Night riding

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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..

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

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!

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!

What did the fox say?

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.

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

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

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)