Night group riding

Rodu

Hello,

I've been reading the posts on group riding to pick up a few etiquette pointers. I am doing the Moonriders London to Brighton setting off at 11pm. Wondered if anyone had any tips for riding in the dark and in a group, tips for kit and so on.

For example, would it be bad form to wear a bright head torch and to look over your shoulder to the rider behind :-)

I don't ride in groups and I am sure there will be plenty of other newbs so all in all this should provide a few 'exciting' moments.

Keith1983

Make sure your rear light isn't on it's annoying, not to mention illegal if it's the only rear light, flashing mode!

Down the Road

Have a good set of lights so you can do a turn at either end of the bunch. don't rely on your head torch as it will drive you nuts in the real dark with it moving all the time

Above is incorrect you must run a rear light and it can be flashing.

that law was changed back in 2005

stuaff

As an FNRttC regular (we're the people who the Moonriders organisers nicked their idea from), I'd recommend having a look at our organiser's blog, he covers most of the basics.
Key parts I'd emphasise:
1. Buy decent lights. You need to lights to see, not just 'be seen by', and your regular commute job probably won't cut it. Hope Vision 1 well worth the money for the front.
2. Don't ride in others' wheel tracks, and warn others of hazards like potholes and gravel.

And if you haven't actually paid your fee for that rip-off, don't...£89 for what they're offering is ridiculous. Our charity ride is £15, with everything they provide.

Rodu

Thanks, flashing might be even more annoying so maybe I will go non flash.

I know that bikes must be sold with a bell and reflectors but according to the law, should I be riding with reflectors in the night? I pulled them off long ago as the consensus was it is juts not cool on a road bike. Especially the wheel reflectors, they made the Mavic Ksyrium wheels look terrible. For funtional purposes, it might be a good thing to have on though for this ride.

Rodu

Rodu wrote:

...Mavic Ksyrium wheels ...

Actually they are Aksium but I fantasise about the Ksyrium sometimes :-)

Keep the suggestions coming, I appreaciate them all. Food for thought.

Down the Road

Legally speaking Orange pedal reflectors and white or orange wheel ones. I have ridden a night for over 25 years and never fitted either. Not been pulled over but seeing this is an organised ride you might want to check with the organiser. They may have an insurance policy on this.

I'd leave my light flashing My light doesn't annoy me and if i'm on the back I want the cars to know I'm a bike

+1 for good lights 120 lumen or more and Pref about 200 as it will be DARK out of the towns

cougie

I swear by my Magicshine torch. I used to love my Fenix that kicked out 100 lumens - that was a massive improvement on the cateye bike light I had - but the Magicshine is the first torch I've had that you could really ride at night with without straining the eyes.

If you havent pedal reflectors and you do a lot of riding at night - you can get reflective tape in all colours (including black) - so you can apply it all over the bike.


I'd go with as much reflective kit and lights as you can have really -its not a legal thing - just a 'avoiding getting run over thing' - and bike lights do fail sometimes - so always have a spare.

smurfylicious

There's a useful article on the legalities of what you need when it's dark:

http://leedscyclists.org.uk/are-you-legal/

smurfylicious

StuAff wrote:

And if you haven't actually paid your fee for that rip-off, don't...£89 for what they're offering is ridiculous. Our charity ride is £15, with everything they provide.

How much of the £89 goes to charity?

Been here:

http://www.moonriders.co.uk/faq.php

but couldn't find an answer.

cougie

I'd say its £89 just for the ride?

Its like the womens Race For Life. Entry fee just covers the race. You have to raise charity funds yourself.

merak

Sheesh! £89! If none of that goes to charity that is one hell of a rip-off. I wouldn't normally condone this, but if it's such a blatant scam, there's nothing to stop you raising your sponsorship, turning up and doing the ride as it's on public roads and they can't stop you, and then just sending the sponsorship + the £89 you'd have spent on the entry fee to the charities of your choice. Spend the day in Brighton and then bung your bike on a train back to Victoria later in the day. Or ride back in the daylight. It's ok to charge a reasonable fee for organised events otherwise we wouldn't have them but £89!!

cougie

Does sound quite fun - but I think I'd rather do it off my own bat. I've ridden 50 milers at night down unlit country tracks. I'd not stop en route - so all I'd pay for is the breakfast, return trip and the assurance of back up. Is that worth £89 to me ? Probably not.

If you're inexperienced and crap at punctures - you may think its a good deal.

gilesjuk

Keith1983 wrote:

Make sure your rear light isn't on it's annoying, not to mention illegal if it's the only rear light, flashing mode!

Totally wrong. It is legal to have only a rear flashing light attached to the bike. The law was changed.

alan_sherman

Flashing lights are horrible for the cyclist behind so leave on constant mode. The bright flash causes the iris to contract so you can't see as well. Also it gives people headaches.

cougie

The latest Smart light has a group ride mode that switches off the flashing. I knock it off if I'm riding with friends - but it'll be a pain if you keep getting in and out of groups on this ride ?