Have you ever ridden without lights?

[Riverman]

I'm ashamed to say I've done it once. I popped to the local shop down the road without a rear light which was very silly really.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Been caught out a few times. And my lights have failed at inappropriate times too. Those were the days when Never Ready lights were all you could get. No problem now with LED's.

 

[numbnuts]

nope I'm a good boy even had them on today (daytime) in all the fog

 

[snorri]

When outside built up areas I dis engage my dynamo to reduce the pedalling effort when the moonlight is providing adequate illumination.

 

[marzjennings]

Most of my teenage years I didn't have lights. I bought 'em and they never seem to last very long. I was a teenage stupid ninja cyclist who rode lightless on the backroads of Cornwall.

 

[Riverman]

nope I'm a good boy even had them on today (daytime) in all the fog

Aye, had mine on in the fog too today. Definitely worth doing in this weather, it gives us cyclists a good name too.

 

[Bayerd]

I've been caught out twice when I didn't have my front light on, darkness came quicker than I thought it would, both times about 2 miles from home.

 

[theclaud]

Yes of course. Anyone who hasn't found themselves in the dark without working lights at some point probably needs to get out more. Planning isn't everything.

 

[ComedyPilot]

I maybe did as a kid in the 70's/80's. Not as a responsible (forward planning) adult though.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I maybe did as a kid in the 70's/80's. Not as a responsible (forward planning) adult though.

Oooh - when did that happen? Can you do it again please as I missed it the first time?

 

[Riverman]

I take it then that as most of us have done this as adults, we've broken the law?

 

[gbb]

Did it on and off for years when i was younger (in the 70s and 80s)...never batted an eyelid.
The funny thing is, once you become commited to using (as i am now, and have been for years)...to go without lights seems 1000 times worse. I feel so self conscious. I hate it like hell if one goes flat.

 

[yello]

Good lord yes, loads of times as a kid and a teenager. I doubt I ever thought about it either truth told. Times change.

These days though, I tend to try and be prepared but even so I'm sure I've been caught out at some point. Generally though, I'm well lit; 3 rear plus a spare and 2 front. I'm even pretty good at checking the batteries are good too.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Back in my racing days I often trained at night without lights. I didn't set out like that but the crap available back in the seventies might have been all right on a fat tyred sit-up-and-beg would fall apart before the end of a run on a stiff racing bike with board hard tubs. I don't think I ever went on an evening chain gang without having to stop at least once while someone went back down the road to retrieve the bits of the Ever Ready that had self destructed.

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

Before I passed my driving test I used to cycle 5 miles to the pub and back without any lights. This was on country roads with no street lighting

Coming home one night completely plastered I was stopped by the cops. "Good luck making it home" they said and went on their way.

How times have changed.