Night-time Riding

[Deleted member 4366]

Saneagle and I were thinking about going for a ride but he had to collect his boy from school leaving about 45mins before it got dark, so instead we did a bit of tatting with our bikes in his garage. We fitted a couple of Jeremy''s FET switches and brackets to hold the front lights better. I'll take some photos tomorrow. By the time we finished and had a couple of tea, it was about 19:00.Then came the suggestion for a night-time ride.

We didn't want to go on any main roads because it would be boring and a high chance of encountering drunk drivers, so we decided on a 21 mile circuit of The Wrekin along unlit mainly single track roads. Saneagle had the single Cree T6 LED light, which gives a very intense long range beam, while as I had the tripple T6 one, that gives a much more spread-out beam. Between us, we had enough light to light up the road to easily see where we were going and hazards such as mud and pot-holes. We enjoyed it so much, like a couple of kids playing out at night-time. We had the roads virtually to ourselves and it was easy to see the few cars coming from miles away and every one dipped for us. I reached speeds of over 30mph several times down the windy unlit roads. We stopped for a pint by the river at Ironbridge and then made the final 6 mile leg home along the cycle-route that runs mainly through woods into the town park. It really was fun.

So, instead of sitting in front of the telly suffering from SADS, you should give it a go. We enjoyed it more than a daytime ride. Our batteries for our lights easily lasted the two hours of the ride.

 

[103Alex1]

Night riding in the countryside is great with decent lights - you can take your speed up so much more confidently with the advance warning you get by seeing headlights of oncoming cars a way in advance .

Unfortunately I didn't manage to escape the urban perimeter tonight but other than the odd police van camped outside local boozers and tiddly driver to move aside for (they're mostly pretty harmless), the streets were almost deserted. Everyone tucked up in post-office drinks do's nicely out of harm's way ! Took great pleasure in taking my "notionally legal at some point, maybe" bike up to 22.5mph (unassisted) through the city centre one-way system trunk roads where I usually have to dodge in and out of multiple buses, taxis, bad drivers and hoardes of pedestrians. It was really great. Not as great as being out on the tracks, but still great.

 

[mountainsport]

Hi d8veh

I'm really and truely feeling you here,because night riding is different from day riding,the word tranquility pops into mind. Quite often i do go for night rides but,the difference is between you and i is that you have a riding buddy which doubles the FUN!!. When down your local pub have ONLY one on me OK.

Mountainsport.

 

[Cakey]

My fav time . I ride over the peaks at night the wildlife is amazing.

 

[amigafan2003]

I love riding at night - best time to particpate in some cheeky trail riding as well

 

[cwah]

I tried several bike light, from the single XML-T6 light to the big torch with 3 XML T6.

Now I used the magic shine:
Magicshine MJ-880 LED Bike Light Torch MASSIVE 2000 LUMENS!! upgrade from mj-872 | eBay

This light is bright but way too focused. Everybody on the street and even bus driver tells me that it's too bright.

Actually it's not too bright, it's too focused. It's not very convenient on the road where you need a large visibility area to prevent accidents.

Still looking for a strong and wide light... Maybe I'll steal one of these motorbike light

 

[Eaglerider]

I also like riding at night, its dark all the time at the moment so little option. Good lights are essential though to spot the potholes, which are currently reaching biblical proportions. Last night whilst driving to a Christmas do, a large pothole had removed the left front wheel and suspension of no less than 8 cars, complete pandemonium, road blocked and goodness knows what. One of the victims had a new Audi RS5. He only picked it up 2 days ago, now in the hedge with the front smashed in and a wheel missing!!

Nonetheless, as mentioned, the solitude and quiet in the Sussex countryside at night is most exhilarating, and at times can be a bit scary, and I have to pedal really hard to escape 'The monsters' that come out at night on the marshes! OOooaarrrrhh!

I have a single Cree T6, fantastic light. Thing is though, will it ever stop raining?

 

[RobF]

I have a single Cree T6, fantastic light. Thing is though, will it ever stop raining?

I don't use ebay, so would this be a reasonable buy:

CREE XM-L T6 LED 1000 lumen Cycling Bicycle / Bike Light, HeadLight/ Head Lamp: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

 

[Eaglerider]

Hi RobF,

That looks similar to mine although the light body is a bit shorter than the version I got. I think mine was 1600 lumens, buts that's all nonsense anyway. I'm sure the one you linked to would be fine, unless you plan serious off roading.

