Cycling at night

[User16625]

Can I thank all of you for your advice
Regards

You can if you want to. Its not strictly necessary but it is polite to do so.

 

[simongt]

Wearing black or dark colours on a dark night would also make you blend into the back ground.

Indeed. With the trend towards black cycling tops, it is worrying to observe the number of cyclists who are wearing said colour on rural roads towards dusk / lighting up time when they don't have lights on their bikes.

 

[Tank63]

I see quite a few cyclist with no lights and dressed completely in dark or black clothing most nights riding on the road. It was a few years ago that my daughter knocked a polish man off his bike again dressed in black no lights and rode out in front of her. Fortunately he was unhurt except his bike seat fell off.
I don't know how they have the confidence or stupidity to ride with no lights when dark, the mind boggles.

 

[jonny jeez]

I never go out cycling for fun in the dark, unless it's on a group ride.

Commuting is a different story.

 

[johnnyb47]

I don't know how anybody would even contemplate riding in the dark without lights. It's suicidal

 

[Slick]

I would never cycle at night without a good set of lights, but as long as you have the right gear, night time cycling has a few different advantages. If you use the moonlight, you are treated to a different breed of nightlife, the temp is cooler, not always but the roads are usually quieter and for the uphill weaklings like myself, if you can't see the top, it's sometimes easier to keep pushing.

 

[HLaB]

I didn't go out much at nights last winter but I hace a lot in the past for me its one of the most enjoyable times to ride.

 

[simongt]

Indeed. Cycling at night when there is a full moon & no clouds is a very different experience. Mostly totally enjoyable except when you come to a village with bright street lights; arrgghh - !

 

[Sunny Portrush]

I love cycling at night. i`m quite lucky though in that once I`ve cycled out the back gate and gone about 20 metres, I`m on NCN 1. Takes me into Edinburgh and up round Arthur`s Seat. I don`t have any problem with cars, the main problem is people walking, running and cycling in the pitch black without a single piece of reflective clothing or lights. They may be able to see me coming but you still need good reactions to avoid them. And as to those on bikes with lights you could see from the moon, trying lowering them!

 

[Alan O]

I'm only just back to cycling after a long break, but in some ways I'm looking forward to the nights drawing in because I always used to love cycling after dark - away from the major roads, round winding country lanes, though forests... all magic. Many years ago I used to cycle over to visit friends who lived 25 miles away, spend the evening enjoying food and drinks, and then cycle back and get home in the early hours of the morning - and it was countryside all the way, with bats, owls...

I used to ride back when lights were dreadfully inadequate, but I had the standard Ever Ready ones of the time and front and rear reflectors, and they helped keep me safe enough - in my cycling career I've had about half a dozen accidents with cars, all in broad daylight (with the obvious caveat that anecdote is not evidence). But modern lights, wow, they're wonderful!

As an aside, I'm constantly amazed when I see cyclists after dark with no lighting or reflectors - only a couple of days ago I saw one who was also dressed in black and riding a black bike, and they were impossible to see until they were just a few yards away.

Cheers,
Alan

 

[SuperHans123]

I am going out tonight.
I live in Swansea, right near the Gower Coast, so am heading down to the Mumbles and across the main Gower road past Swansea airport and through Clyne Valley and back down to the front.
Good opportunity to test out my dual iZone 650 Lumens (Per light) when I get to Clyne Valley which is a completely unlit dual use path through a forested valley...can't wait!

 

[ufkacbln]

On the right roads and tracks it is really something special to cycle at night

I used to commute along a cycle track at 05:00 and it was brilliant

Although you still need ta take care, the lack of traffic is a wonderful release

Then turn your lights down and enjoy the wildlife

My favourite was the old Brock who would sit on a raised bank and watch you pass through his territory

 

[SuperHans123]

Here I am on last night's night ride outside Swansea airport. Lovely mild and dry night.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Here I am on last night's night ride outside Swansea airport. Lovely mild and dry night. View attachment 149586

Bit early for Halloween?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

It's great fun. Tip from me -- make sure you know how your lights work. The first time I did it I entered an unlit stretch covered with trees and went to put my front light on its most powerful beam. I accidentally turned it off and had a very panicky few moments trying to stop, turn it back on and not crash!

Mine have a button on the top for easy, fast operation.

