Rural commute?

feaseyrider
feaseyrider Posts: 32
edited March 2008 in Commuting chat
HI , how many of you commute the rural way ?my commute from home to work is normally at 4.30am most of the 3.4 miles is in the dark (roll on lighter mornings) i only ever see the same white van daily or the DAM gritting lorry......

Comments

  • Alibran
    Alibran Posts: 370
    My commute is 10 miles each way, mostly along unlit roads, at least until the last couple of miles as I go through town. In the dark, I usually go along the main road because it's quicker, but during daylight, I tend to take the slightly longer route around the lanes. I work shifts, so I can be on my bike at any time between 5am one morning and 1am the next.
  • BentMikey
    BentMikey Posts: 4,895
    A little bit of my commute might be classed as rural, as I go from Biggin Hill to the west end.
  • davelakers
    davelakers Posts: 762
    My daily commute is 12 miles e/w through unlit country lanes. It is a bit unnerving during dark winter months, but pure joy during summer.
  • davidmiller
    davidmiller Posts: 320
    I commute in 10 m from Savesey to the Cambridge Sci Park. I start out in the country for about the first 7-8 mile then I hit the outskirts of Cambridgr and have about 6 sets of lights in the last mile.

    Interesting I use a road that is supposed to be closed to traffic except access (my a**e !!!!). However, whilst there is always lots of cars, vans and even coaches on there, the council either ignore this fact or purposely maintain it badly to discourage people to use it.

    They are currently building a guided bus route through my village to the science park. When it's done i'll have the option of using the access lane alongside which will shave a couple of miles off. Wonder if I'll use it???

    David
  • Gr.uB
    Gr.uB Posts: 145
    I am all rural on unlit lanes. That is why I have a Lumicycle Halide 2004 - it turns my night into day. I see lights when I go into Devizes, but that is all :D
    It is a bit slippery at this time of year when the farmers plough and the tractors bring the mud back out onto the road and it is deposited like little lumps that cars then flatten. When you hit them it is very very slippery.
    TCR
    MonstaThorn
  • niblue
    niblue Posts: 1,387
    I do some of my commute on unlit roads. I use a halogen Lumicycle set-up, most of the time just with a 12W spot on but for the unlit roads at night I switch the 20W flood on as well.

    I see the occasional car on my route but it's rare for me to see another bike. The roads do get used by a few cyclists travelling from Livingston to Edinburgh however my commute time seems to be earlier than theirs.
  • Stuww
    Stuww Posts: 203
    I do a lot of my commuting along the lanes of East Devon en route to Exeter.

    I often see Deer, badgers, foxes and rabbits and have actually raced a deer along a lane!

    My 5.30 am start means that it's dark all the way, although there is now the faintest hint of light on the horizon.

    Stu
    Regards

    Stu W
    www.midlifecyclist.me.uk
  • CanterburyTailwind
    CanterburyTailwind Posts: 162
    My route is rural - approx 20 miles round trip into Canterbury. Frosty, cold mornings are the most hairy...
  • feaseyrider
    feaseyrider Posts: 32
    8) i use a three led and a 1 watt at front ,but will upgrading for next winter
    any sugestions ,combo's ......?
  • CanterburyTailwind
    CanterburyTailwind Posts: 162
    I use the Fenix - http://www.glowgadgets.co.uk/fenix-l2d- ... l-products - which gives amazing light for it's size. I don't know how they do it. Witchcraft is my bet...
  • Underscore
    Underscore Posts: 730
    This winter I upgraded my lights to a set of Ay-Ups (intermediate beam with the 3hr battery). These were good for dark country roads.

    However, I then got a Fenix L2D Q5 and attached it to my helmet for when commuting off-road. This worked brilliantly (30mph on a bumpy downhill section with a right-angled bend and a hedge at the bottom didn't feel that it was too fast for the lights) so I gave them a go on my road commute.

    Having the Ay-Ups set to light up the road directly in front was great - allowing me to spot surface imperfections - while the Fenix was great for looking further ahead. Also, it is surprising from what distance you can get cars to dip their headlights when given 180 lumens between the eyeballs!

    Yes, I have spent £140 on lights but I am very happy with the results.

    _
  • feaseyrider
    feaseyrider Posts: 32
    CanterburyTailwind hi many thanks for puttin me on to that website its got me thinking about my light upgrade i was goin to use cat-eye..

    what kind of mount do you use for the fenix

    regards
    martin
  • C1234
    C1234 Posts: 26
    started going the long way home that goes into Reading down national cycle route 5. Journey is 23 miles in in the daylight, and 32 miles home in the dark. I got 2 torches from hong kong on ebay that have 3W luxeon stars in. They're zip-tied to my helmet and married up to a 6V lead-acid battery in a bumbag. Very visible.

    Its actually pretty cool on the way home since you can hear cars for miles, and see oncomming lights, but its rare to meet anything at all. It can be eirey and its easy to get tunnel vision, but I quite like it. It feels like theres no-one else but you in the world, and a great way to wind down after work.

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