Quick Night Ride Update [Archive]

merider1

12-04-06, 01:32 PM

I really don't want the Griffith Park night rides to fall to the wayside, but since this is Holiday season (and it's frickin cold AND I'm in the process of finding a new light), I'm not scheduling any until January. I hope those of you who joined on one of the three we had will come back, and those who haven't tried it, will give it a whirl. It's not too difficult, and for those who don't want the beer/dinner after, can just skip on home. So, please keep in mind that these rides will be back in 2007! :D

roadfix

12-04-06, 01:37 PM

I'll be back...

merider1

12-04-06, 01:39 PM

I'll be back...
:love:

VanceMac

12-04-06, 01:40 PM

What kind of route do you do on those? Perhaps I should ask for a light for xmas?

VelodromePhoeni

12-04-06, 01:40 PM

herbm

12-04-06, 01:43 PM

merider1

12-04-06, 01:48 PM

Fixer and ME:

Please don't forget to schedule some easy night rides, too. I want to try again. I handled the climb on GMR okay, so I think I won't be so nervous next time, and will try to be a little SMARTER about the descent!! However, I think Griffth Park will be beyond my abilities for quite a while yet.

Personally, Renee, just for now, perhaps you can try a few laps around the Rose Bowl. I used to do that all the time, and you can get a good workout it's just boring. Oh, and DO be careful. Vertical Bob told me a story about a woman who was very badly injured over there when hit by a car about two months ago. There is traffic, but it is more manageable than trying to maneuever up a dark canyon road if you are not ready to do so. :)

merider1

12-04-06, 01:49 PM

Griffith Park is a piece of cake compared to GMR!! Trust me...
+1 :D

scvroadie

12-04-06, 01:49 PM

Griffith Park is a piece of cake compared to GMR!! Trust me...

+1

If you can do GMR, Griffith is not a problem.

I'll be there M.E.

roadfix

12-04-06, 01:49 PM

Griffith Park is a piece of cake compared to GMR!! Trust me...That is absolutely, positively correct! :D

merider1

12-04-06, 01:50 PM

I'll be there M.E.
Where HAVE you been, mister?? Hmmm? Haven't seen you posting much. :rolleyes: :D

roadfix

12-04-06, 01:53 PM

Personally, Renee, just for now, perhaps you can try a few laps around the Rose Bowl. I used to do that all the time, and you can get a good workout it's just boring. Oh, and DO be careful. Vertical Bob told me a story about a woman who was very badly injured over there when hit by a car about two months ago. There is traffic, but it is more manageable than trying to maneuever up a dark canyon road if you are not ready to do so. :)Actually, doing laps around the Rose Bowl at night can be fun. There are always other riders there doing laps...:)

merider1

12-04-06, 01:55 PM

Actually, doing laps around the Rose Bowl at night can be fun. There are always other riders there doing laps...:)
You're right, George! Sorry to have made it sound blah - it's just I did it for over a year straight! :o

scvroadie

12-04-06, 02:01 PM

Where HAVE you been, mister?? Hmmm? Haven't seen you posting much. :rolleyes: :D

Really busy at work....

Have fun with the gang this Saturday nite & Sunday. I have family commitments on Sunday, so I am doing Planet Ultra's Christmas Century this Saturday.

I see you had a nice ride out my way this past Saturday. We need to get the BFr's out our way for some rides. A good double metric would be the Grand Tour Ride with 6,500 ft of climbing. Another great ride would be Santa Paula to Summerland (Santa Barbara) via Ojai and Casitas, both directions should be about 80 miles & 7000 plus feet of climbing. Stop for lunch at Summerland Cafe. Even the double Tujunga ride would be fun, (that one might be too cold this time of the year, lots of the time there is snow on mill creek.)

sshakari

12-04-06, 02:24 PM

herbm

12-04-06, 02:40 PM

I would be interested in the night ride at Griffith as well. I would like to ride Sherman Oaks to Rose Bowl and back again when there is time.

I might be up for that this weekend...

sshakari

12-04-06, 03:09 PM

I might be up for that this weekend...

