Road Cycling - I love night riding... w00t!

Just got back from my third night ride. First was a week ago with a cheap light (per Maj.Tom's suggestion) that I had lying around... not good enough. I bought a 10w helmet lamp and wow, the world's a different place at night.

The animals come out in droves. I was passing a deer and looking at it when I snapped back forward to see three of 'em in the road and nearly hit one of 'em. Bet she would've messed me up good. Then I slowly passed a guy who looked like he was fixing his bike, so I asked if he needed anything. He replied, "Thanks! No, just picking mushrooms." :D Interesting character.

Good times, good times.

Yep! I love riding at night, in town and out.

LO - I'm looking for a good helmet light myself - what are you using? Price?

Check your PM.

55/Rad

Word

LO - I'm looking for a good helmet light myself - what are you using? Price?
I like buying from Performance cuz they never give me a hard time about returning stuff, so I got this headlight (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17412&subcategory_ID=4320). It works pretty well and with 20% code, it's really reasonable. I'm comfortable up to 25mph on the trail that I ride regularly. I hardly notice the battery in my jersey pocket.

Riding at night rocks! Glad to see someone else digs it too.

Here in Florida I have yet to see a deer, but I'm constantly dodging possums and raccoons, especially on trash night! :) Even get the occasional BUZZ from bats feeding on the wing. Yeah, night riding rocks.

Yeah! Night riding does rock! So does riding at night in the rain! In a rainy fog! In a rainy fog with win...

NO CARRIER

Never really attempted to ride at night much, but thought about it and no real reason not to...gonna give it a try!

Except for the fact that work has me here for 12+ hours lately and I just bought a new light and haven't had the chance to use it much, I love riding at night. Very peaceful. I too saw some deer, skunks, coons and opossums. I almost drilled the deer, they didn't know what to make of this silent light :) .

I've been night riding since I was about eleven. The roads and trails are mostly empty and it is like a different world in terms of the stuff that you see and experience after dark.

It's really like riding on a total different dimension. I haven't used it much either but look forward to the daylight saving time at the end of October to start using it riding back home from work.
Corsaire

Riding at night in Jersey is frightening (and no I am not a wimp) As the sun begins to set in NJ you just begin to feel this impending sense of doom, as SUVs (with small drivers) and slammed Hondas(driven by the same type that used to drive Camaros) gravitate toward you. It feels like you are actually in Frogger.

Riding at night in Jersey is frightening (and no I am not a wimp) As the sun begins to set in NJ you just begin to feel this impending sense of doom, as SUVs (with small drivers) and slammed Hondas(driven by the same type that used to drive Camaros) gravitate toward you. It feels like you are actually in Frogger.

That's why you need to dress and equipped yourself "TO BE SEEN...and LOUDLY", if you catch my drift.

Corsaire

I could put neon signs on my back and have a glow in the dark frame and christmas lights on my wheels and it would still be harrowing....of course where I live is still a bit rural and there are not a lot of street light, just a lot of winding and narrow roads. Generally, if riding at night I go out by all the farms where few cars are and just dodge huge bugs then

opie.. that's headlamp is huge.. but i'd bet it's hella BRIGHT!

right now i'm only running two of these lights (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17623) on my handle bars. they work pretty well for me.

I could put neon signs on my back and have a glow in the dark frame and christmas lights on my wheels and it would still be harrowing....of course where I live is still a bit rural and there are not a lot of street light, just a lot of winding and narrow roads. Generally, if riding at night I go out by all the farms where few cars are and just dodge huge bugs then

I'm from Jersey and I know exactly what you mean. That's why I use two or more red blinkies and one gets put on the back of my head. I don't consider riding the city too much safer but the burbs would be a different story because the cars go so much faster.

opie.. that's headlamp is huge...
yeah. I'm not aware of any smaller ones tho. If ya know of one, post up.

I have found a few place near Allentown NJ that I would not be too afraid to ride at night..

I use a Nite Rider 15w halogen light with NiCad water bottle battery. It works great and I use it to ride on a multipurpose trail and on a seldom used country road. I scared up a bunch of deer the other night that were bedding down within a group of trees... they ran along side me for a short while.

