Night rider...?

[jarlrmai]

Night riding is awesome, still clear nigh, great stuff.

Loved my occasional 11pm commute homes.

 

[Ern1e]

I think night rides are the best +1 on helmet lights and I feel you gat more warning about approaching vehicles by there headlights and yes buy the best lights you can! I use two cree leds one on a tight spot and the other a little wider and also one cheapo led on flash at the rear one on helmet and two on the pannier rack, one pratt on a scooter asked if I had enough lights whilst having himself a good laugh reply was guess you saw me then ? so get out and ride its just great !!!

 

[Wobblers]

Just been doing my maintenance and now I want to go out for a ride - only it's pitch dark. I'm told it's not wise to ride at night (even with lights, hi viz etc).

Any opinions??

Nonsense! In my experience - and I do a lot of night cycling - it's quite the reverse. The roads are quieter in the evenings. Motorists are looking out for lights rather than cars, so there's far less tendency for someone to pull out in front of you or smidsy you than in daylight when they're only looking for other vehicles rather than cyclists. You get far fewer silly or close passes.

Get out there. You won't regret it. Get good lights: Magicshine is good at the cheap end, or Exposure or Hope - my weapon of choice these days is the Philips Saferide 80 which puts out an immense amount of light on the road. Run two lights both at the front and rear just in case one breaks. Stick to roads that you know well so you know where the potholes, gravel and other hazards are (though that's not too much of an issue if you've got good lights). And enjoy! You'll find that boring familiar roads are revitalised into mysterious dark avenues. You see much more wildlife - I was dodging the bats cycling round Frankley earlier this evening. And, when it's late, there's this awesome stillness only broken by the hum of your tyres on the road: the whole world is yours, and yours alone. It's a special experience: you'll be surprised to find just how different it is from day riding.

 

[Schmilliemoo]

Inspirational stuff! It might be a stupid question, but I'm glad I asked it

 

[steveindenmark]

A lot of people organise night rides.

I ride a lot in the dark. I have a vest with reflective tape. I sewed a small piece of webbing between the shoulder blades where I fit a flashing Smart light. I also have a steady Smart light on the bike. On the front I have a head torch and a Cree light on the bike. Personally I would not rely on one light source on either the front or back.

Riding in the dark is a good riding experience. Totally different to daylight riding.

Steve

 

[downfader]

Riding at night is wonderful. You hear other forms of wildlife you wouldnt during the day, too. Even in cities - hearing a fox scream is unsettling the first time you encounter it, or hedgehogs doing "the business" LOL. Birds often make different calls during the night too.

 

[Schmilliemoo]

I've been swooped by owls on my motorbike lol. I've got a ome reflective stuff for my pants and I've told myself I'm gonna go out tonight even if it's only round the block x

 

[downfader]

I've been swooped by owls on my motorbike lol. I've got a ome reflective stuff for my pants and I've told myself I'm gonna go out tonight even if it's only round the block x

My fave was having bats dart in front of my lamp as I rode through Southampton Common. It must have been chasing a moth or something, and it hadnt occurred to me that bats might be in those woods.

 

[Schmilliemoo]

There are bats in the woods near me. I have seen em at twilight chasing flies in the summer

 

[alans]

My blind lady stoker & I were discussing night riding today as we rode.When I said that I enjoy such rides she pointed out that ALL her riding is night riding.
Sometimes I only open my mouth to change feet.

 

[cyberknight]

Regularly ride home from fri night shift at 3 am in the warmer months .

 

[Schmilliemoo]

My blind lady stoker & I were discussing night riding today as we rode.When I said that I enjoy such rides she pointed out that ALL her riding is night riding.
Sometimes I only open my mouth to change feet.

Ahh seriously I was born with a silver foot in my mouth x

 

[Schmilliemoo]

From the cannondale user manual. I refute this now

1. If possible, avoid riding in bad weather, when visibility is obscured, at dawn, dusk or in the dark, or when extremely tired. Each of these conditions increases the risk of accident.
   

 

[Kies]

My best experience of night riding thus far has been the FNRTTC Brighton - soon to be repeated

 

[Schmilliemoo]

I fancy doing some organised group rides this year. Do you have to have a certain standard of bike tho. Mines good but it's not carbon or anything