Monday, November 30, 2009

Lightin' up

I was walking through the office this afternoon when I asked a woman about the red Christmas lights she had strung along the top of cubicle walls near her desk.

"You don't like them, do you?" she replied.

Damn. Shun a little holiday silliness here and there, and next thing you know, you're labeled a curmudgeon. I explained to her that not only did I like her flippin' lights, I have some pretty cool ones on my bike, too.

Not being superstitious, I'm not into the whole Christianity thing that's so prevalent this time of year but, hey, we're deep into an Alaska winter. It's dark out there. We had only 6 hours and 9 minutes of daylight today—a loss of nearly four minutes over the previous day. And we'll keep losing light for another month before we bottom out.

A few extra lights on the bike make commuting in the darkness a bit nicer, and make me a little more visible to motorists in the process. Even if they dent my curmudgeonly image.

13 comments:

saved by biking said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jeff Moser said...

Are those lights just for the photo, or do you run xmas lights on your bike? If so, how's that done?

Joboo said...

Cool!!!
Keep on lighting the night!
Peace,
Joboo

Tim said...

The lights are real, Jeff. They're battery-powered strings of LEDs. My wife has picked them up for me at places like Walmart and Michael's, a chain crafts store. I think they're intended more for desktop decorating, but they seem to hold up just fine on a bike.

Anonymous said...

Rockin! Not much for the Xmas trappings myself- but lights are just cool. Especially on a bike.

Unknown said...

Next thing you'll be wearing pink lycra and cuddling kittens in your office!

glennebo said...

Digging the lights and your blog! It's giving me the motivation to stay on my bike this winter, and not just ride a trainer. Rode in snow when I was a kid, so why not again? Now, I only need to convince my wife that I really need a winter bike, a fat bike...

Debbie said...

Neat! My only complaint: 3 more weeks till the shortest day. Don't take away my small victory that we're less than a month away from the solstice.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking I must get me some battery powered holiday lights for my bike now:))

bikegirl said...

Last year I got lights at Ace & strung them on my snow bike. It seemed like drivers were much more friendly to me...a good commuter strategy.

funhog and fundogs said...

Lit up like a Christmas Tree.

bikemoredriveless said...

I use those same Christmas lights myself. Folks love them, and I still get compliments even though Christmas is long over. Have you considered entering the BCA Most Visible Cyclist contest? It's March 6 at the BP Engergy Center, from 6:30 - 8:30. Folks will be judged on a number of different criteria, and there will be prizes.

bikemoredriveless said...

I have Christmas lights on my bike too, and yeah I think drivers are more friendly. You should enter BCA's Most Visible Cyclist contest. It's part of their Winter Bike Festival at the BP Energy Center on March 6 from 6:30 - 8:30. Contestants will be judged on a variety of categories and there will be prizes.