+1 for Saturday or Sunday
let me know I'll ride from my house toward ABC or the Zoo to meet. What time?

herbm

12-04-06, 03:13 PM

+1 for Saturday or Sunday
let me know I'll ride from my house toward ABC or the Zoo to meet. What time?

I will know more as the week progresses...
How do you go up? chevy chase? I actually have been down it...never up....you might be waiting for me at the top...I can be a bit slow on climbs...
I have gone up verdugo...to Honolulu....
mainly because my office is there, I use that as a pitstop...then up Hospital Hill and down Descanso, and Berkshire....

Extort

12-04-06, 03:22 PM

I'll be there for as many as I can.... it is a long drive...

but a very fun ride!

(could we also schedule some for Friday/Saturday nights?)

merider1

12-04-06, 03:51 PM

I'll be there for as many as I can.... it is a long drive...

but a very fun ride!

(could we also schedule some for Friday/Saturday nights?)
You can come ride in the night with me any 'ol time you'd like, Extort ;) , but in the meantime, yes, I'll try to schedule a Griffith Park group ride. And you knew darn good and well that you were just setting me up for that one, didn't ya? :p

sshakari

12-04-06, 03:51 PM

I will know more as the week progresses...
How do you go up? chevy chase? I actually have been down it...never up....you might be waiting for me at the top...I can be a bit slow on climbs...
I have gone up verdugo...to Honolulu....
mainly because my office is there, I use that as a pitstop...then up Hospital Hill and down Descanso, and Berkshire....

I did this ride for the first time two weeks ago via chevy chase and linda vista here is the thread and the route map:

Sherman Oaks to Bowl Ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=248444)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/sshakari/01.gif

ronjon10

12-04-06, 04:15 PM

M.E.

I just got a new HID light for under $200. Check out this link.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2377

It's PLENTY bright for me. If you're buying a new light, it's the best deal I found. (No way the ARC HID lights are 2x better, even though they cost 2.5x more)

If you're not ready to drop the cash and you want to organize another night ride, you could use my collection of old lights. They aren't great (which is why I replaced them) but they can do in a pinch, especially if others have good lights. I guess downhills could get dicey if people are spread out, but I've gone downhill with them.

Anyway, these are the lights you could borrow:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20725&subcategory_ID=4320 (one of these)
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18251&subcategory_ID=4320 (two of these)

I'll make any Wednesday night ride if you want to borrow them, I'll have to after all! (no weekends for the time being though)

herbm

12-04-06, 04:34 PM

I did this ride for the first time two weeks ago via chevy chase and linda vista here is the thread and the route map:

Sherman Oaks to Bowl Ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=248444)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/sshakari/01.gif

Here is one we did a few times..
Burbank, Descanso, Pasadena (http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=11429)

roadfix

12-04-06, 04:38 PM

Here is one we did a few times..
Burbank, Descanso, Pasadena (http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=11429)

I mentioned this before but I could never open a routeslip.com direct link that people post. I always get a program not responding message. Is it my pc?

herbm

12-04-06, 04:49 PM

I mentioned this before but I could never open a routeslip.com direct link that people post. I always get a program not responding message. Is it my pc?

Only routeslip? thats wierd...I was able to click the link and it opened...might be some setting in IE..
try clearing the cache...

here is the link
to cut and paste

http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=11429

merider1

12-04-06, 04:52 PM

I see you had a nice ride out my way this past Saturday. We need to get the BFr's out our way for some rides. A good double metric would be the Grand Tour Ride with 6,500 ft of climbing. Another great ride would be Santa Paula to Summerland (Santa Barbara) via Ojai and Casitas, both directions should be about 80 miles & 7000 plus feet of climbing. Stop for lunch at Summerland Cafe. Even the double Tujunga ride would be fun, (that one might be too cold this time of the year, lots of the time there is snow on mill creek.)
Psst....plan it and they'll come. ;) :D

merider1

12-04-06, 04:52 PM

I would be interested in the night ride at Griffith as well. I would like to ride Sherman Oaks to Rose Bowl and back again when there is time.
Count me in as I want to do that one as well! You're in my hood. :D

merider1

12-04-06, 04:54 PM

M.E.

