Commuting Help or Suggestions Please

Quoted message said:

Driving to work in my nice comfy car I pass the very occasional cyclist
and think they are either incredibly brave and/or very stupid.

Living in the sticks, most of my cycling is on roads without streetlighting.

If I cycle at night, this is what I do to be seen:-

h*lm*t-mounted white LED
Two front Cateye HL-EL300 lights
One flashing front LED on self
*Bright* red steady LED light on rack
Normal rear red light
Flashing red LED at rear
Acres of reflectives on self & bike

Works a treat at being seen and enough light to see by too. I do not cycle
fast, though. When I put a h*lm*t-mounted LED on, the effect was *amazing* on
traffic, it really got me noticed.

My teenage son cycles 13 miles to college & back - he's due home any time now.
He also has lights & reflectives as above.

I generally find traffic gives me a wider berth at night than during the day.

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$

--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--

trembler50 said:

In the winter it is dark (both ways) and cold and, in my mind,
dangerous (beacuse 90% of the way is on unlit A/B roads).

Can you find some quieter roads? There are nearly always alternatives to
major roads. What is the route? I'll plot one for you on streetmap.

Quoted message said:

Driving to work in my nice comfy car I pass the very occasional
cyclist and think they are either incredibly brave and/or very stupid.

If you can see them other drivers can see them as well.

Quoted message said:

Any motivational ideas or suggestions to get over this fear please.

Get some good lights, a good set of reflectives and some decent (doesn't
have to be expensive) winter togs. Enjoy it whatever the weather!

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

>Driving to work in my nice comfy car I pass the very occasional cyclist

Quoted message said:

and think they are either incredibly brave and/or very stupid.

Living in the sticks, most of my cycling is on roads without streetlighting.

If I cycle at night, this is what I do to be seen:-

h*lm*t-mounted white LED
Two front Cateye HL-EL300 lights
One flashing front LED on self
*Bright* red steady LED light on rack
Normal rear red light
Flashing red LED at rear
Acres of reflectives on self & bike

Works a treat at being seen and enough light to see by too. I do not cycle
fast, though. When I put a h*lm*t-mounted LED on, the effect was *amazing* on
traffic, it really got me noticed.

My teenage son cycles 13 miles to college & back - he's due home any time now.
He also has lights & reflectives as above.

I generally find traffic gives me a wider berth at night than during the day.

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$

--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--

Thanks Helen, I think the Christmas tree approach is the only way to go!!

"trembler50" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I occasionally commute to work.

The journey is 17 miles each way on country roads. Fairly flat but
roughly up hill with the wind on the way there and down hill against on
the way back.

At work are showers and a bike rack.

So on a nice sunny day in summer it is very enjoyable going to work but
slightly less so on the way back.

In the winter it is dark (both ways) and cold and, in my mind,
dangerous (beacuse 90% of the way is on unlit A/B roads).

Driving to work in my nice comfy car I pass the very occasional cyclist
and think they are either incredibly brave and/or very stupid.

Any motivational ideas or suggestions to get over this fear please.

If you increase the number of cyclists on these roads by joining them, they
become safer for all.

With decent lights, night riding on A/B roads is fine - I find I get given
more space than during the day.

cheers,
clive

quote='Simonb'trembler50 said:

In the winter it is dark (both ways) and cold and, in my mind,
dangerous (beacuse 90% of the way is on unlit A/B roads).

Can you find some quieter roads? There are nearly always alternatives to
major roads. What is the route? I'll plot one for you on streetmap.

Quoted message said:

Driving to work in my nice comfy car I pass the very occasional
cyclist and think they are either incredibly brave and/or very stupid.

If you can see them other drivers can see them as well.

Quoted message said:

Any motivational ideas or suggestions to get over this fear please.

Get some good lights, a good set of reflectives and some decent (doesn't
have to be expensive) winter togs. Enjoy it whatever the weather![/QUOTE]

Thanks Simon, but all routes are fairly heavily for traffic. The most direct is the darkest, the others all ahve more junctions, so its six of one and half a dozen of the other. I will try Helen's approach.

Simonb said:

Get some good lights, a good set of reflectives and some decent (doesn't
have to be expensive) winter togs. Enjoy it whatever the weather!

Yes - if you're cold and wet you won't enjoy it (unless you're
particularly masochistic).

I commute in the winter in a reflective bomber jacket that's sold for
ambulance paramedics and doctors. Very warm (indeed, sometimes too
warm), with comfortable cuffs and waistband, and more dayglo yellow and
reflective stuff than you could shake a spoke at. Gloves and a warm
hat, of course, and waterproof overtrousers if necessary. And the thing
that's really been useful - a "scrim scarf", a wide mesh scarf sold in
ex-army shops - it's great for keeping my neck warm and mopping up sweat :-)

Lightwise, a Cateye EL300 and a no-longer-produced Cateye flashing white
one at the front, and an AU100 for the back are just fine for me, but
if you're on unlit roads you probably want something a bit beefier at
the front.

R.

Quoted message said:

Thanks Helen, I think the Christmas tree approach is the only way to
go!!

You're welcome. I hope it works for you. Be prepared to be nervous to start
with, and give yourself time to develop confidence. Ride assertively & this
helps you to keep safe.

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$

--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--

In article said:

I occasionally commute to work.

The journey is 17 miles each way on country roads. Fairly flat but
roughly up hill with the wind on the way there and down hill against on
the way back.

At work are showers and a bike rack.

So on a nice sunny day in summer it is very enjoyable going to work but
slightly less so on the way back.

