[Closed] Night riding- I just don't get it

[i]hora - Member
Is it just me?
[/i]

More than likely, yes. Yes it is...

Go Bowling then.

Theres' plenty of us that love night riding, so I wouldn't worry.

Given the choice Id rather be out in the light, but other than having to fiddle with lights, I dint see negatives to night riding.

Not a fan of night riding I'm not fond of all the faff that goes with it but sometimes it's the only choice.

Can't say I've ever felt compelled to wait until nightfall during the summer just so's I can go out in the dark 😕

However going night riding does nothing for me at all. I'd rather go ten pin bowling or karting than night ride.

Do you actually like riding your bike or do you just like looking at the view whilst sitting on your bike?

If you have decent lights it's just the same as riding in the day except it means you can go on evening rides all year round.

Best thing about night riding is that you can be certain that you won't meet some family on a dawdle.

I only ever meet other mtbers on night rides and you can see them coming 'cos they have lights.

You can hammer down stuff with only the fear of running into the back of a badly lit cow to slow you down.

I like going out early morning riding. Went out at 5am. Hour in the dark with it getting progressively lighter then beautiful sunrise and quiet trails.

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Can't say I've ever felt compelled to wait until nightfall during the summer just so's I can go out in the dark

Thats me too.

If you have decent lights it's just the same as riding in the day except it means you can go on evening rides all year round.

In the dark/dank wet and cold pitch black winters evening?

Do you actually like riding your bike or do you just like looking at the view whilst sitting on your bike?

I love riding my bike.

[s]Night[/s] riding- I just don't get it

FTFY

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I absolutely love it. There is something special about hammering along singletrack in the dark, knowing no-one else is around. I also find myself a lot more focused at night, presumably due to not being able to see stuff for miles around.

Binners, you're older and thinner than I thought.

For several months of the year it's night riding or nothing, I'll take night riding. I'm so used to it now, I don't even think of it as night riding, just 'riding'. It's only when someone actually says, "you're going on a bike ride, now?" that I actually think about it.

Night riding at endurance events like the Bontrager 24/12 is brilliant, just as good as the day.

GEDA I love early am rides where you get to see the sunrise. Start your first climb in pitch black- no need for lights and watch it get progressively sunnier- ready for your ride.

Heres one from a 5am start I did last Summer

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Fans of night riding- what do you like about it?

It lets me ride my bike when I want to, even if the sun's not in the sky? Seems obvious but it's true...

I could ride during the day, but sadly I have to work for a living which takes up 5/7 days...

I love night riding agreed it is an extra faff but the only way I can get out riding in the week.
Where as during the day you can look down the track and anticipate your line, at night that is reduced by how far you can see, giving you less time to react. Which in some perverse way I feel it can make you a better rider as you sometimes end up riding lines that you would normally not ride, during the day as you would avoid parts.
Also been out over Salisbury Plain on the bike at night on a clear night and it is stunning, especially when you know you are probably the only ones out for miles 😀

You get to see all the awesomeness that shines above you and you can go to the pub after. You get to see all kinds of wildlife, just the other night we saw an owl (flying away), a fox, chased a badger down the lane and a toad/frog right in the way. Also, I've got no choice, weekends are for family so in the week the little one goes down at 7 and I'm out the door by half past.

Oh sweet baby Jesus and the cuddly little blessed orphans and their pet baby robins, I agree with Hora [b]*sobs*[/b]

Do you actually like riding your bike or do you just like looking at the view whilst sitting on your bike?

Without the latter, I enjoy the former much less.

Weirdly, I quite like roadbiking at night.

In the dark/dank wet and cold pitch black winters evening?

So what, I'm riding my bike, not trying to read a novel by a campfire. Soft northerners... 😛

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I love it not just because of the riding, but the world doesn't look like this in daylight (the view looking towards manchester from the trig point at Windy Hill, if you're interested). Theres something so rewarding about some of the amazing sights you see at night, that you can be pretty sure about 99.9999% of the countries population will never see, because they're watching coronation street instead

I'd rather go ten pin bowling or karting than night ride.

When was the last time you did either of those things in an evening after work? What you actually mean, is 'I'd rather sit in front of the telly, scratching my arse and farting, while posting crap on internet forums.

