Group rides at night - yay or nay?

[Sandra6]

Reivers by any chance? I rather like the way they are.

Yes, I wondered if you were a member.
I think the club ethos is excellent, and they are mostly a nice bunch, but the pessimist in me is thinking "accident waiting to happen" unfortunately.
You should come for the Christmas drinks and say hi. :-)

 

[Electric_Andy]

I used to go for night rides with the local group when I was a teenager. Lights were mandatory even in the 90's. I'd say it's potentially safer to ride at night in a group than on your own visibility-wise?

 

[sbird]

"Group rides at night - yay or nay?"

A "yay" from me. Every Wednesday evening at 7.30pm riding for a couple of hours then optional beers (or your preferred refreshment) with Reading CTC (part of Cycling UK). A glorious mid-week opportunity to explore the town and countryside, safely managed by our ride leaders and back-markers.

+1 for the Friday's night rides too.

 

[Brains]

Do it.

All you need is good organisation and good lights

 

[mick1836]

Do you think it's a good idea to organise a night ride - 25miles - in the dark?
Personally I think it's an accident waiting to happen.
I'm possibly not the best judge as I think 20plus relatively inexperienced riders heading out together is a thing to be avoided even in the daylight.

NO, some time ago I was driving my car when between 6 to 12 riders came towards me most if not ALL had very bright front lights that dazzled me so much I was forced to stop. It's strange that motor vehicles by law have to have their head light adjusted to prevent dazzle for on coming vehicles yet a cyclist can fit 5000 lumen lights ( don't know if they are the brightest? ) that don't dip ?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

NO, some time ago I was driving my car when between 6 to 12 riders came towards me most if not ALL had very bright front lights that dazzled me so much I was forced to stop. It's strange that motor vehicles by law have to have their head light adjusted to prevent dazzle for on coming vehicles yet a cyclist can fit 5000 lumen lights ( don't know if they are the brightest? ) that don't dip ?

5000lm rated is quite dull compared to some of the death rays available now from your favourite seller of chinese goods. There is actually a height law for front lights on cycles that states "One is required, showing a white light, positioned centrally or offside, up to 1500mm from the ground, aligned towards and visible from the front."

Unfortunately that is also high enough to cover all but the tallest of riders wearing these chinese death beams on their helmets

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

That law wouldn't be concerned with helmet mounted lights anyway.

No, merely example. 1.5m is rather high to have a light. My handlebars (width is 42cm not measured between shoulders incase that is relevant ) are well under 1m, I mount my light under-slung so it's marginally lower again

 

[Fab Foodie]

NO, some time ago I was driving my car when between 6 to 12 riders came towards me most if not ALL had very bright front lights that dazzled me so much I was forced to stop. It's strange that motor vehicles by law have to have their head light adjusted to prevent dazzle for on coming vehicles yet a cyclist can fit 5000 lumen lights ( don't know if they are the brightest? ) that don't dip ?

Good. Well done for stopping.

 

[Wobblers]

No. I am dismissing it based on having made many hundreds of fast daytime descents. These descents are challenging in perfect light conditions with potholes, gravel, wet sections. There is no way I could descend with confidence in the dark and I don't want to do slow descents.

The trick is to have good lights, and know your descents. The potholes won't move under the cover of darkness! Even a coward such as myself is quite happy doing 40 mph descents on a B&M Ixon IQ Premium and Hope Vision 1. Add to this you'll be able to see the lights of any car coming up the hill towards you (even round bends) far sooner than daytime so you'll have that much more time to slow down/move onto the other side of the road.

 

[Ian H]

Night riding is absolutely fine. Just stay within your limits, as you would at any other time.

 

[mjr]

It's strange that motor vehicles by law have to have their head light adjusted to prevent dazzle for on coming vehicles yet a cyclist can fit 5000 lumen lights ( don't know if they are the brightest? ) that don't dip ?

Actually, cycles also by law have to have their head light adjusted to prevent dazzle for oncoming road users (HTF do you dazzle a vehicle? Self-driving car?) but it wouldn't apply to helmet lights (as mentioned) and the police are mostly busy with other stuff these days. How rare is it to see a motorist get stopped for defective lights any more? Soooo many driving around with one light out!

 

[swansonj]

The trick is to have good lights, and know your descents. The potholes won't move under the cover of darkness! Even a coward such as myself is quite happy doing 40 mph descents on a B&M Ixon IQ Premium and Hope Vision 1. Add to this you'll be able to see the lights of any car coming up the hill towards you (even round bends) far sooner than daytime so you'll have that much more time to slow down/move onto the other side of the road.

Except, of course, it's not just illuminated cars you need to choose your speed so as to be able to avoid, it's also non-illuminated pedestrians, other cyclists, and animals.

But also don't forget dark adaptation. I quite like a night-time dash up and down Box Hill and if there's half a moon I often turn off my lights. Without wanting to be too pretentious, it makes you feel more "connected". And it's amazing how much you can actually see.

 

[martint235]

I hate cycling in the dark and yet weirdly probably my best ride was in the dark heading out of London towards Lancashire just after midnight, the real quiet hours were spent skirting Milton Keynes and were wonderful

 

[mjr]

Any hours skirting Milton Keynes are going to be good hours.

Second only to heading out of London!

 

[ianrauk]

On quiet roads, I've been known to switch my lights off and just proceed by the light of the moon

Love doing this on the FNR's