First time in the dark......and it was awsome!!!

[manual63]

I rode at Leb last night in the dark. I just used my camping head lamp, with the extra bright bulb, and a handlebar mounted 3 Led light thing. It seemed to be enough to light up the trail. It was a blast. I was mainly testing out my setup for this weekends 24 hour race, but I certainly want to do more night riding in the future.

I was wondering one thing. I noticed I had a harder time picking a good line and being as fast as I am during the day. It seemed like I had enough light, but it was just hard to nail turns and such. Is this just a lack of night experience, or do those of you with those big light setups not have this problem?

[drakh]

I rode at Leb last night in the dark. I just used my camping head lamp, with the extra bright bulb, and a handlebar mounted 3 Led light thing. It seemed to be enough to light up the trail. It was a blast. I was mainly testing out my setup for this weekends 24 hour race, but I certainly want to do more night riding in the future.

I was wondering one thing. I noticed I had a harder time picking a good line and being as fast as I am during the day. It seemed like I had enough light, but it was just hard to nail turns and such. Is this just a lack of night experience, or do those of you with those big light setups not have this problem? The bigger/brighter the light, the less trouble you have but you will always to go slower and pay more attention. The shadows are different and peripheral vision will play tricks on you.
But, it's a lot of fun. I love riding Lebanon at night. Welcome to the club.

[Magic]

I find that a good head unit works great for me. Where ever my head turns I have light. Plus with some light from the bars it is awesome. We ride Lutsen at night, wow what a rush. Welcome to the dark side of riding Shad. Any trail you think you know like the back of your hand is a new trail at night. We'll have to get a group night ride going this fall.

[manual63]

Any trail you think you know like the back of your hand is a new trail at night.
That's for sure. I know Leb very well, but it was like a new trail..... I thought I knew my way around, but then I would come up on a corner and be like.......woa....this is tight......oh yeah....I know this corner.....:crazy:.

By the way, I got to ride the second half of the new entrance for the first time last night....in the dark. I took a left at some split and it sent me towards a big rock in the trail. I guess that's one of those options I heard about.....:confused:

[EmL34]

Bring your lights to the annual meeting and party...there was some great night riding at Buck last year!

[berrywise]

I'd be in on this. I have one light that needs fixing but have two more that are good to go. My friend Andy would also be up for it if he would ever get his stadium light warrantied.



I find that a good head unit works great for me. Where ever my head turns I have light. Plus with some light from the bars it is awesome. We ride Lutsen at night, wow what a rush. Welcome to the dark side of riding Shad. Any trail you think you know like the back of your hand is a new trail at night. We'll have to get a group night ride going this fall.

[drakh]

I find that a good head unit works great for me. Where ever my head turns I have light. Plus with some light from the bars it is awesome. We ride Lutsen at night, wow what a rush. Welcome to the dark side of riding Shad. Any trail you think you know like the back of your hand is a new trail at night. We'll have to get a group night ride going this fall.
Currently i run a handlebar light and it's caused some problems for me in the past. I can't look around corners unless i point the bike that way. At that point, i tend to run into trees. I want to get a slimmer battery and a helmet mount and try my light that way.
We did several night rides at Leb and the river bottoms last fall. They were a blast. I can't wait to do them again.

[tkb608]

I rode Leb last night too. Between 9pm and 11pm. I thought I heard someone else out there, but I never saw any other lights. I did see and hear a lot of racoons and I thought I saw ferret-like creature with a red hat on. :alien:

[manual63]

I rode Leb last night too. Between 9pm and 11pm. I thought I heard someone else out there, but I never saw any other lights. I did see and hear a lot of racoons and I thought I saw ferret-like creature with a red hat on. :alien:

Shshshshshsh!!!!

Don't tell anyone you were there past 10.......park closes at 10 PM and the Department of Homeland Security might be watching.

[tkb608]

Oh yeah, I just got back from Chicago and forgot to reset my watch. :eyeroll:

No seriously. I thought it was just that the parkin lot closed, not that the park was closed. Are you sure about that?

[manual63]

Oh yeah, I just got back from Chicago and forgot to reset my watch. :eyeroll:

No seriously. I thought it was just that the parkin lot closed, not that the park was closed. Are you sure about that?
I thought most parks closed at 10:00PM.

[ostertoaster85]

I don't know about Lebanon but I taped some flashlights to my helmet and rode Battle Creek at 2 a.m. once. That was kind of cool because it got foggy.

[SprocketHead]

I rode at Leb last night in the dark. I just used my camping head lamp, with the extra bright bulb, and a handlebar mounted 3 Led light thing. It seemed to be enough to light up the trail. It was a blast. I was mainly testing out my setup for this weekends 24 hour race, but I certainly want to do more night riding in the future.

I was wondering one thing. I noticed I had a harder time picking a good line and being as fast as I am during the day. It seemed like I had enough light, but it was just hard to nail turns and such. Is this just a lack of night experience, or do those of you with those big light setups not have this problem?
The first few times I rode at night, I felt dizzy. I think it's the loss of the periferal vision as a reference. Do a few rides to get used to it, you'll be Haulin A#$ before long... Night riding is a rush!

[ryno lite]

Night biking is the best! It is a little slower than day, even with a HID setup. I kind of like it, it's more laid back and a change of pace at the end of the season. I'll have my lights at the meeting this year! Can't believe I left mine at home last year. I am 99.9% sure that all of Lebanon closes at 10pm, not just the parking lot.