Probably purely coincidence, but I have two jackets, one is dark blue, one is bright yellow. Both have 3M reflective stripes. I've had 3 near misses with the bright yellow jacket with people pulling out at me (2x roundabout, 1x normal junction; both in fully lit streets). I've had no such issue with my dark blue jacket.

I have very few problems at all, and the one time a car nearly pulled out in front of me, I was wearing a yellow Skyride tabard thingy. I still had my lights on though.

I know that doesn't mean much, I just thought I'd say

@freiston, sorry I deleted your link to your quote by accident....

I come across plenty of cyclists without lights or reflectors (or extremely poor rear lights) and they are more difficult to see whether they are in hi-viz yellow or all black than a cyclist with black clothing but with adequate lights and reflectors - pedal reflectors are especially effective for being seen.

I will always, as a rule, have my lights on when I am on the road. However, if I am on a path *that I know*, I will often turn my lights off and use my night vision. It is surprising how much more you see than having to rely on a beam of light.

It never ceases to amaze the amount of people who look at me like I have two heads or something, but really, if you are sensible about it, it is perfectly ok. I think it came partly from me working in darkrooms - The whole notion of working and doing things in the dark troubles me little.
Naturally, of course, this should be done sensibly, and as referenced to in my first reply, the button on the top of my light is within instant access for if I meet anyone, I am at a blind curve (with the potential to meet someone head on) or there is a dodgy section that I am aware of.

The trouble I have with lights is that, you can only see a certain bit of something at any one time. I think of it as looking through a toilet roll tube - You only get a limited view and can easily miss something coming just out of view.
Of course, you can have numerous lights, etc, but that leads me onto my answer below, and of my fear of being seen by the 'wrong' people.

Oh yeah - and I detest being dazzled by inconsiderate road users, be they cyclists or motorists - this is one reason why I don't like headlamps for cycling - if you look at another road user - you are most likely shining your light directly into their eyes.

Well, I hope I don't do this, I try to keep my lights pointed at the ground, so when I see someone on the path ahead, and after judging who they are*, I will switch my light on with as much warning as possible so they can see my position. I have never heard anyone complain at me yet.
After that, I will revert to what I was doing before.

* - I have never experienced this before, but it occurrs to me that, if you come across a fight, an incident or a bunch of undesirables who want to attack you, etc etc, then surely not showing your position until you have too is probably sensible, as otherwise, you potentially will become a target yourself.

The way I see it is that, if you are seen coming a mile off with your multi bazillion megalumen, retina burning, wanklamp, then people will be ready for you......

Of course, they will probably be using their night vision too, so might see you anyway, but that is a chance you have to take, and I will often keep my rear light on anyway, so they might see a strange red glow coming

It is nice to see a bat going for insects in your headlamp beam and to see an owl caught by your beam as it flies across your path.

I startle things like foxes instead.

I see quite a few cyclist with no lights and dressed completely in dark or black clothing most nights riding on the road. It was a few years ago that my daughter knocked a polish man off his bike again dressed in black no lights and rode out in front of her. Fortunately he was unhurt except his bike seat fell off.

Like I say, I would always have my lights on on the road.

I don't know how they have the confidence or stupidity to ride with no lights when dark, the mind boggles.

It isn't stupid if done in the right places and where you can see.

I don't know how anybody would even contemplate riding in the dark without lights. It's suicidal

See above....

Yours etc

Mad Doug Biker (Deceased).

I love cycling at night. i`m quite lucky though in that once I`ve cycled out the back gate and gone about 20 metres, I`m on NCN 1. Takes me into Edinburgh and up round Arthur`s Seat. I don`t have any problem with cars, the main problem is people walking, running and cycling in the pitch black without a single piece of reflective clothing or lights. They may be able to see me coming but you still need good reactions to avoid them. And as to those on bikes with lights you could see from the moon, trying lowering them!

Yes if I see someone coming I will let them know my position ASAP..... Hopefully without dazzling them.

On the right roads and tracks it is really something special to cycle at night

I used to commute along a cycle track at 05:00 and it was brilliant

Although you still need ta take care, the lack of traffic is a wonderful release

Then turn your lights down and enjoy the wildlife

My favourite was the old Brock who would sit on a raised bank and watch you pass through his territory

What I always say is that you can see a whole lot MORE with night vision, and you don't need to rely on a beam of light that excludes over all vision (imagine it as looking at the world though a tube, you can only see so much as one time).

Of course, this should only be done sensibly and there is a time and place for it, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people never actually try it on a route they know really well.