|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
I know how I used to ride at night, but since that likely won't
correlate to how any of you folks ride I thought I'd ask. Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails that you ride? What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Or are they the same as groups in the day? How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.? Any thoughts? The reason that I'm asking is that I'm gonna get back into night riding next year, if at *ALL* possible, and I thought I'd ask you fellow creatures of the night. Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge... -- NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will be returned. - Rog |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same
bike, same weather, how much does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails that you ride? We ride a lot at night, due to the long dark Swedish winters, objectively we probably ride just a tad slower but it does not feel so. We ride the trails we always ride, there are a lot of them http://www.lowdin.nu/Mtbruntuppsala/English.html and we know them quite well, prefer rather technical trails where speed can be quite slow but you still have to work a lot. Would be scary to ride really fast hard pack as the light beam does not reach far. We use Niterider´s Blowtorches and in slow riding it is almost as riding in day light. I would be careful about riding unknown trails. Orientation can be difficult: if you get lost you can get really lost unless you have a map and compass along (we don´t). What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Or are they the same as groups in the day? We are a group that rides on Wednesdays, just came in from a ride, and we always stay together, it is kind of fun to be a bunch of people following a tight, twisting singletrack, when it is pitch black all around. How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.? We are having fun, not racing, and there is a collective sense of responsibility to make sure every one comes home, or at least out of the woods, safe and sound. However, people who do not have poor bike handling skills usually don´t show up next Wednesday. Per http://lowdin.nu |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
"Roger Buchanan" wrote in message
... I know how I used to ride at night, but since that likely won't correlate to how any of you folks ride I thought I'd ask. Hi Rog, glad to see that you're a regular AMB'r again :-) Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails that you ride? We ride the same trails at night. We don't go as hard as during daylight rides because of the risk factor involved with night riding and lack of complete vision of the trail, but we still ride hard. What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Or are they the same as groups in the day? How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.? Our night group rides often consist of a mixed group of people with different skill levels. We always keep everyone together and always wait for the stragglers. Any thoughts? Yes, don't let the BoogieMan get you. Never ride alone at night. Always carry some backup lighting, like a flashlight, just in case. Be prepared, carry the tools and equipment necessary for your ride. The reason that I'm asking is that I'm gonna get back into night riding next year, if at *ALL* possible, and I thought I'd ask you fellow creatures of the night. Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge... Good luck, Rog. - CA-G Can-Am Girls Kick Ass! |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
Roger Buchanan wrote: I know how I used to ride at night, but since that likely won't correlate to how any of you folks ride I thought I'd ask. Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails that you ride? Trails don't actually change, but they sure seem like it. I climb just as fast, or faster, since the mental intimidation of seeing the whole hill is gone on a night ride. You just pedal, and before you know it, you've climbed the hill. What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Ours are relaxed, with an unwritten rule to stay together, or at least to wait for everybody at each possible intersection or fork. Or are they the same as groups in the day? How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.? If there's any doubt, make sure everybody knows what's expected. We joke and horse around a lot, fake accidents, etc., but you better know each other before screwing around too much. You don't want somebody to get hurt or left and the leader not know about it. Counting noses is good. Night riding will certainly double the number of available trails, since your old favorites will be *substantially* different from when you ride them in daylight. Paladin Any thoughts? The reason that I'm asking is that I'm gonna get back into night riding next year, if at *ALL* possible, and I thought I'd ask you fellow creatures of the night. Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge... |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
"Roger Buchanan" wrote in message
Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails that you ride? I'd agree with others here that the pace does drop off some, especially if descending anything technical at all. The trail comes up in your face FAST on night rides because you can't see as far and therefore can't track things way ahead of you. Even if you know every curve, log, rock, and tree on the trail, they all come up on you faster than you are used to on day rides. What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Or are they the same as groups in the day? How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.? I wish I had the luxury of only riding with others as Carla suggests, but I'm stuck with a gorgeous state park all to myself for most night rides. Don't have enough riders in the area to be able to arrange group rides except once in a great while. (I hope to get a few together this fall/winter, though.) In the few group rides I've enjoyed here, they are definitely more relaxed. Even the guys usually running too much testosterone tend to turn it down a notch on night rides. And we always keep each other in sight or very nearly, in case anyone needs any assistance. Mechanical problems, let alone crashes, increase in seriousness at night, just because you MUST have lights not only to see to repair, but also have lights left to get back down the mountain. And in winter cold, the frostbite/exposure issue is very real, even down here in western Virginia. You mention stragglers. You have to check this out with your group, as every one is a bit different. I think most groups will be very forgiving on any given night, but on the other hand, if your abilities are TOO widely spread out, it can be tougher on the faster folks if they are waiting around too long, but this doesn't bother everyone to the same degree. If the ride area is pretty condensed so you are all never far from the starting point anyway, that minimizes the problems even more because there is less need for constant head counts, etc. The reason that I'm asking is that I'm gonna get back into night riding next year, if at *ALL* possible, and I thought I'd ask you fellow creatures of the night. Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge... I rode from the house late this afternoon, with dark coming on as I got in a second short lap, and I was thinking to myself, "I wonder if I should run back into the house and grab my lights for a 3rd lap?" I decided not to because I have not freshened the charge on the batteries since last spring and I'm afraid it may hurt them if I run them without a freshen-up charge. (Or that's what the manual says, anyway.) In any case, the season is certainly here to start keeping the batteries ready for that spur of the moment night ride. Enjoy one when you can! -- Off to ride the mountains, D H Reply to newsgroup. Spam is out of control. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
