My first-ever night ride!
 

It was a lot of fun. I rode 10 miles. The weather was nice and there wasn't much traffic. My goal was to find a bike trail that I've heard of, but having never ridden it, it was too dark to find the entrance (it's behind some bushes, and I only knew vaguely where to look). Even though I didn't find the trail, I took a nice leisurely ride around town.

Going 15mph at night feels more like 30. Familiar territory takes on a whole new feel. It's an exciting experience.

I had ample lighting, and I had no trouble seeing obstacles in the road. Drivers had no problem seeing me, and they were extra courteous, switching lanes to pass me rather than zipping by a foot away from me. I did have one car honk at me, but that's to be expected.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience, and my new love for night riding.

Sounds like fun. I ride home at 10:30 every night, and enjoy it. Very little traffic, and I think my headlights (2 Dinotte 200L) set off one of the two traffic lights on the way home. Not sure why, but I never have to stop at that light... it will break "cycle" and turn green as I'm approaching it, even with traffic waiting at the intersection.

However, between you and me, I stay off the MUPs and trials at night as you never know exactly what's out there. I'm a pretty large guy and not a safety nanny, but you never know when there's some disgruntled misfit or otherwise disturbed person hiding out looking to vent a little on a target of opportunity.

We have an annual midnight ride here that draws a couple thousand people that is a blast. People compete for the most creatively lit up bike and some look practically like christmas trees. In most places the street lights are bright enough that it doesn't seem that dark but at the end of the ride it goes through a park where there are no lights and you can't see your hand in front of your face. One year my batteries died on me in that park. That was exciting. I had to find some other cyclists with good lights and try to follow them out of the park.

That sounds like a lot of fun! I want to find a night group ride in my town.