[Closed] solo night road riding ?

Bright lights are pretty essential on unlit roads or you can suddenly come across big potholes.

I always reckon good lights and reflectives make night riding a bit safer than day riding too.

If they really are quiet roads then leave a copy of your route or use a tracking app. You wouldn't want to be lying unconscious for long at this time of year.

Take a warm/insulated jacket with you too.

Go for it Iain.
On cold clear nights,nothing beats it this time of the year,even better if you know the roads well,so there are no surprises/broken bits waiting for ya.

You wouldn't want to be lying unconscious for long at this time of year

Go for it!

I'm stuck in the deepest 'can't be arsed to ride' doldrums at the moment, but absolutely love every minute on the bike when I actually convince myself to go out. At the moment (pre, 2hr bus commute home), I'm planning on going out for a solo on the MTB tonight. Was going to head towards Stirling, but my wife has warned me that there's a dead deer spread across a significant part of the back road that I normally take, so if I go out, think it'll be Carron Valley's man made trails for me.

I'll go out if you go out. How about that?

C. 🙂

I use an older Maxx-D for commuting, medium setting angled down and it is brilliant, lasts a good 5-6 hours.

Decent hi-viz and assume every vehicle on the road is driven by a fool and you're good to go

Work shifts and commute year round, 10 miles of it on rural roads and often 10pm or later.

Best bit of the day. Often ride the rural section (flat, exposed, few trees) with no lights.

Only been knocked off once. That was on the urban section, at 4pm, in June...

beagy - deal 🙂

I always reckon good lights and reflectives make night riding a bit safer than day riding too.

Well yes, if it wasn't for the werewolves, murderers and killer bats that I'm pretty sure I've heard.

I've done plenty of solo road riding in the past, used to regularly head out after work and do 50 miles in the depths of winter. As others have said, good lights and hi viz are essential. Make sure your rear light is blindingly strong, car drivers have a tendency to lash along assuming the road is clear unless they can see a bright light.

Also, take your phone, I lay stunned on an icy road for a good ten minutes once having hit a black ice patch. Wasn't unconscious but was certainly incapable of movement for a few mins. Was a bit scary while I lay there and tried to work out what I'd to call for help / get myself home.

G

Put the Maxx-D on and use the modes to match the roads you're riding on. Having more light available IF you need it seems a good plan.

Well yes, if it wasn't for the werewolves, murderers and killer bats that I'm pretty sure I've heard.

yeah, that's the bit that I am worried about - remote back roads over the moor..... 🙂

Might take jnr out to look after me.... !

Also, take your phone, I lay stunned on an icy road for a good ten minutes once having hit a black ice patch. Wasn't unconscious but was certainly incapable of movement for a few mins. Was a bit scary while I lay there and tried to work out what I'd to call for help / get myself home.

I did this too. I was most concerned about my bike, my cut head, my lacerated shin and hip and my torn top (in that order). I didn't even notice my broken wrist until after I got myself the 10 miles home.

Edit: Was a lovely ride up to that point though.

The top setting on a joystick is easily bright enough I find on road for descents. I tend to ride on roads I know well and stay a bit closer to home in the dark to avoid unsuspecting potholes and enable an easy rescue by the Mrs should I need it. I learnt that lesson the hard way after having to fix a puncture in a torrential hailstorm in the dark on top of a moor in freezing temps.

Do it. Night road riding is every bit as good as off-road riding. Safter too as drivers see your lights and are a bit surprised. You'll be shocked at the amount of dust and debris that a passing car throws up to be seen in your headlamp beam.

We go out of an hour most Wednesdays for the hooligan ride, which always finishes with a mad sprint for my buddy's house.

Decent hi-viz and assume every vehicle on the road is driven by a fool and you're good to go

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Do loads here too. Usually stick to familiar roads where I know the surfaces and bends. It's a bit weird at first but you soon get use to it. I started off with an old Joystick but it was a bit poor (more than beam pattern than the power.) New ones might be better. Then got a Strada which is much better.

Maxx-D on low might be ok but the beam pattern is likely pretty poor for roads and will annoy oncoming traffic.

Spin classes (Get a bike at the back 😛 )
cycle path into Glasgow, or out through Eaglesham to Killie way
Velodrome

Just need to be careful of icy conditions.....

