Mountain Biking - Night Riding

Went for my first night ride last night!!! What a great way to see the woods, through a halo of light. Went out by myself, needless to say it's a bit scarey, every sound is either a bear or a werewolf! Any tips from the experienced night riders out there? It seems you can ride all technical single track, but just a little slower. Happy riding.

First rule of riding at night: Do not ride by yourself.:eek:

I know. But, I was so psyched to finally have a light system, I figured the well known local fire roads would be no problem, but needless to say no one had told me about the werewolfs!!!

night riding is scary ****. i did it at a 12 hour race with only a bar mount and next time i'm definately getting a head mount. It's not cool when you cant see your line 3' in front of you b/c you're countersteering into the turn

Go ride, don't worry about the Boogie-Man.

Just tell somebody where your going and when you will be back.

I've been night riding trials for three years, no worry's, just be careful

I do my night riding in twisty singletrack, it's freaky and fun at the same time. I think it makes my skills better, no distractions and a clearer sense of timing and speed in the trails. I use a Nite Rider Digital Headtrip, it's ok, but it's a good thing my riding buddies use Nite Rider Storm (HIDs) lights. I'm saving up to get my own.

What about any stories for roadies.. Traffic is lighter.. My thing about night riding- since you should ride more carefully- do you get a good workout.. Do think a good light system and enough reflective stuff you can be seen? Don't like way cars move up twisty hills at night. Motorists don't know how to stay to the center of the road and out of the bike lane.. that is asking too much. For all that they have a problem in the daylight!

I use the storm HID, helmet mount, and have actually turned faster laps at night on some of the local trails than i do during the day :eek:

i think that road bikers who ride at night are stupid. CARS CANNOT SEE YOU! Back when i had my permit, i had to do night driving to get my permenant license, and i almost ran over this biker who was riding in the middle of the road. I was going 25 mph, (not fast) with my high beams on. You would think that these ADULTS (who presumably have driven a car) who are riding these bikes would know that they are not visible from a car

As for mountain bikers, it doesn't sound like a good idea either, depth perception and vision is effected at night, and on a twisty singletrack, it seems to me that i would fall a lot.

Originally posted by Phatman
As for mountain bikers, it doesn't sound like a good idea either, depth perception and vision is effected at night, and on a twisty singletrack, it seems to me that i would fall a lot.

Don't knock 'til you tried it.:p

I ride almost every evening/night I just assume that cars can't see me and ride accordingly. I use a flashing rear reflector. I usually only turn on my headlights in dark trails. I like to live dangerously.

Originally posted by Phatman
i think that road bikers who ride at night are stupid. CARS CANNOT SEE YOU! Back when i had my permit, i had to do night driving to get my permenant license, and i almost ran over this biker who was riding in the middle of the road. I was going 25 mph, (not fast) with my high beams on. You would think that these ADULTS (who presumably have driven a car) who are riding these bikes would know that they are not visible from a car

As for mountain bikers, it doesn't sound like a good idea either, depth perception and vision is effected at night, and on a twisty singletrack, it seems to me that i would fall a lot.

I doubt you've come across a road biker with a Niterider taillight yet :) They're so powerful I feel sorry for anyone unlucky enough to get stuck behind me at a stoplight at night. It's some hardcore power.

I've done a lot of nighttime off-roading on singletrack and doubletrack. IMHO it is best to tackle stuff you know, and leave some room for error (a freshly-fallen tree for instance).

A helmet-mounted light and a bar-mounted light complement eachother really well, if you don't mind spending the money. The bar-mounted light casts shadows you can see, because it's below your line of vision. So a fallen log or a big rock illuminated by a bar-mounted light casts a big shadow, that gives you a visual cue that "hey, that sticks up off the ground, it casts a big shadow." The helmet-mounted light will cast a shadow you cannot see, since the light is above your eyes. This makes a 12-inch log look like a flat 12" piece of bark. However, the helmet-mounted light can be aimed where you want to see.

Phatman.. When my mileage is way down and gotta get on the bike I do go out at night.. Lucky in some of local bike lanes are really wide.. Feel a little nervous about it, but still go out ocassionallly.. Other night riders say we are well lit and very reflective and can be seen like a christmas tree. I hope they are right.. Do have a big reflective blinkie over my rear wheel.

Originally posted by zlj75
I know. But, I was so psyched to finally have a light system, I figured the well known local fire roads would be no problem, but needless to say no one had told me about the werewolfs!!!

All you need is 5 or 6 beers and then you wont hear anything you cant beat down with your own hands. :D

Acutally, in my experience, a bright light scares away most ugly buglies at night (like a night sun light), but it still is always best to ride with someone else.

Originally posted by zlj75
I know. But, I was so psyched to finally have a light system, I figured the well known local fire roads would be no problem, but needless to say no one had told me about the werewolfs!!!

All you need is 5 or 6 beers and then you wont hear anything you cant beat down with your own hands. :D

Acutally, in my experience, a bright light scares away most ugly buglies at night (like a night sun light), but it still is always best to ride with someone else.