I'm out tonight if you fancy opening your blinkered eyes up a bit. Or is Corrie on? 😛

It's nice and quiet, there are no herds of dopey walkers to dodge. The road sections tend to be a bit less busy too. I rode to Scarborough overnight in January and between 11pm and 4am I think we saw fewer than ten cars. We had entire A-roads completely to ourselves for miles and miles, that was grand.

There are some pretty amazing things that you'll only ever see on night rides. One night last year we rode up onto the tops above a cloud inversion, all the streetlights were hidden in the clouds and the stars were incredibly clear, there were no cars for miles around so we switched our lights off and rode along in the starlight. I've ridden alongside an owl, it just flapped along staring at me for ages, presumably wondering what the **** I was supposed to be. Hauling myself up Helvellyn in a gale and then watching the clouds suddenly clear to reveal the Milky Way was impressive. Seeing the dawn come up over the hills after an early start is pretty ace too.

I do really miss riding in sunshine by the end of winter though, that's for sure.

its riding a bike. makes no difference if its day or night, its all good fun. Faff- what faff? Charging some batteries before a ride?

I'd rather go ten pin bowling

I'm out tonight if you fancy opening your blinkered eyes up a bit

Its dusk at 6.30pm so at the moment I'm gardening/DIY. Definitely a few weeks though.

I have an understanding/agreement- I get up at the crack of dawn at weekends, ride both days and back before 12. That means post-work I get to spend it with hora junior (and the rest of the weekend). When its lighter I'll be able to get a ride in mid week too once hora jnr is in bed.

What would I do if I couldn't ride one or more days at the weekend? Roadride I guess but its not about that really, I just don't get night riding. I've done it. Its just meh to me I guess.

It's nice and quiet, there are no herds of dopey walkers to dodge

On some of my weekends rides I can see just 2 riders or even no one at all. not even walkers. I have the pick of carparking yet on my return to my car people are crawling around looking for spaces.

lack of dogs/walkers/chavs/numpties, love the night sounds owls
and the like ... perfect riding time 🙂

Not a fan of night riding I'm not fond of all the faff that goes with it but sometimes it's the only choice.

Can't say I've ever felt compelled to wait until nightfall during the summer just so's I can go out in the dark

This.

I am addicted to mountain biking. If I didn’t go night riding I would have to ride less, and that just isn’t an option, plus I love riding in the dark with just a beam of light showing the way. Jumps look bigger, familiar trails feel different, and I love being on a solo ride and sometimes being the only person for miles around…..just me and the bike, and the scary monsters lurking behind the trees of course. A cold wet muddy night ride during the winter is still time well spent on the bike, and I’d rather be doing that than 10 pin bowling. Sometimes it can be difficult to motivate myself in the depths of winter, when it’s cold, wet and muddy, but I never ever regret it once I’m out.

[i]On some of my weekends rides I can see just 2 riders or even no one at all. not even walkers. I have the pick of carparking yet on my return to my car people are crawling around looking for spaces. [/i]

you don't live darn sarf, though.

My 'night rides' are currently starting at 5.30pm after doing an early shift at work, then about an hours commute through parks, paths, tracks some roads to my local 'proper' trails...then an hour actually doing night riding/mtbing in the dark with hills and rocks and stuff before another hour commuting back the same way home.

It really doesn't seem like a big deal as I'm leaving in the light and it then just gets slowly dark around you.

It's really not that different to any other bike ride in the day.

Lights off during full moon climbs, owls, bats, badgers, beer. Did I mention beer?

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

All experienced during a STW night ride of course

[s]Night[/s] riding- I just don't get it

All riding is riding, whatever the source of light, sun or battery. Away back to your bowling.

The only night riding I do is out of necessity. I basically try to bike everywhere that I can and often in the evening I end up biking in the dark. It's not bad or anything, but I don't exactly get a 'thrill' out of it. Mainly because I'm just trying to get home.

There are some pretty amazing things that you'll only ever see on night rides. One night last year we rode up onto the tops above a cloud inversion, all the streetlights were hidden in the clouds and the stars were incredibly clear, there were no cars for miles around so we switched our lights off and rode along in the starlight.

mintimperial - was that last January by any chance? We had exactly that experience out on a night ride about then. It was incredible. A really other-worldly experience. Difficult to find the words to explain how breath-taking it was. And like I said in my earlier post - how many people will ever see anything like that? Hardly anyone, I'd imagine. 2 of the lads were out for their first ever night ride that night. Needless to say, they've been out every week ever since

you don't live darn sarf, though.

