Cycling the Dark

redddraggon

I've got the lights and the high vis jacket, but I've never actually ridden in the dark. But as I've taken up cycle commuting during my placement year at uni I'm going to have to get used to it. I'm guessing 6 or 7 months of it.

What's it like? Do you quickly get used to it?

I guess it won't be too bad in the morning as I go out quite early - 7ish and don't see much traffic. But I go home at about 5 o'clock in the rush hour traffic.

Any hints or tips from the hardcore cycle commuters?

ddraver

if its in the town is so lifght its hardly any different

in the counbtry is abit more epic - but yes you still get used to it quickly, the problem i had is wondering if cars have seen you or not

overmars

I kinda like it at night. Gives me the chance to light myself up like a Christmas tree!

I'm sure SETI have a file on me.

Ale

I suspect that with enough strobing lights, you're actually more visible at night than during the day!

snakehips

If you get a decent beam , cycling in the dark and the rain is rather enjoyable. You see the raindrops and the spray from your front wheel dancing around in the light.
I leave home about 7:30 and there are only a few days in every winter that I feel the need for lights in the morning , i.e. when there is dark cloud.

Snake

Stuww

I commute the back lanes of East Devon to Exeter and it's dark when I leave at 5.15 am.

I love cycling in the dark (wasn't that a Bruce Springsteen song) you tend to subconciously learn where the worst pot holes are and avoid them !!

I use a cateye led light and a luxeon led torch strapped on my handlebars, it's ok but I need to get something a bit more powerful?

Good luck with your dark commutes, you'll be fine.

Regards

Stu

snooks

Just a slight deviation from the topic, but those of you who commute through the winter...what do you do to make you and your bike for more visible?

The reason I ask is that a few weeks ago I saw a bike in the dark, he was coming towards me, but on the front of his forks he's stuck retroreflective tape from top to bottom. So the first I saw of him were two vertical bright lights, which were far brighter than his front beam (I think the batteries were going) As the car driver it caught my attention, although I couldn't work out what it was, but at least I'd seen him some distance away.

But anyway it struck me as a different way of getting yourself noticed at night, couple of strips on the forks and maybe a couple of strips on the seat stays...just a thought....Wouldn't want to do it on my "good" bike tho

Ale

See http://www.beseenonabike.com/shopuk/

I put some reflective sticky tape on my rucksack and on my mudguards.

snakehips

I find that the worst problem is people pulling out of side roads , in front of me or at me.
I ride with a 2.4W and a 10W beam on , and swerve about a bit when approaching side roads so that waiting motorists get my lights shining directly at them a couple of times.
Snake

mazcp

Make sure you're well lit up front and back. Maybe a flashing LED on the back of the helmet too (if you wear one).
One thing to be aware of is that its a lot more difficult to judge a car's distance when all you can see is its headlights.
Hi-viz vests are very good...I normally wear my P-O-L-I-T-E hi-viz in the winter months. It never fails to buy me extra space.

Stuww

How did you add the POLITE onto the hi vis vest??

Like the idea of that

JustRidecp

I do this too. My lights got a bit of lateral play in it so if I see a suspect driver I twist the light and point the beam into his eyes. They always look up. Likewise, on a roundabout I'll often point the beam to the left, to help drivers waiting to pull out see me.

donnie murdo

Night cycling is excellent. I love mountain biking at night using HID lights it adds a whole new experience to off road riding. As for on road as already posted you are probably more visible at night if you have the right kit. Use reflective material where you can and always use the brightest commuting lights you can afford. Having one on your backpack as well as the bike is a good idea too. I would not advise using HID lights for commuting as they really are too bright and can startle drivers and pedestrians unless your commute takes you through unlit roads and tracks.

mazcp

Stuww wrote:

How did you add the POLITE onto the hi vis vest??

Like the idea of that

A chap who runs a campaign called 'Give Cyclists Room' had a batch of these vests made-to-order with the word pressed onto the back in large hi-viz lettering...convincing for a fleeting moment yet enough to wake up any half-asleep driver.

snooks

As hi vis vests go these from Ikea seem to be the cheapest I've found so far :0)

I haven't bought one, and I'm still looking to see if I can find a cheaper one! £3.99 does seem a lot cheaper that the dedicated bike ones tho!
.

Mikey Mouse

Ale wrote:

I suspect that with enough strobing lights, you're actually more visible at night than during the day!

I do believe that is possible. :?

jel

I'm of the school of thought that you should keep nailing lights and retroreflectives to the bike till you look like a cross between a motorbike, an alien invasion and an underworld gig.

And then I wear black.

HJ1976

jel wrote:

I'm of the school of thought that you should keep nailing lights and retroreflectives to the bike till you look like a cross between a motorbike, an alien invasion and an underworld gig.

And then I wear black.

And a parka with the furry collar- sounds a bit 'moddish' to me!

Flycatcher

You're certainly more visible at night if you light up and use hi-vis than you are in the low sunshine these last few mornings.

And the cheapest hi vis waistcoats are the ones hung up at the fire points in my office!

jel

HJ1976 wrote:

And a parka with the furry collar- sounds a bit 'moddish' to me!

I lost the raccoon tail because it wasn't aero enough.

adifiddler

snooks wrote:

Just a slight deviation from the topic, but those of you who commute through the winter...what do you do to make you and your bike for more visible?

The reason I ask is that a few weeks ago I saw a bike in the dark, he was coming towards me, but on the front of his forks he's stuck retroreflective tape from top to bottom. So the first I saw of him were two vertical bright lights, which were far brighter than his front beam (I think the batteries were going) As the car driver it caught my attention, although I couldn't work out what it was, but at least I'd seen him some distance away.

But anyway it struck me as a different way of getting yourself noticed at night, couple of strips on the forks and maybe a couple of strips on the seat stays...just a thought....Wouldn't want to do it on my "good" bike tho

I have put red Retroflective tape down my back of my seat stays on every bike i have owned for the last 18 years, I acquired a role from work and still have loads left. I have even done this on some v expensive bikes in the past.

I dont see the point in wasting money on two rear lights and batteries (which has no proven real benefit and is know to be confusing to other road users) when i can use the light from the cars to get me spotted. Retroflective tape that has a european standard mark must be clearly visible from 160 meters but most are visible from a lot further. As there are not many people doing this it seems to work too, i seem to get much more room and i have had people say to me in the past that it really stands out and they could not work out what is was until they got a lot closer. If they have doubt in there head they are more careful it seems.

I love riding in the dark, i have noticed whilst following cyclists at a distance that those that are showing a good strong light are given more room than those that only show poor or no light.

trevtherev

I started commuting summer of 2006 and like you was a little worried about my first winter. Get the gear right, keep warm and dry, get a good set of lights ( i use a dinotte ) and you will enjoy just as much as the summer. There's nothing like going home from work on a cold winters nights.....clears the head....good for the soul!

mbukfan

I tend to find that cars drivers give you a bit more space. If your on the road most of the time and don't have slick tyres yet I'd recomend getting some. I got some of those reflective straps and cut them down a bit and attached them to my rucksack.
the hi vis trouser clips are meant to be very eye catching