First real night ride

[xpc316e]

I have just returned from my first 'real' night ride. I have always cycled in the dark, but up until now it was only on urban roads with street lights. I have been itching to get out on my bike all day, and so I hatched a plan to go for a spin after I had given my partner a lift to her night shift. I chose a route I often cycle; it's only an hour in length and it runs through some quiet country lanes with few flat sections and a couple of steep hills and one or two long drags.

I noticed a few things: one's perception of slopes is spoiled by just having a lit area of road dead ahead. I found myself 'listening' to what my legs were telling me about the road, rather than seeing it with my eyes and forming a preconceived notion of the severity of the gradient. Car drivers were extremely polite with wide passing, early dipping of headlamps, and low speeds, etc.

It really was a most pleasant experience; the still night air enabling me to hear things, like a brook babbling under a bridge, that I do not normally notice in the daytime. I shall try to make this a regular event - it was too enjoyable to be left as a one-off.

Does anybody else go for solitary night rides?

 

[Norm]

Does anybody else go for solitary night rides?

Oh my word, yes, and for the reasons you give.

There are many more reasons, such as finding roads which are rat-runs during the commuting hours and taking to them at night, or heading off road and covering way more ground than you realise when you get to that first bridge or footpath or field entrance much faster than you expected.

It's a beautifully isolating experience, a retreat at the end of a bad day at the office and an alternative after a great, but noisy, evening with the kids.

However, I am even more conscientious than during day time rides to always let someone know where I'm going and when I should be back.

 

[cycleruk]

Does anybody else go for solitary night rides?
[/quote]


on many occasions, its a completely different feeling to day time cycling, but i think a another recommendation is to ride during sun rise or sun set, i can't even begin to explain the feeling of that, for instance, sound of the birds in the morning, very little traffic, if any on the road and a cool morning breeze with the sun on your face makes for an absolutely unbelievable sense of freedom

 

[Sittingduck]

I have done a few night rides but nothing solitary. Interesting point about climbing in the dark. I have a theory that hills are easier in the dark - down the the fear that grips me when I can actually see them coming ahead. The effect is far less in the dark though and they seem slightly easier, in my experience.

 

[Globalti]

I night ride with my MTB club all winter; it's a great way to keep fit and huge fun being out in the hills in the dark. It's even better in snow and a full moon.

 

[david1701]

I love it, just get cold feet some times

 

[R_Z]

Last night the Mrs and I were heading home after a late night dinner. It's pretty dark on the road, but for some reason, I spotted something up ahead. There is a lone rider on a black bike with dark clothes and no illumination what so ever. No reflectant stickers, no back light and no headlight. IMPO a fool asking for it. I guess I always look for bike riders since I ride, but some drivers don't.

 

[HLaB]

I really enjoy solitary night rides, there's something about riding in pitch darkness which I cant really explain and as said the driver's seem to be so much better at that time