Margins of light

The short daylight hours these days mean that you're racing darkness as you ride back into town toward 7 p.m., making it harder and harder to squeeze in a two-hour ride after work. I guess that means I'm going to have to start coming in earlier in the morning, with the goal of leaving earlier in the afternoon to get out to ride while there's still time.

That, or I'll have to rely on my little and big lights to keep me safe.

Cyclists live for the longest days of the year, which come in May and July, with the best and longest days in June, around the solstice. In the dead of winter, it's cold out and you're not motivated to ride anyway. Or, if you're me, you're resigned to riding the rollers. But these days are harder. It's still really nice out. Yesterday and today were almost like summer, so, of course everyone wanted to ride, and wouldn't have missed the opportunity.

Today, a co-workers suggested that an alternative might be to get up before work and ride, but I am not really a morning person, as much as I aspire to be, and the dual challenges of getting up earlier and getting into bed earlier feels like too much of a reach. Besides, it's colder in the morning than in the evening, even if the darkness is about equal.

Mostly, it's important for us all to stay safe out there, and remember our lights, when we're riding around the margins of light.

Mostly, I just hope to stay safe on the roads.