Mountain biking in the dark

Giraffoto

Almost as much fun as riding in the daylight. Don't overdo the lighting, lumens aren't everything: an excessively bright light may make it difficult to pick out details of the trail. I do nearly all my riding after the children are in bed, so for more than half the year it's in the dark!

coulddobetter

Decided to give it a go ......... purchasing an unused magic shine light via the classifieds here. ( dualing banjos here I come )

Maro

My lights arrived from hong kong 2 days ago, really looking foward to my first night ride. Not looking forward to coming across doggers in the local woods.

(Oh, and 30 yrs, not seen deliverance)

bartimaeus

Saw my first doggers on Wednesday... at least that's what we thought they must be - car parked up on a bit of fireroad with the windows well steamed up! Could have been drinking cocoa in the back seat I suppose.

mudsucker

I'm glad I've A) sparked a bit of interest in night riding and not the only crazy one and not the only one who hasn't seen deliverance!

I wonder what I might see at night? With doggers can't you just flash your lights and join in? Lol :-)

Kowalski675

Forum full of film philistines, lol. :roll:

bartimaeus

I have seen Deliverance... but I preferred Southern Comfort (a bit more recent. mind).

Kowalski675

Bartimaeus wrote:

I have seen Deliverance... but I preferred Southern Comfort (a bit more recent. mind).

Aye, Southern Comfort's a good one. I must've been about 9 when I first saw that, lol. I have both on VHS (remember those?...) in the loft.

apple eater

i know someone who prefers night riding to day riding, he's a bit of a funny fella so maybe night riding is code for something else?

i have deliverance but not yet watched it, maybe tonight during the storm of the century?


which southern comfort?

this one

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276515/plo ... _=tt_ov_pl

or this one

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083111/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Kowalski675

The latter, lol.

Maro

Went for my first ride in the dark last night, I don't think I was riding even half the pace as usual, on trails that I know fairly well, but there was no way I could have gone quicker.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it but I like going fast. I also underestimated how much rain has fallen in the 10 days since I rode last, the local trails are tight, twisty and rooty, those roots were like snipers trying to put me on the deck the whole time, and then I hit a boggy bit, the front wheel went in up to disc rotor then my foot was in 8 inches of muddy water, oops!

Looking forward to next week and the next night ride, will take the gopro to record the antics.

bartimaeus

apple eater wrote:

which southern comfort?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083111/?ref_=nv_sr_1

1981... music by Ry Cooder

Bigmitch

BigMitch41 wrote:

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

Make sure you take a Spare light/battery the cheap lights from china just turns off when battery get low one of my friends last year went into a deep pool (was funny) then it turned off as we where going over a wood bridge :shock:

Northwind

2 lights is definitely a good idea- even if you trust your lights 100% you can always break one.

Oh also, for motivation try starting your rides in daylight- riding through sunset is lovely and takes away the grimness.

lawman

Here's wiggles Top Ten tips for night riding, jolly good it is as well!

http://blog.wiggle.com/2013/10/29/top-1 ... ding-tips/

apple eater

Bartimaeus wrote:

apple eater wrote:

which southern comfort?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083111/?ref_=nv_sr_1

1981... music by Ry Cooder

3 and a half minutes of a chilling tune and tomorrow i'll have a look for the film.

and i'm no longer a deliverance philistine either

Big_Wheels

We have a group rule that only 1 light per rider is allowed and with light failures we often have even less than that! All good fun though.

Went out last night on a new trail. Had a rough encounter with a ditch a broke a pedal. Night riding is a great adventure, though seemingly a bit more expensive with all the kit and breakages!

TownyDC

1 light per rider, I need at least 2, 1 to flood the trail from my bars and one on the lid for directional light when you need turn into corners. I prefer night rides to day rides personally, although yes it means you have to ensure that your ride is looked after as I'm sure I wouldn't be popular dragging the wife out to come and collect me on a Sunday night when Downton was on.

carlos8135

I am thinking of taking my GHOST AMR out for a night time smashing over the christmas period. however last time i went out for some late night bike porn i had a big off, so plans are aloft for more lighting and more balls when attacking things. I am sure that a lack of speed was my downfall, IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN !!!!

Happy Biking !

Ulysses

coulddobetter wrote:

Have you seen the film deliverance ?

Saw it when I was a kid, scarred me.

TownyDC

carlos8135 wrote:

I am thinking of taking my GHOST AMR out for a night time smashing over the christmas period. however last time i went out for some late night bike porn i had a big off, so plans are aloft for more lighting and more balls when attacking things. I am sure that a lack of speed was my downfall, IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN !!!!

Happy Biking !

Went out last night for a 25 miler in the dark, great night for it, not too chilly, half moon, no clouds, ground quite sticky as a lot of the gloop has now gone due to a lack of rain.
Lots of fallen leaves now littering the trail which makes it the more interesting as you can't quite see what's laying beneath them, adds to a more exciting ride where you need to concentrate and pick your lines. Lots of fingers crossed and luck involved.
You'll soon "grow them balls" and get used to the lack of visible lines, I find it's always easier to follow someone.... eh Bruv!!!!



Dave

spongtastic

Riding in the dark's great fun, especially when you decide to cross what you think's a nice dry field that turns out to be liquid clay or follow a track that ends up being a deer run into the middle of the forest. I've ridden most of the coast stuff and trails around Colchester/Wivenhoe/Clacton and they're pretty easy, but totally different in the dark.

johnmcl7

I started off my mountain biking last year with night riding which was a bit of a steep learning curve in many areas (fitness, ability, lights etc.) but I did get used to it and at times preferred it over riding in the light as you only worry about what is right in front of you rather than the big drop that may or may not be to the side if you muck it up. I'm finding it a little tougher this year I think just after being spoiled with a great summer and with my ability being better I've had a few more close calls when bombing down some sections.

Light wise I'm surprised to see some people using just a single light unless I'm misunderstanding something. I usually ride with four Ultrafire 502B with Cree XMl-U2 lights, two on the bar (one powered up, one as a backup), one on the helmet and one in the pocket in case any of the riders run out of power or have issues with their lights.

John

tenfoot

TownyDC wrote:

You'll soon "grow them balls" and get used to the lack of visible lines, I find it's always easier to follow someone.... eh Bruv!!!!



Dave

When you can keep up

cycle monster

Borrowed a Hope Vision one from my LBS three years ago. Set ground rules i.e. never go out at night alone, always go where there is a good phone signal blah, blah. First venture on my own, on my favourite trail where there is sod all signal, never looked back. Nothing like it, no horses or walkers, other riders a rarity. You sail over things that make you think twice in daylight, a totally different riding experience. The best time to be out riding off road stuff.