Devon TRF Group Forum

MikeBarnacle · Clubman B

Night riding....do you do it?

Hoops · Elite

Used to do a few in recent years, did one a while back and enjoy them. The lanes are completely different in the dark, as you'd imagine. No specific rules that I'm aware of, although I'd be wary of deep water crossings in the dark.

RichT4 · Champion

No rules other than common sense.

I've done a few.
Generally no-one else on the lanes so no fear of running into dog walkers.
Just make sure you have a good visor (or a pretty new goggle lens) as riding dark lanes at night really shows those scratches up!

Also give dusk a miss, better to wait for it to be fully night before hitting the lanes.

Albert · Clubman A

i put a pair of cheap LED spotlights on my bike this winter they work pretty well so ive been letting my occasional solo rides continue on afer dark, as Hoops says they are like totally different lanes.

As for advice on how to go about it, imagine its summer, you would ride up to 8pm without a thought, so i don't see why it would become anti social to ride at 8pm in winter just because its dark. But if you plan to ride at 3am you should probably use a very quiet bike and keep the revs down.

im game for a bit of night laning sometime if you fancy some company mike

jt · Powermonger!!

Went out on my KTM 2T a few times in the dark and it was great - lights were absolutely rubbish which added to the fun - I rode better as I couldn't see the ruts etc

Problem came on the Tarmac when I braked for oncoming traffic as the headlight would dim to nothing whereupon I'm sure the oncoming car would think the 'person with a torch' had stepped back out the way and speed up :-/

Changing to an LED tail helped......

Crap lights were one of the reasons I swapped back to something with a battery - though I haven't done any night rides since - doh!

Lots of folks doing it on the Exeter - even C90's and alike, some had extra lights but not all.

MikeBarnacle · Clubman B

I'd be up for a night ride might even be up for one next week if the weather settles! I'd rather avoid deep puddles in the dark though!

anyone else Interested in one at some point?

Smokinrider · Clubman B

Night riding is great, as previous posters say, noones about. Also if you've got a stroker and its cold and damp itll really zing.

cree LEDs are the way forward. 2 banks of 6 crees turns night to day for 2.5amps!

before and after pics attached.

TTR · Powermonger!!

Looks interesting! What model Crees are they please?

Brian

Kwaka Geoff · Clubman A

I never have but I might as I've just fitted this (which I bought some considerable time ago but never got around to fitting until now hmm )

Ebay bargain at £12odd and lights up the way quite nicely smile

-- Edited by Kwaka Geoff on Tuesday 2nd of February 2016 11:06:13 PM

Wheely · Expert

Its amazing the power of the LED lights these days - and how cheap you can get the chinese gear for.

For the last 3 months I've been riding my mountain bike weekly, at night, in pretty dense forestry tracks - and having a bike light and a helmet light pave the way superbly and don't really slow you down at all. Excellent fun.

I would recommend both bike and helmet lights though (even if motorbiking) as the helmet light will light up your direct field of vision - -you'll notice on the night enduro championships they also use both.

Perhaps we should organise a night run - call it the Dirty Dozen - 12 riders starting out at midnight !!!!

MikeBarnacle · Clubman B

I'd be up for a dirty dozen.......But not like that!

Let's get it organised!

grouty · Expert

I have been trying to find a good Cree light to mount on my helmet. The peak gets in the way of mounting mountain bike style ones. Has anyone found a good way of doing it ?

Jez · Clubman B

Did a few lanes in the dark last winter, so up for doing it again sometime. Not too good at dusk riding, but the only time I've ever got up plague lane in bideford without putting a foot down was in complete darkness!!

Kwaka Geoff · Clubman A

grouty wrote:
I have been trying to find a good Cree light to mount on my helmet. The peak gets in the way of mounting mountain bike style ones. Has anyone found a good way of doing it ?

Can't seem to manage a proper web linky thingy here (someone please help) but is this the sort of thing your after Ian?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/221962630774

Airoh Helmet Night Light Bracket, Mtb Lights, Enduro Lights

grouty · Expert

Ahh, perfect. Thank you Geoff. I will message the seller to check if it will fit my Airoh helmet with flip up visor. Looks like it should. Adam did mention something like this earlier today. Now I understand what he meant

crumbles · Expert

With the light sat on your helmut..!
With you blatting along,clattering twig,s,brambles & over hanging bush,s are you not lining your self up for a headache,
and a possible ripped of light resulting in a damaged helmut..!
Mike..

Smokinrider · Clubman B

I agree with crumbles,
the acu have just banned helmet mounted cameras, probably due to exacly this. Hit the deck and/or get it snagged and it could cause you serious neck injuries.