riding in the dark

Riding Advice
1

Now the nights are drawing in I thought I’d share my theroy on riding in the
dark and riding home. Both seem to be quicker than their morning partners,
namely riding to work in the light… The two trips take about the same time and
have the same ave speed and max speed range, so its not quicker at night but it
sure feels it.

How come?

sarah

2

Re: riding in the dark

I thought I was the only one who thought it felt like you go faster at night.
I’m afraid I have no explanation.

                         Wholehearted, J'hon Spring

>Now the nights are drawing in I thought I’d share my theroy on riding in the
>dark and riding home. Both seem to be quicker than their morning partners,
>namely riding to work in the light… The two trips take about the same time and
>have the same ave speed and max speed range, so its not quicker at night but it
>sure feels it.
>
>How come?
>
>sarah

3

Re: riding in the dark

At 20:04 19/10/99 +0000, Sarah Miller wrote:
>Now the nights are drawing in I thought I’d share my theroy on riding in the
>dark and riding home. Both seem to be quicker than their morning partners,
>namely riding to work in the light… The two trips take about the same time and
>have the same ave speed and max speed range, so its not quicker at night but it
>sure feels it.
>
>How come?
>
>sarah
>

There are (at least) two explanations for the phenomenon of uni-time to work and
back home seeming different:

  1. Kirlian photography shows that one’s aura often travels at a different speed
    than the physical body. This is particularly the case when unicycling, as the
    aura can become basically over-excited quite quickly, and may behave in an
    unpredictable and dislocated way. Often when going to work it will lag
    behind, sometimes by many miles, pouting and complaining about its owner.
    Sometimes in winter it will even stay in bed until eleven in the morning
    (especially if you don’t live in California), while your physical body is
    trying to cope without it at the office. On the way home, however, it is
    often way out in front of you (and the unicycle), and will arrive home
    shortly after you leave work, waiting eagerly there until you catch up. This
    confuses the hapless unicyclist into a sense of time-distortion.

  2. Work is uphill.

Jed Nichols uni-psychologist

4

Re: riding in the dark

You ride faster so the bogeyman won’t catch you. Barb K.

5

Re: riding in the dark

I’m no psychologist but it may be that poor visibility raises your stress to
levels that would be reached at higher speeds in good light. So you think
you’re going faster. Or perhaps it’s too dark for you to “remember” as much
of the journey - without visible landmarks you may spend more time on
autopilot. Or both.

BTW are you using lights?

Arnold the Aardvark

http://www.foxholly.demon.co.uk ICQ# 30592054 Don’t miss the Birmingham Circus
Convention’s return on 29 April 2000.

6

Re: riding in the dark

Sarah Miller wrote:
> Now the nights are drawing in I thought I’d share my theroy on riding in the
> dark and riding home. Both seem to be quicker than their morning partners,
> namely riding to work in the light… The two trips take about the same time
> and have the same ave speed and max speed range, so its not quicker at night
> but it sure feels it.

I’m also not sure, but I think it has mostly to do with visibility. I have a
rather brigth light, but I don’t see many bumps. So they hit me quite unexpected
and I’m much less stable than in daylight. This might add to the feeling of
speed. Then it’s like rushing through a tunnel. There are not many points you
can relate your speed to, like in daylight. Speed is not seen so much, but
rather felt and heard from the wind and the sound of your wheel. Besides, I
often have the feeling, that the wind is colder at night, so you might feel
faster. And where I live, it’s rather quite at night, so I can hear the wind
rush by much better than during the day.

–
±-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Wann haben Sie das letzte Mal so richtig gestaunt? |
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| http://www.circomique.de |
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7

Re: riding in the dark

At 09:51 20/10/99 +0200, you wrote:
>Sarah Miller wrote:
>> Now the nights are drawing in I thought I’d share my theroy on riding in the
>> dark and riding home. Both seem to be quicker than their morning partners,
>> namely riding to work in the light…

I wonder if it’s any different working a night shift ?
i.e. to work in the dark and home again in daylight. Maybe a combination of
unicycles and sleep cycles ?

JN

8

Re: riding in the dark

Arnold the Aardvark (aardvark@foxholly.demon.co.uk) wrote:

: BTW are you using lights?
Yep, front and back. sarah

9

Re: riding in the dark

: Often when going towork it will lag behind, sometimes by many miles, pouting
: and complaining about its owner. Sometimes in winter it will even stay in bed
: until eleven in the morning
LOL

so thats whats happening. as to your other point, unfortunatly work is down hill
home uphill. I’ve now broken the 6 min barrier for the trip, next aim is sub
5min 30 sec, then 5min. Its about a mile, with traffic and one junction I can’t
ride ( involving a one way street I walk the wrong way for 20m).

sarah