Mountain biking in the dark

mudsucker

Hello,

I've seen people biking in the dark and as winter is coming and the light going I have decided I fancy a go at off roading in the dark. I have just purchased one of magicshine's finest to strap to my Stumpjumper FSR so I think I should be set lighting wise.

I was just wondering if anyone on her does it and if so, any tips?

Thanks,

Ben

TownyDC

be afraid....be very afraid......

ddraver

When you re driving to the trail, have the Rock in Rio version of Fear of the Dark by Iron Maiden playing at full volume

The Rookie

If you are riding solo be sure someone knows where you are going and when you'll be back, you don't want a heavy off and be left there all night!

Oh and as TDC says, it can sometimes feel like someone is following you, don't worry, you are not paranoid IT'S TRUE.....arghhhhhhhhhhhh

bigmitch41

Yep Ive ordered a light from China last week, looking forward to getting sh*t scared down some local trails/plantations, nothing too technical for the above reason of spending the night with a broken limb in the middle of a zombi infested wood on my own. Going to be good just to get some miles in during Winter, just hope this light turns up ok and I dont blow the house up with the cheap battery pack/charger

mudsucker

I'm not afraid of the dark, it's the things that hide in it that bothers me!

Best thing to do I imagine is to just start small and work up when I get more (hopefully not over) confident. Just seems a waste to not do as much riding in the winter. Local woods and tow path to start I think.

I did have a go a while ago with a cheap Cateye light I have. Couldn't see a lot but the feeling of speed was immense, really heighted the senses. Quite a rush!

Hopefully I don't get torn limb from limb by zombies

kajjal

Take a spare light with you and even a small torch just in case of repairs. The cheapo Chinese lights are OK but unreliable so be prepared.

Apart from that do a reccy in the day so you don't ride off the edge of a quarry etc.

bartimaeus

Tell someone you're out and when you will be back... take a phone, and take a spare light just in case. If you will be doing any riding on road then make sure you have a rear light and some reflective kit... I feel safer off road than on when it's dark.

I'd also ride familiar trails - at least to start with. Part of the fun is getting a new perspective on familiar places... by all accounts only 650b is more effective in making the trails come alive.

If you've got mates to ride with that's also good... solo night riding is also fun, but a bit of company is always welcome and it will make you feel safer.

lostboysaint

is brilliant, end of story. Relax, keep your head up, flow.

p44cmb

If you go alone NEVER look behind you into the darkness.

If you go with mates NEVER be the one at the back. it's always the one at the back that gets picked off first.

Mojo_666

mudsucker wrote:

Hello,

I've seen people biking in the dark and as winter is coming and the light going I have decided I fancy a go at off roading in the dark. I have just purchased one of magicshine's finest to strap to my Stumpjumper FSR so I think I should be set lighting wise.

I was just wondering if anyone on her does it and if so, any tips?

Thanks,

Ben

Get a light for your helmet too, so u can see where you look, it will also serve as a backup.

bartimaeus

Go night riding on Halloween - it should be safe then because "Creatures of the night shy away from Halloween. They find it all much too crass.” (Rupert Giles - 'Fear, Itself')

RandG

lostboysaint wrote:

is brilliant, end of story..

yeah what he says, and what others have said also

Solo riding in the dark for the first few times is very spooky, like, you'll probably ride harder than you ever have before but it is soo much fun once you get used to it. 8)

step83

Mojo_666 wrote:

Get a light for your helmet too, so u can see where you look, it will also serve as a backup.

really good advice your head is usually pointing where your looking handle bars less so Also pack spare batteries you never know if one set will go flat.

bartimaeus

And don't be a wuss - night riding is suitable for Family & Kids

lawman

Wiggle might be doing a blog entry in the next week on the top ten tips for night riding, should be very informative

bartimaeus

lawman wrote:

Wiggle might be doing a blog entry in the next week on the top ten tips for night riding, should be very informative

I will watch for that, if only to see whether one of the tips is "Keep your friend's lights in view, as they probably know where they are going even if you have no idea where you are (still)".

schmako

Its pretty scary in when you stop for a rest in the glentress forest on a misty night and switch the lights off!

homers_double

It's awesome!

Tell someone where you're going and the first few times ride familiar trails, that way if your light dies you've half a chance of getting home.

Have two lights, bars and helmet, if you get a flat you can see what you're doing.

Don't look in the undergrowth and don't be afraid of the eyes, it's just a bunny rabbit.

rockmonkeysc

Have your first night ride in Longleat forest. It's worth making the trip, the wolves howling and lions roaring as you are alone in the forest add to the atmosphere.
Just look out for the doggers.

coulddobetter

Have you seen the film deliverance ?

TownyDC

Started night rides a few years ago, first light was a hope 1, this was ok but after a while wanted more lumens so bought a magic shine for the bars and an ultra fire for the lid. Having directional light where you look makes night riding technical trails more of a possibility. We tend to do set routes but vary them every Wednesday and Sunday. Had badgers, foxes and rabbits run out in front of us and also a white owl flying just above our heads following us down the trail. Love night rides, prefer them to day time rides as in theory the trails are less busy, you can put the hammer down without the worry of ploughing into someone. If there are people out walking on the trails in the dark and they don't see you coming from your light beam then there's something wrong with them, trails seem faster, you need your wits about you sometimes but it's great fun.

mudsucker

Wow thanks for all the replies, some great advice. Getting a headtorch sounds like a good idea so think ill get myself one of those.

So, first proper ride in the dark tonight. 17 miles along a gravel and mud path by the coast which goes in and out of the woods. Thought I'd start easy and work up to something more taxing. I absolutely loved it and was riding around with a silly grin on my face! Encountered a few rabbits darting around in front of me but was about it.

Very impressed with my new front light I got today (Magicshine MJ880U) which on full power was like having a car headlight on my bars. Made my old lights look very lame indeed.

Riding in Longleat sounds fun, just so long as no animals escape and see me a dinner!

I'll be sure to look out for Wiggle's guide on night riding places as I want to do a lot more that's for sure.

Ben :-)

Kowalski675

coulddobetter wrote:

Have you seen the film deliverance ?

Has anybody not seen Deliverance?

Squeal like a piiiig...

mudsucker

No I haven't seen it. If I do want to carry on riding in the dark I'm guessing I don't want to see it :-)

Kowalski675

mudsucker wrote:

No I haven't seen it. If I do want to carry on riding in the dark I'm guessing I don't want to see it :-)

Are you a youngster?

mudsucker

I'm 30 so no not really! Must have just passed me by

cooldad

Before you were born.

Kowalski675

cooldad wrote:

Before you were born.

It was released a year before I was born, but I've seen it more than once, lol.

welshkev

I've never seen it either.

but yeah, night riding is awesome and as mojo said, deffo get a helmet light too as you look where you're going, not always where the bike is pointing

ddraver

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Have your first night ride in Longleat forest. It's worth making the trip, the wolves howling and lions roaring as you are alone in the forest add to the atmosphere.

I'm desperate to do this now!

(oh and 29yrs and never seen deliverance)