Night Ride

[RichardB]

Itake the road all the way, foxes, rabbits, silence under the stars

Oh yes. I see so many foxes and badgers when I ride in the dark, even on the main road, that we are becoming old friends. And last Saturday night the sky was totally clear. It was like riding in a jewel box. I stopped half way and killed the lights, just to enjoy the experience. Mind, it was fairly cold!

 

[RichardB]

@Pat "5mph" .

Think you’ll get too wet?

8. The UK’s cycle commuters actually have a 97% chance of staying dry!. This is according to goskyride

No idea how that is worked out.

Apparently goskyride haven't been to Wales! To be fair, it does rain a lot less than you would imagine, but years of commuting on a motorcycle have taught me that wet weather gear is pretty useful stuff.

One thing about working nights is that the weather seems to change far more overnight than it does during the day. I can go to work one evening and it's calm and warm, and come home the following morning in a freezing mist or a downpour. Unless the forecast is dry for several days, I always have a waterproof shell with me, no matter how nice it seems when I set off.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Love night riding, particularly in Cities. In the country I prefer to be in a group, but I'm happy alone in the urban environment. When the kids were younger, 10 to 12 at night was often the only cycling time I had.
Just led a night ride from Oxford to London. I've done it several times before and it's always different. This time 11 of us. I've done it solo several times too.
The 'Friday's' rides are as good as it gets for group night riding though. Fab.

 

[Sim2003]

Great picture @Fab Foodie , Just waiting for the mrs to go bed and a reply from a friend if he is joining me. I do enjoy my early commutes, looking forward to this.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I ride at night as needed, not my idea of fun, but have done some 40+ mile solo night rides, as has been mentioned good lights, reflectors both bike and clothing, hi-viz isn't much use apart from the reflective strips (been knocked off wearing hi-viz shirt), I have spoke reflectors that will be going on shortly (never been knocked off with them on).
I use a cree T-6 with a wide angle lens and a swivel mount, and usually a couple of other lights for the front, some times as flashing lights, or as an emergency get you home (no good on the dark lanes though), usually 2 or three on the back, 2 normally with a spare, plus a little one on the helmet not sure how effective it is but should all the other fail ..... plus a red reflector on the rear mudguard.

 

[slowmotion]

Seek out any mention of FNRttC on this site. It will give you a of taste of the madness....and the fun....

 

[Sim2003]

Well It started off bad , Realised I had forgot my helmet 3miles out so I headed bk also that 3 miles was a little unnerving because of all the new sounds and it was just odd.

I grabbed my helmet and decided to head out a different way instead. Turned out to be brilliant , there was little to no traffic and the cars that I did see gave me the whole lane. No worries at all will definitely be doing it again.

43miles done

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well It started off bad , Realised I had forgot my helmet 3miles out so I headed bk also that 3 miles was a little unnerving because of all the new sounds and it was just odd.

I grabbed my helmet and decided to head out a different way instead. Turned out to be brilliant , there was little to no traffic and the cars that I did see gave me the whole lane. No worries at all will definitely be doing it again.

43miles done View attachment 104648 View attachment 104649 View attachment 104650 View attachment 104651

..... Nutter

 

[Nigelnaturist]

^^^what he says.
@Sim2003 glad you enjoyed it though.

 

[leedsmick]

I've just ordered some lights. Wish they were coming today as I want to get out there and see what it's like at night

 

[Hill Wimp]

I wish i could stay awake to do a night ride though i do leave the house each morning and ride to the station at 5.15 on really quiet roads so i suppose it's not much different.

 

[Sim2003]

I did really like it , Might be doing it again on Monday with a friend providing the other half doesn't have a fit again. Suppose I should tell her next time I go out for 4hours after she has gone bed lol.

Ordered me a better set of lights for my helmet and got me another one of the rear lights from aldi cos they are nice and bright.

Nice front light needed to see the road and wildlife on it more than to be seen , I flicked the cree T6 on full for a few secs when I saw a car ahead on a bend just to let them know I was there other than that the lights on the lowest setting was sufficient enough.

@leedsmick let us know how you get on when you do

 

[leedsmick]

Will do. We live near plenty of country lanes so should be very dark and dealthly quiet

 

[Ihatehills]

I tried a night ride a couple of weeks ago so I could test out my lights, and see what I am gonna be I for when the clocks go back.
I enjoyed it, I actually found that that drivers were alot more courteous as they hat to work out what the twinkling lights were BEFORE barging past. I did get cut up by a load of bats though, I'm pretty sure That one of them hit me I also saw a barn owl which scared the bejeezus outta me.

One problem that I did find was that I kept on losing track of what gear I was in so ended up cross chaining alot, I hadn't thought about this before I left

 

[i hate hills]

I tried a night ride a couple of weeks ago so I could test out my lights, and see what I am gonna be I for when the clocks go back.
I enjoyed it, I actually found that that drivers were alot more courteous as they hat to work out what the twinkling lights were BEFORE barging past. I did get cut up by a load of bats though, I'm pretty sure That one of them hit me I also saw a barn owl which scared the bejeezus outta me.

One problem that I did find was that I kept on losing track of what gear I was in so ended up cross chaining alot, I hadn't thought about this before I left

I wear a headtorch which i use to check what gear i'm in . Dont know if you've tried this or not.......might help you.