[Closed] Solo night rides

They've invented this wonderful new thing....its called 'lying' 😀

not my style lying - she's too good at detecting it 🙂

My wife was nervous about me night riding solo, we struck a deal that allows me to still go out.

Part one - I tell her where I'm going and an estimated time of return
Part two - I wear a road ID in case I do wipe out and a stranger finds me.

This has given her the peace of mind she needs and allows me to scare myself silly avoiding the bears in the woods.

Women are suspicious creatures, if you lie about something like night-riding and they find out, then they will probably assume you're lying about other, more important stuff.

you need to work on lying dude - you'll not progress without good skills!

Tell her to MTFU, duh.

you need to work on lying dude - you'll not progress without good skills

we've been married 27 years, I'm a lost cause

My wife gave me an ultimatum........suprisingly i don't miss her 😐

she doesn't do ultimatums

if it makes her anxious, then I'll just have to find another way

If she is that worried have a look at Google Latitude, it assumes you have an android phone, but it does let you know where someone is.

Then go ride anyway.

Tell her you're going round to see your girlfriend?

Edit: You've been married 27 years, which puts in you in your forties?

😆

Solo night rides in the woods are addictive

Just tell someone your route, charge your phone, carry 2 lights and enough spares/tools to get you home. In winter carry a spare extra layer. Fingers crossed they'll be more snowy night rides again this year

which puts in you in your forties

oh, I wish

Just done three nights in a row.....seem to be ending up poaching across Lord (Insert French steward de bar name)'s precious ancestral grounds every time...mainly because the trails are dry....and I've not done it often before........and the steward de bar's ancestors stole it off the oppressed Anglo Saxon peoples, who in turn stole it off the Romano British, who in turn all stole it off some poor oppressed peasant etc....and I feel like an oppressed peasant so it seems to achieve a balance...and it's ok riding.

I especially like zooming down the ridge between the planted grand (but now somewhat shabby) processional avenues of plain trees, overlooking the lights of the village. It was made for it.

tell someone your route, charge your phone

I guess a big issue for her is mobiles don't work anywhere around here once you're in the hills

doesn't worry me too much as I don't normally take one anyway
if something did happen it's pretty remote but the risk is very small, almost insignificant IMO

I'll probably just stick with going out with others though

I'm constantly amazed by the different risk analysis people apply to things.

My wife for example, wouldn't even consider solo night riding as a dangerous activity. Neither would I, I do it all the time too. I take **** all with me, maybe some basic mechanical spares and that, my phone usually, and just go out and ride. that's not a dead butch statement, we don't percieve it to be high risk simply because it's not.

Perception comes from lack of exposure to risk. Tread a bit wilder. Night riding alone is not risky.

I'm a bit like samurai, hadn't considered it a risk, I'm not totally alone, got the dog, but then that can turn into being a liability, last winter it was fairly deep snow and I was out on a heavy clunker so it gripped ok. Made the mistake of going down by the lake, the damn dog made a mistake thinking it was solid and jumped straight in, couldn't get out.
Just as I'm going to his aid, the lights packed up, that's a whole sudden other ball game. pitch black icy cold, no lights and I'd left the phone behind, it got me thinking, would she even know where I'd gone, she'd have been probably more worried about the dog than me.

Anyway as usual my luck held, managed to fire up the light it was a loose cable when I set the bike down and we set off for the pub, the fire and a warm. But I did talk it over with her, she's followed me to ER in the ambulance on a number of occasions for broke bits and smashed skulls, so we've agreed, phone with me at all times and a rough ETA and she's cool (and checking the insurance).

Riding at night isn't without risk though, came horsing down this normally clear track only to swing round the bend into a veritable sea of cats (sheep as it happened) eyes, then ploughed right in and over the front, that was pretty damned scary not to mention painful for all involved.