I don't get out on the road bike if it looks like the road will be icy. Not worth the increased risk of falling, in my opinion....

car drivers have a tendency to lash along assuming the road is clear unless they can see a bright light.

This is my worry about riding at night. People at night on country lanes are looking for car headlights coming towards them, not a cyclist going in the same direction at a fraction of the speed they are going.

nobeer - if I was spinning I'd just go on the rollers at home 🙂

The moor road is calling, nice and quiet as you know, minimal traffic. Not risking track with healing elbow fracture - the evening drop-ins are all now rammed anyway and booked a long way in advance 🙁

Just need to be careful of icy conditions.....

Any chance of ice I stay off the lanes and stick to the A roads which I know will be gritted. Also take the descents much slower just in case.

This is my worry about riding at night. People at night on country lanes are looking for car headlights coming towards them, not a cyclist going in the same direction at a fraction of the speed they are going.

It's really not been an issue for me (yet!) and most of my riding is country lanes. Mostly because you'll see a car lights coming a way off and tuck in a bit or try and avoid meeting them at a bend.

I don't get out on the road bike if it looks like the road will be icy. Not worth the increased risk of falling, in my opinion....

This too. Tend to avoid it if it's going to be properly icy and just turbo instead. Not worth trashing winter training for the sake of a night ride or two.

Sounds like a good plan as long as the roads are clear of ice. It's pretty slippery in the evenings even down my way, and a fall on ice would really knacker your elbow.

re the ice, I quite agree - where we are is pretty high and exposed, so if it's less than 4 degrees I don't go out...

Forecast for tonight is 8 degrees.

Though wet leaves have made some descents round here quite dicey the past couple of weeks. Can be hard to spot in the dark till you feel the front wheel slipping a bit 🙂

yeah, that's the bit that I am worried about - remote back roads over the moor...

Well as you know I'm out on the moor in the dark most days. I'd advise the maxx d on the bars and the joystick on the helmet as a back up in case you need to do a repair. The joystick would be okay but with the roads as damp as they are just now a brighter light is better.

It's not that scary but it's highly unlikely you'll meet anyone else, well me possibly. Number of cyclists you see in the dark really drops off November to January, saw 2 last night near the GSO junction but that was it, it can be quite lonely out there as I don't normally pass anyone for 12 miles.

Roads are filthy just now so I hope you have mudguards.

And there's no ice to worry about.

FunkyDunc - Member

car drivers have a tendency to lash along assuming the road is clear unless they can see a bright light.

This is my worry about riding at night. People at night on country lanes are looking for car headlights coming towards them, not a cyclist going in the same direction at a fraction of the speed they are going.

Cars do zoom along, but no faster than in the day, with the advantage that you can see (their lights) coming, but they can also see yours. So on quiet roads it certainly feels safer IMO. The big risk is cars tailgating who might not realise you are there so not pull out as much as the car in front, but again that's no different to daylight.

Never bothered with Hi-Viz, I have a Dynamo front and rear lights so im perfectly visible without blinding oncoming traffic. On narrow lanes often find cars waiting at passing spots more than they would in daylight as at night the light looks more like a dipped motorbike.

thanks all, Gary - yes Zefal swan and croozer on the CDF, and will pop the MaxxD on as suggested. You'll be home long before I head out 🙂

Some Hi-Viz is better that others.Ankle bands are great (movement init) they live in my shoes for the next few months,so I never go out without them. I also have a bright pink vest with CAREFUL NOW on the back 😉

meant to add that I would avoid going over the moor road from Eaglesham to the A77 in the dark, I've done it before but it's best avoided. Cars don't give you much passing space during the day and in the dark it's even worse.

Road round the back of the windfarm that takes you above Darvel would be my choice, nice smooth road and will be traffic free. Head out from Auldhouse and go as far as you want.

Spin classes (Get a bike at the back )

From what I've heard, get one next to the instructor 😉

As above, it can be a very relaxing and meditative experience - particularly on quiet roads.

I'd go for the Mxx-d and joystick combo and just sheild the beam with oyur hand for oncoming traffic. That's what I do.

Oh, and it might be stating the obvious but if you're out on your own take it easy. I tend to use outdoor rides in winter for more relaxed rides and use the turbo for beasting myself.

