Riding at Night

[1LegRikk]

I need to start getting my weekly mileage up a lot and the only way of doing this is going out at in the dark. i work from home and finish at 4pm so aim to be out by 4.15 for between 1.5-2hrs
I've never been out on the road at night and to be honest it scares the arse off me.
So...
Front I have

Wide beam and 300+ lumens and also a small backup of a flashing led just in case.

Rear I have :-

One vertical and one horizontal, one will be solid and the other flashing.

I also have schwalbe marathon supreme tyres which have a reflective ring around.

I'm aiming to go and get one of those yellow glowing diagonal things that you wear over a top later on.

Do I have everything covered or is there anything else you commuter/night riders can think of that's a worthwhile buy?

Thanks.

............Rikk

 

[HLaB]

Look like you're are sorted on the lights front. I picked up from the forum that its good to have 2 fronts (1 steady 1 flashing) and 2 rears (likewise) and so far touch wood it has worked for me.

 

[1LegRikk]

Thanks peeps, just have to get out and do it now

 

[mr_cellophane]

You can buy wrist/ankle straps with red LEDs for under £5. Handy for making sure your arm signals are seen.

 

[1LegRikk]

That's an interesting idea, I'll have a look at those, cheers.

 

[marinyork]

Don't forget gloves and knee warmers. Although it was much warmer the last two nights, most evenings I've been out it's been minus 2 to 4 degrees celcius. Two rear lights is a good call.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Look like you're are sorted on the lights front. I picked up from the forum that its good to have 2 fronts (1 steady 1 flashing) and 2 rears (likewise) and so far touch wood it has worked for me.

+1 for the two fronts, two rears. One of the rears (the bigger / brighter one) always steady, the other flashing. I have one of the fronts flashing whilst on the (lit) road, steady when off road or on unlit roads. The other front is always steady. It also gives you some backup should one fail.

I supplement them with some sort of head-mounted light .. I like to have one light that shines where I'm looking. I'm currently using one of the 3W torches (AA battery size) for that duty.

That all does the job for me, on a mix of housing estate roads, bridleways, tracks in the woods and unlit quiet lanes.

 

[1LegRikk]

I have another of the ayups (spot) I use for a helmet light when doing night mtbing but if you look at someone they are basicly blinded so i'd be very wary of using a helmet mount light on the road personally.

 

[Sully]

interesting stuff, I too am gonna have to start going out in the dark if I want to A loose a few lbs and also prepare for longer, more enjoyable rides come spring / summer, I ordered my eyups last night, what du think to them ? Im gonna be doing mostly mileage on local cycle tracks, should be deserted at nights, part from the odd dogga !

 

[1LegRikk]

They are superb, I've had a set since they first released them, then upgraded to the newer ones.
Their upgrade policy is outstanding and so is their customer support, can't recomend them highly enough. They are also about to release the "Saxon" which is a pair of red lenses to go over a standard set of light to convert them into rears and as most sets of ayups come as a pair your set
I sent them an email an hour or so ago asking when it's going to be released so will let you know.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I have another of the ayups (spot) I use for a helmet light when doing night mtbing but if you look at someone they are basicly blinded so i'd be very wary of using a helmet mount light on the road personally.

Uh-huh, yes; should have mentioned that I switch that one off when on lit roads. And try to avoid looking at any dog walkers (or even doggas!!) I meet on the bridleways .. well, try to avoid looking at their faces anyway. Especially the doggas. Or anywhere else come to that. Oh, you all get the basic idea ...

 

[1LegRikk]

Just been out and got myself a day glow yellow shoulder/waist strap thingy and a new front light as the single led thing I had as a backup I thought to be a bit feeble.
just waiting on wiggle tomorrow to deliver my knog backlight and mudguards and I'm good to go

 

[tyred]

I find the worst thing about riding at night is that many car drivers don't dip their headlights

 

[1LegRikk]

I'm hoping with the brightness of my front light they'll assume I'm a motorbike so may be a little better....we'll see

 

[Arch]

I wrote the following, then saw you are getting a knog rear light, so you know this already. However for others who may look in...

Look in Tescos, or bike shops, for a set of back up LEDs - the little sort with an elastic loop to hold them on. They won't be all the bright compared with your 'proper' lights, but they weigh bugger all, you can stuff them in a pocket off the bike, and they can attach to any tube on your bike, or dangle from your clothing or bag or whatever. At a pinch, if any of your other lights failed, they'd get you home (although proabably slowly if you rely on the front to see with).

Like this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5765

But you can get cheaper ones from Tescos etc. The rear one is especially good, as it seems to light up the red plastic housing better.