very
short and the option to dodge left has been foreclosed by oncoming
traffic. Presumably, you drive this route often enough to know if
this is a real danger.

That said, here's my number one suggestion: Lights. There is a point
at which you can become an attractive target by having too many of
them, but several blinking red lights on you and the bike would be a
good idea. A reflective-banded vest of the type used by police and
road crews is another good idea, but it's not enough by itself.
Reflective leg bands, ditto.

The distance you're talking about is an easy one to cover, but if you
have a cell phone (whose minutes do not come dearly) and someone who
would be awake at home, I'd recommend establishing a habit of a quick
call at the end of the ride to confirm safe arrival. In the event of
a collision at night, it could be a long time before help arrived.

Beyond that, as someone else suggested, weighing the chances of a
puncture on the route and taking measures to reduce the probability
(as seem needed) may be worthwhile.

I'd also recommend making sure that there's a safe place to lock up
the bike at work.

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6 miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention the
possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride home, of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.
Thanks, Ned

With truly good lighting, I personally would not be afraid to ride under
those conditions.

You'll want a rear xenon strobe (see
"http://www.earthspirits.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=pbs&Product_Code=commuter-strobe"😉
not just an LED flasher (LED flasher is good back-up, but be sure to
get a high-quality LED flasher that also has side pointing LEDs). Of
course for the front, you'll want a high-power quartz-halogen or HID
headlamp, no LED headlights.

ned said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6 miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention the
possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride home, of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.

Do it! You'll be happier, stay awake all night, feel better. It's not
far at all. You might contact the jurisdiction and see what the ADT is
like during your commute hours.

Someone mentioned road crew safety vests. Our local OD directs traffic
in a torso-sized overvest that's entirely reflective. You can be three
blocks away and see human shapes.

I once found a study indicating that person-like reflectors are ID'ed
at a greater distance. (They put wrist and ankle bands on joggers,
compared with belts and sashes.)

HTH

--Karen D.

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6 miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention the
possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride home, of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.
Thanks, Ned

Having ridden a few Texan rural roads at night and seen the drunk
idiots in pickups I'd ask how well do you know the road and how aware
of other drivers bad habits are you? If you're confident it's all quiet
around 10pm then go for it, if you know it's a rat run between a bar
and some homes be very careful. How wide is the shoulder on the strech
of state highway? If it's pretty wide the I'd suggest riding the wrong
side of the road, that way you'll at least see 'um coming. Or get a
mirror fixed to your bike so you can watch how traffic approaches you
from behind. At 5-6 miles you should only take about 15-25 minutes to
get to work unless it's very hilly.

Laters,

Marz

"Marz" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Having ridden a few Texan rural roads at night and seen the drunk
idiots in pickups I'd ask how well do you know the road and how aware
of other drivers bad habits are you? If you're confident it's all quiet
around 10pm then go for it, if you know it's a rat run between a bar
and some homes be very careful. How wide is the shoulder on the strech
of state highway? If it's pretty wide the I'd suggest riding the wrong
side of the road, that way you'll at least see 'um coming. Or get a
mirror fixed to your bike so you can watch how traffic approaches you
from behind. At 5-6 miles you should only take about 15-25 minutes to
get to work unless it's very hilly.

Laters,

Quoted message said:

Marz

Riding on the wrong side of the road is against the law everywhere in the
US, and the statistics indicate that the odds of being hit by a car are
higher for wrong way cyclists than for cyclists who obey the traffic laws
and stay on the right side of the road.
--
mark

Veloise said:

ned said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6
miles to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have
very good lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my
car. From past experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real
bike lanes, and about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway.
Not to mention the possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive
driver. The ride home, of course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would
feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.

Do it! You'll be happier, stay awake all night, feel better. It's not
far at all. You might contact the jurisdiction and see what the ADT is
like during your commute hours.

Someone mentioned road crew safety vests. Our local OD directs traffic
in a torso-sized overvest that's entirely reflective. You can be three
blocks away and see human shapes.

Good input with the vests. They may not be a fashion statement but they sure
can be seen.

Quoted message said:

I once found a study indicating that person-like reflectors are ID'ed
at a greater distance. (They put wrist and ankle bands on joggers,
compared with belts and sashes.)

HTH

--Karen D.

