I can't always rally the troops to go out for a ride
Is night riding solo a stupid thing to do?
Bike Forum
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solo night riding - bad idea?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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As long as someone knows where you are i dont think it's any more stupid than solo in the day is it ?
Not that solo riding in the day is stupid either.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Get on with it, you'll be reet.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I do it all the time... just let someone know I'm off for a ride and take a phone.
Posted 1 year ago # -
As someone who's fallen off and broken an ankle while on a solo evening ride, I was a little wary for a while after the accident, but I don't let it stop me now.
Edit: The phone is all very well but lots of places on the Quantocks don't have a phone signal (and hopping to find a phone signal with a broken ankle flopping around is pretty painful)
Posted 1 year ago # -
anything that could happen at night could happen in the day ! - except for your lights dying....
Posted 1 year ago # -
It's too scary for me! All those creaking trees I would need to ride super speed. What a wuss I am.
Posted 1 year ago # -
not at all, its great for fitness - all the animal noises, creaks, etc make you ride faster and not stop
MTFU
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yep, solo night riding is great fun. Scares me silly sometimes, but fun nonetheless!
Same rules as day solo riding, maybe emergency lights too?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Would agree with the letting someone know where you are, and roughly what route you plan to take, and when you plan to be back.
Things do go wrong like punctures and broken chains etc, but so long as someone as a rough idea.
Perhaps the Mods could set up a sticky for people to post "routecard" type information? That way people could reply back when they've returned from their little jaunt.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Do it regularly when I can't get the other boys to MTFU and get out. As you say - leave details with someone and check in when ride complete. I have a mega lightweight bothy bag which I normally take on the hills and I stuff it at the bottom of my bag so if it all goes really wrong at least I can get some shelter while waiting for the cavalry.
Great to go somewhere like GT and be the only car in the car park!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Sometimes take a diversion home if I'm not too pissed after leaving my mate, scares me stupid heading through the woods knowing my light is on its final few minutes!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Doing it again tonight. Leave a route trace with someone, phone/text in at midpoint and end (preferably to a sober riding mate with a car) and pack the requisite kit (first aid, survival blanket, whistle, phone etc)in case it does all go wrong.
Have a good one.
Posted 1 year ago # -
It's great fun - just as long as the monsters lurking in the shadows don't get you!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yeah as long as you take the kind of precautions you'd normally take when out riding ie: ^^^^ what everyone has said up there.
It's briliant.Posted 1 year ago # -
I love riding on my own, good thing really with m8's like mine. Headphones on & away I go. I find it really funny some of my m8's wouldn't even consider it.
Anyways as above, give a route (stick to it!) to your partner & give them a timescale & get the f*** out & ride!Posted 1 year ago # -
last time i was night riding i heard a horse running by the side of me kinda scared me as i thought it was going to run straight at me but i just kept on going and just hoping i wasn't going to get trampled lol
Posted 1 year ago # -
I night ride alone fairly regularly.
Found a fire extinguisher beside the trail recently and just *had* to try the handle.
Queue loud roaring noise and huge cloud of white powder. Which was quite scary.
But a mate subsequently said - what if someone had seem it - large white cloud, roaring noises and strange lights flashing inside...they'd have thought aliens had landed.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Went on my first solo night ride on Monday....wow, I'll be making it a regular thing. Great buzz from hitting the trails on your own, much quieter than being out with the lads so much more to see too.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Having a plan as to where you ride and leaving this with someone and telling them when you will be back is key. Not having a phone signal for all the trail is a very valid point. I send a text message every 30-60 mins advising where I am on the route. So if they do need to come looking they know where I last was.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I do it myself if no one else is playing out, used to give me the spooks but i now i really enjoy it. Spent a time last thursday creeping through the tress trying to spot an owl i'd heard.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Did it last night (in order to meet up with those man enough to ride after the rain, and to get home again afterwards). Lots of dense, dark remote woodland to go through. Don't even think about it anymore.
All the above common sense advice should apply, but it's like riding solo in the day really.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Solo night riding is fine you just need to be sensible, I ride alone once or twice a week; take a phone, warm clothes, first aid kit, back up lights, let someone know where and how long you are planning to be out for, let them know you are back safely.
Enjoy the quite and remember to switch of your lights when you stop, the moon and stars are brill
Posted 1 year ago # -
i don't have anyone to tell where i'm going
Posted 1 year ago # -
you won't be missed then
Posted 1 year ago # -
Blimey, this place is getting far too Maily Dail these days
I usually just jump on the bike, ride it and enjoy myself. Now I'm going to have to plan my route, make a route card, leave details with someone, stick to the route, and be back by a certain time, carry spare lights, carry a phone, and be extra careful. Probably sound advice but life's too short...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I suggest listening to "Come to Daddy" by Aphex Twin while nightriding solo.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Great fun night riding solo, done a loop of the local hills last night, really clear night and a full moon. Amazing. A bit hairy coming of West Lomond as there was a herd of cows in the field, i'm not keen on riding near them during the day but its bloody scary in the dark, did sh!t myself at times when when the lights caught there eyes!!! Does help to focus the mind though...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dont be such a jessy, there's nowt dangerous about solo night riding, I mean it's not as tho you'll go out without telling anyone where you are going and ride right on the ragged edge of your ability is it....?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've done it a few times, and fallen off, thankfully I returned home with nothing worse that a full body mud suit. does make me think twice about it now though
Posted 1 year ago # -
I prefer riding on my own (at night or day) something about the solitude. Anyway on a recent ride I stumbled into a gypsy camp with about 20 blokes stood round some burning trash all pi££ed. Made a sharp exit with a few of them shouting at me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
dont forget to pack:
spare mobile phone
spare mobile phone battery
life raft
flares
spare flares
waterproof matches
night vision(if going for a quick local spin)
if you're planning on riding past the end of your driveway then i hope to god that you're not stupid enough to ride without a support vehicle?!
(me.... im a real man, i ride naked and covered in bbq sauce, best way to train is to always be outrunning the wolves and bears)
Posted 1 year ago # -
your life will be too short psling if you don't bother with any of that list
Posted 1 year ago # -
I went last night. Loads of fun. The only change I make is to keep my mobile phone in my jacket pocket rather than my backpack so it's easier to get. I also let someone know when I have left, my route and the Wife a time as to when I should be back at the latest. Then she is allowed to worry.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Sportstracker allows live updates to a web page if you're that worried.
Always take a couple of backup lights for fixing stuff or to limp home under when you smash your HID into a tree (bah.)
Posted 1 year ago #
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