Avoiding cycling roads at night through fear of death?

robthehungrymonkey

My commute is so far pretty much the only night cycling i've ever done. It's a very pleasent 7 miles though the countryside on unlit roads, and very few (on average about 3) cars.

Am I being a bit of a girl, but I'm a bit worried about cycling pretty much anywhere else from my house in the dark!

The "other" route i often cycling along in daylight really worrys me as i've seen far too many people driving far too fast on this stretch of road (again in the country, but a lot busier).

It's only annoyed me recently, as I didn't do any cycling last month for various reasons, and then this month, my bike broke, and recently i've had to drive to work a fair bit. And therefore am hardly doing any cycling.

What's doubly stupid, is that i'm sure i'm actually easier to see in the dark than in daylight! Drivers seem to give me more room anyway.

Do other people think like this about roads they avoid in the dark?

STEFANOS4784

I definately suffer 'the fear' when going down steep unlit bumpy roads with cars squeezing past, the way i look at it is that i'll just ride the brakes down the hill sh1tting myself and it makes for good hill training back up the other side

Slow Downcp

I tend to avoid roads that are likely to be driven along by chavs in their GTiSriGte look-a-like, as they tend to be the people that will throw things at you or drive too close as they pass. Country lanes are probably safer if you're lit up well enough and take care on blind bends.

tarquin_foxglove

As soon as the clocks go back I alter my route to avoid unlit roads. I've had too many experiences being dazzled by drivers with their lights on main beam (causing me on one occasion to miss a curve & end up in a ditch) and a couple of near misses when an oncoming car decides to overtake another.

From this & other posts it is clear that quite a few people still ride on unlit roads after dark, how do you stop yourself from getting dazzled?

robthehungrymonkey

tarquin_foxglove wrote:

As soon as the clocks go back I alter my route to avoid unlit roads. I've had too many experiences being dazzled by drivers with their lights on main beam (causing me on one occasion to miss a curve & end up in a ditch) and a couple of near misses when an oncoming car decides to overtake another.

From this & other posts it is clear that quite a few people still ride on unlit roads after dark, how do you stop yourself from getting dazzled?

On my chosen route it's not too bad, as I said, I only come across about 3 cars. and they normally dip when required. Sometimes I wiggle a light at them.

STEFANOS4784

You don't stop getting dazzled, you just tense up, hope for the best and oh yes, go about 6mph down the hills

singlespeedexplosif

most of my riding is on unlit roads. I have good lights.

STEFANOS4784

I have Fenix and various cheap l.e.d's, useless when a car has its lights shining in your face though, which tends to be most of the way home

jcuk

tarquin_foxglove wrote:

From this & other posts it is clear that quite a few people still ride on unlit roads after dark, how do you stop yourself from getting dazzled?

If you close one eye as the car approaches and open it as it passes, you can avoid those few seconds where you've lost the light from its headlights but your pupils have closed and you're staring into nothingness. Ufortunatly it dosent help if they're on mainbeam and all you can see is a white disk approaching as you veer into the hedge.

singlespeedexplosif

the closing one eye thing works well.
But if you have bright lights, the drivers usually dip automatically before they dazzle you...by the time they've worked out you're a bike (and therefore presumably it's OK to blind you) you're past them..

cougie

You definitely need bright lights. Get a Fenix or the MTE P7 things - cars will see you.

If they dont - then either get a peak for your helmet - so that blocks out the beams, or wear a cycling peaked cap under your helmet and do the same with that. Sorted.

ALWAYS have two LEDs on the back - in case something happens to one, and the Mway workers reflective kit is great under headlights. Sorted.

STEFANOS4784

cougie wrote:

You definitely need bright lights. Get a Fenix or the MTE P7 things - cars will see you.


GOT

If they dont - then either get a peak for your helmet - so that blocks out the beams, or wear a cycling peaked cap under your helmet and do the same with that. Sorted.


TRIED

ALWAYS have two LEDs on the back - in case something happens to one, and the Mway workers reflective kit is great under headlights. Sorted.

GOT

doesn't work :?

highwaymunky

Definitely need multiple lights on the rear end, the more you look like a XMAS tree the better!!

