Shift workers commuting

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the grid
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Shift workers commuting

Postby the grid » Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:53 pm

I am trying to get in more commuting on my FB Giant but am limited by 2/3 of my shifts being in the evening. The inbound trip is great as its usually off=peak in the middle of the day but riding home 20K at 10-11pm worries me.
Any regular evening commuters here to give me encouragement/hints or am I asking for trouble riding at night.
I have all the hi-vis gear and good lights.
Thanks in advance

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beauyboy
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby beauyboy » Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:58 pm

Whats your route like?

Whats your main worry dangerous drivers or dangerous people?

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the grid
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby the grid » Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:12 pm

Thanks, the route is a main road on the Gold Coast (Bermuda St.) which has a mix of bikeways ("shared footpaths') and on-road riding. Then I have 5 k of rural roads with no bike lane or much of a shoulder. These are fairly quiet though with the occasional "bogan" speedster.
I don't really have the option of leaving the car at work and doing a one way trip each day so Inedd to commit to the two way trip.

lethoso
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby lethoso » Wed Dec 01, 2010 6:27 pm

I ride home at midnight, no dramas - I think 95% of the negative incidents I've had whilst commuting have been on my ride in when there's traffic. Just pick a route you feel comfortable with and get some obnoxiously bright lights :)
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biftek
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby biftek » Wed Dec 01, 2010 6:40 pm

i work grave yard shift mainly but do some arvo shift , i've had no dramas , ok on a friday/sat night might get the odd tosser showing off to his/her mates ,but for the most part it is smooth sailing

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the grid
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby the grid » Wed Dec 01, 2010 8:56 pm

Ok
I'll do it !!
Guess there is unlikely to be any commuter cup stories out of the night ride though.
Last edited by the grid on Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:05 am, edited 2 times in total.

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hannos
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby hannos » Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:47 am

the grid wrote:Ok
I'll do it !!
Gues there is unlikely to be any commuter cup stories out of the night ride though.
You never know! you're out there so there's always a chance someone is in a similar situation ;)

Just make sure you light up well :)
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goneriding
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby goneriding » Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:59 am

the grid wrote:Gues there is unlikely to be any commuter cup stories out of the night ride though.
Have you got a bike computer? If not get yourself one and then you have CC :wink: Admittedly, it's not as much fun as chasing down a real rabbit but it does give you somethign to chase.
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby martinjs » Fri Dec 03, 2010 10:45 am

About 12 years ago when I worked a Ford Motor Co in Campbellfield, I work N/S and commuted to work 4 days a week of over a year. 11.00pm start to 7.30am finish.

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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby m@ » Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:55 pm

the grid wrote:I am trying to get in more commuting on my FB Giant but am limited by 2/3 of my shifts being in the evening. The inbound trip is great as its usually off=peak in the middle of the day but riding home 20K at 10-11pm worries me.
Any regular evening commuters here to give me encouragement/hints or am I asking for trouble riding at night.
I have all the hi-vis gear and good lights.
Thanks in advance
I spent a few months working 4-10PM earlier this year, I had a couple of near misses with drivers who weren't paying attention. But overall I found the empty roads outweighed the occasional idiot you encounter at that time of night. Biggest problem was winding down and getting to sleep before midnight :roll:
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby CommuRider » Fri Dec 03, 2010 8:33 pm

Agree with others. I find commuting home after a late night is so much better than during the daytime hours. Much safer, quieter and I can hear the wildlife which is quite nice. Also the cooler air means you don't sweat or stink as much. Go for it. And get some 900 lumens lights :-)
Amateur oenologist and green-friendly commuter.

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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby Fred Nurk » Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:39 pm

Guy at work used to do his training rides at 2200. Possibly not that unusual until you consider that he was still doing a standard work day. He used to reckon it was a lot better than riding in the day.

I've commuted in at about 0500 a few times, up here theres hardly anyone on the road. I'd still go front and rear lights, plus whatever reflective gear you can get.
I've got some stickers and a backpack cover from Respro (via Wiggle), I can't recommend the waterproofing of the backpack cover, but the stickers seem to have held up alright.

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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby Mugglechops » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:00 pm

I used to commute while working shift work for about 4 years. Started at 2.30pm and finished anytime between midnight and 5am. Only trouble I had was dodging kangaroos and the odd drunk on a thursday night if I finished around 12am.

Most times I rode with a mate or two so that added to the fun.

I did fall asleep once after finishing at 4am for 4 days in row. Woke up just as I was heading for a gutter.

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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby sogood » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:05 pm

the grid wrote:Guess there is unlikely to be any commuter cup stories out of the night ride though.
You never know. If they just seemed to float quietly through the air and no wheel contact with the ground, then don't talk and just ride on. Ghosts may also be on their early commute at that time of the night... :lol:
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby trailgumby » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:02 pm

m@ wrote:Biggest problem was winding down and getting to sleep before midnight :roll:
I get that. It's a pain.

Recently I've started having a tepid to cool shower before bed. Getting the core temp down seems to have helped in this regard a lot.

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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby Xplora » Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:13 pm

I have done a lot of 6:30pm finishes this summer and honestly, peak hour is WAAAAY worse. Something about idiots not coping with their workload turns them into dangerous drivers :roll:

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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby Mulger bill » Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:26 am

Left work @0640, returned @2120. Love the trip in on night shift.
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stinhambo
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby stinhambo » Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:15 pm

Fred Nurk wrote:I've commuted in at about 0500 a few times, up here theres hardly anyone on the road. I'd still go front and rear lights, plus whatever reflective gear you can get.
What part of Cairns you at and what route do you take?
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby Fred Nurk » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:29 pm

stinhambo wrote:
Fred Nurk wrote:I've commuted in at about 0500 a few times, up here theres hardly anyone on the road. I'd still go front and rear lights, plus whatever reflective gear you can get.
What part of Cairns you at and what route do you take?
I'm out in the Valley, I head into Portsmith, generally via Reservoir road.

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stinhambo
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby stinhambo » Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:41 pm

Ah that's miles away!
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby clarinetcola » Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:44 pm

Yes! Very strong lights needed if you go on rural roads or parks or whatever.
Commuting at night was holy for me, I did it for the whole of last year 9:45 till 10:30pm. The sweet cool air and no traffic was amazing. Though I have to point out it was very safe with no bogan speedsters, and the majority of the commute was on bike paths so there weren't any dangers or anything remotely close, just me & my bike. I think it really boils down to whether the route home is safe or not.

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hannos
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby hannos » Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:55 am

I've had a couple of late nights here in Sydney, leaving work at roughly 9pm.
The traffic is much more civilised at that time of the night.
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby Fred Nurk » Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:37 pm

stinhambo wrote:Ah that's miles away!
I've commuted in via Cook Highway once, I may yet do it more often, depending on how enthusiatic I get about getting out of bed early (which don't really happen often).

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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby stinhambo » Fri Feb 25, 2011 10:19 am

Fred Nurk wrote:
stinhambo wrote:Ah that's miles away!
I've commuted in via Cook Highway once, I may yet do it more often, depending on how enthusiatic I get about getting out of bed early (which don't really happen often).
Hold on, when you say "The Valley" is that the Redlynch area?
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Re: Shift workers commuting

Postby Fred Nurk » Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:50 pm

stinhambo wrote:
Fred Nurk wrote:
stinhambo wrote:Ah that's miles away!
I've commuted in via Cook Highway once, I may yet do it more often, depending on how enthusiatic I get about getting out of bed early (which don't really happen often).
Hold on, when you say "The Valley" is that the Redlynch area?
Yes. I don't mean Goldsborough Valley.

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