Tell her your looking for the wildlife

[IMG] [/IMG]

I'm constantly amazed by the different risk analysis people apply to things

me too, I don't see any risk at all [apart from the bogie man 🙂 ] in solo night riding, she unfortunately does
she's not an outdoors type at all so that doesn't really help her situation

at the end of the day, I can't have her all anxious when I'm out riding regardless of whether it's rational or not
It's a shame but not worth getting to bothered about

I'm a bit like samurai, hadn't considered it a risk, I'm not totally alone, got the dog, but then that can turn into being a liability, last winter it was fairly deep snow and I was out on a heavy clunker so it gripped ok. Made the mistake of going down by the lake, the damn dog made a mistake thinking it was solid and jumped straight in, couldn't get out.
Just as I'm going to his aid, the lights packed up, that's a whole sudden other ball game. pitch black icy cold, no lights and I'd left the phone behind, it got me thinking, would she even know where I'd gone, she'd have been probably more worried about the dog than me.

Anyway as usual my luck held, managed to fire up the light it was a loose cable when I set the bike down and we set off for the pub, the fire and a warm. But I did talk it over with her, she's followed me to ER in the ambulance on a number of occasions for broke bits and smashed skulls, so we've agreed, phone with me at all times and a rough ETA and she's cool (and checking the insurance).

Riding at night isn't without risk though, came horsing down this normally clear track only to swing round the bend into a veritable sea of cats (sheep as it happened) eyes, then ploughed right in and over the front, that was pretty damned scary not to mention painful for all involved.

[img] [/img]

If your wife allows you to ride during the day then I don't see what the issue is with riding at night. It's only the dark, it's no big deal.

it's not about being 'allowed'
we don't go in for telling each other what we can and can't do

it's the fact that she's very anxious when I'm out alone at night, her anxiety may not be rational at all but I don't want to put her in that position when I can just as easily go out through the day

My dear chap, you simply have to work out a compromise. As you probably have discovered night riding in woodland is AWESOME! It is a 'no brainer' you HAVE to find a solution. Lying is out. Need to know is in, so work out and agree to protocols she is happy with, ie spare lights, etc and phone. I like the Google thingy mentioned above as she has the option that she can reassure herself, which I think is the issue here. Discuss openly what it is she is worried about but neither reassure nor compound her at this point, wait until she has it off her chest. I am assuming yo have done this already?

There are some hazards, as have been pointed out, before one proceeds they must be gone over.

Animals in the woods, they dont know what to make of you, as well as stoned pot heads and "doggers", all of minor concern however. Me, personally I have encountered these as well as deer leaping up over the trail in front of me (a vertical height of of 3 metres I jest not!), shots fired at me(hey missed Ha! Ha!) and zombies. Zombies tend to be only of concern at twilight and if you stop. So dont. Right then. Lets sort this out for you chap.
Women are beautiful creatures and need to be nurtured to get the best out of them. If you have been married for so long then you must have a whole array of examples and arguments to use in your defence, show her the passion you have for riding and maybe she just might fall in love with the passionate man you have become and let you ride! This works for me and I still get to make love to my dirty little 17" hardass in the dark as well as have a beer and tea waiting for me when I get back! Oh yes you can't beat the little woman at home (no its illegal these days you know) but by jingo you can thrash the little madam hard and bounce her forks up and down up and down over and over. What fun you shall have touching her gears tenderly, the thrill as she lifts you out bthe saddle but hold on tight! Hmm, yes push your feet firmly into the pedals, or cleats if that sort of thing is your bag, and feel the rush as you flow ever on to finish. On the ride home, when cosy together for the last few minutes, remember to assure her and complement her on her lovely virtues. Tell her how she is going to be rewarded, because the girl deserves a reward!Lovely wax finish or somehing when daylight comes. Do be careful though, if in the moment of climactic joy you promise some sexy little fox forks with the latest kashima coating, and all you could ever afford is some wet lube for next time, then you are heading for trouble my man! She deserves better treatment and may run off with some local "chav" type who will only use her for wheelies. All the best old chap. Ride wild, Ride Free! 🙂

step 1 : decide which night and at what time you will go nightriding every week
step 2 : on said day ensure bike and all kit is ready to ride, lights charged etc.
step 3 : 15 mins before your ride time get bike and prop against front gate . retire to front room
step 4 : open curtains and sit gazing at you bike whilst huffing a puffing like a depressed teenager.
repeat until she finally crumbles - no lies, no compromise,just gentle mind manipulation

Other than it's dark I fail to see what the issue is i.e. it's no different than riding during the day. The trails don't just suddenly change at night or at least the ones I ride don't. If anything, it's safer as there are less other moving things to hit like walkers and mad dogs, small children etc. Plus, you can see other bikers coming more easily.

