Riding in evening or night
 

Ok, I figure I know the answers but wanted to ask any how. As we slowly lose daylight sooner and finally in Nov move off daylight savings, the question in my mind has been how can I keep riding during the week? I recently got some lights for my bike as a gift and have been thinking hard about continuing my daily loop to, around White Rock, and back to house but this will require riding after dark. This is something I have always stay away from but with the gains I have made over the summer, I really don't want to have to start over next summer.

So do any of you ride at night during the winter and if so what steps do you take to be safe? Just stay off the roads and ride trails or take less traveled roads?

Thanks
Ray

For my front light i use http://www.lightjunction.com/MagicSh...cle-light.html
for the rear light i use this and or Planet Bike Blinky turbo
http://www.lightjunction.com/MagicSh...cle-light.html and/ or http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3070.html

Reflective vest http://www.tractorsupply.com/-753063299

chop spoke reflectors http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU_O-OKuaeI

I use my lights day and night. Front light is set to blink as well as the rear light

The roads i ride are heavenly traveled

I like riding my commute in the dark. If you have aggressive, bright lighting you are MORE visible than in the daytime. I ride with two BRIGHT taillights, a handlebar headlight and a helmet-mounted headlight. I consider two taillights essential for fail-safe considerations. The helmet-mounted headlight can be used to get the attention of a car at an intersection -- just turn your head to look at the driver. With the exception of the MagicShine headlight, all my lights are USB rechargeable. Dinky little lights that take AAA batteries do not cut it in my book.

Don in Austin

For your particular situation you may not have any trouble. I live not far from White Rock and find that there are enough street lights to allow me to see pretty well. Having a front light makes it easy for me to be seen, not so much for me to see. I know that there are very expensive lights out there that will light the way for you. It seems like a read or heard somewhere that the randonneur (sp?) crowd tends to mount their lights on the forks. It seems like that is supposed to give you a better view than a handlebar mount.

I must say I have not been around White Rock in the dark but I know there are lots of folks that do. I think there is a MTB gang that does it pretty regularly. (I was trying to get back to my car one evening and a bunch of them stopped in front of me to wait on the stragglers. Took up all the trail plus some of the sides as well. Came WAY too close to being an ugly situation. I remember it vividly.)

Since I have recently started commuting from the Jupiter/NW HWY area to near Baylor I am thinking about the whole front light situation. I am wondering if for a given amount of money, would an actual flashlight be brighter than a dedicated bike light. Seems that everything bike related gets an extra little kiss, so I'm thinking I could buy a brighter flashlight and MacGyver/kludge it to the bike and come out ahead.

White Rock Lake sounds doable and safe at night. I often ride with the Night Riders group in Ft. Worth (Doohickie introduced me to them), and I think there is a group like that in Dallas as well. I've really been enjoying riding at night. In the summer it lets me stay away from the energy draining heat and when it gets dark early, I am not limited by the short day.

For headlights, I have a 200 lumen Cygolight, which is a dedicated bicycle light. I also have a 200 lumen Coast PX-25 flashlight ($40 at Home Depot, + a flashlight holder)up front as well. The two beam patterns combine nicely and light up the road ahead of me very well. Two lights also gives me some redundancy in case one runs out of power on a ride.

In the back I am using a Planet bike superflash in blinking mode on the bike and I recently added a smaller light on my camelbak that i leave in steady mode.

The problem at White Rock is all the runners and other cyclists who wear black and have no lights... many scary moments!

I'm a fan of having as many lights as possible, front and rear. Both for visibility and redundancy purposes... these things, even the expensive units, sometimes just stop working.

Also though, I pick different routes at night... more streetlights, lower traffic, etc.

I use lights and stay on greenbelt trails that border streets and side streets. Light colored clothing and flashing tail lights are impoirtant.

Rick
www.Texbiker.net
Texas Bicycling News, Events, Experiences

When it gets dark earlier, I just ride with lights. Part of the solution is having a good route to ride with minimal traffic.

Thanks everyone for the insight on this. I really like the idea of the helmet mounted light also. That is a good idea.
Yall have a great weekend and safe cycling

I use two headlights, one on my helmet the other on the handlebar. It lets me see where the bike is pointed but also lets me scan the roadsides (looking for deer that might jump out in front) or pan across motorist faces to make sure they see me. I also use 2 rear lights in case the batteries die on one. Reflective ankle bands are great, the up-down motion distinguishes you as a cyclist not just a traffic construction barrel.

Riding in groups lets you use fewer lumens and there is safety in numbers.

I prefer to ride on low-traffic routes even though some are quite dark. Be cautious of big descents where your speed can outrun your lights. I'm not a fan of riding along the river on the MUP, the bugs get in my mouth and nose and eyes; and the humidity fogs my safety glasses. On the other hand, some of the low-traffic roads headlight glare can be an issue when cars don't dim their high beams.

Night riding can be very serene and peaceful. I've had some wonderful rides in the dark.

Other than the gnats, I quite enjoy riding along the Trinity after dark. It's quiet except for a serenade of croaking frogs. My glasses tend to only fog up when I stop. I have models with small vents to help keep them from fogging, as well as having clear lenses I can swap in at dark.

Just need to keep my head down to avoid inhaling the extra protein.