Night time off-roading

.blitz

I was riding on the Chase yesterday evening as it was going dark and I noticed a couple of (isolated) bikes with lights bobbing about in the singletrack.

Do you do it in the dark ?

LordBanks

I've been thinking about it,never done it yet. Especially with the winter months setting in and the dark nights. Thing is those lights are so exspensive and trying to explain to my lass i need to spend £200 on bike lights when she sees them in Asda for a tenner is proving hard work.

scale20

Mate, try it, you wont go back to daytime riding!

Seriously though, with some quality lights night riding is the mutts!

scale20

look at the nite rider range of lights http://www.niterider.com/bike.shtml

I have the minewt x2 on the bars and the minewt mini USB plus on my helmet. They are not too pricey and offer good lighting on the trails without spending the earth. If you shop around you will get the same set up for less than £200

.blitz

scale20 wrote:

look at the nite rider range of lights http://www.niterider.com/bike.shtml

I have the minewt x2 on the bars and the minewt mini USB plus on my helmet. They are not too pricey and offer good lighting on the trails without spending the earth. If you shop around you will get the same set up for less than £200

How does the experience compare to err...daylight ?

I ride on-road during the night but I've only ventured off-road a couple of times. What's that dark patch on the trail ahead ? Leaves ? Badger ? Bomb-hole ? lol

ExeterSimon

What's that dark patch on the trail ahead ? Leaves ? Badger ?

With a decent set of lights you'll know exactly what it is!

I've just started night riding and it is truly awesome....everything about it is different. You need to be sharper for a start. And you get to see different wildlife (no....not doggers).

And you go sooooo much faster...although the computer says different!

singlespeedexplosif

night riding is absolutely ace
we have a weekly ride all year round - obviously a bit more need for lights over winter - but NOTHING beats a full moon light-less ride.

Night riding essentials:
1) mates
2) lights (unless full moon)
3) hipflask

doggers - hahaha. Nothing quite beats the sight of a 'party' darting away in different directions as 5 or 6 super-bright lights descend into their clearing...:)

scale20

It seems like your flying down the trails and if you want to stay alive keep your eye on the trail all the time!

Thats the thing about just having the one light on the bars, It wont show you whats behind that bump or how high that drop off is, thats why in my opinion a helmet light is a must, not only for that, but you can use it to look further forward into the trail you are about to ride. Your bar lights will only light up where you are aiming for.

ratty2k

Will be getting the new Exposure MaXxD light soon, will hopefully be riding in the Dark peak after dark... Quite fancy having a do at the Beast in the pitch black...

singlespeedexplosif

in my opinion a helmet light is a must

agree to about 1,000,000,000%.

miss notax

scale20 wrote:

It seems like your flying down the trails and if you want to stay alive keep your eye on the trail all the time!

Thats the thing about just having the one light on the bars, It wont show you whats behind that bump or how high that drop off is, thats why in my opinion a helmet light is a must, not only for that, but you can use it to look further forward into the trail you are about to ride. Your bar lights will only light up where you are aiming for.

Interesting - seems everyone has different opinions on this!

I only started mtbing last November (in the dark) and didn't get on with a helmet light at all, in fact I found it really distracting :? I switched to a handlebar light and I find it much, much better

Anyway, back to the original question, I love mtbing in the dark. I have to concentrate a lot more and find it more exhausting, but it's well worth it! Nothing like seeing those little animal eyes peering out at you... :shock:

scale20

I tend to turn the helmet light off on slow fire road climbs, it can get a little distracting, trying to work out what lights what

fred1star

Night rides are just great.... you don't have to worry as much about meeting walkers coming up your favourite down hill :twisted:

Last year I brought top of the range Light & Motion lights. I am with most of the others and would not spend such silly amounts of money on a light, but was eventually persuded to getthem. I got them on ebay, new from the states, less than half the price you pay in this country.. I have not looked back.

scale20

Once I have done loads and loads of night riding and my current lights give up on me I will no doubt spend and get some bling ones

I was having a look at those Lupine betty lights in my LBS the other day and they are amazing, i lit up the shop in broad daylight. but at just short of £700 I wont be having them!

bells0

Just got 2 Fenix L2D Q5's last week so i can keep fit over winter on the canal path at night. Should give me enough light, no real dangers about either.

Will mount 1 on the bars and the other on my helmet.

Bmjboy

My FIRST proper night ride is this Wednesday and I cannot wait! Although coming across* a group of doggers doesnt appeal to me.

Ive got some wicked lights (Niteflux Photon MAX) and will giving my local trail a proper muddy blast.

* = No pun intended.