Night Road Riding

R8JimBob88

Apart from the commute, what's the general thought on going on a sizeable ride in the dark, say after 9pm? Is it something that people actively do or try to avoid.

Reason being I really want to get out and about today but the mrs is dragging me shopping to spend a load of Xmas vouchers so wont be free until well after dark. I live close to the peak district so the roads are completely unlit and quiet. I have a hope vision 1 front light and from what I have read, that should be enough to tootle along at a comfortable pace.

I used to do a lot of walking/hiking/mountaineering and loved nothing more than hiking out deep into the peaks in the middle of the night to test my navigational skills. (damn that sounds strange :shock: )

Anyone else get the urge to do this?

rake

i find that if you pick right roads at night i rarely get passed by a car.

rick_chasey

Just be aware that in winter you regularly get a lot of frost on the road that's not always washed away by cars driving past, since there aren't many.

scwxx77

I tend to stick to roads that I use often so I'm not surprised by large pot holes that tend to appear at this time of year.

Riding in the dark can be a lot of fun. With the stars out and dodging the odd bat etc.

mrushton

The audax community manage it regularly - try www.yacf.co.uk If you are considering night riding, a hub dynamo and a good light are good buys or alternatively a decent battery powered light As above, remember that side roads may have more frost etc. In rural areas, you can see another vehicle quite a way off.

Stewie Griffin

scwxx77 wrote:

I tend to stick to roads that I use often so I'm not surprised by large pot holes that tend to appear at this time of year.

Riding in the dark can be a lot of fun. With the stars out and dodging the odd bat etc.

+1 riding at night (lit up properly) is fun, don't have to dodge bats here though.

freehub

I like night riding and since some days I don't wake up till 12pm I can't avoid it.

I take 3x pairs of AA batteries with me for backup and that should be good for up to 300 miles of riding not that I'd do that much.

muffin top

I went for my first night ride on New Year's Eve - it was brilliant. It turned what would have been a dull short ride into an adventure.

Like others here I rode a route I know well. This helped me avoid the pot holes. I have a good light, but you can't see as far ahead as you can by daylight, so advance warning of obstacles is reduced. The faster you go the less time you have to react. Fast descents can be hairy!

Until approaching cars dipped their lights I couldn't see a thing.

The advice about frost is worth noting. Generally I find that with an air tempreture of 2C there can be ice on the road. In the dark I couldn't see the ice.

Rear lights: make it easy for drivers to see you. I took a 10 LED rear light, then clipped another flashing red light to my right ankle: this encourages cars to give you plenty of space.

Last thing: how would you fix a puncture in the dark? A head torch might help.

Have fun.

Karl2010

Ive done it a few times but not since the cold temps. The last one was in November.

Like everyone else i use a route i know. Im well lit with lights and ankle reflectors.

badly_dubbed

i was out for a quick hurl tonight around 7 in the dark cant knock it

APIII

Not done it much this winter, but I would normally do a night ride once a week. You do wonder 'what the f**k am I doing out here in the cold' a few times, but in the main it's good fun. Errant wildlife is the biggest problem around here, although the biggest short soiler I had was caused by the dog walker who upon seeing my bright headlights approaching him on a country lane, decided to hide behind a tree on my left. I didn't even realise he was there until his rabid alsatian lunged at me as I passed. I'm pretty sure I shrieked like some 8 year old girl :oops: