dspaff088

Well I work weekends, came home watched the US Open and took a nap. Decided to take my ride today at 10pm. I commute alot at night but never done a training ride.

No traffic, quiet, cool, and all the lights had switched to the blinking yellow caution light.

Im thinking I may start doing some more interval and TT work at night, anyone else avoid the heat and bustle of the day time?

Northwestrider

I have long enjoyed riding at night, 2 or 3 am is great, very little traffic is the pluse for me. That and the fact it is just plain fun

shouldberiding

Night riding is excellent. Very peaceful.

It's the only time riding the local (paved) trails is really fun, because you get to bomb down hills and through twisty bits in the woods without worrying about traffic.

dspaff088

yeah I really really enjoyed it,

I also made myself look like a damn UFO with lights and reflectors so Im pretty sure I was more visible than in the daytime haha

Carbon Unit

I have done a lot of night riding, especially in the summer when it is too hot ride during the day. I find it less interesting than riding during the day because you can really only see where your head light is pointing. I can't see off to the side at all; but, if this is what I need to do to in a ride, I do it.

Nick Bain

I love my helmet mounted night rider light. Not sure how it stacks up against others but it does the job. Being able to look all around and see everything, especially the animals that you don't see during the day is super tits. I would love to ride in the lighted AM but I am a night owl.

STP

Around here, I do a lot of gravel grinding at night. There's REALLY no traffic on those roads and, unless I'm on some crazy minimum maintenance road, my 2W Planet Bike LED and super blinky do the trick for illumination and safety. I never do ANYTHING day after day after day, so night rides fit perfectly into my training schedule for variety. I'm usually on my single speeds offroad, too; mountain bike and cross bike.

sharrn

I don't have the helmet niterider, but I will say that they are awesome. I have the x2 duals, 300L. I haven't done a training ride at night, simply because I don't train. I just commute/just ride for the fun of it.. but I may have to try some of my weekend rides at night.. It does sound more interesting.. I loathe the rush hour traffic going home when I'm going to work.

luxroadie

One of the (many) advantages to life in NEurope is that it stays light until almost 11pm. This is the best time of year. Even if you get home at 8pm you can still get a good two hours in without tons of lights.

OK - trade off comes in Winter but who doesn't need lights to ride after work then?

dgasmd

Because of family and work hours couple with work unpredictability, I rode at night (3-6 AM) for years. I called it riding early in the morning as I took a shower right after and went to work, but I guess you can call it riding at night. I went and got very powerful lights, which were expensive, but I figured my life was worth more than the light. I could see further and brighter than with the lights in my car. My rear was as bright as police lights and could be seen in foggy time and downpours from 1+ miles back. In summer, it is the coolest time of the day and it tends not to rain down here at that time vs riding in the afternoon when it rains almost daily. In "winter" when it is typically the windest part of the year here, it tends not to be as windy or completely dead actually. There is hardly a car out at tha time except for drunks trying to get home or people getting off or coming into work. Never had any issues doing this keeping in mind certain precautions.

Personally, I don't understand why more people don't do it more often, but I guess we are very good at is coming up with cheesy excuses for everything. One huge downside for me was that I had to be in bed and ready to close my eyes by 9PM at the latest or I couldn't get up. Your sleep needs may vary.

pmt

Our daily group ride meets at 0545; we only have daylight the whole time during June. Night riding is just a part of everyday life most of the year.

Some of us occasionally schedule a 200k ride for all night; those are really fun and peaceful.

caloso

I was just thinking about leaving at 5am tomorrow. After reading this thread maybe I'll charge up the lights and leave at 4...

datlas 

I agree night riding can be very peaceful and fun.

Two pieces of advice:

1. Good lights. I would aim for at least 400 Lumens up front. More is better.
2. Stay on familiar roads. Even with good lights, unfamiliar roads (with unexpected turns/potholes/gravel etc) can be a hazard.

M_Wales

I have been riding at night since it's been so hot here and it's such a nice ride... I stay off the main streets/roads and stick to neighborhoods and do 20 miles everynight...

big chainring 

You guys ever do your "Night Training" with Jimmy Forrest?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bcp4...eature=related

Nachoman

For me, that's the main danger. I have so many bright lights that it's very unlikely that a car would hit me. I'm much more likely to not see a pot hole and go down.

JHendrix

Yes, the only time I ride is at night. Be careful though, a car almost hit me today. It was a two lane road in a neighborhood, and I was riding towards the left side of the right lane when a car came out of a side street and made a left turn and almost ran me over. I had to go on the wrong side of the road and basically into the gutter to avoid being hit. The driver just kept on going as if nothing happened.

I have a head light, rear light, and was wearing bright clothing, but now I'm considering getting a better head light and a reflective vest.

mazdaspeed

Riding at night is awesome but like others have mentioned you really need good bright lights because it can be dangerous otherwise.