preferred-google-button
log in
register

Night riding

  • Creator
    Topic
  • October 26, 2013 at 4:37 pm #20113
    Tom Amos

    Do you go out on the bike at night specifically to train? Do you have any tips? Ever had a mechanical in the dark?

    I went out on my bike the other night for the first time. I’ve commuted in the dark many times but going out for a training ride felt very different. I heard an owl hoot in the woods (had never heard that before), a fox ran out across the road in front of me and a bat flew right across the top of my head.

    I did often think whilst riding, I wouldn’t like to get a flat or a mechanical now because I’m in the middle of bloody nowhere and it would be a long walk back in cleats.

    Any tips on equipment or food to take?

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Replies
  • November 2, 2013 at 2:19 pm #761317
    0
    FluffyKittenofTindalos

    Tom Amos wrote:Have you ever

    Tom Amos wrote:
    Have you ever seen a deer run across the road?

    Certainly (Richmond park, anyone?)

    Also (and not just there) foxes, rabbits and squirrels. And the occasional unidentified creature that might have been a domestic cat, a badger or an Alien head-crab for all I could see of it.

    All of them seem to have more sense than dogs though. Dogs have all the smarts of a box-of-rocks! (“A fast moving object! I will adopt a carefully plotted intercept course with the front of it!”)

    November 2, 2013 at 1:37 pm #761315
    0
    Matt eaton

    I find pot holes the biggest
    I find pot holes the biggest problem when out in the dark. Even with decent lights they can be easy to miss, especially if its wet. I find that 28mm tyres help a bit. I’m now running MTB SPDs on all of my bikes which is helpful if I get a mechanical and have to walk any distance (either home or to find a source of light to fix my bike by). Walking on road cleats sucks. I’m lucky enough that I probably wouldn’t have to fix a mechanical anyway as I’d call for rescue or walk if close enough.

    I usually plan a route that sticks to fairly major roads as they tend to be a bit more pedictable and closer to help if I really get into trouble, like taking a spill. I had a scary moment not so long ago when I passed a parked car with its lights on full on an unlight rural road. As soon as I got past it I was blind for good few seconds; I was almost certain I was going to be jumped (but wasn’t). Although I think its fairly rare cyclists are sometimes targetted at night and this is worth considering. My routes are typically circular and don’t take me more than 5-7 miles from home as the crow flies so the odds are I’d be fairly close if I had a problem.

    November 2, 2013 at 11:24 am #761313
    0
    PJ McNally

    Leerf wrote:
    Cars not dipping

    Leerf wrote:

    Cars not dipping their headlights had us screaming at them

    This is why i run two lights on the bars, and a third, turned off, on the helmet. Turn good old number 3 on, point it in their face, usually gets their attention.

    Before, I used to make desperate arm-wavings forcefully down, shouting “dip your lights!”, but this is exhausting.

    Highly recommend one of these plus a cheapo nylon mounting block or two for your helmet (also available from dx.com):

    http://dx.com/p/sipik-sk-68-cree-xr-e-q5-260lm-1-mode-white-light-zooming-flashlight-grey-1-x-aa-158184

    November 2, 2013 at 8:27 am #761311
    0
    ragtimecyclist

    I once had a peacock jump out
    I once had a peacock jump out at me on a dark night…not sure if that’s any help?

    November 1, 2013 at 11:37 pm #761309
    0
    Neil753

    I enjoy cycling through the
    I enjoy cycling through the night. There’s nothing quite like riding quiet roads, with good lights, and not seeing another vehicle for sometimes hours at a time. Even if I’m out on my own, I can feel the benign spirits of other cyclists urging me on. I think they approve of my old Claud Butler.

    November 1, 2013 at 10:34 pm #761307
    0
    Leerf

    I was visiting Brighton this
    I was visiting Brighton this week and went out with a friend for an evening ride over the downs. Turned into one of the best, most peculiar rides. He had a decent front light and I had on a decent back light so together we formed a sort of tandem. Half the time I couldn’t see anything of the road ahead, it certainly honed my reactions as this was two days after the storm and there was loads of crap on the roads.
    I went over a fair few logs and sticks but we just ploughed on though it all. I’m convinced if it had been daylight we would have just tiptoed around. As it was we were cycling through a flooded lane at one point, both wondering if the road would just disappear and we would end up in a river.
    Other times we were riding through beautiful tunnels of trees which felt amazing, at one point I really couldn’t tell if I was going up or down, very strange sensation.
    Cars not dipping their headlights had us screaming at them but again, we just had to trust our instincts and carry on. Also, due to the focus I had to put on the immediate road ahead I totally forgot about my legs, lungs, brain etc.
    I think I’ll definitely go out at night again, especially where I live in the South Pennines, but with a full set of lights.