Peaks

and there are more doggers to scare / surprise / blind with multiple 2000lumen torches at night time, which is always fun 😆

Dusk riding's the best- start out in daylight, ride through a sunset, keep going til you can't see and only once you've almost killed yourself do you reach for the lights, lovely.

I do 2 sorts of night riding- the "of necessity" type, where I really want to do a day ride but can't, hence a bazillion lumens to make it as un-nighty as possible.

And the "this is cool and different" sort which I do less often but still enjoy. Innerleithen's night enduro and dh races being perfect examples, how daft is that?

I don't get every weekend off work and mid week I'm limited to riding on my own. Being a vivacious, gregarious and outgoing social butterfly I like riding with mates.

And I don't like being a billy no mates in the pub.

hora, I'm gutted that you don't like night riding. Cheers for sharing though

im looking forward to this!

http://www.qecptrailcollective.co.uk/2014/03/qecp-day-night-enduro-goes-live-15th-march-at-0800/

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I've been night riding largely for fitness reasons. I don't want to find myself in the middle of summer feeling unfit having only done one ride a week. Plus, I'm not a massive fan of very hot weather. During the summer anything above 22 degrees is getting too hot for me, waiting until the evening and into the night is more enjoyable from a temperature point of view.

Making it less of a faff is important. I've got a single cree torch mounted on my bars with a couple of spare batteries in my pocket. No messing with wires on helmets flapping about or finding somewhere to mount a battery pack. One torch, one mount, dead easy. Sure it's not as good as other setups but I prefer the simplicity.

It's all biking at the end of the day.

Most night ride because there is no alternative. Everyone would rather ride the same trails on a sunny warm summer day.

I enjoy those times at night as it makes the samey easy trails fun and different. Bloody looking forward to having the opportunity to razz the samey easy trails in actual real daylight tomorrow though

I don't ride off road on my own.

But first night ride of the year last night. Chose a route with dry trails, cold clear night, mist rising off the canals, catching up with mates as we rode, perfect.

Even Ilkeston looked good. From a distance. In the dark.

Annoyed with myself for sacking off the post ride pint as I picked up a puncture a couple of miles from home. But I slept better without the beer, and saved the cost of a couple of new inner tubes.....

I like it, partialy because it's a bit different. You set off and your brains telling you "this isn't natural, WTF are you doing?". But mainly because it's just riding. In the summer it's easy enough to finish work and go for a ride at 6:30-7:00 and finish before it gets dark, by mid September that's not really possible, so you addapt and get some lights and carry on as usual.

4 milestones in my year, commuting home without lights in March and the first 'night' ride without lights, then the reverse in winter.

All my riding is done early morning/evening so in the winter I do a lot of riding in the dark, I'd rather it were light but it's ok.

I prefer the dark in the morning rather than the evening, just in case of accident or total light failure, but that's because I'm usually on my own. If I've got someone to ride with night rides are fun, if I haven't I usually get scared and take a shortcut home.

5am rides look great. I'll not be getting out of bed that early though.

I used to ride offroad at night with two of the front version of these.
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They were shit.
The only advantage they gave you was you couldnt actually see what you were riding down, so you just stayed loose and went with the flow.

I have fond memories riding mugdock at night in the snow with them.

Now I have some decent lights its pretty damn good, certainly not limiting. Its cool to ride in the moonlight with your breath floating in the air, clear stars above.
It can be a bit shit in the middle of winter, but at the moment its great!

Isnt this the same argument as "Why go riding in the wet"?
Sometimes there is no alternative.
I like biking, I go biking.

Some night rides are close to magical. Frozen trails, clear skies, looking down at the towns with smoke coming out of the chimneys. They are inside watching TV, we're out under a big sky. Some night rides are a trudge through slop, grime and cold.

I much prefer to ride in the light, but empty trails (Malverns, rammed in the summer and weekends), winter fitness, sliding about in a comedic manner, well earned beer always makes a night ride a good one. But give me shirtsleeves and a beer garden and I'd be happier.

