Post by Angela on Oct 13, 2004 13:18:37 GMT -5
Prime season for nightriding is about to begin.......with the days getting shorter and the time change looming...adding nightriding to your skills will allow you to get the mid-week exercise you so badly need this winter. This is a viable and fun option for getting mid-week exercise over the next 6 months.
- Before you rush out to buy a light system, see if you can borrow a light and ride with an experienced night rider. The Augusta Canal Towpath (and MTB trail) and the new Bartram Lake Trail are two excellent locations for learning to night ride.
- before you start any ride make sure your know the capacity of your light and allow plenty of time to complete a trail........you will be initially much slower night riding and don't want to get stuck all the way out on a trail out of battery power.
- always ride with another person when night riding
- always carry a small flashlight in case you need to do trailside repairs (or even just to get yourself out of the woods if your light system fails) - if you use your nightlight, you use up a precious resource and might find yourself walking out of the woods in the dark.
- if you decide to purchase your own light, talk to other riders about their purchases first.........this can be an expensive undertaking with an adequate light costing over $100 and good light systems costing several hundred dollars.
- a light system that gives the option of being mounting to your handlebars or your helmet is preferable......on the towpath a handlebar mounted light is probably best but I prefer a helmet light if I only have one available on a curvy off-road trail.....so having an option is good.
- night riding can actually improve your daytime riding as well especially if you are fairly new to the sport because you won't find yourself obsessing about things you can't see - your attention is directed to the light in front of you.
Even if you have never considered this option before this might be the time to give it a try ............. the trails actually look very different at night so it can be like riding a whole new trail.
- Before you rush out to buy a light system, see if you can borrow a light and ride with an experienced night rider. The Augusta Canal Towpath (and MTB trail) and the new Bartram Lake Trail are two excellent locations for learning to night ride.
- before you start any ride make sure your know the capacity of your light and allow plenty of time to complete a trail........you will be initially much slower night riding and don't want to get stuck all the way out on a trail out of battery power.
- always ride with another person when night riding
- always carry a small flashlight in case you need to do trailside repairs (or even just to get yourself out of the woods if your light system fails) - if you use your nightlight, you use up a precious resource and might find yourself walking out of the woods in the dark.
- if you decide to purchase your own light, talk to other riders about their purchases first.........this can be an expensive undertaking with an adequate light costing over $100 and good light systems costing several hundred dollars.
- a light system that gives the option of being mounting to your handlebars or your helmet is preferable......on the towpath a handlebar mounted light is probably best but I prefer a helmet light if I only have one available on a curvy off-road trail.....so having an option is good.
- night riding can actually improve your daytime riding as well especially if you are fairly new to the sport because you won't find yourself obsessing about things you can't see - your attention is directed to the light in front of you.
Even if you have never considered this option before this might be the time to give it a try ............. the trails actually look very different at night so it can be like riding a whole new trail.