I run 2 lights on the front one to be seen and one to see with, but if it's dark country lanes I'd go for both!

a light on your bag or back of helmet is good as it's much higher up and seen sooner!

chuckcork

If its like the woman who just 15 minutes ago drove a full car length into a roundabout across the front of me, before she bothered to even turn her head to see if there was any traffic coming (her mobile phone conversation being far more important), can I suggest there will always be people who don't see you?

Being in the dark only makes it harder, but there are plenty who just don't look at all in any conditions who IMHO are far more of a worry at any time of the day!

unclemalc

Riding at night (ie, after the rush hour has long gone) can be a good time BUT it does depend upon where you ride. My local area is always busy and locals do not like bicycles at the best of times, so chances of an incident are high. Some roads are potentially dangerous in terms of bad surfaces, drain covers etc in the dark and so on. Make sure you're lit up like a Xmas tree on steroids so there is no excuse along the lines of 'I didn't see you' after you're flat under a wheel.

If you're lucky, a starlit ride on a crisp evening can be a joy.

APIII

tarquin_foxglove wrote:

As soon as the clocks go back I alter my route to avoid unlit roads. I've had too many experiences being dazzled by drivers with their lights on main beam (causing me on one occasion to miss a curve & end up in a ditch) and a couple of near misses when an oncoming car decides to overtake another.

From this & other posts it is clear that quite a few people still ride on unlit roads after dark, how do you stop yourself from getting dazzled?

My front light gives out 820 lumens, so if a car doesn't dip their lights, I can 'flash' them, by tilting the light up so it's on full beam. Seems to work 99% of the time. For the 1%, I have to resort to giving them the finger. They should be able to see it, what with their lights being on full.

pgakister

Don't want to disagree but I find that I get far more space and leeway at night. Ok, I'm a big fat bloke and go out dressed like a Christmas tree on steroids but cars give me a mile in comparison to daylight rides along the same roads.

To be fair all my night riding is in the form of detours on the way to work in the morning. My experience is that those drivers on the road at 5-6am are more alert than evening rides. Might be worth considering if you can get out in the morning.

As to hills, all of mine are familiar but thankfully most of the leaves have gone because they terrified me. Other than that - good lights. I have a Vega, a flashing Cateye and a Tesco torch which is fine. AT the other end I have 3, two flashing and one AU100 on steady.

I agree that a starry sky is wonderful, even if I do pine for short sleeves and shades.

STEFANOS4784

I'm not that worried about space, if they hit me i'll claim off there insurance as i have in the past if they dont then ah well, it's the pot-holes which really wind me up. i feel like grabbing our local mp and drowning him in the new bath spa which no-one uses

hillclimbingnut

highwaymunky wrote:

Definitely need multiple lights on the rear end, the more you look like a XMAS tree the better!!

I run 2 lights on the front one to be seen and one to see with, but if it's dark country lanes I'd go for both!

a light on your bag or back of helmet is good as it's much higher up and seen sooner!

Nicely quoted highwaymunky have all of what you said. One high light on my helmet a Cateye underneath my seat and two lights on the rear stays one each side.

And oh yes I use three lights on the front. One made by Smart that uses a lead acid battery and a 10w bulb and the other 2 are flashing. Will also be buying some lights that you fix onto your hubs that work off magnets attached to your wheels and a sensor mounted on your forks.

Forgot what they are called but will post back what they are on Saturday when I get them.

cougie

You can also get tyre flies - put them on your valve caps - they flash with movement - great for side visibility - cost a few quid off ebay.

ronstrutt

tarquin_foxglove wrote:

From this & other posts it is clear that quite a few people still ride on unlit roads after dark, how do you stop yourself from getting dazzled?

I love night cycling, though cold nights aren't the greatest fun. I have two Lumis lights - a 5W and a 12W. I use the 5W for cycling in traffic, both for very dark country lanes. If anyone approaches on full beam the 12W, suitably angled, gets turned on as well. The effect is inevitably immediate. If I'm in an especially p*ssed off "I hate ignorant car drivers" mood, I swap the 12W for a 20W, though that tends to drain the battery a tad too fast.