In the winter it is dark (both ways) and cold and, in my mind,
dangerous (beacuse 90% of the way is on unlit A/B roads).

Driving to work in my nice comfy car I pass the very occasional cyclist
and think they are either incredibly brave and/or very stupid.

Any motivational ideas or suggestions to get over this fear please.

Have your car break down. Not very enjoyable, but it has got me cycling
at times when the car would be more comfortable.
(I was driving yesterday though, and the fog was scary.)

trembler50 said:

I occasionally commute to work.

The journey is 17 miles each way on country roads. Fairly flat but
roughly up hill with the wind on the way there and down hill against
on the way back.

At work are showers and a bike rack.

So on a nice sunny day in summer it is very enjoyable going to work
but slightly less so on the way back.

In the winter it is dark (both ways)

As others have said - decent lights. Also, assume it will take longer in
the dark. If you use pedals with cleats (SPDs/Look/etc), then its worth
getting overshoes to keep your feet warm.

Personally, I like dynamos; decent ones are pretty bright these days. No
batteries to worry about failing or forgetting your re-charging plans.
B&M seem to be pretty decent and not overly expensive; somewhat cheaper if
imported from Germany directly (see another posting by me). If you take to
it regularly, it would probably be worth getting a dynamo hub for the front
wheel.

It might be worth combining a dynamo with auxillary battery lights for when
extra illumination is needed.

- Nigel

--
NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

trembler50 said:

I occasionally commute to work.

The journey is 17 miles each way on country roads. Fairly flat but
roughly up hill with the wind on the way there and down hill against on
the way back.

At work are showers and a bike rack.

So on a nice sunny day in summer it is very enjoyable going to work but
slightly less so on the way back.

In the winter it is dark (both ways) and cold and, in my mind,
dangerous (beacuse 90% of the way is on unlit A/B roads).

Driving to work in my nice comfy car I pass the very occasional cyclist
and think they are either incredibly brave and/or very stupid.

Any motivational ideas or suggestions to get over this fear please.

I used to be a fair-weather commuter and wouldn't cycle during winter,
but a few years ago decided to make a go of it.

It really isn't that bad. Slip on a couple of extra items of clothing,
bolt on a couple of lights and that's it. Much of my route is busy
narrow NSL road but it certainly feels no more dangerous in winter than
in summer. And the last time it snowed here, congestion was so bad I
was the fastest thing on the roads by a long stretch.

I don't think you can beat a crisp clear winter morning. When I arrive
at work I see colleagues and when they get out of their cars they start
to feel the cold; when I get off my bike I start to get even warmer!
Must be reduction in windchill or something. I prefer not to overdress
for winter - I switch from shorts to longs, and from t-shirt to jersey.
Maybe a t-shirt underneath and pair of gloves if it's particularly
chilly. I've never felt the need for jackets and stuff, but I guess it
depends on how hard you push.

trembler50 said:

I occasionally commute to work.

The journey is 17 miles each way on country roads. Fairly flat but
roughly up hill with the wind on the way there and down hill against on
the way back.

At work are showers and a bike rack.

So on a nice sunny day in summer it is very enjoyable going to work but
slightly less so on the way back.

I enjoy the way back more.

First of all, with a good set of lights, a bicycle stands out more at
night, than in the daytime.

Second, I get to take my time, no worry about getting home late.

The key is to make yourself visible, and to illuminate the road
sufficiently for your needs.

For rear lights, be sure that you have something that is not
unidirectional, which is a failing of the cheaper LED lights. However
there are several rear lights that now have a good angle of visibility,
because they have LEDS aimed at an angle, as well as straight back.

See: http://nordicgroup.us/s78/taillights.html

For front lights, it depends on how dark it is, and how far ahead and to
the sides you want to see. Some people are content with a dynamo powered
three watt light, I prefer the safer, higher power lights (I know that
some people will debate that brighter is safer, so let me say that at
least for me, I find being able to see more of the road, and further
ahead, at least makes me feel safer!).

From another web site on bicycling (not mine):

"There are several types of bicycle lights available. In North America,
most commuters choose to use high power halogen lights, which operate
from a rechargeable battery. In parts of Europe, low power lights that
operate from a dynamo are still popular, but are slowly being replaced
by safer, higher power, battery operated halogen lights. Front LED
lights are useful for being seen, but do not project a good beam for
illuminating the road.

For rear lights, LED flashers are popular in North America, but illegal
in most other countries. A better choice for a rear lamp, where flashing
lamps are legal, is a xenon strobe, because it is less directional.

Many cycle commuters build their own lighting systems with commonly
available lamps, batteries, and chargers. One method is to use a
generator stored in the hub of the front wheel. This method requires no
external batteries or chargers because the power source is always
available."

On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 03:47:44 GMT, "Steven M. Scharf"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

First of all, with a good set of lights, a bicycle stands out more at
night, than in the daytime.

And you'd better listen to him because "Steven M Scharf is one of
Earth's leading experts on bicycle lighting" according to, er, Steven
M Scharf.

So, no naughty using dynamo lights, alright? Woefully inadequate.
Completely unsafe! Experts Agree that only high-brightness
rechargeable systems of the type Scharf advocates and used to sell are
safe for use on roads or trails.

Guy
--
"then came ye chavves, theyre cartes girded wyth candels
blue, and theyre beastes wyth straynge horn-lyke thyngs
onn theyre arses that theyre fartes be herde from myles
around." Chaucer, the Sheppey Tales