Riding in the Dark

[Selkie]

Now that the days are getting shorter and I'm being reassigned to a job that will have me working more "normal" hours (no more 6-2:30), I'm trying to find a way to keep up w/my daily outdoor cycling habit. At least until the snow/ice arrives. Could anyone who rides after dark please provide tips on lights (what kind/which brand is best) and other things I should keep in mind while riding after dark? Luckily, most of my favorite ride is a fairly well lit trail, although there definitely are dark spots. I have a trainer but I want to keep up my road skills. Besides, it's so much more fun outside :-) and I don't mind the cold (keeps the trails free of fair weather folk).

[Rakekay]

Where's your "favorite trail" that's well lit? I'm in the DC area too, new to biking and wondering what I'm going to do once it starts getting dark earlier. I run my own company, so my schedule is pretty flexible and most days I can ride in the morning, but would love to know about a well-lit trail for those packed days when I need to ride later.

[Trekhawk]

check out this thread - best bike light by Caligurl 8/24/05. (sorry not clever enough to link this for you). :)

[Trekhawk]

oops forgot to say its in this Open Topic. :)

[DirtDiva]

It's nice if you know the path reasonably well before you ride it in the dark so that any tricky bits don't take you by surprise. Just because you can't really see the uneven paving/random gravelly spot/whatever doesn't mean it's not there (and I have the bruises to prove it)!

[shewhobikes]

It's made by Lights & Motion and it's called the Commuter. More than I wanted to pay (around $100) but it WORKS---lights well, plenty far ahead of me. Make sure you get a light that will help you see, not just be seen, if you really will be riding past dark!

[newfsmith]

I'm of the "don't tell me you couldn't see me school" While my winter ride has a truck taillight (56 LED's) I also have a Cat-eye taillight attached to my helmet running in the flashing mode. (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19999&subcategory_ID=4322) From the side I have truck marker lights on the forks and a "beehive" amber light on top of the rear trunk, plus lots of reflective tape on wheels as well as spoke reflectors. On the front I have double front reflectors, a 10W equivalent LED headlight, plus a helmet headlight, also in the flashing mode. The helmet light is important because as you check the traffic at an intersection you are flashing light at the traffic approaching from either side, which will not be able to see your handle bar light. I routinely ride a poorly lit backroad in the dark both ways to work from December to late February, and also have to cross a 6-lane highway. I take "lighting up" very seriously in those months. I also wear lots of reflective material: a safety triangle, double leg band reflectors, and either Glo-gloves or leg reflectors wrapped around my mitts. Everyone laughs at the extremes I go to, but I get good clearance on the road.

[wabisabi]

Oooh, that snow in the dark looks cold!!
---California weenie

[Selkie]

MANY THANKS!!! I don't paying a bit for a good light more since safety is an issue. Luckily, I won't be on the road for more than a 1/2 mile to and from the trail (well lit w/streetlamps), but as I said, there are some dark patches on the trail where I have my "training loop." It's surrounded by nature---trees w/acorns/nuts that litter the path and a good bit of wildlife for the city---so I will be happy w/as much light as possible. Those darn acorns are unforgiving and can take you out if you hit them right!

[Selkie]

Oooh, that snow in the dark looks cold!!
---California weenie

wasi - quit yer braggin' girl!

[wabisabi]

Well, we get lots of rain. Yesterday on a charity ride we had cold misty fog, enough to make it almost impossible to see through cycling lenses, warm sun and clear skies on a big climb and through a farming area, then back down into cold and fog, big afternoon headwinds, and finished back in sun--at least 3 seasons, and definitely a layering challenge!

[nuthatch]

Speaking of rain - do any of these halogen 10 watt lights have a waterproof claim? Today was the first morning I rode with lights in a fairly heavy rain and I was wondering how long my lights could withstand the downpour. I'm seriously considering a halogen 10/15 watt but I need waterproof too.