Out where I live, county roads are very dark and dangerous at night, even with a good light, which sucks since I never get home from work before dark But on the way home tonight I had a thought (as I stopped at Target to some last minute shopping) The mall in town (York, PA) has so many lights around the parking lot and roadway that circles it that it's lit up like daytime all night long. And it's probably about 1.5 or 2 miles of roadway all the way around the mall. Easy to see and be seen. I know it's not much for scenery, but you could get a workout on real road, not a train. Anyone ever considered/tried this? I'm curious to hear.

Out where I live, county roads are very dark and dangerous at night, even with a good light, which sucks since I never get home from work before dark But on the way home tonight I had a thought (as I stopped at Target to some last minute shopping) The mall in town (York, PA) has so many lights around the parking lot and roadway that circles it that it's lit up like daytime all night long. And it's probably about 1.5 or 2 miles of roadway all the way around the mall. Easy to see and be seen. I know it's not much for scenery, but you could get a workout on real road, not a train. Anyone ever considered/tried this? I'm curious to hear.
I used to do a ride I considered 20 miles that started and ended in a parking lot. But in reality it was about 18 1/2 miles.So I used to do 4 or 5 laps around the parking lot at speed to get it up to the 20 miles.

Out where I live, county roads are very dark and dangerous at night, even with a good light, which sucks since I never get home from work before dark But on the way home tonight I had a thought (as I stopped at Target to some last minute shopping) The mall in town (York, PA) has so many lights around the parking lot and roadway that circles it that it's lit up like daytime all night long. And it's probably about 1.5 or 2 miles of roadway all the way around the mall. Easy to see and be seen. I know it's not much for scenery, but you could get a workout on real road, not a train. Anyone ever considered/tried this? I'm curious to hear.

In the winter in order to keep myself sane, and not go crazy riding the trainer indoors (I like to ride outdoors as much as possible in the winter), I scoped out 3 or 4 neighborhoods near my house that I can ride circuits in (think long criterium course) when it's dark, and there are not too many cars around. So I ride over to one neighborhood, and do laps for about 40 minutes, trek back across town, ride in another one for 40 minutes or so, and then head home. Usually will get me 2-3 hours of ride time outside in the winter. I avoid parking lots just because yes, there is lots of light, but also lots of cars and stupid people. Find a nice neighborhood course between 1-2 miles, and do that. That would be my recommendation. Seems to have worked out pretty well for me. I actually have less car "issues" when riding in these neighborhoods at night than I do when I ride out in the countryside when it's light outside.

Out where I live, county roads are very dark and dangerous at night, even with a good light, which sucks since I never get home from work before dark But on the way home tonight I had a thought (as I stopped at Target to some last minute shopping) The mall in town (York, PA) has so many lights around the parking lot and roadway that circles it that it's lit up like daytime all night long. And it's probably about 1.5 or 2 miles of roadway all the way around the mall. Easy to see and be seen. I know it's not much for scenery, but you could get a workout on real road, not a train. Anyone ever considered/tried this? I'm curious to hear.

My wife and I began our cycling in a high school parking lot. The route we chose was a tad over two miles and we'd ride for one hour each time. When we started we might cover eight miles, then when we "graduated", we were covering thirteen to sixteen miles. It was VERY safe and well lit, so when we were running behind on time and had to go late, it was still great. The only thing you have to watch out for is glass where the students had dropped bottles and such, so on your first time around (each ride), be sure to look for glass and other tire killers.

I wouldn't say it's popular but it's not unusual either. Rather than shopping mall parking lots with lots of traffic, look for corporate or industrial centers. In other words, a cluster of office or warehouse buildings. These will typically offer the same lighting but will be deserted after 6pm. If they are large enough they will have their own secondary roads connecting parking lots.

I've often considered doing such a ride in a corporate park near me. The map below shows the layout. The dashed line is a perimeter road that is just over two mile long. The place is dead in the evenings and weekends.

I've often considered doing such a ride in a corporate park near me. The map below shows the layout. The dashed line is a perimeter road that is just over two mile long. The place is dead in the evenings and weekends.

I once took a deposition at a law firm in the complex in your photo.

I have a real aversion to shopping center parking lots -- I would rather drive my bike on an interstate highway than in a shopping center parking lot -- the drivers in most shopping centers are crazy. I had not thought about office parks or industrial parks where the workers and traffic largely are gone by 6:00 p.m. I might have to give that a try near my house some dark evening.

Out where I live, county roads are very dark and dangerous at night, even with a good light, which sucks since I never get home from work before dark But on the way home tonight I had a thought (as I stopped at Target to some last minute shopping) The mall in town (York, PA) has so many lights around the parking lot and roadway that circles it that it's lit up like daytime all night long. And it's probably about 1.5 or 2 miles of roadway all the way around the mall. Easy to see and be seen. I know it's not much for scenery, but you could get a workout on real road, not a train. Anyone ever considered/tried this? I'm curious to hear.
Back when I used to ride the occasional crit, I would head to a local theater parking lot to train. In the AM the place was empty. I mapped out a route around the light poles, barrieres, etc.. that was about 1.1 miles. A good Crit course. I would do two or three laps at top speed for time. Do a rest lap or two, then crank it up. It was just a race against the clock forcing myself to learn to turn at high speed.

... the rest of the world thinks we cyclists are a bit loopy in the head?

I've often considered doing such a ride in a corporate park near me. The map below shows the layout. The dashed line is a perimeter road that is just over two mile long. The place is dead in the evenings and weekends.
There's a long-running "practice crit" at an industrial park here in Colatown. Every Tuesday night you can go down there and barrel around a >2mile course with 20-40 of your closest friends.

I think it's a good idea. Just stock up on brake pads...


Out where I live, county roads are very dark and dangerous at night, even with a good light, which sucks since I never get home from work before dark But on the way home tonight I had a thought (as I stopped at Target to some last minute shopping) The mall in town (York, PA) has so many lights around the parking lot and roadway that circles it that it's lit up like daytime all night long. And it's probably about 1.5 or 2 miles of roadway all the way around the mall. Easy to see and be seen. I know it's not much for scenery, but you could get a workout on real road, not a train. Anyone ever considered/tried this? I'm curious to hear.

I have done workouts in a parking garage, mainly when it's raining. You go to an upper level that is empty, then work a circuit. Using columns and lines you can work on tight cornering (just make sure there isn't a film of oil) and jumps out of each turn. It makes you feel like a kid again, seeing how tight and fast you can take each turn.

There is an abondoned road course auto racetrack nearby that is a county owned road. Since the cops clamped down on speeding cars and motorcycles, cyclists race impromtu crits.

As for the mall idea, that would work great very late when the mall is closed, or on Sunday mornings when the mall can't open until 1pm. (SC blue law).

I have done workouts in a parking garage, mainly when it's raining. You go to an upper level that is empty, then work a circuit. Using columns and lines you can work on tight cornering (just make sure there isn't a film of oil) and jumps out of each turn. It makes you feel like a kid again, seeing how tight and fast you can take each turn.

Not only that but if you live in the flatlands, such as the central US, you can find 5,6,7 story parking garages and work on climbing. Somtimes they are the biggest climbs you will find for 40 or 50 miles. You can also do repetitive climbing, go to the top, ride down and go right back up. It can be a great training aid.