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I'm seriously lucky where I live - empty roads, loads of gravel/estate/fireroads and MTB. Later in the week we'll be night-riding here:
+1 for going in the morning rather than the evening if you can. Started 2 winters ago as a necessity for me to fit around family life but has become my favourite time to ride , especially now I have a gravel bike. Am normally out the door about 6.30-6.45 so have to start in the dark but get to see some amazing sunrises.
Takes some effort to get up but always worth it. Getting kit ready the night before helps. And a great feeling at 9am meeting knowing you've 2 hours exercise in the bag already.
I tend to go mtbing on easy trails. It’s all time in the saddle and works towards base fitness.
MTBing for fun, road biking for training. You will get fitter significantly faster if you do targeted workouts (the right ones obvs) and it's really difficult to do this on an MTB.
I'm not saying don't MTB, of course, but if you want to train well then don't MTB. I can't do base training on an MTB because you need to sustain low intensity. And the off-road hills and descents that I have near me don't make for sustained low intensity, in fact the opposite. On road you can keep up the required power up and down the hills and flats and you don't need to stop pedalling for much.
Whether it's worth it or not depends what you want to get out of it. It can be a really nice time to be out (depending on what roads you have available to you I suppose). Lately I've been out a couple of times just before dark and back in the dark just for a change and to be out when the sun goes down. I think I'd be kidding myself though if I thought I could regularly go out like that all through winter.
If you're not that interested un that side of it though and it's all about the fitness then maybe stick to Zwift. But as other have said it doesn't have to be exclusively one or the other.
I'd much rather do an hour on the turbo than road riding at night. Too many silly drivers about on their phones playing Pokemon Go or Facetiming to Facebook or whatever they do.
If I was riding on my own at night, I'd probably go on the turbo instead. But our club rides on a Weds night all winter, and it's some of my favourite riding. Its only the dedicated riders who are out all winter, and it builds a great camaraderie. You also get to see some great sunsets, and really feel the seasons change.
Lately I’ve been out a couple of times just before dark and back in the dark just for a change and to be out when the sun goes down.
early afternoon then…
I go out at least once a week for a 20/30 mile XC bike ride after work at 6ish, unfortunately that involves a couple of miles on the road before I can be on the trails. I'd still rather be outside any day (plus I can't afford or have the space for a turbo!), even when the weather is grim, although that's when the roads can be a bit more risky! I bought a 300 lumen rear light and have two others, so drivers can't miss me!! A helmet mounted front light is great to help you get spotted too especially at junctions etc. when you can't make eye contact with a driver as you might in the daylight.
I find that most drivers give you reasonable space, but there's always at least one or two that are inches from clipping me, normally from being impatient or distracted. I've also noticed that very few drivers indicate when overtaking cyclists, which is so simple but really important at night as at least it helps to alert the vehicle behind that you're there.
I still think it's worth getting out at night on the road (even better on the trails!), just make sure you're highly visible - a decent rear light is essential IMO.
I used to go out at night but stopped a few years ago when I bought a turbo. Quiet country lanes are great - drivers seem to give you much more room than usual.
The worst bit for me was always the mile getting out of town. Had one too many near misses turning right at a mini roundabout. For whatever reason oncoming drivers just didn't seem to see me and ploughed straight on.
Last night here out in the Shires the full moon was s p e c t a c u l a r.
Would have easily been doable with front light off.
Wish now I’d made the most of it as I have an easy (up to 50k) circuit of unlit country lanes almost on the doorstep. Used to do 20k of it every Weds and rarely saw a car past 7pm. Let’s hope tonight is as clear.
Thanks to this thread of I now have it in my head to cycle-tour/bikepack from home in Worcs/Herefs all the way to the Ceredigion Coast, via spooky old Tregaron and over a week of clear nights. The last two elements of this equation would probably prove to be the most difficult to achieve 👻⛈
Cheers all,
I probably should have mentioned my apprehension comes from being knocked off my road bike at night on two occasions many moons ago despite having lights, helmet etc.
The one time I got knocked off by a girl driving her boyfriends Toyota MR2 at some traffic lights where she jumped a red...... The boyfriend jumped out the car and started beating me up for damaging his car!!