? 4 all you night riders...

Quoted message said:

Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much
does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails
that you ride?

We ride a lot at night, due to the long dark Swedish winters, objectively we probably ride just a
tad slower but it does not feel so. We ride the trails we always ride, there are a lot of them
lowdin.nuEnglish.htmlOpen ↗ and we know them quite well, prefer rather
technical trails where speed can be quite slow but you still have to work a lot. Would be scary to
ride really fast hard pack as the light beam does not reach far. We use Niterider´s Blowtorches and
in slow riding it is almost as riding in day light.

I would be careful about riding unknown trails. Orientation can be difficult: if you get lost you
can get really lost unless you have a map and compass along (we don´t).

Quoted message said:

What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more
relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Or are they the same as groups in
the day?

We are a group that rides on Wednesdays, just came in from a ride, and we always stay together, it
is kind of fun to be a bunch of people following a tight, twisting singletrack, when it is pitch
black all around.

Quoted message said:

How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.?

We are having fun, not racing, and there is a collective sense of responsibility to make sure every
one comes home, or at least out of the woods, safe and sound. However, people who do not have poor
bike handling skills usually don´t show up next Wednesday.

Per lowdin.nulowdin.nuOpen ↗

"Roger Buchanan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I know how I used to ride at night, but since that likely won't correlate to how any of you folks
ride I thought I'd ask.

Hi Rog, glad to see that you're a regular AMB'r again :-)

Quoted message said:

Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much
does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails
that you ride?

We ride the same trails at night. We don't go as hard as during daylight rides because of the risk
factor involved with night riding and lack of complete vision of the trail, but we still ride hard.

Quoted message said:

What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more
relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Or are they the same as groups in
the day? How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.?

Our night group rides often consist of a mixed group of people with different skill levels. We
always keep everyone together and always wait for the stragglers.

Quoted message said:

Any thoughts?

Yes, don't let the BoogieMan get you. Never ride alone at night. Always carry some backup lighting,
like a flashlight, just in case. Be prepared, carry the tools and equipment necessary for your ride.

Quoted message said:

The reason that I'm asking is that I'm gonna get back into night riding next year, if at *ALL*
possible, and I thought I'd ask you fellow creatures of the night.

Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge...

Good luck, Rog.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

Roger Buchanan said:

I know how I used to ride at night, but since that likely won't correlate to how any of you folks
ride I thought I'd ask.

Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much
does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails
that you ride?

Trails don't actually change, but they sure seem like it. I climb just as fast, or faster, since the
mental intimidation of seeing the whole hill is gone on a night ride. You just pedal, and before you
know it, you've climbed the hill.

Quoted message said:

What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more
relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together.

Ours are relaxed, with an unwritten rule to stay together, or at least to wait for everybody at each
possible intersection or fork.

Or are they the same as groups in the day? How forgiving

Quoted message said:

are groups of "stragglers", etc.?

If there's any doubt, make sure everybody knows what's expected. We joke and horse around a lot,
fake accidents, etc., but you better know each other before screwing around too much. You don't want
somebody to get hurt or left and the leader not know about it. Counting noses is good.

Night riding will certainly double the number of available trails, since your old favorites will be
*substantially* different from when you ride them in daylight.

Paladin

Quoted message said:

Any thoughts?

The reason that I'm asking is that I'm gonna get back into night riding next year, if at *ALL*
possible, and I thought I'd ask you fellow creatures of the night.

Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge...

"Roger Buchanan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much
does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the trails
that you ride?

I'd agree with others here that the pace does drop off some, especially if descending anything
technical at all. The trail comes up in your face FAST on night rides because you can't see as
far and therefore can't track things way ahead of you. Even if you know every curve, log, rock,
and tree on the trail, they all come up on you faster than you are used to on day rides.

Quoted message said:

What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more
relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together. Or are they the same as groups in
the day? How forgiving are groups of "stragglers", etc.?

