david58

I do ride slower - even if I don't really "override" my headlights, visibility just isn't as good, and there are hazards like ninja cyclists, ninja jogger, deer, etc., that I can't see from a distance like during the day. I figure my 35 minute trip to work takes about an extra 10 minutes in the dark.

One of the things I like about riding in the pitch dark is the fact that all the cars have their lights ON. Any other low visibility conditions only result in a percentage of cars with lights on, so my mirror isn't nearly as useful. Of course, I don't depend on the mirror, but I use it frequently as I ride to monitor what is on the way - those silver cars in the fog or at twilight with no headlights are invisible.

sudo bike

Yeah, that would make sense... but in my case, I don't go that fast anyway (about 15mph cruising speed), and my usual commute is lit with street lights, so I don't really feel like I need to slow. But maybe I'm subconsciously aware of greater danger and slowing down.

CrazyWally

I'm new to commuting this year and have only very recently started biking in the dark. It's been clear sailing for one exception which was another biker going the wrong way, and on the wrong side of the street, wearing a very bright helmet light staring right at me. I had to completely stop the bike and lower my helmet in preparation for the crash (luckily didn't happen).

dynodonn 

Locally, my biggest concern is always motorists.

enigmaT120

Yep. Even with a good headlight, I slow down. For the next 9 months or so my commute will be dark both ways, except when I get off work a little early.

snowman40

Dead battery on my taillight, only because I can't tell if it is out until I get to my destination.

On my headlights, I get a warning light in the power button, they dim to the lower output and then they switch to flashing when the batteries are just about dead.

After Thanksgiving it will be stressed out drivers.

motob

I really hate the senior walking the dog at night on a trail with the dog jetting across the path with a leash. No lights and no apologies (get off my path little boy on the bike).
Biggest fear is the soccer mom late for work, drinking coffee, texting, putting on make up, and makes direct eye contact with me (and my headlight) but sees me as one more obstacle for her to get to work on time. That's death on 4 wheels.

mikeybikes

Greatest hazards? Same as always, cars.

Digital_Cowboy

For salmon's I just tell them as I pass to ride on the right side of the road.

dynodonn 

Either you ride without a mirror or use a low powered taillight.

scottsmith

Most of my ride is rural, without lights except mine and those of the cars on my route. My largest hazard of course would be motorists, though they're generally quite polite, courteous and careful there are exceptions. The last 5km is in town with street lights but still the motorists are the issue for me. Debris and pot-holes round out my top three.

Also thought, there are currently three dead skunks on the side of road (not together, just in total) which I'm VERY careful not to run over! That's a very different sort of hazard though... not life-threatening, just very nasty!

Cheers

ilike3bikes

Cars backing out of driveways can be a problem.

Digital_Cowboy

So far this past summer the "largest" dead animals that I've had to avoid were squirrel and small birds. Knock wood not to many of them had gotten too ripe, and also knock wood they don't have enough body mass to get very ripe.

I'd hate to think what would happen if someone were to hit a "well fermented" animal while on their bike. I would think that depending on the size and how long/well "fermented" it was that it'd be close to a biological weapon.

stockholm

My commute is 90% MUP, so I'd say ninjas and gone-lumen-overboard-crazy cyclists blinding me.

Booger1

Cops.....They think I'm homeless....

snowman40

No, its a good taillight. Blackburn Mars 3.0. I just don't keep track of how long it has been since the battery is changed so when I arrive and the light is out, I tend to go, o, I shut that off already...so why didn't I remove it already....my endorphin highs are awesome.

I don't like mirrors, I tried with one when I was growing up and couldn't stand it, my eyes kept going down to it because of the motion. But my mom wouldn't let me ride down the main street through the community without one (constant speeders in a 35, no lights or stop signs so no reason to speed) to get to the stream/dirt paths where I rode.

Ray R

Sleeping bums on the MUP to whom it never occurs that come morning there will be commuter cyclists running over them. They get all bent out of shape as if cyclists shouldn't be riding through their bedrooms. That and pothole surprises.

Shimagnolo

A co-worker came down a steep ramp to a MUP that went under an underpass, then followed a river. Too late, he realized in the shadows there was a dumb bum stretched all the way across the MUP, sleeping. He was actually able to bunny-hop, (or was it bum-hop), over the bum w/o even touching him.

locolobo13 

Watch for the shopping carts in the middle of the underpass too.

Shimagnolo

I had a scary experience one night descending a steep ramp into a pedestrian tunnel in the dark. I always looked for dark shadows from the light on the other side of the tunnel, and hit the brakes if I saw one shaped like a person. On this particular night I did not. It seems a pile of tumbleweeds blown into the far end of the tunnel doesn't make much of a shadow, and can really surprise you when you plow into them at full speed. I ordered lights the next week.

DrJerry

Those 2 ton killer machines. Since our state legislature in their wisdom decided it to be illegal to talk on your phone while driving, our streets are infested with drivers texting! I take a few college classes and it seems nobody talks to each other, they just text. Even while driving.

Ira B

Hit a pretty good sized chunk of concrete last night while on one of my downhill runs. I was very glad to be riding the fat tire fenderbeast. No damage except to my nerves but if I had been on the road bike it would probably have been a less happy ending.
There were several more chunks on the road. Probably fell out of some contractors truck.

EKW in DC

My biggest threat riding in the dark the last coluple days has been people w/o adequate lights or reflective material, be they on bikes, jogging, or walking. And I say that despite having had a Cadillac Escalade's passenger mirror pass within a foot or so of my head the other night while riding my well lit bike... Way too many ninjas out in the dark on the MUP. They're a threat to themselves and to me

superclyde6

I will start riding in the AM as soon as my leg heals so I am sure its going to be ninja walkers and animals but back when I was riding in the PM and it got dark it was *ALWAYS* commuters who were tired from a long day at the job not paying attention or commuters who were pissed at being pissed on all day at the job then sharing the hour plus commute with the idiots who were not paying attention trying to run me off the road because they could take out their frustrations on the arsehole cyclist.

sgb_3

I ride mostly on MUP, so the ninja walkers, joggers, and cyclists are a problem. Animals are a concern too. The little rabbits along the path like to zip across, but are usually pretty good about not stopping in front of me. The squirrels tend to run out in front and then freeze as they see my front tire of doom bearing down on them.

I see coyotes from time to time also, and they make me a little nervous. They are not shy, and I just hope I never look like a jumbo snack to any of them.

A couple years ago I was coming up from behind on a guy dressed in dark clothes, talking on his phone, and not paying attention. I yelled "on your left" (even though he was already over to the right side of the path) and slowed way down. Good thing I was going slow, because his dog was all the way over off the left side of the trail and the leash was stretched completely across. When he finally realized I was there the first thing he did was lift up the leash so instead of catching my bike it got me right across the mouth. He was not only unapologetic, but started yelling at me before I could even get untangled from the leash. Our ensuing "discussion" almost led to a fistfight.

Only when I got home did I realize that the leash had cut a nice gash from the corner of my mouth across part of my cheek. Everyone at work the next day was asking me what the heck happened. I'm just glad it didn't leave a scar.