Other than this the trick is to look away from the offending light - the ground just ahead of your wheel has to be the safest bet.

jimmythecuckoo

robthehungrymonkey wrote:

Do other people think like this about roads they avoid in the dark?

I have only started cycling in the dark this winter and so far it has been great. I am sticking to well lit roads and have invested in powerful lights. SFSG.

hillclimbingnut

jimmythecuckoo wrote:

I have only started cycling in the dark this winter and so far it has been great. I am sticking to well lit roads and have invested in powerful lights. SFSG.

If you ever feel hesitant about riding on dark roads, a fellow cyclist I met today said HE often found that drivers see you better on these roads as opposed to lit ones as they have no other distractions such as road lights pedestrians etc.

nwallace

A mate was run over the other night, stalled his 125 Yamaha while driving out a petrol station, dick head behind went right into the back of him then over his foot. Apparently the bike is fine, but 3 broken metatarsals and a buggered ankle means he's in plaster and unable to work or go to college (Apprentice Joiner).

Also seen a lot of cars with white indicators and pink brake lights (new cars, shouldn't be getting Type Approved and definitely not an MOT in 3 years time) all due to have too powerful bulbs behind too transparent a filter.

I have to agree with hillclimbingnut's post, 1 small to medium sized red glow amongst lots of bigger, brighter (see above:) often illegal reddish lights isn't very distinct. The same small light in darkness sticks out a mile.

fatgb

Maxx D on the front, at least two Smart 1/2 Watt Red LED Rear Lights at the rear and a respro flashing hump backpack cover. No excuses for not seeing you!

proto

pgakister wrote:

Don't want to disagree but I find that I get far more space and leeway at night. Ok, I'm a big fat bloke and go out dressed like a Christmas tree on steroids but cars give me a mile in comparison to daylight rides along the same roads.

I agree with this. I find that on unlit country roads motorists are more patient and give me much more room. I deffo feel safer at night.

You need good lights though. I've got two on the back, one set to flashing, and one constant.On the front I've got a fantastic Busch&Muller Ixon. It's er ......brilliant.

bobpzero

im still trying to figure out why cars apart from taxis ones seem to struggle past going the opposite way even tho i had dipped my torch lamps towards my front wheel. sadly for those 1% full beam/dazzling far too bright headlamp drivers - you have to stop dead and wait for them to leave, as ive found waving your hand at them just makes them drive even slower.

Fantasia

I've tried cycling at night with lights - but I wouldn't recomend it. You're aware that your vulnerable. You can miss things on the road surface because your watching were cars are going, etc.

Drivers are not inclined to dip their headlights either - I would cycle on the pavement rather than be on an unlit road, or get off and walk.

fluff.

There's a 2-3mile stretch of unlit country road that I have never used at night, its straight with a few dips in and cars fly along it at 60-70+ in the day. Unfortunately this lies between me and work, and the only other option is an A road that can pass for a motorway, so commuting in winter is out unless I pluck up the courage to try the unlit path. Other than that I have no worries about night riding, small county roads I've never felt nervous on. I'm more nervous if I stop in the middle of nowhere and realise how dark it is.. bit of a city boy I guess

singlespeedexplosif

hillclimbingnut wrote:

jimmythecuckoo wrote:

I have only started cycling in the dark this winter and so far it has been great. I am sticking to well lit roads and have invested in powerful lights. SFSG.

If you ever feel hesitant about riding on dark roads, a fellow cyclist I met today said HE often found that drivers see you better on these roads as opposed to lit ones as they have no other distractions such as road lights pedestrians etc.

agreed totally. As long as you're well lit, as you should be, it's much easier to notice a single light on a dark road than one surrounded by lots of other lights and distractions. That's why I purposefully do most of my training on unlit roads! (That and the fact that in general, unlit roads have fewer cars on them anyway)

robthehungrymonkey

I passed someone on a bike last night (in my car) on my way back from work, and he was on a busy A road, wearing black, with no reflectors. And one tiny light, that I literally couldn't see until i was next to him.

Madness.