RR: First Seasonal Night Ride

GeeDubb said:

I finally had the batteries revamped in my lights......well......one set. I
found out the other set needs to be replaced after 40 minutes into the ride!

Two of us headed out at 6:15 last evening for a ride through the mountains
in Phoenix. Fifteen minutes into the ride and we were pealing off a layer
as it was still above 60°F and somewhat humid for Phoenix. When we finished
at 8:15 it was still above 60.

My riding bud had one of those nice HID lights.....I did not 🙁. One
doesn't realize the advantage until riding with one of those. The Nightsun
and Night Rider lights I have are nice and yellow which really makes the
sandy desert blend together. The HID really lets you see what's coming.

It's been over a year since my last night ride and I forgot how the depth
perception goes away. I managed to ride off the trail more than once due to
loss of balance. Climbing also becomes interesting and I found myself
really struggling to stay upright. Odd that darkness to the sides wanting
to just pull me in.

We put in 16 miles which 9 where on the trail. We probably would have
stayed on the trail the entire ride had my Nightsun batter not died early.
Time to save up for the HID.

That's all.

Gary

Did you ride the trail by your house? I bet the Pima-Dynamite trails
would be great in the dark. There weren't too many sharp things to
worry about.

Riding the desert at night was an interesting experience, especially if
you have Cacti on both sides of the trail. I don't think I would have
done it without an HID. I usually use two HID's on night rides. Like I
saud before, I'm afraid of the dark.

I have some video from the Union Hill night ride I'll put up in a few days.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

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

Quoted message said:

I finally had the batteries revamped in my lights......well......one set.
I found out the other set needs to be replaced after 40 minutes into the
ride!

Two of us headed out at 6:15 last evening for a ride through the mountains
in Phoenix. Fifteen minutes into the ride and we were pealing off a
layer as it was still above 60°F and somewhat humid for Phoenix. When we
finished at 8:15 it was still above 60.

My riding bud had one of those nice HID lights.....I did not 🙁. One
doesn't realize the advantage until riding with one of those. The
Nightsun and Night Rider lights I have are nice and yellow which really
makes the sandy desert blend together. The HID really lets you see what's
coming.

It's been over a year since my last night ride and I forgot how the depth
perception goes away. I managed to ride off the trail more than once due
to loss of balance. Climbing also becomes interesting and I found myself
really struggling to stay upright. Odd that darkness to the sides wanting
to just pull me in.

We put in 16 miles which 9 where on the trail. We probably would have
stayed on the trail the entire ride had my Nightsun batter not died early.
Time to save up for the HID.

That's all.

Gary

Bet that was fun. And I can sure relate with the disorienting factor and
getting pulled around. before I got a helmet light, my handlebar set up on
the fully rigid SS was crazy for even moderately technical trails at night.
Which explains why 2 mos later my left hand is still recovering from a night
biff.

paladin

Quoted message said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

GeeDubb said:

I finally had the batteries revamped in my lights......well......one
set. I found out the other set needs to be replaced after 40
minutes into the ride! Two of us headed out at 6:15 last evening for a
ride through the
mountains in Phoenix. Fifteen minutes into the ride and we were
pealing off a layer as it was still above 60°F and somewhat humid
for Phoenix. When we finished at 8:15 it was still above 60.

My riding bud had one of those nice HID lights.....I did not 🙁. One
doesn't realize the advantage until riding with one of those. The
Nightsun and Night Rider lights I have are nice and yellow which
really makes the sandy desert blend together. The HID really lets
you see what's coming. It's been over a year since my last night ride and
I forgot how the
depth perception goes away. I managed to ride off the trail more
than once due to loss of balance. Climbing also becomes interesting
and I found myself really struggling to stay upright. Odd that
darkness to the sides wanting to just pull me in.

We put in 16 miles which 9 where on the trail. We probably would
have stayed on the trail the entire ride had my Nightsun batter not
died early. Time to save up for the HID.

That's all.

Gary

Did you ride the trail by your house? I bet the Pima-Dynamite trails
would be great in the dark. There weren't too many sharp things to
worry about.

Riding the desert at night was an interesting experience, especially
if you have Cacti on both sides of the trail. I don't think I would
have done it without an HID. I usually use two HID's on night rides.
Like I saud before, I'm afraid of the dark.

I have some video from the Union Hill night ride I'll put up in a few
days.

Yes this was the trail by my house. Some pointy bushes but I ride the trail
so often I know where most are. The scariest part if going into the Dreamy
Draw area as it's a haven for the perverted males. It's actually funnier
than hell when you pop around a corner with the HID and two guys jump out of
their skins....actually...kind of sick!

Pima/Dynamite would be fun at night. May have to talk about doing that.

Looking forward to the night vid.

Gary

Paladin said:

"GeeDubb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

snip

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bet that was fun. And I can sure relate with the disorienting factor
and getting pulled around. before I got a helmet light, my handlebar
set up on the fully rigid SS was crazy for even moderately technical
trails at night. Which explains why 2 mos later my left hand is still
recovering from a night biff.

paladin

I actually was riding much better with the bar mounted light before it died.
I switched to the helmet mounted light and it bounced around a lot. Plus
following the HID really screwed with focal point as I tended to look too
far ahead at what was brilliantly lit up.

Fortunately this trail isn't too technical but has a lot of loose flat rocks
that can kick you one way or the other. A couple of short fast decents
made for an interesting ride when the light started to fade and I couldn't
get my hands free to turn on the helmet light.

We plan on making this a weekly ride....I hope.

Gary

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 06:15:20 -0700, "GeeDubb" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I finally had the batteries revamped in my lights......well......one set. I
found out the other set needs to be replaced after 40 minutes into the ride!

Two of us headed out at 6:15 last evening for a ride through the mountains
in Phoenix. Fifteen minutes into the ride and we were pealing off a layer
as it was still above 60°F and somewhat humid for Phoenix. When we finished
at 8:15 it was still above 60.

My riding bud had one of those nice HID lights.....I did not 🙁. One
doesn't realize the advantage until riding with one of those. The Nightsun
and Night Rider lights I have are nice and yellow which really makes the
sandy desert blend together. The HID really lets you see what's coming.

It's been over a year since my last night ride and I forgot how the depth
perception goes away. I managed to ride off the trail more than once due to
loss of balance. Climbing also becomes interesting and I found myself
really struggling to stay upright. Odd that darkness to the sides wanting
to just pull me in.

We put in 16 miles which 9 where on the trail. We probably would have
stayed on the trail the entire ride had my Nightsun batter not died early.
Time to save up for the HID.

That's all.

Gary

Sounds fun, I'm looking into some lights.

Peace,
Bill