Gary_M - Member
meant to add that I would avoid going over the moor road from Eaglesham to the A77 in the dark, I've done it before but it's best avoided. Cars don't give you much passing space during the day and in the dark it's even worse.

yes, that was the plan - I have a 25 mile loop through Jackton towards Strathaven Airfield, over the back of Ardoch Rigg and back in. Only bit of lit road is from home to the Jackton turning, which is under a mile

Sounds ideal, have fun. Remember there are no ghosts & ghouls, although I did once have a strange experience on the moor but probably best not tell you about that today 🙂

Dry and less than 3c - turbo
Wet and less than 4c - turbo
This might seem wimpy but I am VERY lucky to be riding still after a 25mph crash on ice. Run off from a field in a hollow. Sheet ice for 20m.

Otherwise:-

Maxx D on bars
Joystick on strobe on helmet with Redeye
Hope District on rear
Spoke reflectors

I've had some great insomnia rides 🙂

remote back roads over the moor..... ?

Pack lube then! 😆

Hi-Viz is essentially useless at night. You want reflectives.

Iain - tomorrows first thread had better be; "[i]what dynamo powered lighting system[/i]"!!!

And Make sure your phone is set to loud.
9 missed calls from the missus the other day, while i was happily doing a few extra loops...

She Wasnt too Happy about that.
I figured you were sleeping... Didnt cut it as an excuse

I'm a convert to long night road rides; a few times lately I've been places like Edinburgh or Stirling for evening meetings and then ride home to Angus, getting back at 1 or 2 in the morning.
It's just like daytime riding, just with slightly more serious consequences if you have a mechanical or an off, as others have said.
I don't find traffic an issue at night. In my experience, 2 decent tail lights create a wide pass in the vast majority of cases and at this time of year, I'm commuting home at 6 or 7 at night three-four times a week without worry.
I've a couple of quite fast downhills on the normal road route, so I'm going to ask if anyone can say if those B&M thingies really do have enough output for a 30mph descent on an unlit, wet, tree lined road?

One further hazard you do have to consider late at night is the difficulty of passing a late chip shop; these have a special gravitational field all of their own!

I do a fair bit of night road riding, sometimes just an extended commute, sometimes specific rides.

Roads are much quieter and what traffic there is you can see coming from miles off - it can see you too if you have good lights. ALWAYS have 2 rear lights, and a bar-mounted and helmet-mounted front. Helmet mounted is more for repairs if needed but it's useful for looking over hedgerows, round corners and at the ghouls/axe murderers that are running alongside you. 😉

Hi-viz is useless at night but anything with reflective highlights will work well. I've got a black Endura jacket which I hate wearing during the day but at night it lights up really well cos it's got loads of reflective strips and patches.

Why do you need to ask about riding at night ?Just do it .All the winter Audax I do have several hours of darkness on roads I dont know to contend with .They are all fine with 300 lumens or so

I've a couple of quite fast downhills on the normal road route, so I'm going to ask if anyone can say if those B&M thingies really do have enough output for a 30mph descent on an unlit, wet, tree lined road?

The Cyo Premium doesn't really, but the IQX is supposed to be a step better, not had a chance to use mine yet sadly but friends rate them. I guess 30mph is probably pushing it for comfort but you could supplement with a joystick, which is what I did for my CYO on faster bits

One further hazard you do have to consider late at night is the difficulty of passing a late chip shop; these have a special gravitational field all of their own!

yes! when your tummy is a rumbling you cant pass a late night chippy.

[quote=Edric 64 ]Why do you need to ask about riding at night ?Because he's unfamiliar with it and is looking for advice?

I like night cycling in winter, tow paths and fire roads are good.

I you can also get away with dodgy stuff like riding local trail centres in reverse.

Why do you need to ask about riding at night ?Just do it .All the winter Audax I do have several hours of darkness on roads I dont know to contend with .They are all fine with 300 lumens or so

I usually ride on the proper dark bits with the strada on low, not sure how many lumens that is but it's generally fine for taking it easy pace. On bits I'm not sure on or I up the speed I generally use medium, hardly ever use high.

Oh and it's a forum so there's nothing wrong with asking questions.

Oh,and if you are out on the moors,watch out for deer bolting across the road.I had a near miss the other week (half a metre in front of my wheel) and it scared the bayjeebus out of me.

