Greetings Readers
I absolutely hate buying any headlight(s) for my bike(s). To me that is a waste of money. And overall, they do cost an arm and a leg to buy (well, the name brand Cat’s-eye does since I am not going to buy a "cheap" no name brand). Not to mention that the batteries really do not hold that much power to power the headlight for a very long time and I have to keep buying new batteries to keep the headlight bright.
When I do buy a headlight I also have to buy a very large pack of double AA batteries since I would go through many batteries to keep that light bright.
Another thing is that I know the route home and I am usually pretty good about watching out for the vehicle traffic after dark.
When I get off work in the dark I usually stick to the sidewalks since riding in the gutter on the side of the road is pretty dangerous. How do I not know there is an object that fell off a vehicle and now lays waiting in the gutter? How do I not know that there is now a fairly large rock which could be waiting there for me to run over and either give me a flat or worse yet bend my rim?
Flashback – During the late Spring, Summer and Early Autumn I ride on the streets. Which means that I know almost every crack, dimple and condition of the road that I am riding on. I know where to avoid and where to avoid when on the bike path.
Present - Now, with the dark already in play when I get off work I have to stick to sidewalks and bike paths. And I have to re-learn where all the cracks, holes, damaged sidewalks and loose dirt might be on the road of life from the previous winter.
It is not that I do not want to ride on the sidewalks, but I am not comfortable riding on them since I am so use to riding in the streets and gutters.
Anyway, the headlight is something that I really do not need. I can see by the moon, if it out and I can make out my path with the streetlights. Though there are areas that are pitch black and that is when I have to go very slow and just hope there is nothing my riding path.
Also, during this time of the year I have to heighten my senses of my surroundings since it is more often than not full dark when I am riding home. Headlights from vehicles are only forward so I have to make sure that I be aware of side traffic turning.
Matter of fact a vehicle almost hit me last night. I was going my way home and I had the right of way since the side street had the stop sign, but alas even with my head light the vehicle did not see me so I have to swerve a second or two in out in front and that is when heard the quick braking of the truck and then my middle finger came out instantly. Was I scared? No. Pissed? A bit. But overall just thought to myself it has begun and it will be until February or so when I see days getting longer in the daytime and do not have to worry about riding in the dark.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, just a middle finger, but I have to admit that it felt like a moment to silently say, “Fuck you.” And that my Readers is the first almost being hit in the Autumn of 2008.
Until the next time
Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete
I absolutely hate buying any headlight(s) for my bike(s). To me that is a waste of money. And overall, they do cost an arm and a leg to buy (well, the name brand Cat’s-eye does since I am not going to buy a "cheap" no name brand). Not to mention that the batteries really do not hold that much power to power the headlight for a very long time and I have to keep buying new batteries to keep the headlight bright.
When I do buy a headlight I also have to buy a very large pack of double AA batteries since I would go through many batteries to keep that light bright.
Another thing is that I know the route home and I am usually pretty good about watching out for the vehicle traffic after dark.
When I get off work in the dark I usually stick to the sidewalks since riding in the gutter on the side of the road is pretty dangerous. How do I not know there is an object that fell off a vehicle and now lays waiting in the gutter? How do I not know that there is now a fairly large rock which could be waiting there for me to run over and either give me a flat or worse yet bend my rim?
Flashback – During the late Spring, Summer and Early Autumn I ride on the streets. Which means that I know almost every crack, dimple and condition of the road that I am riding on. I know where to avoid and where to avoid when on the bike path.
Present - Now, with the dark already in play when I get off work I have to stick to sidewalks and bike paths. And I have to re-learn where all the cracks, holes, damaged sidewalks and loose dirt might be on the road of life from the previous winter.
It is not that I do not want to ride on the sidewalks, but I am not comfortable riding on them since I am so use to riding in the streets and gutters.
Anyway, the headlight is something that I really do not need. I can see by the moon, if it out and I can make out my path with the streetlights. Though there are areas that are pitch black and that is when I have to go very slow and just hope there is nothing my riding path.
Also, during this time of the year I have to heighten my senses of my surroundings since it is more often than not full dark when I am riding home. Headlights from vehicles are only forward so I have to make sure that I be aware of side traffic turning.
Matter of fact a vehicle almost hit me last night. I was going my way home and I had the right of way since the side street had the stop sign, but alas even with my head light the vehicle did not see me so I have to swerve a second or two in out in front and that is when heard the quick braking of the truck and then my middle finger came out instantly. Was I scared? No. Pissed? A bit. But overall just thought to myself it has begun and it will be until February or so when I see days getting longer in the daytime and do not have to worry about riding in the dark.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, just a middle finger, but I have to admit that it felt like a moment to silently say, “Fuck you.” And that my Readers is the first almost being hit in the Autumn of 2008.
Until the next time
Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete
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