I think visibility is the key point here, so adding super reflectors in the
wheel spokes, vest, bright blinking rear light, and decent headlight are
all important. My rear preference is the Cat Eye that I have that can be
set up with a police random strobe pattern, kind of hard to not notice.
Be safe and enjoy.
Bill Baka

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6
miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very
good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From
past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention the
possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride home,
of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.
Thanks, Ned

Riding at night is no big deal, and not as dangerous as people assume. I do
recommend wearing some sort of reflective clothing. I have a reflective vest
with blinking LEDs which I wear, and it has greatly helped motorists see me.

"SMS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6
miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very
good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From
past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention the
possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride home,
of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.
Thanks, Ned

With truly good lighting, I personally would not be afraid to ride under
those conditions.

You'll want a rear xenon strobe (see
"http://www.earthspirits.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=pbs&Product_Code=commuter-strobe"😉
not just an LED flasher (LED flasher is good back-up, but be sure to get a
high-quality LED flasher that also has side pointing LEDs). Of course for
the front, you'll want a high-power quartz-halogen or HID headlamp, no LED
headlights.

I disagree with your headlight comment. A good LED light, like the DiNotte
or L&M Vega is extremely bright.

mark said:

"Marz" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Having ridden a few Texan rural roads at night and seen the drunk
idiots in pickups I'd ask how well do you know the road and how aware
of other drivers bad habits are you? If you're confident it's all quiet
around 10pm then go for it, if you know it's a rat run between a bar
and some homes be very careful. How wide is the shoulder on the strech
of state highway? If it's pretty wide the I'd suggest riding the wrong
side of the road, that way you'll at least see 'um coming. Or get a
mirror fixed to your bike so you can watch how traffic approaches you
from behind. At 5-6 miles you should only take about 15-25 minutes to
get to work unless it's very hilly.

Laters,

Quoted message said:

Marz

Riding on the wrong side of the road is against the law everywhere in the
US, and the statistics indicate that the odds of being hit by a car are
higher for wrong way cyclists than for cyclists who obey the traffic laws
and stay on the right side of the road.

I know that this is going to start [censored] again but where I live they decided
to save money by only putting a bicycle lane on one side of the road. What
would you prefer, wrong way with a lot of clearance, or right way with no
clearance?
I sometimes just give up and ride on the dirt road on the farmer's property
that runs next to the pavement.
Too much traffic to be riding right way without a way out.
Frustration.
Bill Baka

From: [email hidden] (Bill)

Quoted message said:

I think visibility is the key point here, so
adding super reflectors in the wheel
spokes, vest, bright blinking rear light,
and decent headlight are all important.

Quoted message said:

Bill Baka

On the issue of wheel reflectors, I have found a vastly superior
alternative to the spoke mounted ones. Go to your favorite auto store
and look for the hi intensity stick on reflectors like you see pasted on
the sides of semi-trailers.

Cut these cross wise into strips just small enough to fit on your rims
between the spoke nipples. Say, one strip every third or fourth space,
something evenly divisable into the number of spaces.

This will provide a much larger reflective surface that actually says
"two wheeled vehicle". Also it's brightly reflective from all angles,
and is actually most visible when the motor vehicle is approaching from
the front or rear. Spoke reflectors are only really effective when the
cyclist is broadside in front of the car. Of course by then it's too
late.

- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

My web Site:
http "colon-slash-slash" geocities "dot" com "slash" czcorner

To E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

Gooserider said:

"SMS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6
miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very
good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From
past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention
the possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride
home, of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.
Thanks, Ned

With truly good lighting, I personally would not be afraid to ride under
those conditions.

You'll want a rear xenon strobe (see

"http://www.earthspirits.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=pbs&Product_Code=commuter-strobe"😉

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not just an LED flasher (LED flasher is good back-up, but be sure to get
a high-quality LED flasher that also has side pointing LEDs). Of course
for the front, you'll want a high-power quartz-halogen or HID headlamp,
no LED headlights.

I disagree with your headlight comment. A good LED light, like the DiNotte
or L&M Vega is extremely bright.

I think in California a really bright strobe on the rear will buy you a
ticket, even on a bike. The C.H.P. gets really creative about giving
tickets for just about anything they don't like. I have been behind new
cars and nearly blinded by the brake lights but yet they are legal even if
overkill.
Yes, that was a mini-rant.
Re: Front light no LEDs, the LEDs are getting pretty well up there in
efficiency and last forever on a charge. A Halogen or HID light would need
a recharge every day, so consider the tradeoffs. Safety is the first
concern, but it could be a bummer if you forgot to charge the HID battery.
Bill Baka

I remembered something else riding home (7.2 miles) today:

Depending on your latitude, you could leave for work 8:30 pm and get
there before dark. (Take a book or the paper along to use the spare
time.) That way you can become familiar with the road surface and any
major potholes or craters. If you live in freeze-thaw cycle land, take
along some white spray paint, and mark the edges of the two-story
bike-swallowing ones.

