one4smoke

I love it in the heat of the summer, and hate it in winter when there’s no other alternative after leaving the office at 6pm.

Maelochs

Everything has been covered. The only thing I would emphasize is Bring Two Headlights. You might have forgotten to charge, or the plug might not have been all the way in, or any number of things could go wrong, and you don't want to be without a headlight.

I usually bring two tail lights as well, but I rarely notice if a tail light goes out. Much as I hate complexity, I almost with for some kind of indicator on the bars to tell me about the tail light.

TheDudeIsHere

I agree about 2 lights but different reasons. What I love about USB lights. Plug them in before dinner, before each ride and no worries about dying lights. I once tried it trying to figure out how many rides I could get in and a light died. So, much better charging before every ride much like inflating tires to proper psi before every ride.

The thing I like about 2 headlights, one is pointed down a bit toward the curb/road for close up view and the other a bit more level for distance. Pretty good coverage that way.

NoWhammies

Lots of good advice and input here. Thanks everyone. The more I read about the benefits of riding at night the more I think I need to start looking for deals on lights this winter so I'm prepared for the summer. I am already starting to think of potential routes.

canklecat

I have fewer problems with traffic at night. As other folks noted, we seem to pop into their attention more readily with lights.

I wear helmet mounted lights too, usually set to blinky mode. They're bright enough to be seen, but not to see with.

I worry more about critters so I usually ride with two headlights to create a wider beam, and run both on medium so they'll last longer. I'm considering a single unit with wider beam and cutoff, like the Outbound Lighting or something similar.

There's usually less traffic anyway where I ride, and it's often more relaxing. I'm a night owl anyway so it suits me. If I'm up early for a group ride it's because I never went to bed.

But I don't care for fast group rides at night. Too dangerous. Many of the faster riders I know aren't particularly predictable. I'll occasionally join casual nighttime group rides with friends. But no hammerfests, nothing over a 15 mph average. If I'm riding fast at night, I'm riding solo.

Princess_Allez

Doesn't this method of charging prematurely wear the lifespan of Li-ion batteries?

TheDudeIsHere

I don't know but I have had my lights for 7 years. I ride with 2 rear blinkies and 2 headlights.

Haven't had a problem with them at all. I have heard things like that but I do it anyway. Worse comes to worse, I buy a new light.

I do the same with my Garmin Edge 500. Not a single problem and been using it since 2012.

u235

No, Li-ion batteries can be topped off all the time with no life impact. Taking a Li-ion to a full discharge is not ideal for best life. Older NiCD rechargeable batteries (and much less so Ni-Mh) that had a memory effect and repeated short cycling was not advised.. The main life killer of quality Li-ion batteries is crappy charging circuits (voltage too high and/or do not stop charging when they should) and also heat.

https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/...ased_batteries

Amt0571

Use two lights at the same time on the front and rear. You don't want the tail light to fail without noticing it.

The same applies to the front light. You don't want it to fail suddenly, especially at high speed.

I think it's a good idea to mount one on the handlebars, to always have forward vision, and another on the helmet, so you can look around you if needed.

I use a wide beam light on the handlebars and a more focused beam on the helmet, as the latest allows me to see clearly when I look around.

Also, try to use the lights in low power mode when you can to save battery (when you're going at a slow speed on climbs, etc).

If you need really long endurance or want to forget about batteries, you can also use a dyno hub.

Bob Ross

Not sure I would ever use the phrase "mix it up" to describe what I do, but yeah, I love night riding. All of mine is on the road; I have yet to find a practical headlamp that illuminates the dark woods enough for me to be comfortable riding off-road at night. And re: cars, the trick is to A) be well-lit; B) avoid the super-heavily trafficked roads; and C) pray.

Seattle Forrest

Speaking of lights, a head lamp (on your helmet) is a good idea too. It provides some redundancy, carries easily, and follows your gaze.

Drew Eckhardt 

Sometimes I ride at night when I skip my morning ride. I also did a couple of unsupported 200 mile rides which ended after sunset and will do more when I get back in shape.

Mostly roads.

It's great. Use a bright enough front light you can avoid road obstacles, a tail light or two, reflective vest, and leg bands. Bring spare front and rear lights for your bike and perhaps a (human) headlamp for after dark repairs. Keep the second rear lamp turned on because you can't see when the other one fails.

I also built my main wheels using retroreflective powder coated rims, although Velocity has since discontinued that option. You could use reflective tape strips.

I like dynamo lights which never run out of batteries. The uniform light from fork crown mounted German StVZO lights also does a good job highlighting road imperfections.

I don't like helmet mounted lamps - they make my neck tired.

https://www.quora.com/Whats-a-good-c.../Drew-Eckhardt

6:03am - 12:56am 209 mile ride with sunrise at 6:37am and sunset at 6:05pm:
https://www.strava.com/activities/528397406

flangehead

Day or night. 365/366.

bpcyclist

Quite sure I am going to get in big trouble for posting this, but--Amen, brother.

Deal4Fuji

only 4 of our club do year-round weeknight riding, I've always felt like it's safer as far as being seen by motorists who tend to give us a wider berth than in daylight but less safe for road objects and "critters" that tend to come out at night. Two recent examples from the +55 forum have me more aware of the dangers we all face. https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...rip-buddy.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...8-my-turn.html
I've been lucky, my one experience with a vehicle was having a pick-up truck mirror break off on my hip, causing bruising but no serious injury. That experience led to me never riding open country roads alone and finding a secluded double dead end 5 mile loop where I do my solo rides. There is an occasional car, but much much safer than in real open road traffic.

