First time...

[annedonnelly]

First time I've been brave enough to ride in the dark last night - not far and all on cycle paths, although I'd forgotten that one stretch isn't lit and was a bit scary!!

Anyway I was rewarded by seeing a barn owl flying towards me

I was so busy watching it I nearly didn't see the jogger coming the other way

 

[skudupnorth]

Been swooped a couple of times by birds with big spikey,nasty claws........certainly makes you keep an eye on them as opposed to anything else around !
Tonights blat cross country from Ma Skuds house should be fun !

 

[Arch]

First time I've been brave enough to ride in the dark last night - not far and all on cycle paths, although I'd forgotten that one stretch isn't lit and was a bit scary!!

Anyway I was rewarded by seeing a barn owl flying towards me

I was so busy watching it I nearly didn't see the jogger coming the other way

Excellent! (the riding and owl, not the jogger)

I recently did my first all night ride - 60 miles, of which about 45 were properly in the dark before dawn. I was in a group, which helped - but you couldn't see much detail beyond your own front light, once out of the street lights. Except the other rear lights bobbing ahead. Magical it was. Didn't notice any wols though.

Having two front lights can help - one angled to the road to show up potholes, and one angled up a bit to show hedges and oncoming unlit things (like joggers).

 

[Brandane]

Been swooped a couple of times by birds with big spikey,nasty claws........certainly makes you keep an eye on them as opposed to anything else around !

Once I get my weight back down to 12 stone, I'm hoping that will happen to me, too! A splash of good after-shave and out to some dodgey pub helps as well......

 

[rodgy-dodge]

First time I've been brave enough to ride in the dark last night - not far and all on cycle paths, although I'd forgotten that one stretch isn't lit and was a bit scary!!

Anyway I was rewarded by seeing a barn owl flying towards me

I was so busy watching it I nearly didn't see the jogger coming the other way

Oh good on ya! it takes me all my courage to go out on my own during the daytime as I feel so vunerable.

 

[Coco]

lol

 

[annedonnelly]

I recently did my first all night ride - 60 miles, of which about 45 were properly in the dark before dawn. I was in a group, which helped - but you couldn't see much detail beyond your own front light, once out of the street lights. Except the other rear lights bobbing ahead. Magical it was. Didn't notice any wols though.

Yes, I read about that on your blog - and the hard slog home later

It sounded great. I wish someone would organise something like that around here. Although a ride to the coast only takes 10 minutes so we'd have to have a Friday Night Ride Inland instead.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Excellent! (the riding and owl, not the jogger)

I recently did my first all night ride - 60 miles, of which about 45 were properly in the dark before dawn. I was in a group, which helped - but you couldn't see much detail beyond your own front light, once out of the street lights. Except the other rear lights bobbing ahead. Magical it was. Didn't notice any wols though.

Having two front lights can help - one angled to the road to show up potholes, and one angled up a bit to show hedges and oncoming unlit things (like joggers).

I'm surprised. Wols are ever so common round here.

 

[Norm]

Having two front lights can help - one angled to the road to show up potholes, and one angled up a bit to show hedges and oncoming unlit things (like joggers).

Or, better still, one on your head to show... well, whatever you are looking at.

I'm surprised. Wols are ever to common round here.

650 lives in a Wolery? Nice.

 

[fossyant]

Get some mahoosive power front lights, and watch the jogger run blinded into the canal.............

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Or, better still, one on your head to show... well, whatever you are looking at.


650 lives in a Wolery? Nice.

Yes indeed I do love to live in close proximity to Wols

I too did the dusky night time thing - in the Spring and not long ago. I ended up on a lane which passes over a drained marsh. On both occasions there was a Barn Wol in about the same place. I do hope there were a pair living nearby and they succeeded in raising some wol-lets.

 

[Arch]

Yes, I read about that on your blog - and the hard slog home later

It sounded great. I wish someone would organise something like that around here. Although a ride to the coast only takes 10 minutes so we'd have to have a Friday Night Ride Inland instead.

Yeah, coming back was hard work - I do wonder how much easier it would have been without the wind - it might not have made so much difference, maybe it was just very tired legs.

Keep an eye on the informal rides sections - something in your area might pop up, or something you could get to relatively easily.

You could even post a thread asking if anyone fancies arranging something, if you don't feel up to arranging it yourself - I think it's good to go on a few with some 'old hands' for something like that.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I envy you seeing an owl. I nearest brush with nocturnal wildlife was when a bat brushed my ear cycling home. You have to be a little bit careful of wildlife on unlit country lanes. I nearly cycled over a pheasant that was asleep in the middle of the road. Another time, I was cycling down a steep country lane when a car came up behind me and lit up the road. Just as well as there was a badger in the middle of it, eating a bit of roadkill.

 

[asterix]

A barn owl started roosting in my barn one winter. When I opened the door it flapped out over my head - it was enorrrrmous! It didn't return which was just as well as they are messy, very, very messy.

I always find I can cycle much faster at night. Or maybe it just seems like it.