(I once did this on a non-motorized wooden bridge deck, and the next
week came across a road crew excavating and filling all my lovely
marks! "Our boss tagged them," one explained. "Great!" said I, and rode
on.)

Pedalling home in the morning, it's likely to be daylight.

Not suggesting you ride in an hour early every day, just the first one
or 2 so as to familiarize yourself with the route. (When I reach 6
miles I go a lot faster; almost there!)

HTH

--Karen D.

"Chris Z The Wheelman" wrote

Quoted message said:

On the issue of wheel reflectors, I have found a vastly superior
alternative to the spoke mounted ones. Go to your favorite auto store
and look for the hi intensity stick on reflectors like you see pasted on
the sides of semi-trailers.

Cut these cross wise into strips just small enough to fit on your rims
between the spoke nipples. Say, one strip every third or fourth space,
something evenly divisable into the number of spaces.

This will provide a much larger reflective surface that actually says
"two wheeled vehicle". Also it's brightly reflective from all angles,
and is actually most visible when the motor vehicle is approaching from
the front or rear. Spoke reflectors are only really effective when the
cyclist is broadside in front of the car. Of course by then it's too
late.

- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

I found the reflector tape Chris refers to at a NAPA store in a bag of about
a dozen strips, each strip was 1/2 red, 1/2 white (more like silver). I cut
the red half into strips and made barber pole stripes on the upright members
of my rack. I cut up the white/silver strips and put them on my crank arms
as well as on the rims like Chris said. The tape is very durable, and
friends who have seen me tell me that it's really visible.
--
mark

Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions. Based on the suggestions
here, and my knowledge (or lack of-Ha!) of the route to work I believe I
will go ahead and do it. I've got a Turbocat S47 (and a cygo back-up) for
front lighting, and a couple of flashing red units for the rear.

Ned

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M.

I'll just chime in and say I love riding around 10:00. The streets are quiet
and feel very peaceful. When the kids were little sometimes it was the only
time I could ride -- I'd put them to bed and then get on the bike.

I'd do more nighttime riding if I weren't so tired by the end of the day.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

Claire Petersky said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M.

I'll just chime in and say I love riding around 10:00. The streets are quiet
and feel very peaceful. When the kids were little sometimes it was the only
time I could ride -- I'd put them to bed and then get on the bike.

Man, used to treasure my 3am bike rides after work in Chicago,
especially when I had the energy to huff it down to the lake shore path
and enjoy the sparkle of the skyline along with the calm of the night.

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
..

Quoted message said:

Re: Front light no LEDs, the LEDs are getting pretty well up there in
efficiency and last forever on a charge. A Halogen or HID light would need
a recharge every day, so consider the tradeoffs. Safety is the first
concern, but it could be a bummer if you forgot to charge the HID battery.
Bill Baka

I have the DiNotte LED light, and the run time is really pretty good. If I
keep in on low mode, I can get three hours run time. That's enough. :-)

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, SMS

() said:

Quoted message said:

I am presently debating whether or not to commute to work. I am on third
shift, so the ride before would happen around 10:00 P.M. It's only 5-6 miles
to work in what most people would describe as a rural area. I have very good
lighting, and would really like to ride rather than drive my car. From past
experience though, I am apprehensive to do this. No real bike lanes, and
about 2 miles of the ride would be on a state highway. Not to mention the
possibility of the occasional drunk or inattentive driver. The ride home, of
course, would be around 7:00 A.M. ,and I would feel OK about that.
I would be interested to hear any advice or experiences, pro or con, or
things I can do to make my ride safer.
Thanks, Ned

With truly good lighting, I personally would not be afraid to ride under
those conditions.

You'll want a rear xenon strobe (see
"http://www.earthspirits.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=pbs&Product_Code=commuter-strobe"😉
not just an LED flasher (LED flasher is good back-up, but be sure to
get a high-quality LED flasher that also has side pointing LEDs).

Product 'commuter-strobe"' not found. Useful.

Quoted message said:

Of
course for the front, you'll want a high-power quartz-halogen or HID
headlamp, no LED headlights.

Horse.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Better hide the pork scratchings...