Obviously the werewolves are an issue but a couple of bonios usually keeps them in check.

Other than it's dark I fail to see what the issue is

as I said, I don't have an issue but my wife is concerned that if I fell and was incapacitated - nobody would be along anytime soon to help, it's the solitude not the dark that's the problem for her
very small risk but it makes her anxious as there is zero phone coverage etc.
if I still want to go out I can, that's my choice but it causes her stress and I don't want that

I didn't start the thread to look for a way around the issue just really to say how much I enjoyed my first time solo in the forest and it was a shame it'd probably be my last

antthebike - Member
My dear chap,...
There are some hazards, .....
Zombies tend to be only of concern at twilight and if you stop.

I've found once you explain to them their road bike is what is giving them that thousand yard stare and is why everyone hates and fears them, they cease to be an issue...

you give up too easily

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My Wife loves my night riding. We sort tea, washing up etc etc etc and I go out after my boy has been bathed and put to bed - She gets some peace and I get to ride my bike!

my problem is going out during the day -

if my woman said i couldn't go out, id get a new woman

You could always just find someone else to go with, that could put her mind to rest?

Or, you could just [i]tell[/i] her that you're meeting up with someone else of course.

Have been solo night riding since the mid 90s. Never really gave mrs.rocket a second thought until I read this thread!

I'd offer group nightrides as a compromise.

It does rely on you being able to commit to a regular date/time but gives the reassurance of some other people to carry you to the ambulance and look after your bike.

just get a Spot tracker device. Allows her to stalk your every move online and you have a big red "help" button you can press if required (and conscious)

Sorry, I'm still flabbergasted. Do you wear mitts with one of them strings through your sleeves so you don't lose one?

Edit: Sorry. How about the two of you go for an evening walk together a few times. Take a torch. Let her see how benign it all is. Some folk just have an irrational fear of the dark and she might come to accept it more if she has experienced it somewhat herself.

Funnily enough I was thinking about this this morning at about 6am in some secluded woods in a section of trail hidden away where very few people venture...

I ride a lot on my own including a couple of early morning (5am) rides a week which are now dark. I do realise that there is a risk that I could knock myself out or similar and it'd be some time if ever before someone came along since during the week, most people don't mtb till the evenings but in 15 years, that's yet to happen so I guess I'm just figuring that the likelihood is pretty low - almost certainly less than the odds of being hit by a car and injured more seriously. By my reckoning at least.

You can get phone apps that will upload your location in real time to website so people can see where you are - obviously not much use if there really is no signal.

Or you could take the odd bath and you might find more people who will ride with you 🙂

It's pretty much the only riding I do now, DAM YOU SMALL NEEDY CHILDREN. I always tell the missus where i'm going and a rough eta of when I'll be home.
I'm currently waiting for enough beans in the account to purchase a new Troutie light after my Lupine died a death in one of those "...ooh it would be terrible if the light packed up now, hang on it's just gone, oh you're f###ing kidding me, REALLY, that is NOT funny, no dude, dude, no!" momments.
One you might wanna try is dawn riding. Set off at about 4am, tiz uber awesome.

I've never considered it a risk, she asks where I'm planning going and for how long and off I go. If I didn't solo night ride I'd only ride my bike once a week, oh the horror! 😯 😀

It's pretty much the only riding I do now, DAM YOU SMALL NEEDY CHILDREN.

Edit- for this same reason 😆

Suspect that's the same, unstated, reason for most of us... 😉

I think it is a bit disingenuous to say risks of riding at night are the same as those of riding during daytime. I do it, but I don't pretend it isn't riskier, and I prefer where possible to night ride with friends. The biggest risk is that of hurting yourself and being without assitance - while that risk exists during solo day rides as well, solo at night adds (depending on the popularity of trail your riding) another potential 12 hours after an accident before someone finds you lifeless/nursing a broken bone/crying like a little girl.

