RPK79

Probably luck. From some folk's responses I'd say night riding is a sure fire way to die from either dropping into giant holes in the road or being run down by drunken unlit demon cars. I'm surprised no one has brought up the issue of gigantic owls swooping down and picking you up to feed to their babies.

cale

The last thought.

cale

You'll be hard pressed to find any evidence that anyone has suggested certainty (sure fire) in anything in this thread. Just saying...

Dan333SP

^^ qft.

Edit: I take that back. Someone has in fact brought up the very real issue of owls swooping down on us for the kill during night rides, this guy was lucky to escape with his life. Reply #15-


So far so good, and yes, it's usually fairly peaceful riding at night. Well, except for one evening when I was about back to the abode. There's no traffic, and I'm coming up a hill for everything I'm worth. I'm looking down toward the road and then raise my head a little. Suddenly, quietly, and with no notice in the beam of my helmet light, my entire field of view is occupied by brown feathers about 12 inches in front of my face. I have no idea what sort of bird it was, although I suspect it was an owl. Whatever it was, was adept at aerobatics as the two of us never made physical contact.

MileHighMark

I feel safer riding at night with proper lights and reflective accessories than I do riding at dawn/dusk.

TobinH

Well I go as fast as my lights allow. Outrunning your lights is never a good idea, regardless of what sort of vehicle you're operating. On my randonneuring bike I have a very strong light so I can maintain high speeds over night, on my other bikes with other lights I just go slower.

cale

I once borrowed set of CygoLights (sp?) and was impressed, really impressed, with their range.

popeye

Riding at night can be a very zen like experience but around here I try to conclude all my rides before noon. Too many drunk/drug cellphone entitled drivers and peds. Hey you put a leash on that dog.

the engine

Since we create our own luck by putting ourselves in position for good things to happen, by doing our due diligence in a given endeavor ... I agree with you.

[h=2]Cycling Accidents[/h]

• Around 75% of fatal or serious cyclist accidents occur in urban areas 2
• Around half of cyclist fatalities occur on rural roads
• 75% happen at, or near, a road junction
• 80% occur in daylight
• 80% of cyclist casualties are male
• Almost one quarter of the cyclists killed or injured are children
• Around three quarters of cyclists killed have major head injuries.

Source: Cycling Accidents Facts & Figures - RoSPA

RPK79

Does not compute.

cale

I've read similar statistics. I don't know about luck, per se. "Luck" just seems like another way of saying "beneficial random events" and for which there are, of course, an equal number of "non-beneficial random events".

RPK79

Really? That's what you're going with for your argument? You're not going to go with something along the lines of the vast majority of riding being done during daylight making the 20% of cycling accidents during night a far greater percentage of actual riders thus clearly making it the more dangerous activity?

cale

Yeah, that too.

the engine

There is no argument. That's silly. My point was, and still is to the original comment in the post I responded to, about night riding be "foolish". It simply is not foolish. Some people may be more uncomfortable with it than others and hold an opinion about the subject. I am completely comfortable with riding at night, and my ability to minimize the risks that may be ... which I believe, from my experience, are no more than riding in daylight.

Enough said ... if you want an argument, try someone else.

cale

I wasn't about to argue statistics with you. That's why the offer to agree or disagree with a notion wasn't terribly attractive.

You are best off riding where you like. I know I am.

ColaJacket

But we don't know the whole story on the darkness related fatalities. How many of those fatalities occurred with cyclists that didn't have adequate lighting/reflectors? I'm willing to bet the vast majority of those. Just make sure that you have more than adequate lighting/reflectors.

GH

likebike23

I think you know what the deal is from this excerpt. Riding at night is cool, a completely different vibe than riding in the day. In addition, geeking out with lights is fun.

As for riding at night being foolish, I disagree. My experience is similar to others here who have mentioned increased visibility, more driver courtesy, and less traffic. Road hazards haven't been a problem, I ride within the speed that the light allows. If you ride on a rail trail, its even safer as there is little to no traffic other than the rabbits, raccoons, and bats.

Nachoman

hahaha!

Athens80

10 in the first bottle and 12 in the second.

RPK79

PaulRivers

ROFLMAO

According to some posters on bike forums, it is highly dangerous to ride at night with any amount of lighting.
According to the people on see on the roads, it's perfectly safe to ride at night with no lights whatsoever...

Black wallnut 

If you are only looking within your headlights you are doing it wrong. You should be looking near, far left and right . If you affix your focus on just the area your lights illuminate you will miss lots.