I think I need something like a Strada. I generally use my Maxx D on quiet country lanes (coupled with a 300 lumen Lezyne light), but have to turn it off when there is oncoming traffic. To counter this, I point my helmet torch (on low) towards the kerb, and leave my Lezyne 300 lumen light on , but it can be hard to see the road edge under the glare of oncoming car lights.

Two or three rear lights (helmet, bike, somewhere else).

Good enough front lights to see potholes (or badgers crossing, based on one near miss I had).

Reflectives also essential.

Other than that, it's fantastic night riding on country lanes solo. I would be using the Garmin LiveTrack feature via my Vivoactive watch so that SWMBO could see where I am / was if I wasn't back in good time, just as belt and braces. In fact, I tend to do that most times when I ride alone anyway.

Go for it. You can't beat the solitude you get from cycling down a country lane on a dark night with only your light illuminating the way ahead. Don't forget to admire the night sky on those cold cloudless nights!

Wonderful.

FWIW, my Revo has a claimed output of 800 lumens at max. That's entry bright enough and as the dynamo feed is via a Kemo USB supply I can use the wee switch on top to cut from 4 to 2 LEDs if there's an oncoming vehicle.

Do it all the time.

It gets a bit tunnel-visiony at times. But there's still loads of wonderful stuff to see. Esp when the moon comes out and you are on tops of hills.

As for traffic - what traffic? After dinner time on country roads there's no bugger about. Bit of reflective gear, a fast flickery rear light as well as a steady one, you're probably safer than during the day. Oh and if you double up at the back you'll have backup automatically, but also see if you can add a second front light - doesn't need to be on, but if you have a failure or a battery runs out it'll be vital.

For extra effect do it after about 11pm. The small hours, you have the world to yourself, it's awesome.

Only downside is passing those little country cottages where people don't bother to shut curtains and you glance inside to see someone curled up on sofa watching telly with a beverage and a snack and a warm fireplace.... But then you have your own cosy sofa at the end of the ride 🙂

Tonight's plans scuppered by call for dad's taxi services, however the responses have convinced me, it's going to happen ! Thanks all.

It can be quite addictive. A highlight for me this year was doing NCN78 in less than 24 hours. It was lovely riding through Kintyre while everyone was sleeping.

http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2016/09/ncn78-caledonia-way-in-day.html?m=1

Suicidal badgers have nearly got me a few times - they just come bumbling out the verge not giving a stuff.

I often feel a bit vulnerable riding empty country lanes at night. It's funny, because I will ride anywhere during the day and not think about it, and as soon as darkness falls I'm wondering who I might bump into!

Aside from that, it's great fun. Very peaceful once you get your wits about you. Have had many memorable rides after dark.

My advice:
- Good lights, and make sure they're charged.
- Puncture resistant tyres (last thing you want to do when creeped out in the dark and cold is be fixing a puncture)
- take it easy on descents (imperfections/mud/ice in the road creep up on you quickly)
- Plenty of reflective high-vis will help you stand out on country lanes.

Also - don't under-estimate how cold it's going to get later on. It's fun on still nights to zoom down into a dip at 35mph then get blasted with the freezing damp air that's collected in there.

Oh and if it's really still you can smell people's dinners being cooked.

I use two rear lights and carry a third (a 27g Petzl E-lite which can show red or white).

Being out on country roads in sudden freezing fog with no rear light would really suck.

On here previously I said someone solo night riding is irresponsible.

However since I've ridden dark lanes and off road and it's frankly magical.

After all you can ride solo in day light and meet no one on a mornings ride so how is it much different?

Iain.
Once you have got in to it,you should sign up for [url= http://www.ridetothesun.co.uk/ ]Ride To The Sun[/url]
Ask Nobeer how good it was 😉

On here previously I said someone solo night riding is irresponsible.

I do it all the time, its just the same as riding during the day.

However since I've ridden dark lanes and off road and it's frankly magical.

I don't get what's magical about it, it's just riding a bike in the dark, I'd rather ride in the sunshine. But then again I've been doing it for 10 years so I'm used to it.

After all you can ride solo in day light and meet no one on a mornings ride so how is it much different?

It isn't, apart from being slower, usually wt, usually cold.

Iain.
Once you have got in to it,you should sign up for Ride To The Sun
Ask Nobeer how good it was

Funnily enough, we were just talking about RTTS 2017 yesterday! 😀