Night riding

There's always been something alluring about the night, whether it's the feeling of being out of sight or maybe just the idea of what could be lurking in the shadows, it's kind of exciting.  Don't worry I'm not going to regale you with escapades of a stalking nature; no, in fact this is about riding in the dark.

When I was younger I used to go out with a few friends on our mountain bikes, we'd have a great time belting about town getting told off by the police and generally being teenagers.  With the encompassing veil of winter drawing the nights in ever closer the only way to get any riding done is to go out at night.  Night riding has its advantages and its obvious disadvantages.  The obvious problems with going out in the dark is making sure you're visible so I have 2 very bright LED lights on the front, 2 bright ones for the back, some frame mounted LEDs and 4 very bright LED strap lights on my back.

Car drivers seem to see you better in the dark, which seems somewhat contradictory but I suppose it's due to the fact that you're somewhat more alert when in the dark.  A good 40 mile ride in the dark results in not one single bloody idiot, yet if I do a ride during the day I can almost gaurantee I'm buzzed by a retard in a Corsa, usually egged on by his brain dead, knuckle dragging friends in the back seat. 

The last ride took in Bury, Ramsbottom, back into Bury, swinging around towards Farnworth and back into Bolton.  Have to avoid the unlit roads, they're deadly at this time of the year, and with frost appearing now the leaves on the side of the roads can make it quite unsettling at speed.  If you're out in the dark, whther it's training or just commuting to and from work, please make sure you're visible.

Ride safe.