I just got a new HID light for under $200. Check out this link.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2377

Anyway, these are the lights you could borrow:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20725&subcategory_ID=4320 (one of these)
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18251&subcategory_ID=4320 (two of these)

I'll make any Wednesday night ride if you want to borrow them, I'll have to after all! (no weekends for the time being though)
Thank you, Ronjon! What a doll you are. I may take you up on borrowing, but I'm also going to log onto that site and see if I can score a HID. :D

ronjon10

12-04-06, 05:13 PM

Thank you, Ronjon! What a doll you are. I may take you up on borrowing, but I'm also going to log onto that site and see if I can score a HID. :D

awww shucks :o :)

roadfix

12-04-06, 05:16 PM

....but I'm also going to log onto that site and see if I can score a HID. :D

All you need is an expensive bulb replacement no?

merider1

12-04-06, 05:19 PM

All you need is an expensive bulb replacement no?
yes, but so far I can't find one for under $300! :eek:

roadfix

12-04-06, 05:21 PM

yes, but so far I can't find one for under $300! :eek:

Which HID do you have? Isn't the bulb assembly like $100 or somewhere about that?

BigSean

12-04-06, 05:23 PM

I mentioned this before but I could never open a routeslip.com direct link that people post. I always get a program not responding message. Is it my pc?

I had the same problem till I allowed cookies.:rolleyes:

merider1

12-04-06, 05:27 PM

Which HID do you have? Isn't the bulb assembly like $100 or somewhere about that?
No, unfortunately, it's a Niterider storm. The bulb itself is around $300, the b*stards! :mad:

roadfix

12-04-06, 05:32 PM

No, unfortunately, it's a Niterider storm. The bulb itself is around $300, the b*stards! :mad:

The Niterider site sells HID bulbs for $109. These bulbs not compatible with your HID system?

Better yet, ask people over in the commuting forum....those guys know lights.

awiner

12-04-06, 05:49 PM

ronjon10

12-04-06, 05:49 PM

The Niterider site sells HID bulbs for $109. These bulbs not compatible with your HID system?

Better yet, ask people over in the commuting forum....those guys know lights.

+1 , the commuting forum hooked me up w/ the info on the light I got.

This place has the niterider bulb for $99
http://www.branfordbike.com/lights/lights5b.html

If you need the whole headlamp unit, ouch, that's $300.

(Another plus to the unit I got, the headlamp unit is replaced for ~$100)

Good luck!

merider1

12-04-06, 05:56 PM

m.e., the bulb you need is SKU #6611, MSRP is $109.99 from NiteRider. You can find it for less I am sure. Let me know if you need any help locating a supplier.

I've seen them for as low as the $90 range and they even sell non NiteRider replacement HID bulbs for in the $80's...
I must be out of my mind, because I saw the replacements on the site as high as $329. I'm talking about the whole headlight because the inside is cracked. But I'm so damn dumb with this stuff. :( Perhaps, one of you big, strong men (:D ) would be willing to look at it and tell me what I should buy? (imagine me batting my eyes and twirling my hair around on my index finger - yeah, okay, so what if I'll resort to THAT! :p )

sshakari

12-04-06, 07:01 PM

Count me in as I want to do that one as well! You're in my hood. :D

Looks good to me. You are just a few block away from me. I am on Magnolia and Hazeltine.

Saturday Dec 8th or Sunday Dec 9th, roll between 8 and 9 AM? not sure if you are doing any other rides. Could ride herbm route or my last route or any other suggested route. Let me know and I'll do the needfull and set it up.

awiner

12-04-06, 07:02 PM

I must be out of my mind, because I saw the replacements on the site as high as $329. I'm talking about the whole headlight because the inside is cracked. But I'm so damn dumb with this stuff. :( Perhaps, one of you big, strong men (:D ) would be willing to look at it and tell me what I should buy? (imagine me batting my eyes and twirling my hair around on my index finger - yeah, okay, so what if I'll resort to THAT! :p )

It sounds like just the bulb is cracked and hopefully that is all that will need to be replaced. May I ask how this happened ? Were you using it in a manner non prescribded. :p

merider1

12-04-06, 07:25 PM

It sounds like just the bulb is cracked and hopefully that is all that will need to be replaced. May I ask how this happened ? Were you using it in a manner non prescribded. :p
:roflmao: Busted! I was squeezing it in the tight, light bag too quickly after a night ride! :p No really, that is what I did! :(

merider1

12-04-06, 07:26 PM

Looks good to me. You are just a few block away from me. I am on Magnolia and Hazeltine.