Carla A-G wrote: Hi Rog, glad to see that you're a regular AMB'r again :-) Hi Carla! Well, I'm more like an "irregular regular" grin... you know what I mean though. Yes, don't let the BoogieMan get you. Never ride alone at night. Always carry some backup lighting, like a flashlight, just in case. Be prepared, carry the tools and equipment necessary for your ride. Oh I did that, 'cept for the not riding alone. I always rode alone at night. Mainly because there was nobody to ride with, or my pace was too pokey... My concession to Linda is that I find a ride buddy if I am to start riding at night again. The night ride stuff I have down. It's the riding with others at night that I'm not too familiar with. Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge... Good luck, Rog. Thanks! I had only bought my lights in the late fall of 2001, then had that surgery in the spring of 2002. *That* cost me the whole season. I only started riding again in the spring of 2003, so I didn't bother to get back into night riding until I was sure that just riding was something that I was gonna be able to resume. (one of those "cart before the horse" type of rationale's) Now that I know that riding is no problem, as long as I stick to the more tame trails, I'll be able to start night riding again in '04. All I have to do is find a group that I'd fit with, or a ride buddy that is amenable with my pace/skills... Easy as pie! (While I'm at it I think I'll go out and buy a lottery ticket) Say Hi to Jim for me. I still have my bobble-head proudly on display! -- NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will be returned. - Rog |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
Paladin wrote: Trails don't actually change, but they sure seem like it. Yeah, I've often thought that it's like riding in a little "bubble". There's all the blackness, and then there's the little bit of light and trail in front of you. I remember coming around a fast corner only to find 5-6 whitetail deer standing in a group on the trail. They stood there "blinking" at me for what seemed quite a long time before they bounded away. Helmet lights are great for shining in deers eyes. blink blink blink Really weird. What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Ours are relaxed, with an unwritten rule to stay together, or at least to wait for everybody at each possible intersection or fork. If I had to take a guess I'd say that I'm probably best suited for a ride buddy, rather than being part of a group. That's just a hunch, but I'm limited in the trails that I can ride, and the chances that I can take on them. I'd just figure a ride buddy with the same requirements for night riding would be the best. The socializing of the group is something that would be great fun for me though. -- NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will be returned. - Rog |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
D H wrote: You mention stragglers. You have to check this out with your group, as every one is a bit different. I think most groups will be very forgiving on any given night, but on the other hand, if your abilities are TOO widely spread out, it can be tougher on the faster folks if they are waiting around too long, but this doesn't bother everyone to the same degree. I would think that it would be hard on everyone. The faster ones that have to wait AND the slower ones that might do something unwise in an attempt to keep up. certainly here to start keeping the batteries ready for that spur of the moment night ride. Enjoy one when you can! I'm really looking forward to my first night back on the bike. I run both a helmet and bar lights and found them to be a great combo. I don't need wild trails to ride at night. All I need is some rolling singletrack, darkness, charged lights, and now a ride buddy. -- NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will be returned. - Rog |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
"Roger Buchanan" wrote in message
... Say Hi to Jim for me. I certainly will :-) I still have my bobble-head proudly on display! Our Ken Morrow bobble-head twin of yours is currently sitting beside a few other hockey player characters (Leafs, of course). Still waiting for a brawl to ensue... - CA-G Can-Am Girls Kick Ass! |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
? 4 all you night riders...
"Per Löwdin" wrote: Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails that you ride? I would be careful about riding unknown trails. Orientation can be difficult: if you get lost you can get really lost unless you have a map and compass along (we don´t). Oh no, I didn't mean changing to new trails. I meant changing to other trails, ones that might be more suited to riding at night. I like slower trails that twist and weave through the woods to ride at night, not fast flowing hardpacked singletrack. I'd never suggest to anyone to ride a trail at night that they first hadn't ridden at least a few times during the light of day. However, people who do not have poor bike handling skills usually don´t show up next Wednesday. That's what makes me think that I'd be better off with a ride buddy, someone who's just into to night riding to get out and enjoy some singletrack in a different way, and isn't worried about riding technical stuff, or riding at a certain pace. Well, I've got until next spring to find someone that's interested in night riding at my pace with my technical limitations. -- NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will be returned. - Rog |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Mayors from Omaha, Cincinnati, Des Moines to receive NBG RIders | Cycle America | General | 1 | July 17th 04 03:14 AM |
Riders Amaze, Pittsburgh Astonishes, Omaha & Columbus Next | Cycle America | General | 1 | July 14th 04 10:31 AM |
National Bicycle Greenway Riders Welcomed by Sausalito | Cycle America | General | 0 | June 7th 04 07:44 PM |
Lights for Road Riding at Night | Ken Huizenga | General | 8 | December 14th 03 07:30 PM |
Disc Jockey Bob Dumas Allegedly Advocates killing Bicycle Riders For Fun! | Paul Tattaglia | General | 55 | November 6th 03 06:04 PM |