For the first time in a 20 year cycling career I am in the position of having to train at night on the bike. I am doing IMFL and work until 5-6pm. Lately I am running out of daylight. Tonight I rode at 4:30 and got home at 6:30, as the sun set and that twilight thing started. I have no problem running at night, the roads are fairly smooth, and I think I am running faster than I really am (great feeling, even if it isn’t realistic). This riding thing has me nervous though. I will be riding on somewhat rural roads, confined to short loops (6-8 miles) to avoid getting into high traffic areas. I was wondering if there is anyone out there that has any experience with this, and can relate some circumstances I may encounter that I should know about. I have a good head lamp, and a blinking taillight, so I think that’s covered, is there anything else I should know about? I have a 2 hour ride with some intervals tomorrow night, and won’t start until 6. The moon is pretty much full, but I know I shouldn’t count on that (in fact I may get attacked by deer, I think they are in the mating season), and 2 weeks from now it will be even darker. I can ride a road bike, or the tri bike. I could even ride a mountain bike. What do you all do, besides ride the trainer, 'cause that would drive me crazy (crazier).
Some kind of reflective ankle straps would be an excellent thing to help increase your visibility to others. Also some type of a reflective vest will be very helpful as well. Illuminite might be a good idea. You may want to check Performance Bike or a running store in your area.
You will find that a headlight bright enough to light your path without being washed out by oncoming traffic will help tremendously. Usually this means some kind of a rechargable type light. 5 watts minimum. I use a Nite Rider digital something. It has three levels of brightness. I think 3 watts, 6 watts and 10 watts. 10 watts is more than enough power, 6 watts works vey well most of the time. It also has a “fuel gauge” (battery level indicator) and a reserve “fuel tank” to get you home when it starts to run down. On low power it will run about 6 hours, about 4 hours on medium power and about 2 1/2 hours on high power. It has a “smart” charger to protect the battery from over charging.
I have been very happy with this light. Their tail light is outstanding. Some large number of red diodes. No other bike tail light is as bright or visible as this tail light is.
Since your vision will be reduced because of the darkness, I would recommend a road or mountain bike. This will afford you more control should you not see something in your path until it is too late to make a steering correction on your tri bike or if you have to ride off the shoulder because a motorist is confused about a cyclist on the road after dark. You can reserve the weekends for longer rides on your tri bike during daylight hours.
Thanks for the info. I have a 10 watt light, I am glad I got it now, Trail rat 2.0, same manufacturer as you talked about (niterider). If this becomes a habit, I will upgrade to the system you describe, it sounds cool. The ankle tape is a good idea, hadn’t thought of that, and I have some left over from my last IM. I am on my way out the door right now (6:30 EDS) and I will follow the advice and ride the Mtn. bike. I got my position pretty close to my road bike, so… The roads are usually pretty good, but I can guarantee a big low traffic route if I go for it on some state game roads nearby, and they are unpaved. This is going to be fun!
Check out the products at http://www.illuminite.com/cycling.asp. They have just about every kind of clothing you’d wear on a bike, with reflective fabric incorporated into it. The stuff really works, if someone is wearing this they light uo like a Christmas tree in the headlights.
Did a search since it getting to the night riding time of year and saw your post. I generally stay off the road and do mtb, but a couple things have come in handy over the years:
chain tool - not such an issue for road
mini mag lite - in case something happens to your light or you need to change a flat.
I like to go with a bar mounted dual beam nite rider and a helmet mounted one. You don’t need two for the road, but the backup is nice and the combo allows for any type of trail riding at night.
I ride at night this time of year and really I like it. I ride on quiet steets I know well and feel very safe doing so. I’m much more attentive than I am during the day and I’m probably more visible to cars too. Tips:
Get one of the flashing rear lights. (And - remember to turn it on - I’ve found mine off at the end of a ride more than once)
Wear a reflective vest since I do notice when I am driving and encounter a cyclist head on, I can’t see the headlight as well as I would have assumed.
My closest calls have been nearly running up the backs of joggers or walkers. These dark clad idiots are really hard to see.
Thanks to everyone who has replied to my questions. I can tell you that night riding around here is really cool. I have found some good low-to-no traffic loops, and riding off road is sometimes a surreal experience. I have had only one close call, and that was my fault, I saw the deer a good 200 yards off, and couldn’t believe he would break straight across my path in a perfect intercept course. He was a good 8 pointer too, was he ever surprised when he saw me!
As for doing intervals, you have to believe that I am not cracking any sound barriers doing hill intervals on 16% grades. At maybe 10 feet/sec, I don’t think I am leaving the footprint of my light quicly enough to tax anyone’s reaction time. I am just happy to be training. Last year I wouldn’t have gotten out the door, and the last 3 hours of IMF 03 proved it.
Its not too late to get a trainer. TriSPorts or somebody can have it there next day. Hard to put a value on getting killed. Most people would say, “what was that stupid bastard doing racing a bike at night”, and not feel real sorry for you. I hope you don’t have a family. This isn’t fair to them.
Thanks for the input. If I listened to someone like you I would never get out the door. It is NOT hard to put a value on getting killed. It isn’t worth shit. It IS hard to put a value on living. I wouldn’t have asked the question about night riding on the forum if I wasn’t concerned about my safety and doing the right thing for it. Thanks for your confidence in my judgement.
Had an excellent ride tonight, 2.5 hours on the gameland roads. 3 cars, 15 deer, 1 porcupine and a possum. Stopped to tap a kidney and killed the light for a few minutes to take in a bunch of coyotes howling. It was awesome. Taper starts monday! Can’t wait!
Wow, Monk…WAY UNCOOL. Talk about BAD KARMA. Can’t believe you would say something that bodes obvious ill on another person who supposedly shares the lifestyle you live. Why the hatred? Do you know this JM?
I suppose you are right. I take it back. But what a snippy punk to say “If I listened to someone like you…” when I was expressing concern for him. I guess I thought I was giving fatherly advice,—but he didn’t ask for it. My fault entirely.
Oh, well. Its the Internet. But I will get a chuckle when he posts about how a possum jumped out of a tree and bit his nuts.
“You seem a little high strung and nasty so the world will probably be better off without you.”- Monk
Thanks for the good thoughts. See you in Panama City!
JM,
Don’t take it personal. Monk had the same effect upon me earlier in another thread. He used to be DFL, but changed his screen name for whatever reason. In my book he remains DFL (Dead F*cking Last). Remember you can change the stripes on a cat to try and make it a dog, but a cat is a cat is a cat.
Just to let you know. I do happen to know JM. I know how much what you said can affect someone like him, he is a pretty well meaning and sensitve person. A bit of news for you, last night your statejment nearly came true. JM and his wife and daughter (1 month old) were involved in an accident. A drunk driver crossed the centerline and hit JM’s car and another car. JM is looking at a possible clavicle and wrist fracture and got a concussion. The baby and his wife are fine thank GOD. IMFl are now not a thought in his mind, and probably not be a possibility.