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Night riding on a mountain bike
We’re now into early October and, for those of you who aren’t lucky enough to get out during the daytime, it’s time to break out those lights and get out for some night riding action. This writeup is meant both as a primer for nocturnal noobs and a refresher for those of you who can’t wait until darkness starts to come by 4:30 in the afternoon.
Some differences between night riding and daytime riding
The obvious difference between night riding and riding during the daytime is light. When you ride at night, familiar descents become more treacherous, with unseen snags reaching out from all angles trying to grab at derailleurs or twist your front wheel without warning. Similarly, unfamiliar climbs seem to go on forever; this makes pacing a little more difficult and sometimes leaves you spinning your wheels when you’re looking for more traction.
Because of these differences, one of the things I try to remember when I’m riding at night is to go a little slower, enjoy the ride, and try to get home in one piece. And since my riding schedule doesn’t include 24 hour endurance races, I don’t need to worry about winning or losing a race in the dark.
The other thing that you need to remember when heading out for night rides is that it’s colder in the evening. I prefer to layer up on night rides because I’m almost always cold for the first ten or fifteen minutes and looking for a bit more comfort until my heart rate increases and my body is more accustomed to its surroundings.
Types of light mounts – handlebar mounts vs head lamps
There are two different styles of mounts for bicycle lights: head lamps and bar mounted systems. Head lamps are affixed to the rider’s helmet, with a power cord running to a battery located in a hydration pack or a pocket in their clothing. Bar mounted systems are secured to the handlebar of your bike, with the battery pack usually being held in a water bottle cage on the frame.
Ideally, you’ll be able to run one of each type of system – one set of lights affixed to your bike and another to your helmet – but, obviously this isn’t an option for everybody. Personally, I prefer running a headlamp over a bar mounted system, if only because the headlamp points in the direction that I’m looking while I’m riding. If you have a tendency to look off into the bush at night, head mounted lights might not be the best option for you. I’d recommend trying out each system and deciding which is best for you; if your regular riding buddies don’t have any extra sets to go around, try and hook up with a group of riders that does.
There’s a very good writeup at MountainBikeAz.com that goes into a little more detail about the types of mounting systems for bike lights – check it out for another take on night riding.
Types of bicycle lighting systems
I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert in this field, since I know little about electrical systems or lighting technology. There’s a good writeup at Wikipedia discussing the numerous different types of lighting systems for bicycles. I’d suggest starting there and exploring further on your own.
Common brands of lights
There are a number of popular brands commonly affiliated with this niche in the mountain biking market. Companies like Cat Eye, Night Sun, Night Rider, and BLT have been around long enough that you can be sure you’re getting a quality product if you purchase one of their lights. There are other companies out there — many of which make excellent products — but be sure to do your research beforehand.
DIY lighting systems
If you’re really on a budget and don’t mind working on a lighting system yourself, there are a number of solid sources of information available on the Internet. One of the best set of home made bike light instructions that I’ve seen online provides simple, straight-forward directions, plenty of photos, and looks as though it creates a cheap, effective lighting system. If you choose to go this route, take your time, follow the instructions, and enjoy yourself.
Turn on the lights
This writeup isn’t meant to be the end all for information on riding your bike at night. Instead, I hope that it’s something that provides those of you who are moping around the house on a clear autumn or winter evening with the incentive to strap on your lights, gear up, and head out onto your local trails. Remember to have fun, be careful, and watch out for low hanging branches (or fallen trees)!
1. Posted by BikeMagic on night riding » The Biking Hub | 3:04 pm, 4 December 2005
[…] A while back, I posted up some thoughts on night riding and the type of gear necessary to get out for some nocturnal trail action. However, given that I’m not a particularly experienced night rider (when I’m healthy, I make it out a few times per month), thoughts from others who are more experienced with this sort of thing are always welcome. […]