Bei Einbruch der Nacht ist mit Dunkelheit zu rechnen

[lyorn]

For months I had wondered why I need a little under 60 minutes to bicycle to work in summer, but 70 to 75 minutes in winter.

Yesterday it hit me. In winter it's dark. Can't go as fast when you can see less than 10 metres ahead.

Comments

[mad-freddy.livejournal.com]

That's why I love my LED headlamp - no reason to go slower than in broad daylight :-)
What's slowing me down in winter are temperatures below 0°C (my legs seem to have a bit lower power output when it's cold) and additionally some more clothing and therefore more mechanical losses...

[lyorn.livejournal.com]

Mechanical losses, too. But also, the bicycle paths on my way to work are just tricky. Narrow, unlit, half-covered in old leaves or gravel, with unexpected zigzags and invisible peole walking their blindingly blinking dogs on invisible leashes. And if someone with a strong light goes the other direction, you fly blind. Fun, if right next to you, four metres down, is the river. I really dislike the way these paths are set up, and I avoid the worst of them. I'd feel safer on the road, actually, but I'm not up emotionally to getting yelled at all the time.