Dark Mornings

[Thelma]

I don't like them. I wanted to get out on my bike this morning, but it was dark and misty

I do have lights, but I didn't want to chance it with mist as well. I've always thought of cycling in the dark as something you do because you've no option, rather than something you choose to do. Even with lights and reflective gear, cyclists just aren't terribly visible in the dark.

Am I worrying over nothing? I hope so because by the time the sun is up early enough for me (it needs to be up for about 6.15am) it'll be the middle of the Easter holidays and I won't be able to go out anyway.

 

[summerdays]

Go out after dark and see what makes you notice any cyclists... there are varying opinions on that ... but good lights are generally accepted as a must, hi-vis (by that I mean with reflectives - good ones). Reflectives on the ankles is supposed to be good at getting peoples attention because of the circular motion. And using your road position ... they won't notice you in the gutter!!

With lights - generally 2 back lights are better than one ... in case the batteries fail on one light whilst you are out (or the case of my husband who this morning reported he seems to have lost another light on his way home on Friday.... luckily he has 2), and there are some that argue about whether flashing or non flashing is better.... or one of each...

Try a little night time ride ... and see - I generally feel safer riding my bike than walking at night on my own.

 

[Norm]

Even with lights and reflective gear, cyclists just aren't terribly visible in the dark.

The rear lights on my bike are brighter than the rear lights on my car. Add in some reflectives, helmet lights and flashers and there's few vehicles (outside the emergency services fleets ) which are more visible.

Night time riding is excellent and I think that most cyclists stand out more at light where the option of good lighting puts us on an equal footing with other vehicles. But, it's all about getting the right lights.

 

[fossyant]

I'm actually enjoying the fact that at the moment I am not allowed to commute on the bike (op recovery) and have been going out after 8pm finding all the dark back lanes. Tis great. Two hopes up front, but not using my magicshine 3w rears as they are on the fixed.

Been using a rsp astrum 2x 1/2 watt and the bigger raleigh dual 2x 1/2 watt, even they don't half turn the road red.

Get some reflective and switch your lights on.

 

[potsy]

You need to be in all black clothing with no lights Thelma, the scallies seem to do OK on it
As others have already said, get the brightest lights you can afford and some bright clothing, I prefer yellow in the dark just feel more visible straight away.

 

[siadwell]

I was out in the dark last night and it was fantastic.

First time out with my new Smart Lunar 35 (a steal at £15 from Planet X at the moment) plus Hope Vision 1. Used together they give plenty of illumination on familiar roads and it's a great feeling to be sweeping along dark black country roads with a pool of light in front of you.

On the back I've got a Smart 1/2 watt plus Cateye flasher, and with reflectives on the bike, wheels and clothing I feel plenty conspicuous. Normally, I'd also be using a 1 watt headtorch which means you can light up where you're heading, rather than where the handlebars are pointing, and also makes you more noticeable to drivers.

 

[corshamjim]

I have to say I can't stand those head torches. They might well be great for the wearer but they are at best annoying and at worst blinding for other road users (including me).

I reckon the very best thing any cyclist can do for visibility on the road at night is to look like a 'proper' cyclist not a Christmas tree. Drivers don't expect to see Christmas trees in the road so don't see them.

 

[numbnuts]

I didn't have a dark morning it was OK when I got out of bed ...........at 9am

 

[GrasB]

I ride with an Exposure Strada & Joystick with 2 redeyes at the rear so I liked it being proper dark this morning, none of this wishy washy near dawn/dusk dark. When it's really dark I feel that if anyone driver doesn't see me then there's virtually nothing I can do to make them see me besides becoming a smear on their windscreen.

 

[valetillidye]

I was out at about 5.50am this morning - it was a bit of a shock to the system having got used to the light mornings of the last month - it was dark, misty and a tad frosty !

The thing that made me most nervous were the pot-holes - I knew they were out there but couldnt quite remember where, leading to a slow first couple of miles

It was starting to get light at about 6.20am. I must say though, it is very theraputic being out on your bike as the sun rises

 

[BSRU]

I have to say I can't stand those head torches. They might well be great for the wearer but they are at best annoying and at worst blinding for other road users (including me).

I reckon the very best thing any cyclist can do for visibility on the road at night is to look like a 'proper' cyclist not a Christmas tree. Drivers don't expect to see Christmas trees in the road so don't see them.

I disagree, from my experience if car drivers know what you are they treat you as they would do in daylight, if they do not know what you are they are more cautious.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I don't like them. I wanted to get out on my bike this morning, but it was dark and misty

I do have lights, but I didn't want to chance it with mist as well. I've always thought of cycling in the dark as something you do because you've no option, rather than something you choose to do. Even with lights and reflective gear, cyclists just aren't terribly visible in the dark.

Am I worrying over nothing? I hope so because by the time the sun is up early enough for me (it needs to be up for about 6.15am) it'll be the middle of the Easter holidays and I won't be able to go out anyway.

I'm fairly sure that mist (like we had this morning - I'm also in Manchester) means that high-vis yellow really is more visible.
My Altura Nightvision really comes into its own in mist like that.

That reminds me though - I'm sure my rear light batteries died on the way in this morning...

 

[Thelma]

That's me convinced then!! I'm so pleased because I have been feeling a tad gloomy today without fresh air and exercise.

You've all cheered me up after a mostly crappy day, thanks

 

[Thelma]

Possibly daft question, but looking at the alterna night vision jackets, is the black one worth bothering with? Found a good price on the black ones.

 

[Norm]

IMO, any solid "block" of colour makes a cyclist visible as a human on the road.

Black is, obviously, not as visible as yellow / orange / green hiviz stuff in daylight, but it's a heck of a lot more distinctive than nearly any team strip as it's a big solid torso-shaped block of black rather than some stripey thing with an indistinct outline which can just disappear into the background.

At night, the colour of clothing is mostly irrelevant, as Summerdays said earlier, it is all down to reflectives.