Dark country lanes, eeeeeek.

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
OP
OP
Pikey

Pikey

Waiting for the turbo to kick in...
Location
Wiltshire
Was planning on going out tonight after all of the above comments. I feel like I am missing out on something now, lol.

Trouble is, the lanes were a bit sketchy for ice on the club run this morning, might have to save it for later in the week grrrrrr.
 

Berties

Fast and careful!
My youngest brother n law and friends are virgin riders and they jokingly have started a night ride club they all work in the building trade all new to riding have a buzz round the local lanes on mtbs,all have bought moon series lights to blind drivers,and off they go about three nights a week about 10 miles
 

Moodyman

Legendary Member
The only downside to night riding is you're buggered if anything happened. Earlier this year, I was riding back from work about 1am and an Alsatian dog from a nearby farm ran into the road and straight at me barking viciously in attack mode. So, I did what I read on a touring forum, stand against a wall/hedge and put the bike between you and the dog.

The stand off last about 2-3 mins it was barking and I was shouting back telling it to p1ss off. Eventually, it walked a little back, so I figured I was winning the mental battle. I walked closer to it and shouted louder. It then, walked away. I mounted the bike and rode for dear life. Never been so scared in my life.

But if it attacked, I'd have had no help.
 

Tyke

Senior Member
How many of you on here regularly ride unlit country lanes at night?

Cos I am getting proper p1ssed off with the few well lit training routes around, had some nice loops I was doing in the summer, but mostly they have no lighting.

I have two 1000 lumen lights on the front now, should I just MTFU and do the other routes in the pitch black?

How long does it take for you to stop sh1tting ur self at every animal noise in the darkness?
Your front lights are well up to the job, make sure you have something decent at the back and go out and try it, you wont be disepointed it`s a different world at night.
The only downside to night riding is you're buggered if anything happened. Earlier this year, I was riding back from work about 1am and an Alsatian dog from a nearby farm ran into the road and straight at me barking viciously in attack mode. So, I did what I read on a touring forum, stand against a wall/hedge and put the bike between you and the dog.

The stand off last about 2-3 mins it was barking and I was shouting back telling it to p1ss off. Eventually, it walked a little back, so I figured I was winning the mental battle. I walked closer to it and shouted louder. It then, walked away. I mounted the bike and rode for dear life. Never been so scared in my life.

But if it attacked, I'd have had no help.
You wont get much help from most people in the daytime but you did the right thing by yourself.
 

Steve Saunders

Active Member
Location
Dundee, Scotland
I quite like cycling in the dark. The night the clocks changed I headed out and did a 65 miler doing a loop of the Tay (from Dundee to Perth and the back on the Fife side) ... started off at 10pm :-)
Loved every minute of it. Had quite a few lights on the bike that night, and kept toggling the modes so that I could maximise runtimes. Only had to stop and change one battery and that was about 10 miles from home, which I thought was good going.
I wouldn't ride on any new roads in the dark though, and always make sure someone knows what time I'm expected back and what route I plan to take. If something happens at night, depending on time, then you can be screwed for getting help as there are usually far fewer folk about and probably less willing to stop and help. With the cold at this time of year, getting stranded or having to walk a few miles can be a serious - and potentially life threatening - problem.

I also commute all through the winter, and look forward to the cycle home in the dark ... all 20 miles of it, along country lanes for about half of it. I've had quite a few encounters with deer and bats at night.

The only thing that freaks me out a little when cycling at night is when you hit a section of road that has full tree cover, both sides and fully overhanging the road ... when you suddenly can't see the sky anymore it feels very claustrophobic.

Have been guilty of making a few animal noises at night, just for a laugh :-D
 
Top Bottom