About three years ago I began semi-serious bicycle riding on a beat-up mtb I bought at a junk store. I had no tire pump, water bottle, computer, or lights of any kind. When winter came and the evenings were dark I would ride north of town on a desolate blacktop for about 5-10 miles. When cars came I would get over on the shoulder. I could see them coming for at least a mile.

Now I have a Trek mtb and a Raleigh hybrid. I've done metric centuries and I can fix tires and do other basic repairs on the road. I also have a Dinotte 200L and a Plant Bike Super Flash and a couple of back-up blinkies and headlights.
My usual after-work ride is 14 miles; 5 of which are on pavement and the rest on gravel. Five of the gravel miles are on a path through some very thick river bottoms. Vehicles cannot go there. Since the time change I've been riding the pavement only with my new lights. Last night I rode the entire circuit, including the 5 miles in the snakey woods. It was great. The lights have opened up a whole new world for me. Now I won't have to greatly limit my riding in the winter.
Next, I plan on getting some studded tires for the mtb so I can ride the ice on the river backwaters. Any suggestions on those?

Nokian studded tires are the best. Don't bother with anything else.


And yeah, night riding, when there are no cars around, is great fun indeed.

Ordered some Nokian W106s 700x35 for my Raleigh hybrid. Estimated shipping date of 11/19. Schwalbe studdeds have good reviews also. Iydmma, which Raleigh model do you have?

Last sunday on my route home from my in-laws there's an MUT trail I use as a connector from
one suburb to another. It's a fairly long trail thru some deep woods with no homes or cars or
anything else nearby.

My HID was the only light and I occasionally would see an animal dart across the trail it was
just me and my bike and the sound of my tires rolling over fallen leaves.

It was very surreal and the strangest thing was that partway down I came across a couple
who was taking a walk in total darkness and here I come out of nowhere bright as the sun.

I really like night riding a lot.

I have the Passage 4.5. It's more of a road bike than a trail bike. It's my weekend bike. I've been using the Trek at night.

Yea, that.

I've got to be in the mood to go down the forest trail. Otherwise I stay on the roads.

That 200L is turning out to be a real good investment.

I use Continental 240 Spike Claws. They have carbide studs, hold like Velcro to the ice rutted streets I commute through. They don't clog with snow in the deep pack, and the rubber seems very grippy on ice, or clear dry pavement.

$55 a tire they are the best deal going.





Check out the Winter forum too

Just got back from doing my nighttime 14 miler. It is so cool doing that ride at night. What a trip.

Absolutely love night rides - mine are mostly lit and I try to keep to wide shoulders. I love to ride up hills and look out over the city all lit up, with the moon and stars shining down. Other portions are on secluded gravel roads and paths alongside a river. At night with the sun setting, mists on the water, the moon, the stars, distant lights playing on the water - I could stay out there forever. I could use a better lighting system though, coyotes and deer sometimes spring out of nowhere.

I know what you mean about the night rides- I started doing night time woods rides in the winter about 10 years ago, and I look forward to the night riding season with great anticipation every year.

One of the rides I do features bats- they like to fly along ahead of me in my beams for some reason. What a hoot!

Then there was the time I ran across the wild boar- I think I finished the rest of that ride in record time.

Rick

Wow, wild boar, where do you live?