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This may be a strange question, but does anyone ride road in the dark? I'm workinf away from home but want to spend time getting miles in over winter. i work away from home so riding at the weekend will be off road. given the recent spate of cyclist deaths i feel more nervous.
I have decent lights.. living in sheffield if that helps
Any one have any thoughts or suggestions
Apart from commuting, I've only really tried it once. On quiet country roads, it actually feels safer than daylight. I reckon that with all those reflective bits and decent lights, you're actually a lot more visible to other traffic. If anything, twilight feels the most dangerous.
Hills don't seem so intimidating when you can't see the top - just ride what you can see and you end up at the summit anyway.
I plan on doing a bit more now that the evenings are darker.
Yes, we used to do group rides at night quite regularly. Hope Valley and Snake Pass was a regular one. I'm planning on doing a lot more on road this winter too now I've got some new lights.
I used to do a regular commute of about 25 miles when I lived in Lancaster, that was a lovely country lanes ride most of the way and I'd extend the ride home quite often.
It's actually safer at night - less traffic and what traffic there is you can see from further away and (assuming your lights are powerful enough), it can see you too.
Just got an exposure six pack ready for enduro stuff next year so the lights are cracking. cheers both hadn't thought of the visibility bonus of reflective clothing strips. I've only just started road so quite determined not.to give it up for winter
Yeah, I do it all the time, commute once or twice week, and an evening training ride with about 4/5 others. I do have very good lights. Somerset BTW
just watch potholes as you cant see how deep they are even with good lights
I have started using my Roadrat for this very job (and Commuting)
The jury is still out for me on this one at the moment, I'm in the middle of 'ride on country lanes because they are quiet but if I get knocked off nobody will know where I am', and 'stay to the main road increase the chances of getting knocked off, but at least they are mainly lit'
It's not too bad, just that it's that or the turbo trainer 🙁
watch baslow rd
high viz vest or similiar essential, helmet a must, good lights also help and a good dose of "watch your back and looking ahead to anticipate nob ed drivers"
Regularly do 10 hrs a week in the dark training on my road bike on my own, for several years and always been safe.
Im a darkside dark rider. Loads of reflective stuff. Decent lights for potholes. Hills feel lot bigger and its difficult to feel your speed as you cant base it on much other than your computer.
I do, prefer to ride the main roads actually (the nice wide ones)
Get some decent lights and a hi viz jacket and some reflective ankle straps and you should be ok.
I commute to and from work in the dark alot.
Just make sure you are lit up like a Christmas tree and you will be ok.
I have an Alpkit head torch zip tied to my helmet, it has a flashing rear light and a choice of LEDs at the front.
I really enjoy it!
PCB
From experience never ride on the road saturday or Friday night after about 19.00, as all the idiots come out to meet their mates , and girlfriends for a pint and more.
Have a look for off road sustrans cycle tracks,
and there is interactive mapping just type in your postcode to find routes.
From experience never ride on the road saturday or Friday night after about 19.00, as all the idiots come out to meet their mates , and girlfriends for a pint and more.
+1
I've had stuff thrown at me out of cars driving past.
Thanks all.. the advice and experience is much appreciated
I commute which is fine but I also trained at night over last winter. It was an organised thing. There's an industrial estate with one road in and then a 1.5mile loop. It's ideal because there are virtually no cars, street lighting, good quality roads.
If you could find something like that it would be good for intervals.
Google maps is your friend. Otherwise I'm not sure, In theory it shouldn't be a problem on normal roads but I'd get some really good lights so you can see where you are going and others can see you. When you drive at night on narrow country roads it's actually easier to see cars coming as the headlights stand out much better.
Living in Sheffield why don't you just go out for an off road night ride?