By all means do enjoy the solo night rides, but recognise the risk. That's part of the fun anyway, right? And don't pretend there isn't a higher risk of jungle animals/bogeymen eating you alive at night, either 🙂

Discuss the objective risk with her, Im probably less likely to hurt myself at night cos im going a bit easier. After a few times she'll get used to it.
Or start identifying foundless, ill informed risks in aspects of her life that you know nothing about, and expect her to change her behaviour.

I'd never night ride on my own.

I was lucky/unlucky enough to be leading the utterly fantastic Delamere Monday night ride 7 years ago on a lovely cold November evening, when at around 9pm, I came off on something totally insignificant at about 3mph.
Result, one smashed humerus (upper arm), and the worst pain I've ever experienced. Fortunately the 8 people that were with me got me to the road and an ambulance. I, quite literally, couldn't have moved if they hadn't have been there, and would have been lying in a deserted forest in minus degree temperatures.

But hey, if you're man enough, go do it. I know I never will.

Risk assessment takes on a different perspective when somethings actually happened to you.

Dave

Route plan and eta means you wont be left helpless. Otherwise I dont see the difference with solo riding during the day.
We all make our own choices based on our own experience I suppose, I just dont see why the OP's enjoyment should be curtailed because someone else makes unfounded assumptions about the level of risk.

If you have to go on a solo night ride just tell someone what time to expect you back by and the route that you are taking.

Just understand that IF you did have an accident you'd tie up additional resources as someone would need to follow the route to locate you (hence more time away from other potential emergency calls).

If you're happy with that. Fine.

Personally I think its reckless.

Bloomin ek.. most of the replys are to do with "telling yer woman to bogoff" What about the actual experiances of night riding?

I don't do these very often, for some reason I'm not inclined to go out unless it's a full moon (Yoooowwwwwlllll, hahaha) no seriously. I'm a lover of forests but it can get mighty dark in there without some serious Luminaires and I don't really like riding like I've a WW2 Air Raid spot light loosly tied to my bars, so I only take a small but reasonably powerful Exp with me, then turn it off at every moon lit opportunity..

But some nights are just sublime.

Must do more, must do more before this hot weather scoots off back Africa way..

Mountain biking is a luxury activity Houns. Every time a mountain biker has an accident resources are tied up 'unnecessarily' whether at night or not.
Maybe we should just not do it at all?

sweepy - Member
Mountain biking is a luxury activity Houns

Houns <> Hora 😯

I was told at hospital that mountain biking injuries are classed as "self-harm". Similar goes for Rugby injuries.

I was gobsmacked.

hora - Member
I was gobsmacked.

You must think I'm completely reckless. I mean I ride at night [i]on my own[/i] I even go out and walk/climb up hills [i] on my own, in the winter[/i] and everything.

How is your view of life looking through all that cotton wool?

In your mind, do you allow others opinions that differ to yours?

Whoops, sorry Hora, and Houns.
I wonder if hospitals consider sitting on ones backside watching X factor and eating crisps as 'self harm'
The worrying thing is that unlike Hora, there are people who would happily ban many activities as unnecessarily risky, and a drain on resources. One in particular who I know would ban mountain walking, yet smokes like a research lab beagle.

In the dark ?
On a bike ?
Over an uneven surface ?

Are you mad?
Do you have some sort of death wish?
Do you really want your last hours ,to be spent fighting off woodland creatures ,while they gnaw at your broken limbs?

No ,of course you don't.
As Winter approaches it's far better to stay where it's cosy and safe.

Oh , and ignore all that rubbish about most accidents happening in the home.

😆

Self-harm 'putting one in harms way' possibly?

Although keeping fit, getting fresh air and activity - surely if you slid off - how is that self-harm?

Benefits balanced against risk IMO.

It's a good job you apologised 😡

Yep, night ridden and run solo in Delamere quite a bit over the last 2-3 years and enjoy it. Always take mobile JIC the worst happens.

Oddly I seem to move along a lot quicker and don't ever stop until at the stones on Old Pale but I do get a rather odd sensation between my shoulder blades if I don't focus on what's in front of me.......

i could not ride solo in the dark, have to have a nite light on when i go to bed