Night riding

[Cuchilo]

I had been gagging to get out to Richmond park when it was closed to traffic so this evening I tried it . My thinking was I could blast around the park without a worry of traffic but I was very wrong !
For a start my one gazillion light only lit the road in front of me by about ten to fifteen feet so that put me on a bit of a go slow . Then a car came towards me and lit up the area I was in . The cars lights spooked the heard of deer I was in the middle of and it was at that point I did a little bit of wee and realised I was a nobber .
That's all I have to say about night riding

 

[vickster]

@jefmcg likes an evening ride around RP

 

[Cubist]

Now go and ride off road on some steep stuff. Most of the MTB a riding we did in the formative years was off road at night. Admittedly it was in a group, but in those days Chinese LED lights were still only on the horizon. We used to use Tesco 3w torches strapped to the bars. My 11 year old Cubester always beat everyone down descents if he could get to the front. After one really slimy, nadgery rockfest I asked him whether he had been able to avoid the really big pile of jagged rocks halfway down that had caught a couple of the riders out, and which I had had to skirt round very carefully. His reply showed that he hadn't seen it, but had ridden over it. I then noticed that his torch was pointing more or less up in the air. A real case of what you can't see won't frighten you!

 

[slowmotion]

In the winter, I always go round RP in the dark, usually finishing at about 7:30 pm. No traffic and very, very few cyclists. It's wonderfully peaceful. Yes, you have to watch out for the deer (and the odd kamikaze badger), and you can't let rip down Broomfield Hill unless you are brave, but it's well worth it. Get some reasonable lights. They don't have to be stupidly bright but a reasonably wide beam helps so you can see the wildlife on the verges. I use a Hope Vision One and scan the side of the road by gently moving the bars to and fro.

 

[Twinks]

Rode around Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs (14 miles) on our hybrids in the dark on my birthday last month. Well spooky but great experience. Didn't see a single critter though we could hear a few! Funny thing, we did it again in the daylight and it seemed to be much more hilly!!

 

[dan_bo]

The gaggles of Grouse screaming at us as we climbed past yeoman hey res last night meant certainly had me stepping on the gas. Phrrrrrp!

 

[Cuchilo]

@jefmcg likes an evening ride around RP

I can see that from the avatar !

 

[cosmicbike]

My last couple of physio rides have been in the dark, have to say I'm really enjoying them. Much nicer when out of town with no ambient light, peaceful too.

 

[huwsparky]

My last couple of physio rides have been in the dark, have to say I'm really enjoying them. Much nicer when out of town with no ambient light, peaceful too.

I'm with you. I really enjoy riding at night. Peaceful is the right word for it.

So long as your lighting is up to scratch it's great.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I went for a ride last night,it wasn't pleasant! It was far too cold,my contact lens kept blurring up so my vision was a bit dodgy. My fingers were numb and there was much more traffic on the roads than the usual Tuesday night,probably Christmas shopping lemmings? I wouldn't cycle through my local park at night by the way!

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Besides a handlebar light get a helmet light too, they allow you to turn your head to see things without having to turn your bars first, especially useful when you then see that steering towards said subject is the last thing you want to do. Also good as spotting owls.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Besides a handlebar light get a helmet light too, they allow you to turn your head to see things without having to turn your bars first, especially useful when you then see that steering towards said subject is the last thing you want to do. Also good as spotting owls.

But remember to turn it off or put your hand over it when facing someone to avoid giving them the third degree.

 

[Globalti]

For a couple of years I went out night riding every Wednesday with my local mountain bike club. We certainly had some fun and yes, night riding is peaceful and a bit special. In the end I got tired of coming home at 9.30 filthy dirty, soaked and hungry and having to change in the freezing garage then wash all my kit and the bike so the allure of road riding straight from the door and staying clean won me over.