I wish I had the luxury of only riding with others as Carla suggests, but I'm stuck with a
gorgeous state park all to myself for most night rides. Don't have enough riders in the area to
be able to arrange group rides except once in a great while. (I hope to get a few together this
fall/winter, though.) In the few group rides I've enjoyed here, they are definitely more
relaxed. Even the guys usually running too much testosterone tend to turn it down a notch on
night rides. And we always keep each other in sight or very nearly, in case anyone needs any
assistance. Mechanical problems, let alone crashes, increase in seriousness at night, just
because you MUST have lights not only to see to repair, but also have lights left to get back
down the mountain. And in winter cold, the frostbite/exposure issue is very real, even down here
in western Virginia. You mention stragglers. You have to check this out with your group, as
every one is a bit different. I think most groups will be very forgiving on any given night, but
on the other hand, if your abilities are TOO widely spread out, it can be tougher on the faster
folks if they are waiting around too long, but this doesn't bother everyone to the same degree.
If the ride area is pretty condensed so you are all never far from the starting point anyway,
that minimizes the problems even more because there is less need for constant head counts, etc.

Quoted message said:

The reason that I'm asking is that I'm gonna get back into night riding next year, if at *ALL*
possible, and I thought I'd ask you fellow creatures of the night.

Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge...

I rode from the house late this afternoon, with dark coming on as I got in a second short lap,
and I was thinking to myself, "I wonder if I should run back into the house and grab my lights
for a 3rd lap?" I decided not to because I have not freshened the charge on the batteries since
last spring and I'm afraid it may hurt them if I run them without a freshen-up charge. (Or
that's what the manual says, anyway.) In any case, the season is certainly here to start keeping
the batteries ready for that spur of the moment night ride. Enjoy one when you can!
--
Off to ride the mountains, D H Reply to newsgroup. Spam is out of control.

Carla A-G said:

Hi Rog, glad to see that you're a regular AMB'r again :-)

Hi Carla! Well, I'm more like an "irregular regular" <grin>... you know what I mean though.

Quoted message said:

Yes, don't let the BoogieMan get you. Never ride alone at night. Always carry some backup
lighting, like a flashlight, just in case. Be prepared, carry the tools and equipment necessary
for your ride.

Oh I did that, 'cept for the not riding alone. I always rode alone at night. Mainly because there
was nobody to ride with, or my pace was too pokey... My concession to Linda is that I find a ride
buddy if I am to start riding at night again.

The night ride stuff I have down. It's the riding with others at night that I'm not too
familiar with.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Now if only my batteries will still hold a charge...

Good luck, Rog.

Thanks! I had only bought my lights in the late fall of 2001, then had that surgery in the spring of
2002. *That* cost me the whole season. I only started riding again in the spring of 2003, so I
didn't bother to get back into night riding until I was sure that just riding was something that I
was gonna be able to resume. (one of those "cart before the horse" type of rationale's)

Now that I know that riding is no problem, as long as I stick to the more tame trails, I'll be able
to start night riding again in '04. All I have to do is find a group that I'd fit with, or a ride
buddy that is amenable with my pace/skills... Easy as pie! (While I'm at it I think I'll go out and
buy a lottery ticket)

Say Hi to Jim for me.

I still have my bobble-head proudly on display!
--
NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will
be returned.

- Rog

Paladin said:

Trails don't actually change, but they sure seem like it.

Yeah, I've often thought that it's like riding in a little "bubble". There's all the blackness, and
then there's the little bit of light and trail in front of you.

I remember coming around a fast corner only to find 5-6 whitetail deer standing in a group on the
trail. They stood there "blinking" at me for what seemed quite a long time before they bounded away.
Helmet lights are great for shining in deers eyes. <blink> <blink> <blink> Really weird.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What about those of you with experience with group night rides? Are group night rides more
relaxed, or more intense in terms of keeping the group together.

Ours are relaxed, with an unwritten rule to stay together, or at least to wait for everybody at
each possible intersection or fork.

If I had to take a guess I'd say that I'm probably best suited for a ride buddy, rather than being
part of a group. That's just a hunch, but I'm limited in the trails that I can ride, and the chances
that I can take on them. I'd just figure a ride buddy with the same requirements for night riding
would be the best.

The socializing of the group is something that would be great fun for me though.

--
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be returned.

- Rog

D H said:

You mention stragglers. You have to check this out with your group, as every one is a bit
different. I think most groups will be very forgiving on any given night, but on the other
hand, if your abilities are TOO widely spread out, it can be tougher on the faster folks if
they are waiting around too long, but this doesn't bother everyone to the same degree.

