night riding........

[JohnRedcoRn]

......is mighty fine.
I'm sure i've talked about this before but its worth saying again. As long as the roads are safe(no ice) and its not absolutely pissing down, get wrapped up, lights on and GET OUT THERE !!!
Just introduced my mate (experienced rider, road bike enthusiast) to the delights of night cycling, and this has become our new friday night out !

its especially good if you get a dry, clear night. we're lucky enough to live in an area where we can experience, town, countryside and coast all in a 1 - 2 hour ride. people who like the outdoors, camping etc will know this already but its simply stunning out there. Can be a bit scary alone when you hit the unlit country lanes etc, but, for example, we stopped down by the coast one night, just far enough away from nearby villages to see lights without it spoiling the night sky - now that is spectacular, we just stood there, speechless and took it all in. And we saw a couple of owls too (a rare sight). Sounds a bit melodramatic but this is one of the things i love about cycling, getting out there and enjoying the simple stuff (i dont have a dog, so being a bloke ye cant help thinking that when ye go out walking alone at night people, especially lone women are going to wonder if your a rapist or something
So, i recommend getting out as much as possible on your bike , you dont have to put the bike away for the winter

summer nights are great too come to think of it - between 8pm - 10pm, you get all those lovely sunsets, nice sky (if your lucky pending british weather) and all the foxes etc come out.

anybody else enjoy night cycling for the sake of it as opposed to a neccessary commute etc ?

 

[JohnRedcoRn]

i just realised i accidentally put a clown smiley next to my rapist anecdote. That might seem a little bit disturbing, it wasn't intentional !

 

[Globalti]

I go night riding on my MTB on Wednesday nights with a club. In the right weather it's brilliant fun.

 

[HLaB]

I've started doing a bit of night cycling lately too for leisure and I've really enjoyed it, cars seem to give you more respect (Ned's/ Chav's excluded) and its quite fun headin along dark country lanes. I'm running a bspoke 1/2 watt and a cateye 410 on the helmet and depending what bike I'm on I might also have a cateye 510 but I think I want to upgrade to the likes of the ay-up as the routes I've been doing so far I know well better lighting may give me the opportunity to explore.

 

[Bodhbh]

Yes, definately, I want to try keeping it up thru what will be my first winter. Had a good run thru the country lanes last night, but also had first near miss - crappy no-name batteries died after 20min, and I risked riding the 2 miles to the newsagents with no lights to pick up some more. Car doesn't see us and right hooks us about 100yards from the newsagent - 100% my fault, belting it to get to the newsagent didn't even have any high-vis on, stupid tbh. Close call, will be carrying emergency batteries in future and time to get some proper high-vis gear, glad luck gives you some lessons for 'free' now and then.

 

[velocidad]

yep i'm really enjoying my night rides, usually only about 10 to 15 miles but might start going up to the coast on the odd night. it does feel very different to cycling during the day. big fat lights do seem to be a must though, i tried with some rather wimpy ones at first, not a good idea. the worst bits seem to be the lit roads, were all but the brightest bike lights just get drowned out in a sea of photons ;-)
at the moment i'm using a combination of dynamo hub and battery lighting which works well.
the best for me is turning of the lights in the middle of nowhere and doing a bit of star gazing.

 

[JohnRedcoRn]

Now your talking, stargazings great. especially if enhanced by whiskey (not that i cycle when drunk of course, but its an essential part of the camping experience)

 

[gbb]

One piece of kit that's invaluable....a peak, if your helmet has one.

Not normal attire for roadies, but my Giro helmet has a removeable peak. When oncoming headlights are too bright and dazzling, you can dip your head and take out most of the light with the peak.

I enjoy night riding but do find it slightly boring because you just havnt got the same amount of stuff to look at.

 

[GilesM]

My first night ride of the winter earlier tonight, last 30 mins in pitch black country lanes, perfect, I'd forgottenm how good it was. Plan to start some night riding on a few mtb trails in the next few weeks, just have to get myself some powerful lights first.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Every Sunday night between about 8 and 10.30 me and a few pals go out for a 25 or so miler in and around Oxford, big wide empty roads, lighting, smells of great grub, sights and sounds of Students having fun, excellent. Then back over quiet country roads to Abingdon. Peachy!

I often used to go out alone from about 10pm 'till midnight. Great time to ride!

 

[DLB]

Every Sunday night between about 8 and 10.30 me and a few pals go out for a 25 or so miler in and around Oxford, big wide empty roads, lighting, smells of great grub, sights and sounds of Students having fun, excellent. Then back over quiet country roads to Abingdon. Peachy!

I often used to go out alone from about 10pm 'till midnight. Great time to ride!

agree, but stay in to the left to avoid any drunk drivers!

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I'm planning my first night ride tonight: will only go 10-15 miles or so, but it's a dry run ready for when my journeys home become dark in a few weeks or so. Excited.

 

[threefingerjoe]

I've always enjoyed night riding. This time of year, and all winter, my morning commute is always in the dark. I second the "good lights" comment.

The first post said something about "as long as it isn't icy". Wellllll...there are good studded tyres available. I have a pair mounted on a spare set of wheels, so when I come out of the house in the morning, and find that it snowed overnight, I can just change wheels quickly, and be on my way.

 

[john2702]

I reckon night-riding must be for those with suicidal tendencies...