Saturday Dec 8th or Sunday Dec 9th, roll between 8 and 9 AM? not sure if you are doing any other rides. Could ride herbm route or my last route or any other suggested route. Let me know and I'll do the needfull and set it up.
D'Oh, I can't do this Saturday...sniff. But the next one for sure. This Saturday is going to be tough, because I've got to get to Irvine by 5:30 for the naughty elves party and with traffic, etc., and I'm a girl and it takes time to get ready...etc., etc. - NOPE, can't do it. :o

ronjon10

12-05-06, 02:23 PM

Speaking of Commuting forums knowing their lights, you can get the ARC HID for $280 from performance.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=250409

herbm

12-05-06, 02:29 PM

D'Oh, I can't do this Saturday...sniff. But the next one for sure. This Saturday is going to be tough, because I've got to get to Irvine by 5:30 for the naughty elves party and with traffic, etc., and I'm a girl and it takes time to get ready...etc., etc. - NOPE, can't do it. :o

Nah nah nah..I am riding and going to the party also....come on....

merider1

12-05-06, 02:34 PM

Nah nah nah..I am riding and going to the party also....come on....

It will take you 10 minutes to get ready. It will take me an hour and a half. You're married, do I really need to explain this to you? :rolleyes:

herbm

12-05-06, 02:40 PM

It will take you 10 minutes to get ready. It will take me an hour and a half. You're married, do I really need to explain this to you? :rolleyes:

Hmm...ride at 8:30ish....done by noonish....
Great ready till 4ish...drive to irvine....
I guess you do need to explain it to me...:D :p :rolleyes:

merider1

12-05-06, 02:53 PM

Hmm...ride at 8:30ish....done by noonish....
Great ready till 4ish...drive to irvine....
I guess you do need to explain it to me...:D :p :rolleyes:
Excuse me? I have several things to "do" on Sat besides just get ready. But regardless, in holiday traffic down either the 5 or the 405?! Dude, I'm headed to Irvine around 3:00 p.m.! I have to be earlier than the rest of you to the restaurant and I figure that if I arrive too early, perhaps I can swing by Extort's place to spread my cheer. That would be the friendly thing to do, right? :D

socalrider

12-05-06, 02:57 PM

No, unfortunately, it's a Niterider storm. The bulb itself is around $300, the b*stards! :mad:

Niterider sucks.. When my 12E battery went south I sent it back to Niterider and they said the battery was bad. Well the light was barely over a year old.. They said well easy enough just buy a new battery, $200. for a new battery.. I ended up buying a Arc L&M HID and have been using it successfully for over 2 years..

I will never buy another Niterider product ever.. I have had friends who have had the same issue as you.

merider1

12-05-06, 03:02 PM

Niterider sucks.. When my 12E battery went south I sent it back to Niterider and they said the battery was bad. Well the light was barely over a year old.. They said well easy enough just buy a new battery, $200. for a new battery.. I ended up buying a Arc L&M HID and have been using it successfully for over 2 years..

I will never buy another Niterider product ever.. I have had friends who have had the same issue as you.
Is the Arc as good? Because if so, perhaps I'll look into buying one of those and then using my niterider as a back up.

herbm

12-05-06, 03:02 PM

Excuse me? I have several things to "do" on Sat besides just get ready. But regardless, in holiday traffic down either the 5 or the 405?! Dude, I'm headed to Irvine around 3:00 p.m.! I have to be earlier than the rest of you to the restaurant and I figure that if I arrive too early, perhaps I can swing by Extort's place to spread my cheer. That would be the friendly thing to do, right? :D

I knew I was in trouble with that one....:lol:

I know traffic sucks going down there...hopefuly a saturday isnt too bad...
and yes...you need to spread your cheer around first!!!:roflmao:

It just shows how much we want you to ride with us...:)