Texas - Night Riding Dallas White Rock Lake

Does anyone ride around white rock lake late at night? I'm thinking about doing this since I don't have much time during light hours...

Any recommendations on lights?

Greater Dallas Bicyclist had Tuesday-Thursday rides that went around the lake part of the time, or elsewhere part of the time, and that was at night before Daylight Savings Time. I don't recall seeing many other cyclists out there at night, though.

I think it was on Tuesday nights that the Dallas Running Club started doing their evening jogs out there, too, so you'd see gobs of joggers, many in large groups, some with lights, some without. They were mainly on the east side of the lake.

On lighting, I was using a Magicshine setup, and was pretty well pleased with quantity of light and battery life with it. However, they are in the midst of a big battery recall. I had some minor issues with plugs jiggling loose on the lights. Anyway, I needed longer-lasting lights for randonneuring, so I switched to a generator-hub setup a month or two back, and use that now.

Magicshine setup is good. I use it daily for my 3am commute. The battery issues are resolved.
The PlanetBike Blaze 2 watt is a good backup. You can find it online for ~$50 or you can buy it locally for $60.

thanks guys, I'll look at them.

How fast would you go at night around the lake?

thanks guys, I'll look at them.

How fast would you go at night around the lake?

What time of night? Technically, the park closes at midnight, just an FYI. Naturally the roads are still open 24/7 but you might get a ticket after midnight.

I ride at the lake frequently at night in the winter. Ride as fast as you want. 20-25mph.

Like someone else said, get a good light like a Magicshine and a good rear blinky. You might be able to get by with a lesser light but I would strongly urge you to buy a very powerful light. The lake is very dark at night but also has widely spread street lights that create weird shadows making it, double dark. Get a light that will cut through that.

There are coyotes near Sunset Bay that I see on a regular basis after dark, 90% of the time. If you have a good dog howl voice, you can howl at them and they will howl back. There are also some beavers in the lake that patrol up and down the shore near the Arboretum. First time I saw one I thought it was someone's golden retriever, so I stopped to see where it's owner was, maybe they fell in or something. Nope, just a huge beaver. See some nutria too out on the trail near the Arboretum. The cross the trail to eat the grass, see me coming and scurry back.

Remember: Big light! Stay off the Mockingbird car bridge and Winstead(7-Eleven street) and you will be just fine.

Big light. Big big light.

It depends on where you ride (I don't think any two people ride around the lake the same way, actually!) On the roads, just as fast as you care to ride. On the trails, back off a bit, watch for pedestrians popping up out of the darkness, etc. Also, it really helps to be familiar with the route in the daytime- especially at those danged barricades where you could kill yourself in the dark if you didn't know they were coming up.

It depends on where you ride (I don't think any two people ride around the lake the same way, actually!) On the roads, just as fast as you care to ride. On the trails, back off a bit, watch for pedestrians popping up out of the darkness, etc. Also, it really helps to be familiar with the route in the daytime- especially at those danged barricades where you could kill yourself in the dark if you didn't know they were coming up.

It's been a while since I've ridden out there, but the pavement around the Bath House scares the hell out of me during the day light. I can't imagine trying to avoid all the deep cracks and gravel at night.

The main risk besides cars is stealth joggers, both on the roads and the trail(s). +1 for the Magicshine headlight, I use it for night riding on city streets and would have no concern about it at the lake. Also though, always take a backup / spare front light, even if it's a small one, and 2 blinkies for the rear - one on your helmet, another on the seat. Reflecto-gear is good too, even a basic ankle strap.

I just checked out the Magicshine...it's really cheap! Where did you guys pick them up at?

Got mine from geomangear.com.

Dorba used to do a Friday Night ride around Whiterock that usually involved a burger and a beer along the way. Might check the www.DORBA.org (http://www.DORBA.org) site.

Also a vote for magicshine, but I bought mine off a member here used.

Dorba used to do a Friday Night ride around Whiterock that usually involved a burger and a beer along the way. Might check the www.DORBA.org (http://www.DORBA.org) site.



I think that is more of a slow paced no drop social ride.