So I commuted home last night at about 8:30pm taking the Mt. Vernon Trail from its start in Rosslyn to Old Town Alexandria. In preparation for the late commute I purchased a headlamp (36 lumens) and attached it to my helmet. It worked great and I was pumped to try it out on the trail, but the actual commute was TERRIFYING!

First of all the majority of the trail is unlit, so I had to rely solely on my headlamp. That's not a problem, but the majority of the trail is also along the northbound side of the GW Parkway, so going southbound on the trail you get all the cars' headlights in your face. I almost ran off the trail a number of times because I couldn't see the upcoming turns.

Second, while most people wear either reflective clothing, lights, or both, there were actually some people running/walking without anything but their plain clothes. 36 lumens seems like a lot when you're running around your basement with your helmet on, but damn these unlit pedestrians pop out of nowhere!

Lastly, the insects were insane. I didn't need to eat dinner when I got home because I had already filled up on assorted flying bugs. Also, not too far into the ride, I noticed a dark object moving alongside my front wheel. By the time that I realized the dark object was a huge rat and had time to grab my brakes, the thing ran straight under my front wheel with a sickening crunch.

So my first night time experience on the MVT was pretty scary. And I'm planning on doing it again tonight. I must have been dropped as a child...

I ride the MVT after dark all winter. I agree the worst part of it is the car headlight glare for basically four of the five miles from the start at Roosevelt Island to just past the airport. And someone else must have been in the same boat as you earlier this week, because there was a road kill rat in the middle of the trail near milepost 16.

Never been on the MVT but I do ride trails here in Florida at night. I use 2 Stella 140lums on my bars and 1 200 lum dinotte on my helmet and 1 red 140 lum dinotte blinkie on the back and I don't think that is enough. I would not attempt to ride with what you use. I almost hit a elderly gent Tuesday night as he was riding with no lights and on the left side (my side) of the trail. If I had used any less lights I am sure I would have taken him or myself out.

Bugs are a good source of protien