Bike ride at night

[Pat "5mph"]

Night time in summer is quite nice as long as you've not got drunken yobbos hurling abuse at you.

Glasgow's drunken yobbos are quite friendly: I ride home from work after 10pm sometimes, the worst I ever get is "can I have a lift on the back of your bike, hen"
Wish they would stop littering the way with broken glass, though

 

[RedRider]

the cityscape changes during the night far more dramatically, you see familiar buildings in a new light (literally), the noise fades and you're left with a fabulous playground perfectly suited to the bicycle.

Spot on, that. And the things you come across! I pitched up outside Sadlers Wells Theatre about 2am one night after covering all points north, south, east and west. There was the dregs of some drinks reception over-running inside and I stopped to watch for a few minutes through the plate glass windows. There was a dancer inside, looking at her reflection in the window and she was ballet-ing away to some unheard music with me alone watching. It was beautiful, man.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Spot on, that. And the things you come across! I pitched up outside Sadlers Wells Theatre about 2am one night after covering all points north, south, east and west. There was the dregs of some drinks reception over-running inside and I stopped to watch for a few minutes through the plate glass windows. There was a dancer inside, looking at her reflection in the window and she was ballet-ing away to some unheard music with me alone watching. It was beautiful, man.

It can be very voyueristic, on a bike you almost pass unnoticed.

 

[Ethan]

I love riding at night.
I've only had the luck to do it in Mancester once, it was 11:30 in mid winter. Amazing feeling being able to ride along the busy road I usually ride on with next to no traffic!
The city is so different at night, as others said.
A few problems though, there were one or two shady charictors which I didn't like the look of and one drunken nutter walking into the road in an attempt to get me to 'slow the f*$% down'.

I think I'll make an effort to do one or two night rides in summer when Im back home

 

[lb81]

I ride about 19 miles at least 3 times a week and about 7 miles the other 2.

The long ride is mostly dark country B roads with a little bit of A road/town. The country lanes can be a bit dark, but its lovely gliding along at night and not disturbing the wildlife. I have a head torch that lights up something like 1500 meters which help , but most of the time its off or on low so I can try and preserve some night vision. It can get a bit tedious though.

I would love to do a proper night ride in Central London around 3am on a Sunday morning when its as quiet as its going to get. Some awesome sights and much, much quieter than normal. Being able to see everything lit up and actually take some stuff in as you ride without dicing with so much traffic and so many suicidal pedestrians. I have spent quite a lot of time over the last 10 years driving around various bits of central london and other places at stupid o'clockin the morning with my old job and have always fancied planning about a 25 mile circuit and driving up there.

Forum night ride around London's landmarks anyone?

 

[MrB1obby]

I absolutely love going for rides at night, especially around the midnight mark, sometimes at 1-2am down unlit single track B roads. It's a feeling of relaxation like no other.

 

[ian emmerson]

Often commute late at night and find nothing is as enjoyable as night riding, but watch out for potholes. I tend to use the same roads at night as during the day , a mixture of rural and urban and tend to remember where caution needs to be used.
Decent lights and high viz is a must.

 

[HLaB]

With some muppets out there I find you are better cycling at night: flashing lights against a black background seems to be seen better than a bright coloured top in the daylight and with edges (both road and cyclist) being less clearly defined muppets are less inclined to demand you are in the gutter and less inclined to pass closely.

 

[slowmotion]

Fun in the darkness.

http://fnrttc.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[Arjimlad]

I'm looking forward to a 100km night ride around the Bristol area on 30th June. It's in aid of a local hospital charity but seeing some familiar places by night will be fun. It kicks off at 11pm.