I don't always remember, but a good practice to start

Princess_Allez

Good to know. Thanks for the info. Now I don't feel bad about prematurely charging my devices.

bpcyclist

I would also just add that, if you think you are going to be out there at night for 75 or 100 miles or whatever, take multiple headlights. Especially if you are riding out of town, in the country, those nighttime country roads just suck up the lux like it isn't even there. I was out for close to 80 miles last night and it was raining most of the time. Middle of nowhere. I took all four of my headlights (1000 lumens to 1800 lumens). I wound up using all of them to get home. It was that dark and wet. Don't want to get stuck out there forty miles from town with a light that is rated at 1000 lumens, but is only running at maybe 300 after a few hours in those kinds of conditions. You have to be able to see extremely well if you are going to ride country roads at night safely. You never know when a massive pothole is going to pop up out of nowhere. Could send you over the bars, easy.

So, I say, if you want to ride longer distances at night and you are not a dyanmo person (and I am not), just buy a few more lights. They're cheap now. The very good Ceco F1000 is $39.95 on amazon right now. Cygolite Metro Pro 1100, $64 on amazon right now. Or, just go for the gold and get an Outbound Road Edition--best 215 bucks I've spent this year. Just outstanding light. Worth every last penny.

beach_cycle

The sun energizes me, so riding in the daylight is my preference. But commuting with a mixed day/night schedule has me riding about half and half (2,250 daytime miles and 2,250 nighttime miles per year). 75% of bike accidents happen during the day, so night riding is actually safer. Because I am familiar with the highways and bi-ways during the days. speed results are similar for day and night. I use a 3,000 Lumens headlight and 320 Lumens taillight, the majority of my ride, I have the headlight on low because the streets are well lit and I do not want to blind drivers. In Seal Beach, there is a Navy Weapons Station, and about 2 miles along Pacific Coast Highway are dark going through, and the highway has a cement divider. That's when I burn the full 3,000 Lumens. I prefer riding in the daylight, but ride about half the time at night per commute schedule. The night rides on familiar roads are faster/enjoyable, and good lights are helpful. I've discovered a 1,000 Lumens headlight to be about the same as a 3,000 Lumens; the 3,000 Lumens are brighter, of course, but visible distance is similar, and 1,000 Lumens is bright enough.

MoAlpha

You want fun? Go to Six Flags. Cycling is an athletic discipline.

Rudebob

I live in the desert SW where most bigger ride events are fall through spring. With the shorter days and working full time, weeknight rides are almost mandatory. While the rides are usually shorter than on weekends, speeds are usually faster to maximize the training benefit (often intervals, hill repeats, or occasional crits). With this in mind, we seek very specific routes, often loop routes ranging from 2 - 10 miles in newer communities that tend to build on the outskirts of town. This means less traffic and smoother pavement. Also, most of these new communities have more cycle friendly roads as part of their master design. Loops are nice because it provides the opportunity to pre-ride the route and identify new hazards/debris that may be present. It also allows for quick stops to add/reduce layers as the temperature changes.

For me personally I like night riding in that you have fewer visual distractions allowing you to focus on your training, this includes the fact that you don't see the hills beyond what is in view of your light. What I don't like about it is that it takes a while for me come down off the adrenaline after a ride which means I get less sleep than I would desire on those evenings.

'bob

Koyote

Many years ago, a friend left me a message, asking if I wanted to go night riding with him that evening - with lights, of course. I ignored the message, preferring the safety of my living room and a cold beer. My friend went anyway, and got hit by a car.

'Course, my friend is now the most interesting bike racer in America, and I'm nobody...so perhaps I should've gone with him.

drbarney1

I ride at night because I have to for transportation, I need to save gasoline whenever I can. I have several lights on my bike, including valve stem cap lights. Walmart has frame lights I may get.

mjd420nova

I have access to a trail that is 7 miles long, no cars and don't need a light on most nights on a large part due to neighbors yards and distant streetlights. Many riders I see at night have theo "nite sun" headlight that destroys my night vision. I've tried many lights and find I would rather ride without one unless absolutely needed. I don't like riding down a tunnel, unable to see anything to either side.

yukiinu

I ride at night only when I have to and as lit up and brightly visable to cars as possible. Hard to see dangerous road surfaces at night (once felt unsafe sleeping at a roadside stop, packed up left, within 50 yards of stop my lights didn't pickup hole in grey asphalt, I crashed, all kinds of blood, and nasty scar as a reminder not to ride at night).

bpcyclist

Might I suggest upping yout headlight game a bit? There are plenty of terrific lights that are not terribly expensive that will illuminate even a country roadway in heavy cloud cover at midnight like it's an LAX runway. Buy yourself two more lights. They are cheap right now.

When I go out for an 80 or 100 miler all at night, I take four headlights--1000-1800 lumens. I usually end up using them all at some point to get me back to the city. My total cash outlay for these four lights $435, which is substantially less than a 15-minute incrememnt in an emergency room. I can see. It's no problem. But you gotta have the lights.

My current headlight setup: Cygolite Metro Pro 1100, helmet; Ceco F1000, left bar; Outbound Road Edition, just left of center; Cygolite Trion 1300, right bar.