One thing I notice while night riding is when I approach turns my handle bar mounted light shines straight and I can't see around corner (kind of scary when traveling at speed). I have been thinking about acquiring a helmet light to go with my handle bar light for this reason but I have not wanted to spring for the $$$.

It's good to hear other people enjoy riding at night.

What do you guys use for eye protection at night? I am using clear lense safety goggles from Home Depot but they tend to fog up when I start sweating.

What do you guys use for eye protection at night? I am using clear lense safety goggles from Home Depot but they tend to fog up when I start sweating.

I have a set of glasses with interchangable lenses, and use the clear ones.

My friends and I formed a 'Night Riders' group over the summer. It was mainly just a bunch of us goind on insanely fast 5 miles rides on the main streets of the town. A warning though: make sure you have at least a red tail light (in most states) because the police like to be able to see you when they are driving around with their lights off.

This is what I use for eye protection.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18221

The frame is kinda cheap, but it comes with 3 set of Rudy Project lenses, including a set of clear lenses and a carrying case.

I had a bug landed in one of my eye, after my ride, I had to pick the the bug out (whole) from my eye. Ever since, I have never riden without my glasses.

Buzzi

I had a bug landed in one of my eye, after my ride, I had to pick the the bug out (whole) from my eye. Ever since, I have never riden without my glasses.

Buzzi
is that how you got your nickname?


:D

Good one, LordOpie... hehe... Buzzi actually came from Buzzihornet, a word used by Team Jordan (F1 Racing)

Buzzi

Night riding is like night diving (scuba.) Everyone is nervous until they do it. Then they love it.

My first LONG ride this year was in a group night ride.. a friend encouraged me to join them.. I loved it! I had a cheapy light for the first two weeks.. then I said to hell with that and bought a cygo-lite dual beam job with NiMH cage mount battery. Rode all summer in this weekly night ride group.. it was a blast! Start near the outskirts of town and then all country road riding after that. Low traffic.. Our biggest issues are animals running out in front of us.. Deer, oppossums, skunks, etc.

Night rides in the summer are great! No sun to beat down on you!

Oh yeah, that's the one drawback to night riding. You need to start trying to justify spending hundreds of dollars on lights. :)

Oh yeah, that's the one drawback to night riding. You need to start trying to justify spending hundreds of dollars on lights. :)

Pfffffttt... Once you start spending money, you can convince yourself that anything is justifiable. My conscience has learned to become weak and silent when it comes to necessary spending, :D .

My conscience has learned to become weak and silent when it comes to necessary spending, :D .

But I'm married to my conscience! :D

I have a simple deal with my conscience - she has no qualms about me getting a new doodad for the bike as long as I don't care when she buys yet another pair of shoes :D

opie.. here are some (http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?topStyles=703011,694705,696969,668271,701042,695304&noalias=1&originalTextQuery=headlamps&catalogId=40000008000&stat=hp2&topStylesTitle=best+selling+headlamps&cm_re=hp*hp2*hlamps&langId=-1&query=headlamp&link=1&cat=4500058&memberId=-2000&text=1&storeId=8000&vcat=REI_HP_PP), but i think even though these are smaller.. but u'll have to rig it to fit on ur helmet for some. u can also get some Cateye LED to be mounted on the helmet. the one i have can be mounted almost anywhere..

for riding at night i have just been bungie cording a maglight to my handlebars. It has been cheap and works well. Once i get enough extra money ill start thinking about upgrading my light.

opie.. here are some (http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?topStyles=703011,694705,696969,668271,701042,695304&noalias=1&originalTextQuery=headlamps&catalogId=40000008000&stat=hp2&topStylesTitle=best+selling+headlamps&cm_re=hp*hp2*hlamps&langId=-1&query=headlamp&link=1&cat=4500058&memberId=-2000&text=1&storeId=8000&vcat=REI_HP_PP), but i think even though these are smaller.. but u'll have to rig it to fit on ur helmet for some. u can also get some Cateye LED to be mounted on the helmet. the one i have can be mounted almost anywhere..
I have one of those, they're good for camping.

Good one, LordOpie... hehe... Buzzi actually came from Buzzihornet, a word used by Team Jordan (F1 Racing)

Buzzi

I thought that was Buzzin'Hornets, replacing Benson n Hedges...