I would think that it would be hard on everyone. The faster ones that have to wait AND the slower
ones that might do something unwise in an attempt to keep up.

Quoted message said:

certainly here to start keeping the batteries ready for that spur of the moment night ride. Enjoy
one when you can!

I'm really looking forward to my first night back on the bike. I run both a helmet and bar lights
and found them to be a great combo. I don't need wild trails to ride at night. All I need is some
rolling singletrack, darkness, charged lights, and now a ride buddy.

--
NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will
be returned.

- Rog

Per Löwdin said:

Quoted message said:

Given that the only difference is riding at night, same trail, same bike, same weather, how much
does your style or pace change (if at all). Do you slow down at night, or do you change the
trails that you ride?

Quoted message said:

I would be careful about riding unknown trails. Orientation can be difficult: if you get lost you
can get really lost unless you have a map and compass along (we don´t).

Oh no, I didn't mean changing to new trails. I meant changing to other trails, ones that might be
more suited to riding at night. I like slower trails that twist and weave through the woods to ride
at night, not fast flowing hardpacked singletrack. I'd never suggest to anyone to ride a trail at
night that they first hadn't ridden at least a few times during the light of day.

Quoted message said:

However, people who do not have poor bike handling skills usually don´t show up next Wednesday.

That's what makes me think that I'd be better off with a ride buddy, someone who's just into to
night riding to get out and enjoy some singletrack in a different way, and isn't worried about
riding technical stuff, or riding at a certain pace.

Well, I've got until next spring to find someone that's interested in night riding at my pace with
my technical limitations.
--
NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will
be returned.

- Rog

"Roger Buchanan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Say Hi to Jim for me.

I certainly will :-)

Quoted message said:

I still have my bobble-head proudly on display!

Our Ken Morrow bobble-head twin of yours is currently sitting beside a few other hockey player
characters (Leafs, of course). Still waiting for a brawl to ensue...

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

Carla A-G said:

Quoted message said:

I still have my bobble-head proudly on display!

Our Ken Morrow bobble-head twin of yours is currently sitting beside a few other hockey player
characters (Leafs, of course)

"Leafs"?

What a waste of a bobble-head... GD&R'ing...

--
NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM" from my "Reply To:" address, or it will
be returned.

- Rog

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I would be careful about riding unknown trails. Orientation can be difficult: if you get lost
you can get really lost unless you have a map

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

compass along (we don´t).

Oh no, I didn't mean changing to new trails. I meant changing to other trails, ones that might be
more suited to riding at night. I like slower trails that twist and weave through the woods to
ride at night, not fast flowing hardpacked singletrack. I'd never suggest to anyone to ride a
trail at night that they first hadn't ridden at least a few times during the light of day.

Yes, of course, I just offered a general observation. Initially, you will find that the trails you
have ridden a lot appear completely different at night. One of the first time we rode at night on a
trail we have ridden lots of times we managed to lose it and it took us a good while to find it
again. I think if you have to look for the trail, to orient your self, a head torch is preferable,
as you can scan the surroundings without lifting your whole bike twisting it to get the light beam
where you want it. It is cumbersome and feels pretty silly. Per lowdin.nuMTB.htmlOpen ↗

"Roger Buchanan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

D H said:

You mention stragglers. You have to check this out with your group,

as

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

every one is a bit different. I think most groups will be very forgiving

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

any given night, but on the other hand, if your abilities are TOO widely spread out, it can be
tougher on the faster folks if they are waiting

around

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

too long, but this doesn't bother everyone to the same degree.

I would think that it would be hard on everyone. The faster ones that have to wait AND the slower
ones that might do something unwise in an attempt to keep up.

Good point. And it's also harder because they typically get robbed of getting breathers because
others are ready to take off by that time.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

certainly here to start keeping the batteries ready for that spur of the moment night ride.
Enjoy one when you can!

I'm really looking forward to my first night back on the bike. I run both a helmet and bar lights
and found them to be a great combo. I don't need wild trails to ride at night. All I need is some
rolling singletrack, darkness, charged lights, and now a ride buddy.

Good luck with that last one. I hope someone steps up to join you and finds out that having a
buddy helps both of you to get out and ride even more often!
--
Off to ride the mountains, D H Reply to newsgroup. Spam is out of control.