Pre-dawn riding - a little nervous

[sundial]

So I have my Stella 150 headlight charged and on my bike, and one seat-stay mounted very bright flashy thing waiting for tomorrow morning.

So are you hooked on early a.m. riding? There's nothing like waking up with nature. If you think you're going to continue to ride early morning/late evening, here's something that you might want to put on your wish list...a helmet mounted light. It really makes a difference in your night rides and you will be able to look around and see where you're going rather than just the road in front of you.

[Catrin]

So are you hooked on early a.m. riding? There's nothing like waking up with nature. If you think you're going to continue to ride early morning/late evening, here's something that you might want to put on your wish list...a helmet mounted light. It really makes a difference in your night rides and you will be able to look around and see where you're going rather than just the road in front of you.

Thanks for the link - and I am also looking at the Ay-Up lighting system for my bike - I've been looking at that for quite some time as I will need a lighting solution for true night riding in the country.

Would you say that this helmet mounted light is bright enough for night in the country?

[Bike Chick]

Our foursome rides at the crack of dawn three times a week. We leave early enough to get a 20-30 mile ride in before work and I love it. It is magical watching the sun rise and the countryside wake up---it's also much cooler and there is a lot less traffic. We don't use headlights, just flashing taillights and even if you leave before dawn, it is daylight before you know it.

[Catrin]

Our foursome rides at the crack of dawn three times a week. We leave early enough to get a 20-30 mile ride in before work and I love it. It is magical watching the sun rise and the countryside wake up---it's also much cooler and there is a lot less traffic. We don't use headlights, just flashing taillights and even if you leave before dawn, it is daylight before you know it.

It sounds delightful

I figure on my October brevet that I am going to be out in the country for at least an hour or two after sunset (cut-off time is 2 hours after sunset) - unless I can do 200k in 11 hours or less by then - and while that could happen I need to be prepared for otherwise It just adds to the adventure

[indysteel]

Every time I read a thread about night (or early morning) riding, I tell myself that I need to get out there and do it, too! I have a MacDaddy light that I have, embarrassingly, never used. I have no excuses.

Catrin, let's plan on a night ride sometime!

[Catrin]

Every time I read a thread about night (or early morning) riding, I tell myself that I need to get out there and do it, too! I have a MacDaddy light that I have, embarrassingly, never used. I have no excuses.

Catrin, let's plan on a night ride sometime!

I must admit that doing a "real" night ride has me a little nervous, but only as much as the idea of going down my first real "downhill". That is why I am starting off with really early morning rides - and will likely just try to start earlier, and earlier....

I like the idea of us doing a night ride together - we could start out shortly before sunset or twilight and ride through the fading light into night. I LIKE that idea

[Crankin]

Early AM riding is the best. Except now, you have to get out pretty early (before 5) to have to use a headlight!
I was nervous the first time I rode home in the dark, from the train station, all of 5 miles. I quickly realized the light I had on my Jamis Coda, was really for "being seen." Once I get out of the center of town, there are very few, or no streetlights. So I got another light, and use both of them. Problem solved.
I also got a good light for my road bike and often in the fall or early spring, we got out for short (10-13 mile) rides before work/school. I love seeing the town wake up.

[indysteel]

I must admit that doing a "real" night ride has me a little nervous, but only as much as the idea of going down my first real "downhill". That is why I am starting off with really early morning rides - and will likely just try to start earlier, and earlier....

I like the idea of us doing a night ride together - we could start out shortly before sunset or twilight and ride through the fading light into night. I LIKE that idea

I think that's a good place to start. I'd also love to do any early morning ride. It's just a question of getting my butt out of bed!

[pinkbikes]

Thanks for the link - and I am also looking at the Ay-Up lighting system for my bike - I've been looking at that for quite some time as I will need a lighting solution for true night riding in the country.

Would you say that this helmet mounted light is bright enough for night in the country?

Catrin, I think the Ay-Up system is bright enough for anything! And it sure is pretty!

I am of course, both biased and lucky, because I have had a set since shortly after they started manufacturing them, and I live close enough to go to the shop where they make them to pick which colour I like. And the bonus is there is a really good bakery next door!

All that aside, I have used both the older Luxeon and the newer Cree Ay-Ups for night riding and have been very satisfied with both service and performance. It is great to see a local product do so well worldwide. They have developed a fair bit since they started, with different LEDs, different battery options and flashers etc. I have handed down my old Luxeons to DD and I use the Crees - lucky kid!

For mountain biking I use the medium beam on my handlebars and the narrow beam on my helmet. I find it really useful to be able to see both where I am pointing and where I am looking. This is also really good if you are riding on the road at night and you wish to be sure a driver has seen you - pinning them with your very bright helmet light is perhaps a little cruel but less cruel than them running you over!

I have also ridden at night with just one or the other. I have a night-riding helmet with the bracket on all the time and sometimes I ride the roadie at night with just a helmet light because I am too lazy to throw a bracket on the roadie's bars (that is really lazy since it is just 2 zipties) and I have found that it is still plenty of light.

In short, I figure if I can ride in a pitch black forest on single-track and feel comfortable clearing obstacles with these lights, and race 24hour MTB races with them (and I am a bit shortsighted so like a LOT of light) they will be easily bright enough for the country roads riding you are thinking of.

As a side thought, I have also bought some excellent red flashies that you may think of considering if you really want to be seen. They are a fibre tube about 8 inches long in red and they can either be constant or flash. They have a nifty rubber band system for attaching (I am fond of really easy and quick attach and remove options) and are mind-bogglingly bright. I use one on the traffic-side rear stay and I have a friend who wears two on his backpack. Here is a link.

http://fibreflare.com/index.php?page...emart&Itemid=4

Happy riding in the dark!

[sundial]

Would you say that this helmet mounted light is bright enough for night in the country?

Personally I would pair it with both a handlebar mounted light and the helmet light. I ride in the country as well and I've ridden with one or the other and I prefer both. I have a MiNewt on the handlebar and helmet.

[Catrin]

Personally I would pair it with both a handlebar mounted light and the helmet light. I ride in the country as well and I've ridden with one or the other and I prefer both. I have a MiNewt on the handlebar and helmet.

Cool - I already have a Stella 150 for the handlebar. I have just been unsure how much extra light I would need. Thanks!

[sundial]

The more the better. Night riding is a unique experience as the road will feel different to you than in the day time. Also, you want to be able to see the critters that may scurry across the road right in front of you. One night during a full moon I heard the hooves of deer cross the road in front of me. Then I saw the silhouette. It was a magical moment.