[gopherhockey]

Night biking is really the best. Around the middle of July I start to really look forward to the cooler dark evenings where there is actually a place to park and less bikers on the trail (sometimes its only me which is the coolest of all)

I find myself going just a little slower at night even if I'm lighting up the entire park with the lights. I dunno, its just something about the dark that makes me not feel the need to burn it up quite as much. I still ride fast, granted, but I guess I feel I'm taking just a little more time to soak in the trail at night. Maybe the lights actually cause you to focus more on a smaller area which has an opposite affect and actually makes you slow a little.. hmmm... Maybe the cooler weather I usually night ride in has soemthing to do with it as well.

We'll have to do some group night rides at Leb again this year. It was fun to do that last year - we always are patient with new night riders and really have a blast.

[nigel]

Night biking is really the best. Around the middle of July I start to really look forward to the cooler dark evenings where there is actually a place to park and less bikers on the trail (sometimes its only me which is the coolest of all)

I find myself going just a little slower at night even if I'm lighting up the entire park with the lights. I dunno, its just something about the dark that makes me not feel the need to burn it up quite as much. I still ride fast, granted, but I guess I feel I'm taking just a little more time to soak in the trail at night. Maybe the lights actually cause you to focus more on a smaller area which has an opposite affect and actually makes you slow a little.. hmmm... Maybe the cooler weather I usually night ride in has soemthing to do with it as well.

We'll have to do some group night rides at Leb again this year. It was fun to do that last year - we always are patient with new night riders and really have a blast.
Slower huh?? You just need me to chase ya again!

[thebionicman]

My lights arrive today, actually just checked the tracking number and they have arrived in Minneapolis. I can't wait to try night riding.

[TML]

Night riding is a hoot!! I'm looking forward to the fall when night rides really get going. The annual meeting night ride could be like the season opener.

Then the snow comes and it puts yet a whole new perspective on night riding. Everything is white so it just about triples the effective brightness of your light.

Here's Craig, Mark and Kurt after we were out for an early winter snow ride at Leb last year:

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/513/198WinterLeb2-med.JPG

Post ride hot chocolates were waiting for us in the back of my truck.

[thebionicman]

My Niterider Storm just came in!!!!!! I am now waiting patiently for the 2.5 hours to have it charge. I think sleep is going to be a thing of the past.

[gopherhockey]

Slower huh?? You just need me to chase ya again!
Ok... so *sometimes* we hammer through the trail... its that group pressure thing I guess ;) Nothing better than having Doug's front tire 2" from my back tire to get the bike a crankin....

[grizzly adam]

The first time I rode at night was at the 24 Hours of Afton a couple years back. At first it wasn't so fun cuz I had my lights set way too close in front of me and I was out-riding my lights. But once I got them adjusted it was all good. This year I rented a light from Light and Motion. It was a helmet mount and that sucker was fabulous. Very bright, I didn't notice it on my helmet and the battery wasn't 5lbs. The weekend was awesome riding at night at Afton. I found myself looking farther ahead of myself than I do in the daytime. Also, I was looking around corners better. I guess it's the fear of what's up ahead that caused me to make sure my light was way ahead of me. But then on my first lap after the night rides, I found myself reverting to looking closer to my front wheel again instead of ahead of me. Maybe I should just wear a light all the time when I ride!

[robc]

Hey gang,
I have been reading about night riding and it sounds like a blast. But even a halogen system is so darn expensive, so I wanted to try before I buy. I found some ideas online for home-brew lights and made one this weekend. Last night I strapped er on the helmet and went for a ride through Elm Creek park reserve to test it out and man is it fun. I am chomping at the bit to try Lebanon at night, but I'd like to find someone to ride with so I don't end up dead in the woods at night :) Anyone planning a night ride sometime soon? I am not screaming quick but I keep a good pace (at least during the day).
Also, if anyone is interested, I modified some ideas I found and came up with a rock solid 20W halogen light head that takes about 1 hour and $30 to build. I put a 7Ah SLA batt in the camelbak and its good to go. I thought It would be a good way to get started before buying a commercial system, but its very solid so I don't see the need to buy until I go HID. I'll share the details if you like. Man those halogens are bright! Its so cool to come around a corner and see some eyes in the distance go trotting off into the woods as you get closer. Friggin cool, and I am hooked after a 2 hour ride!

-RobC

[ryno lite]

yeah, it's addictive! getting my first night ride of the year in tonight!

[gopherhockey]

yeah, it's addictive! getting my first night ride of the year in tonight!To all those planning on buying lights and riding Lebanon at night... night riding really stinks! Not worth it at all....

For those buying lights and riding elsewhere... do it, its really cool!!

:cool:

... said thinking back at how Ryan and I were basically the only people out there at night. I sense the lot is going to stay a bit fuller this fall. :alien:

[thebionicman]

I have been tempted to go on a night ride in Theo, but I am afraid of what I will run into. I guess I will have to wait for the Monday night rides to be night rides. Theo+night+alone= not a good idea (at least I would think)

[ryno lite]

I have been tempted to go on a night ride in Theo, but I am afraid of what I will run into. I guess I will have to wait for the Monday night rides to be night rides. Theo+night+alone= not a good idea (at least I would think)
Yeah, I think you'd definetely see a different night life than I do at Leb! It would be a bigger adventure than I get!

[ryno lite]

To all those planning on buying lights and riding Lebanon at night... night riding really stinks! Not worth it at all....

For those buying lights and riding elsewhere... do it, its really cool!!

:cool:

... said thinking back at how Ryan and I were basically the only people out there at night. I sense the lot is going to stay a bit fuller this fall. :alien:
I second that thought from John, I was out there tonight and boy did Leb stink for night riding! I'm sure it would be better at any other metro trail!

I will say one thing, it was only me and two other guys and that sure was great. I think I saw their lights once. Either ride right now at night or wait till the cold weather hits, it always slows down, although I agree with John, I think there will be more company out there this fall!