My first time riding in the dark...

[Cycleconvert]

My front light is great so I might invest in a better back light. My current one is just a bog standard one that runs on 1 battery.

 

[sazzaa]

I did my first ride home in the dark yesterday, decided to do my longer route home (roads, cycle paths then a dirt track), it started peeing down before I reached the dirt track and as I was going through it realised that a) it had been raining there for farking hours it seemed b) my front light isn't bright enough c) you can't tell how deep puddles are in the dark and d) that it was as fun as it was terrifying.

 

[Ganymede]

I ride home in the dark from quite early in the year, as my train doesn't get in till about 7.20pm. I really like it, but I admit it's mostly on very quiet country lanes. I use a perfectly ordinary 3-LED Cateye which I bought from the hardware shop - I found I had to fashion a hood for it as the light was shining up into my eyes, so I cut out a bit from round the handle of a milk carton and covered it with silver foil. It just slips over the light and focusses it forward. Still using it more than a year later, though I've replaced the foil a couple of times.

I also wear a head torch round my neck (you have to wear it upside-down for it to point forward) as back-up. It points closer to the front of the bike so I can spot potholes. I also find it useful for finding my way up the rather long garden path on cloudy, moonless and thus very dark nights.

Riding home in the dark on a windy night is actually really exciting - I just don't like it on the way out to work!

 

[Spartak]

My front light of choice is the CREE X6, for the back I have 2 on the bike & one on my helmet.

Riding home last night along the service road at Portbury Docks, Bristol.
I came face to face with a deer, we both jumped OUT of our skins

 

[sazzaa]

My front light of choice is the CREE X6, for the back I have 2 on the bike & one on my helmet.

Riding home last night along the service road at Portbury Docks, Bristol.
I came face to face with a deer, we both jumped OUT of our skins

It's a Cree T6 I've ordered so I'm hoping that will help! A frog jumped across my path and I nearly sh*t myself.

 

[Lanzecki]

Can I suggest something like this

C&B SEEN WIDE ANGLE/DIFFUSER LENS FOR 1000/1200 LUMEN BIKE LIGHTS

This replaces the cler lens with a wide angle lens. It gives this effect :

 

[sazzaa]

Oooh I didn't know these attachments existed - thanks!

 

[Rouge79]

Now the nights are drawing in i've had more near misses last week than in the previous couple of months!!!

 

[HLaB]

Ive had less, its only in broad daylight I have a problem with muppet drivers.

 

[jagman.2003]

All good points so far. Something I prefer to wear to reduce headlight glare from lights & wet road is yellow tinted lens glasses. Seems to reduce the white light. Also makes things a bit brighter on dull days.

 

[Rouge79]

I wear yellow tints thought out winter. Riding in fog wearing them is a bit iffy but reduces risk of glare

 

[Ganymede]

I've often thought of wearing my ski goggles in the winter, but not at night - I'm one of those people whose eyes run madly if exposed to the cold wind and I ride along looking like I've got the death of Bambi's mother running in my head.

 

[shunter]

I would also recommend the Respro Hump Backpack Reflective Cover for unlit roads . Car lights shine it up like a beacon from behind. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/respro-hump-backpack-reflective-cover/rp-prod43202

 

[jagman.2003]

I would also recommend the Respro Hump Backpack Reflective Cover for unlit roads . Car lights shine it up like a beacon from behind. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/respro-hump-backpack-reflective-cover/rp-prod43202

Just started using a pair of these over my panniers. Work a treat for visibility & keeping bags dry. They shine like a big pair of Hi-Viz buttocks in the dark!

 

[Ganymede]

I had a completely quiet, moonlight ride home at about 11.30 last night. I go through a tiny narrow lane through the woods... spooooooky!