MTBing is a four season sport. Option is not riding. Or inside on a turbo. Night riding is always better than that!

superbly - You'll be unsurprised to learn that Hora won't leave the house is theres even the remotest hint of any moisture either 😀

I'm happy to ride in the very early Dawn and late Dusk but Night rides don't do a lot for me either. I do go on them but only Roadie at night and even then only in the Lanes near me.
Dawn and Dusk are exceptional times to go riding, no one around, stunning atmosphere, quiet, just you and the bike and a couple of tweeting birds and a few moo'ing cows.
Can't beat it.

Hora you should try night riding at Cannock. Those little sniper pebble bastards are really out to get you.

Big nightride pluses for me

I can get out on my bike
I get to ride empty trails that would otherwise be peppered with walkers dogs and children
I can go really F A S T
I love riding my bike
Stary skies
Moonlight
RAF training planes buzzing you in the dark
Views of Windermere and other lakes at night are magical
The look of greasy green rocky descents shining in your lights

Oh I could go on and on...

IHN - Member
Oh sweet baby Jesus and the cuddly little blessed orphans and their pet baby robins, I agree with Hora *sobs*

Do you actually like riding your bike or do you just like looking at the view whilst sitting on your bike?

Without the latter, I enjoy the former much less.

Having never met Hora I can't comment on whether agreeing with him is a good or bad thing, but INH has hit the nail on the head for me. I like the view and to get a perspective on where I've been and where I am going.

I was never interested in night rides till recently when it proved to be the only option to get in more riding time over the winter, so I will do it for that reason only.

On the plus side I have seen a white hare (rare apparently) on a recent night ride.

But on solo night rides my mind keeps drifting to thoughts about the film American Warewolf in London. So if you see me on a night ride going over Houndkirk Moor, just say hello and don't mention anything about staying on the path

I night ride for various reasons. Primarily because I’ve got two kids who have swimming lessons on Saturday, and Sunday is a designated family day.

However, I started out riding locally with a couple of mates as it was the only time that I could get out, then we started posting it on here… and it has sort of grown. Monday Night Pub Rides are a great fun. A big bunch of random silly sods all going out for a daft ride on a Monday night then sharing a pint or two and talking crap for a bit afterwards. It’s all about meeting new people and hearing new stories. Also, every now and again you have to stop and look around. The lights of Manchester from Blackstone Edge, the moon from high up above Todmorden, lamp lit dust clouds in Darwen, Bregante’s pub flip-flops etc. All things that you wouldn’t normally see.

Wouldn’t miss it for the World at the moment (unless the wife’s zumba class clashes with it).

Next up Hebden Bridge. http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/monday-night-pub-ride-%e2%80%93-march-17th-%e2%80%93-hebden-bridge-special

Blatant hijack - sorry (although I do also love night riding) !

I've got a set of 1 year old Gloworm X1 & X2 lights for sale if anyone wants them. I've got them on the STW classifieds [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/gloworm-x1-x2-light-package ]here[/url] for £250, but I'll let them go for £200.

They're in perfect nick, just not compatible with the new bike and lid.

Photo's on the link and e-mail in profile if you're interested.

Cheers

Been night riding for 4 years now,started out doing 6am rides 2 times a week but we were limited on routes as we had to get to work after and decided to start riding after work in the evening instead.
Started out as a once a week Wednesday ride then added a sunday night also to get away from the joy that was x-factor at the time.
Gradually upgraded our kit, i'e lights and now we rarely venture out in the daytime unless we hit a trail centre at the weekend which is pretty rare.
TBH night time riding is the norm for us now.

In Scotland, Glasgowish, it's dark from 15.30 to 09.00 in the middle of winter, so night riding it is.

I like night rides - in the winter it is a chance to ride a bit more granted, but generally I actually really like them. Even on my own when every sound scares the hell out of me.

The trails feel very different at night, so it makes your local spot a bit more fun than usual. They're normally quieter too.

The trails do indeed look different at night. I've ridden down stuff at night, where I've got down ok, just looking down the tunnel of light at whats directly in front of me. Then I've returned to the same descent in the daylight, taken one look down it, and said "I'm not bloody riding down that!!!"

I like it. It's a bit different to a daytime ride. Not better, just different and variety is a good thing.

Plus over the winter the daylight riding potential is limited so night riding just means you have more opportunity to get out.