I like riding in the dark for 3 reasons:
1. It seems like cars give me a wider berth when I'm lit up.
2. The hills don't seem as large (because I can't see very far!).
3. I can hammer to my heart's content without overheating.
Tom

I have one of those, they're good for camping.

yup.. camping is great.. i went swimming with them before at night.. just to test it out to make sure it's water proof.. hehe

I just bought this CygoLite Night Nicad HID at REI for $220 Haven't tried it out yet other than in the backyard, but is seems very bright!

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47672562&parent_category_rn=4500819&

I live in the desert and in the summer the only way to get a nice 200 mile ride in is at night. Otherwise you would have to stop once an hour (at least) to refill bottles. I can't think of anything quite as enjoyable as riding rual backroads with only the sounds of wildlife, the light of your bike light and the bright (really bright once you leave the city) stars. BTW I recently did my first draft legal ultra length event, you have never really ridden in a paceline untill you ride in one going 30+mph at 2AM.

I like buying from Performance cuz they never give me a hard time about returning stuff, so I got this headlight (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17412&subcategory_ID=4320). It works pretty well and with 20% code, it's really reasonable.

Where do you all get the 20% off coupons - is that a member thing?

Thanks!

check the hot deals forum

Well I guess I'm a convert to night riding now! Lord Opie invited me along last night and it was a blast - thanks man. :) Of course the lunar eclipse going on during our ride back wasn't bad either. As for lights, my Cateye EL-500 (1 LED, 1000+ candlepower) didn't do too badly, but not nearly as nice as Opie's helmet-mounted torch. I may have to look at an upgrade at some point. Anyway, night riding is most definitely a fun time. I look forward to my next excursion...

This is what I use for eye protection.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18221

The frame is kinda cheap, but it comes with 3 set of Rudy Project lenses, including a set of clear lenses and a carrying case.

I had a bug landed in one of my eye, after my ride, I had to pick the the bug out (whole) from my eye. Ever since, I have never riden without my glasses.

Buzzi

I got a set of Rudy Projects from Nashbar for $49 with interchangeable lenses and a hard case. What I found in summer months, the bugs focus on your lights. Consequently at speed they hit you in the face! I had to wash bug debris out of my eyes after the first early sunset.

Regarding nighr riding:
I do a nighttime road ride once a week. During the fall and winter, the lights become a necessity. I used to routinely ride mountain bikes afterhours. One of my memorable experiences is spotting a pack of coyotes early in the ride. As the ride progressed later into the evening, I would stop and focus my headlight behind me see numerous pairs of eyes in the brush. The coyotes were following us. I repeated this scenario several more times for the remainder of the ride.
I've also been on a forest single track and was startled by the noise of rustling brush that surrounded us. Not knowing what was near me, I stop and used my headlight to illuminate my surroundings and discovered I had ridden into the center of a large herd of deer.

Night riding is an exceptional experience.

Just had an awesome night ride here in Northern VA last night. My brother and I took off from work on the W&OD and I gave him a 19 mile escort to his house in Arlington. On the way out we benefitted from his nite rider, which made it almost daytime. On my solo return journey to my house was a different story, stupid 3 led cateye definitely made it more exciting. Just enough light to get an idea of what is ahead of you, but on descents, I could only guess what might of been out in front of me.

Interesting character

The mushrooms can do that to a person :D

I have spent about 800 dollars in lighting, I know what you mean, of course most of it is on my jekyll for patrol (about 500), and only about 100 on my roadie...

I love riding at night too, it is sure fun going 30 down the road and not being able to see becuase you are outriding your light./.. fun!

Just got back from my third night ride. First was a week ago with a cheap light (per Maj.Tom's suggestion) that I had lying around... not good enough. I bought a 10w helmet lamp and wow, the world's a different place at night.

The animals come out in droves. I was passing a deer and looking at it when I snapped back forward to see three of 'em in the road and nearly hit one of 'em. Bet she would've messed me up good. Then I slowly passed a guy who looked like he was fixing his bike, so I asked if he needed anything. He replied, "Thanks! No, just picking mushrooms." :D Interesting character.

Good times, good times.
I might try that, when...I get the guts to do it.