Night riding ==> Spatial disorientation?

I'm not sure which forum to put this, but I'll put it here as it is something I encounter while commuting.

I've recently found a wonderful new route that basically connects two "worlds". Previously I could ride everywhere in the hills, or everywhere in the flat, but couldn't get from one area to the other. All connecting routes were either too dangerous (cars) or required too much climbing. A while back, a road washout was finally fixed. The repair had taken many years partly because the government was suing itself. The repaired route has a moderate amount of climbing and next to no traffic.

I've now "commuted" home twice after dark via this new route. There is a segment with absolutely no lights - no streetlights, no houses, no other traffic, and even no starlight/moonlight because it is deep in a forest. The main highway is on the other side of a hill to my left, and there's a deep canyon to the right. The road twists and turns, and climbs and levels off.

My headlight is the only illumination. It is a dyno hub powered light, so it is otherwise plenty bright enough. I can't see anything except a patch of asphalt in front of me. I can't see far enough ahead to identify changes in grade. Somewhat to my left are the ghostly white markings defining the center of the road. The road has no other markings nor reflectors, thus I'm staying away from the right edge. In short, my world consists of black darkness, a gray spot, and the single white stripe.

Both times riding through that segment I've gotten spatially disoriented. Because of the darkness, I can't see my gear indicators. My cadence is high and I'm pushing hard. The disorientation is such that I can't tell if I'm still climbing or if I've leveled off and am accelerating! :eek: The only hint of what's happening is when I try to push the shifter to go into an easier gear - it won't budge 'cause there isn't another gear.

Does this happen to anyone else?

I haven't ridden at night on the bike, but I had those issues trail running at night. It helps to have two light sources, I think. One will give you light but no perspective, kind of makes everything look "flat." Two gives better shadow definition, which helps (for me) get rid of that feeling of being lost in space. Do you just have a light mounted on your bike? Maybe add one to your helmet as well.

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Originally Posted by jessmarimba

Do you just have a light mounted on your bike?

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Yes. The bike is a folding bike with 20 inch wheels and the light is mounted low on the fork. The bike was built/designed that way. This reduces wiring clutter and the front (panier) rack protects the light. It also means the light shines whichever way I'm steering.

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Originally Posted by jessmarimba

I haven't ridden at night on the bike, but I had those issues trail running at night. It helps to have two light sources, I think. One will give you light but no perspective, kind of makes everything look "flat." Two gives better shadow definition, which helps (for me) get rid of that feeling of being lost in space. Do you just have a light mounted on your bike? Maybe add one to your helmet as well.

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+1
I found the same thing with trail running. On my dark morning commutes in winter I need two lights- one on the bike and one on my helmet. The helmet one is actually much brighter than the bike light and that helps a lot with depth.

BTW- sounds like a cool road that you get to ride on!!!

I'm prone to vertigo...just the description of this makes me feel dizzy -- but it sounds really cool and surreal!

I also suggest adding a helmet light, I think it would alleviate some of your problems...

By the way I'm also worried that you can only see the patch of asphalt immediately in front of your wheel... When I commute in absolute darkness I use two lights. A blinking white light and a beam that allows me to see my surroundings somewhat. Think about it for a second: what if you had a flat tire? How could you change it in the light of your dynamo??

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Originally Posted by Grog

Think about it for a second: what if you had a flat tire? How could you change it in the light of your dynamo??

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By the light of my battery powered taillight?

Or, more likely, push the bike until an area with light. Pushing would be required anyway to get to a flat driveway or turnout where I can get off the road.

(Actually, I've never ever carried flat fixing utensils! I switched to some form of puncture protection soon after my most recent on-the-road flat - almost two decades ago.)

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Might it work if I clipped one of the "coin" battery operated mini headlights to my helmet visor?

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In case anyone wants to look at this segment of road on Google Earth, the coords are lat 37.0238 deg and lon -122.0254 deg.

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Originally Posted by Grog

what if you had a flat tire? How could you change it in the light of your dynamo??

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Phone? My phone's flashlight is crazy bright on its brightest of three levels.


I don't commute in pitch dark like the OP is talking about - the only people I know who do, ride 'bents with insane lighting, powered by 12-volt car batteries. But even in the car, I don't have the depth perception at night that I do during the daytime. There are no landmarks. I see a pair of headlights in the oncoming lane and I just wait for them to go by before I'll pull out to pass someone ahead of me ... sometimes it turns out they were a mile or farther away.

Isn't your taillight red? For me that wouldn't be enough light.

I have very good, puncture resistant tires, but I would never want to jinx myself by not carrying whatever tools I need to change a flat.

Oak, I don't know how one would hold their cell phone, directing the light beam, and change a flat at the same time, but maybe I need to get creative (or grow a third arm...)!