If you don't like it don't do it. It's a free(ish), country. Do what makes you happy 🙂

"If you don't like it don't do it. It's a free(ish), country. Do what makes you happy "

That'll be bowling then....... 😉

so Hora doesn't like night riding, or riding a mountain bike on pebbles, or anything a bit tricky, but he likes swapping frames and buying bits. You are basically one of those fair weather sunday roadies aren't you hora? all shaved legs and pot belly, squeezed into a pro kit replica , whilst biffling slowly down the road. 😀

theonlywayisup

But on solo night rides my mind keeps drifting to thoughts about the film American Warewolf in London.

Same here - it's always that film, even though I haven't seen it for years. Strange.

He doesn't go bowling. Or karting. He spends his evenings roughing up the prime suspect with a selection of rhythm pamphlets 😛

Oh… and as well as American Werewolf, I always think of the Blair Witch project, when I'm in the woods. EEK!

I went out on my bike in the daylight the other day.

I was shocked to discover it's blue.

Day rides are so rare for me now, that they have become the novelty. It's all riding, no matter what time of the day.

some of the "burned in memory" rides have been at night -- one of my first, down at Glentress for example. Up on the Pentlands, even just in late summer dim (doesn't have to mean setting off in dark, just able to extend the evening).

And rides through local forests, when you can turn off the light and ride by full moonlight (looks like 'night time' shots from Where Eagles Dare..)

I've got a set of 1 year old Gloworm X1 & X2 lights for sale if anyone wants them. I've got them on the STW classifieds here for £250, but I'll let them go for £200.

So you've used them for a year, and are now selling them for 80% what you paid? How generous of you!

Isn't night riding something you do behind closed doors?

(Or in a carpark)

I was out on Tuesday night. I saw two deer and various other wildlife.

It was great, the woods were lovely and quiet. I could take it all in at exactly the pace I wanted free from other distractions or worrying about bumping into walkers round every bend

I like riding. If it's dark I put my lights on and go riding.

There aren't that many people (in the general population) that will get night riding, it's great. Part of it for me is the feeling that I'm doing something bloody stupid!

Then you get rides in mid winter when the moon's full and there's a blanket of snow on the ground and you don't even need the lights.

Then the times where you're razzing along catching an owl flying along in front of you in the beam. Cavedale in the dark though, that's hilarious 😀

Dusk rides have been great this week.

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Last night's Pentlands highlights included a wee mouse dashing out in front of me, and the Army making Castlelaw look like something out of the X-Files.

I like the woods at night and in the day. Growing up playing out in woodland/forests makes it a comfort-blanket for life. Last weekend my 3yr old said dead people, monsters and ghosts were in the woods (off Snake Pass) I replied 'err no ghosts live in houses' (maybe that wasn't a wise idea either to say that)..

I also like visual- sights/views when I'm out.

On the night sky thing- recently we went to Snowdon and after the pub we laid out looking up at the night sky that had ZERO light pollution.. on many trails near cities you'd struggle to see the shooting stars 😀

Its just something I don't 'get' about night riding. Maybe the rides I've done have been too tame?

I like night riding. A few things:
- The feeling of being out doing something when everyone else is in wathcing TV
- Seeing wildlife, like owls gliding down the trail
- Nightscapes over the city from up on the hill
- Improve fitness
- Breathing new life into old trails
- Getting lost
- The "on edge" feeling of solo night riding in a forest

Maybe the rides I've done have been too tame?

I can't be the only person that does the same rides in the night as in the day? And at the same speed.

I was out with the local group (MTB Berkhamsted), last night. 18 of us met at the local shop and went out from there. Did 34k door to door with a couple of pints at the pub at the end. Top fun. Better than bowling.

I've only done local night rides and one up at Rivington. It just felt meh. Maybe I need to ride the trails of the Peaks at night 😀

I have to solo night ride, no one else wants/is able to near me. It does seem silly when you are lying on the ground after an off deep in the woods 1/2 mile from the nearest road though

Admittedly everytime I've been to the alps I've wandered off from France over to the Switzerland and around etc/back on my own but I've had I.D/medical card etc and its daylight with fairly frequent other riders to come across me.

At night though in woods, on your own - it'll be morning possibly longer if its a weekday before you are found by a dog walker etc!

The wildlife & insects find dead meat within minutes

I have a Garmin with a live link to my phone, so that if I come a cropper somewhere, my wife can find me..

Trails do look different in the day, but the majority of trails we ride have been first ridden at night time.

The wildlife & insects find dead meat within minutes

Or the gay badgers