This might be a bad idea - but is it really ?

velomelo

Now since the arrival of our first child almost 2 yrs ago - the amount of free time has been reduced to almost a zero and in that l'm still trying to imagine some room for cycling.

Now is that a complete stupid thing or not that bad at all - if I don't have time during the day - would it be ok if I was going for my spins in the night time ? Say 9ish PM...?

Anyone ever tried that ?
Much easier to fly through town and probably empty roads all way up to Howth from the southside. Sure it's dark...but what can you do.

Bertie Woot

Strap the two year old to your back, or if you're feeling really adventurous, to your helmet, then take to the roads!

Chips Lovell

I don't think it's a big deal really. Loads of people train at night during the winter. Decent lights and you're good to go.

CardinalJ

Probably safer going at that hour that say 7pm when there's more cars around. Just light yourself up like a christmas tree.

BostonB

Can you do it on your commute?

Bertie Woot

CardinalJ wrote: »

Probably safer going at that hour that say 7pm when there's more cars around. Just light yourself up like a christmas tree.

Is setting fire to yourself with a baby strapped to your helmet wise?

ford2600

Not stupid at all. Cycle away.
Do search here for lights. Many threads. Might be good time to buy lights.
Enjoy.
I mtb at night great fun

kerry4sam

velomelo wrote: »

Now since the arrival of our first child almost 2 yrs ago - the amount of free time has been reduced to almost a zero and in that l'm still trying to imagine some room for cycling.

Now is that a complete stupid thing or not that bad at all - if I don't have time during the day - would it be ok if I was going for my spins in the night time ? Say 9ish PM...?

Anyone ever tried that ?
Much easier to fly through town and probably empty roads all way up to Howth from the southside. Sure it's dark...but what can you do.

Ah that's not a bad idea at all. Just obviously have decent lights on your bike and wear your hi-vis clothing. All of that is no guarantee of not being hit btw, but at least it's something! I am always extra cautious cycling at night and I do enjoy the tranquility as at times it really is just me out there; not even a taxi powering down the road.
If you can get out there just before dawn too, then you have the birds out there with you chirping away, it's nice background sounds

velomelo

kerry4sam wrote: »

If you can get out there just before dawn too, then you have the birds out there with you chirping away, it's nice background sounds

Then you must be riding extremely slowly to hear them birds chirping "Sir David". All I can hear is the loud noise of the wind generated by my law braking velocity

Anyone knows any decent routes worth taking at nigh time ?

Beasty

Agree with Vlad - I hardly get out at all at weekends. 90%+ of my training is commuting or evening spins when the kids are in bed (or turbo). Find some local circuits you are comfortable with and head out on a regular basis (we have a few options where I live that we tend to use over winter)

kerry4sam

velomelo wrote: »

Then you must be riding extremely slowly to hear them birds chirping "sir David". All I can hear is the loud noise of the wind generated by my law braking velocity

Anyone knows any decent routes worth taking at nigh time ?

"Sir David" would even be listening to owls and crickets some days out peddling! It's not always about speed from A to B, but reaching back to base safe n sound and enjoying my surroundings too imo

johnnybhoy78

im in a similar situation,2 young kids, i do most of my spins now late evenings,last night didnt leave the house till after 8.30.
the only problem i find with the late cycling is i do start to get tired quicker i usually only get 50k in max
it is peaceful thou

seamus

The problem on the weekend is most likely trying to balance incompatible types of relaxation against eachother. You can't have a lie in and go out on the bike. It's one or t'other. Likewise you can't go out for a few sweet, sweet beers on Saturday night and then get up at the crack of down on Sunday morning to be home by 10 or 11.

Assuming there are two of you in this together, then there needs to be give and take, negotiation. You agree that you get a few hours on the bike at the weekend and in return you will later take the child off to the cinema or the park to give your other half a break.