    November 1, 2013 at 4:04 pm #761305
    0
    Wolfshade

    Tom Amos wrote:Have you ever

    Tom Amos wrote:
    Have you ever seen a deer run across the road?

    Had a herd(? or what ever the collective term for them is) of them run past me one day, fortunately it was day time but still lots of those beasts running very close to you is not fun.

    As for the Originial question. Same stuff I always take, jersey pocket is full of spares and bits and peices. I do take an emergency front light out with me (it is rechargeable you see, unlike me rear which is battery powered).

    Winter nights can get cold so make sure you are dressed appropriately.

    One winter mronging on top of my highest hill in snow my free hub collapsed, no shelter nowhere to go and not enough clothes. Brrr!

    November 1, 2013 at 3:17 pm #761303
    0
    Anonymous

    Tom Amos wrote:Have you ever

    Tom Amos wrote:
    Have you ever seen a deer run across the road?

    Yes, but only in the car. Bikes aren’t generally noisy enough to startle them, although occasionally they cross anyway.

    Riding at night on road is just like the day except darker. At night in a forest is something else. Absolute pitch black everywhere apart from the pool of light from your Ebay Cree floodlight, the green, orange, yellow or red blobs of animal eyes, and the murderers*.

    * doggers.

    November 1, 2013 at 2:57 pm #761301
    0
    keef66

    Tom Amos wrote:Have you ever

    Tom Amos wrote:
    Have you ever seen a deer run across the road?

    Lots of deer round our way especially at night. Twice I’ve had them crossing the road in front of me and behind so I was effectively in the herd. Hearing the scrabbling of hooves on the road and clattering of antlers as they crash through the hedge gives me a pretty good idea that I’d come off worse if I ever have the misfortune to hit one

    October 31, 2013 at 12:41 pm #761299
    0
    madhouse

    Of course, it being cold and
    Of course, it being cold and dark won’t stop me getting out!

    Apart from lights I take exactly the same stuff as I would during the day.

    As for routes, I tend to stick to local ones that drivers expect to see cyclists on rather than head further afield – helps for both safety and ability to get home in the event of an unfixable problem (less availability of a lift).

    October 30, 2013 at 2:29 pm #761297
    0
    thereverent

    Take the normal tools, spare
    Take the normal tools, spare tube, phone, cash etc. Extra lights and batteries are good. A head torch is useful if you do have a mechanical. maybe an spare extra layer in case you get cold.

    I occationally do training rides in Richmond park aftr dark when the cars have gone. So nice when your on your own on clear roads.
    Do watch out for wildlife in the road or jumping out.

    October 30, 2013 at 1:45 pm #761295
    0
    Sadly Biggins

    Bagpuss wrote:And if you’re

    Bagpuss wrote:
    And if you’re in the countryside remember this, all those strange noises behind you are not your imagination. So pedal faster. ;-)

    too much protein? Could help with the latter too 😉

    October 30, 2013 at 1:27 pm #761293
    0
    Tom Amos

    Have you ever seen a deer run
    Have you ever seen a deer run across the road?

    October 30, 2013 at 12:46 pm #761291
    0
    keef66

    I do most of my riding in the
    I do most of my riding in the evenings. I tend to wait till after 7:30 when the traffic has all but gone.

    Wrap up warm enough in case you have a mechanical.
    Pump, tube, levers, multitool, chain link, disposable gloves.
    Take a fully charged mobile phone.
    Decent lights front and rear and replacement batteries for both.
    Make sure your tyres are properly inflated
    If you’re feeling nervous, choose a circular route so you’re never too far from home.
    Give way to anything with antlers.

    October 29, 2013 at 10:16 pm #761289
    0
    700c

    Don’t think I’d do it for
    Don’t think I’d do it for training, (that’s what the turbo is for), although my evening cycle commute is now in the dark.

    I don’t quite feel comfortable doing late training rides in pitch black (I live in the middle of the countryside), somehow it seems too much of a risk compared to simply cycling during my commute with the traffic!

    Also I very much doubt local drivers where I live would be expecting a lone cyclist on a country lane at 9 pm, whereas at 5.30 with the evening traffic, it’s more common to see cyclists about.

    Frequently drivers will not dip their lights, either, when coming across cyclists..

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total)
1 2
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.