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Night riding

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  • 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?

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Viewing 12 replies - 16 through 27 (of 27 total)
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  • October 29, 2013 at 8:03 pm #761287
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    Northernbike

    I ride after work during the
    I ride after work during the winter and my tips would be the obvious ones really:

    1. save night rides for dry, still, mild nights; limited view of the road surface means you don’t want standing water or ice to worry about, or poor visibility. decent bike lights can be seen for miles on a clear night, not so in fog or rain
    2. don’t venture too far from home; do laps of a local route rather than a long out and back and stick to familiar roads
    3. wrap up warm
    4. ride wide from the verge to have a chance of missing creatures emerging from the side. Rabbits are the most likely thing to hit as they are small and quick and there are loads of them
    5. get a proper builder’s reflective vest – these stand out brilliantly even if someone shines a torch or bike light on them never mind a car headlight
    6. get reflective ankle bands which move up and down and identify you as a cyclist
    7. use reliable kit; lights you know how long they’ll burn on a charge, tyres you know you can afford not to see every thorn or sharp chipping in the road on, generally dull but dependable. Mobile coverage can be patchy and a break down in the cold, damp and pitch dark, with only a limited amount of lighting time left is NOT the same as the same breakdown on a summer afternoon
    8. because the cold and damp is not great for your body and good headlights don’t burn forever I tend to go for the short and sharp rather the long and slow; it’s a faf to get rider and bike ready so make it count. Winter nights are not for three hours trundles around the countryside; save them for sunday morning

    Riding on a dry still moonlit night is exhilarating and I really miss it when bad weather stops me getting out during the week

    October 28, 2013 at 10:03 am #761285
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    SideBurn

    Potholes….
    I think because
    Potholes….
    I think because you have reduced visibility you get less warning and so you are even more at their mercy. Noting where they are on familiar routes and notifying the CTC ‘Fill that hole’ website where appropriate. Otherwise making sure your tyres are pumped up properly can help prevent a pinch flat.
    Having a good head torch is great, both when riding the bike and if you stop for a flat or mechanical.
    I like to have a head torch and a handlebar torch, with good lights riding at night is great! Having a bat picking a large moth out of my head torch beam was pretty memorable!

    October 26, 2013 at 10:57 pm #761283
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    Tom Amos

    The Fox said, what the hell
    The Fox said, what the hell are you doing out at this time of night?

    Joking aside, I was back home before 9 o clock. That’s not particularly late but obviously in the dark, when it’s pitch black, it feels late. Maybe the message is, get out there and ride.

    October 26, 2013 at 9:38 pm #761281
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    Bedfordshire Clanger

    Decent tyres are essential.
    Decent tyres are essential. You don’t want to be fixing a flat in the freezing cold dark. Other than that, cover up and enjoy!

    October 26, 2013 at 8:30 pm #761279
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    Leviathan

    What did the fox say?
    What did the fox say?

    October 26, 2013 at 7:28 pm #761277
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    Tom Amos

    Confession. I heard all those
    Confession. I heard all those strange noises behind me and, even at the age of 41, they did make me pedal faster.

    One section I heard a dog barking and it was too late to turn back. Just had to pedal faster.

    October 26, 2013 at 7:14 pm #761275
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    William Black

    Do lots of night riding
    Do lots of night riding through winter, both off and on the road.

    I take pretty much whatever I do in the day, I run Exposure lights front and rear and carry a piggy back, should the worst happen. but also run a cateye flashing one and a Hope Vision One on flash, again should their be some other catastrophic failure but after work you know you’re only ever really going to get a 2-3Hour tops ride done.

    As most of the rides are now going to be on the winter bike, it’s mostly built like an ox so tend not to worry about mechanicals…touch wood.

    October 26, 2013 at 7:11 pm #761273
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    Bagpuss

    glynr36 wrote:The usual, plus

    glynr36 wrote:
    The usual, plus ‘main lights’ and a set of back up ones.

    Exactly this. It’s not really any different to going out in daylight, if you’re in the middle of nowhere during the day and had a mechanical what would you do? Either fix it or call someone for help. Let someone know where you’re going, how long you’ll be and take a phone.

    A decent light on your helmet adds a lot to a good bar light, doesn’t have to cost a fortune and makes a world of difference to cornering and wildlife spotting.

    And if you’re in the countryside remember this, all those strange noises behind you are not your imagination. So pedal faster. 😉

    October 26, 2013 at 7:11 pm #761271
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    Tom Amos

    Just wanted to add to my
    Just wanted to add to my original comment, thinking about it logically, going out on a long night ride is no different from a day ride. If you’re stuck 50kms from home in the dark, is that any different from being stuck in daylight?

    October 26, 2013 at 6:56 pm #761269
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    badkneestom

    I’m really curious about this
    I’m really curious about this myself, keep posting peeps

    October 26, 2013 at 6:27 pm #761267
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    glynr36

    The usual, plus ‘main lights’
    The usual, plus ‘main lights’ and a set of back up ones.

    October 26, 2013 at 5:12 pm #761265
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    therevokid

    take along the same as I do
    take along the same as I do when out during daylight hours plus a couple of
    spare AAA or CR2032 batteries for the back lights (just in case :D)

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