My only issue with night riding is that I prefer going into the mountains, but I wouldn't be crazy about the Dublin mountains after 10pm. Too many idiots trying to pretend they're Colin McRae.

Ole Rodrigo

Leaving from town for a couple of laps of Howth is just under two hours. A few nights a week ( add on as many laps as you like ) is a decent workout, no need to look like a xmas tree either as it is well lit.

Just don't tell everyone

Zorba

Here's what to do, if u have 2 cars sell one of them, use the proceeds to buy yourself a nice new bike for commuting.

Now cos you've only one car your misses will actively encourage u to commute everyday so she can have the use of the car.

seamus

Zorba wrote: »

Here's what to do, if u have 2 cars sell one of them, use the proceeds to buy yourself a nice new bike for commuting.

Now cos you've only one car your misses will actively encourage u to commute everyday so she can have the use of the car.

That's actually a great idea if it can work. My wife works irregular hours and has no reasonable commuting alternative except to drive, so we need two vehicles, but only for the few hours a week when I'm holding the baby. If she worked 9-5 we could totally ditch one car, and it would be awesome, I'd have to cycle everywhere

triggermortis

Seamus - you obviously don't have a two year old if you're expecting a lie in at any time!!

As for the cycling at night idea, I don't see any problem with it OP

smacl

I've a once a week commute that has me cycling around 10:30 - 11pm, which is brilliant. Very little traffic makes the roads great gas. Early morning is also worth a punt, being on the road for sunrise is a great way to start the day.

manwithaplan

I do this a lot, sometimes not getting back until midnight. The downside is that it can be hard to sleep immediately afterwards. I agree about the give and take comment though. I have four children and it's really important that both parents get some time to themselves, independently and together.

velomelo

Gotta show that to my wife

manwithaplan wrote: »

it's really important that both parents get some time to themselves, independently

jimd2

Bertie Woot wrote: »

Strap the two year old to your back, or if you're feeling really adventurous, to your helmet, then take to the roads!

DONT do this. It is very dangerous unless it is a very safe route. I have come across idiots doing this on the most dangerous of road.

Canis Lupus

jimd2 wrote: »

DONT do this. It is very dangerous unless it is a very safe route. I have come across idiots doing this on the most dangerous of road.

Not sure if serious.......


To the OP. Can't you just give the child away? Tell the missus you lost it and boom, plenty of time to cycle in the day.

Seaswimmer

I used to do it years ago when the kids were small. If you are southside I did laps of Killiney Hill so for me something like Deansgrange,Cabinteely, Ballybrack, Killiney Dart station, Vico Road up to Druids chair, Glenageary, Bakers Corner and back to Deansgrange. It was about 7 or 8 miles but the advantage was that you were always near home in case you needed to get back. You could do less or more laps depending on what time you needed to be up at in the morning or how you were feeling and you got a bit of climbing in. I much preferred it to being an hour away from home at 10.30 at night when you got a call to come home or when you got fed up or tired..

Cee-Jay-Cee

I've a 3yr old and 1yr old and don't leave the house till they're in bed which is usually after 7:30pm and then the odd weekend morning. As you say the roads are quieter and I find it safer.

BofaDeezNuhtz

manwithaplan wrote: »

I do this a lot, sometimes not getting back until midnight.

Same here

rollingscone

velomelo wrote: »

Then you must be riding extremely slowly to hear them birds chirping "Sir David". All I can hear is the loud noise of the wind generated by my law braking velocity

Anyone knows any decent routes worth taking at nigh time ?

Finian McGrath warned us about you!

Tonyandthewhale

Nothing wrong with cycling at night. When I was in college in Dublin myself and the house mates would often go off for a few laps of Howth at 10 or 11 at night after a hard day of pretending to study and watching Jeremey Kyle.
Winter commutes also tend to be pretty dark unless you've got a very cushy work schedule and if you ever take up audax you'll more than likely find yourself riding straight through the night at some point.