In the woods its almost too bright, the shadows cast through the trees can play tricks on you, it's all a bit spooky, and that's before I get to the pub! Its great to see all the animals eyes light up when illuminated by the Mighty Cree, makes you realise just how many creatures are about in the dark hours.

 

[RobF]

Hi RobF,

That looks similar to mine although the light body is a bit shorter than the version I got. I think mine was 1600 lumens, buts that's all nonsense anyway. I'm sure the one you linked to would be fine, unless you plan serious off roading.

In the woods its almost too bright, the shadows cast through the trees can play tricks on you, it's all a bit spooky, and that's before I get to the pub! Its great to see all the animals eyes light up when illuminated by the Mighty Cree, makes you realise just how many creatures are about in the dark hours.

Thanks, I've been thinking about some night riding for a while.

It's been raining a lot, but I expect there will be some cold, dry weather in the next month or two.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I don't use ebay, so would this be a reasonable buy:

CREE XM-L T6 LED 1000 lumen Cycling Bicycle / Bike Light, HeadLight/ Head Lamp: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

That's the one. Best bang-for-buck light for night--time riding.

 

[saneagle]

Yes it was a fantastic experience last night. Just as d8veh has said, it was fun. I hope to go out again at night soon as it is dry.

Mountainsport, yes it is a lot better when there is more than 1 person out riding. It would not be as much fun not having my friend with me to have a chat and pint with.

I hope you are all enjoying your winter rides as much as d8veh and myself are.

When not riding, I enjoy time in my garage tatting !!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

We went out for another nice ride today - about 35 miles finishing with Ironbridge to Bridgenorth along the river in the dark. part of 45 cycle route no. 45.
Here's a photo of us in the daylight before we stopped for a beer while it got dark. Two things to note: The flooded River Severn in the background, and the rather nice peak on Steve's helmet, which he removed from another one and glued to his Aldi snowboarding helmet.

We both made one of our Cree T6 LED lights a permanent fixing so that it can't be easily nicked with this natty little bracket on the steering head:

 

[neptune]

Lovely photographs. I have fitted a peak to my Aldi helmet today. I have used the peak from a baseball cap. The good thing about hot glue is that it can be removed if required. I have given up with the coke bottle visor for now and will be testing the peak tomorrow- light rain forecast. I was in Aldi`s today, and they still have quite a stock of helmets in. Had another look at the ski goggles. Definitely too dark for me, and dont look to be compatible with glasses. I can`t see well enough to ride after dark, but might consider it with a trusted companion on off road cycle routes.

 

[morphix]

I enjoy riding at night too, particularly in the autumn when it's getting dark a bit earlier but not freezing cold. There's something magical about riding electric at night and just cruising around And if you bump into hooligans lurking around at night, you always feel safe on an electric bike, a twist of the throttle and you're gone..

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I enjoy riding at night too, particularly in the autumn when it's getting dark a bit earlier but not freezing cold. There's something magical about riding electric at night and just cruising around And if you bump into hooligans lurking around at night, you always feel safe on an electric bike, a twist of the throttle and you're gone..

Having very bright lights helps too. You can see the hooligans clearly. All they can see is massive bright lights coming at them. They've no idea what it is, so they fear the worse.

 

[morphix]

Having very bright lights helps too. You can see the hooligans clearly. All they can see is massive bright lights coming at them. They've no idea what it is, so they fear the worse.

I was once riding home and a gang of hooligans decide it might be fun to block the road and stop me.. until that is they encountered the "25mph fist". Basically held my fist out straight and put the throttle on and called the nearest ones bluff.. its you or me son! He decided it wise to step aside.

 

[neptune]

Road tested the new peak today. For part of the journey, it rained quite heavily. The peak worked quite well, keeping most of the rain off my glasses. I think that the rain is still getting in through the helmet vents, as I got the odd drop of water dripping down my nose from inside the helmet. I have taped over the vents inside the helmet shell, but may need to tape on the outside, or if all else fails, try some silicon sealer. My cheap waterproof overshoes worked ok, but I got a lot of water through my over trousers. Might need to replace those soon. Still enjoyed the trip, although other cyclists were thin on the ground.

 

[Jeremy]

It's been raining a lot, but I expect there will be some cold, dry weather in the next month or two.

There's nothing quite like an optimist, is there?

 

[andy slow coach]

I used to ride a lot in the dark, long Audax rides (like this one), trail quest mountain bike orienteering, and commuting.

Used Lumicycle HID lights for many years now (I don't think they make them anymore, LED's seem the way forward), they must be about 8 years old now and still going strong!