Bluey, not being funny mate, but, to write that on a forum like this, You might be safer just staying at home. Build up your night riding experience slowly, if you are going to be out early morn and worrying about other road users not seeing you, you would not enjoy an overnight ride, there are far worse dangers an worries. Be safe.
I don't like the Dark, I can't see our Friends the Police!
Most of the endorsements and points I've had were earned in the dark, them Jam cars would creep up on me unawares!
And I have a clean licence at the moment. thanks
Just a thought regarding pot holes.
How about getting a BM local to ride the proposed route a couple of days before in the daytime. They could then at least give us an all clear, or report on areas to watch out for on the pot hole front
Excellent idea davidneale
What the????? David and Vlad, you couldn't make it up. Ride the route and report back. Do you walk to work before you ride, just incase there might be a pot hole? Jeepers, get a life.
It is possible that there will be less exprienced riders in the group and they should be given every chance of a safe ride. So why not find out from local riders, who are likely to ride the chosen routes often, it is not the same as me walking my route to work checking for potholes before riding it.
The good thing about BM is that we do look after each other where possible.
sounds like a plan, though niteridilg does have its pitfalls , eg diesel fresh road kill poor roaad surfaces etc etc, but im always up for a challenge so yeah im in keep me posted eh bring it on...
Right lets introduce a note of "sanity" back into this topic
I proposed it as a "ride out"
So how the it's ended up in general s***e is beyond me
Might have something to do with going "off topic", again
It was "never" my intention to take novices out on badly lit and poorly maintained roads
I was going to suggest that we take some out on a"dark evening ride"
To help build up their confidence, not scare them half to death
After all the vast majority will have done most if not ALL of their training in daylight (apart from a few who may have done some training in the winter months when it goes dark early)
Not to drag them half asleep halfway across the country in the middle of the night
FFS do you lot think I'm mad
All I wanted to do was to sound out how many would be interested
And find out who thought riding at night was outside their comfort zone
The "overnight" element was aimed at "experienced" riders and "intermediates" who want to improve their "night riding" skills
If a night ride is being planned, then "preparation" is the key
Plenty of rest beforehand, treat it like doing a night shift and make sure your "night vision" is up to it by "testing" yourself before committing to a ride with others who expect you to be "on the ball"
I was going to propose a "pick-up" point type of ride, where we could plan a route "collecting" riders along the way
This may well involve using "some" motorways and "A" roads before taking a more "scenic" element to a final destination
As for "potholes" and "wildlife", we are always going to come across "unexpected" hazards whilst riding a bike whether it be at night or in daylight
Learning to cope with them is valuable experience
It wouldn't be a "race" to the finish, so with experienced riders taking the lead, following riders would have "some" warning of potential dangers from the "tail/brake lights" of the leaders
I've done hundreds of thousands of miles in the dark, quite a lot of it on bikes with "dying glow worms" for headlamps
I now really appreciate how good "modern" bike lights are, even on smaller bikes
I hope I've cleared up any "mis-understandings" about what is being proposed
Two entirely "separate" events were my idea
We have had quite a few "positive" responses so far, so lets try to keep it "on track" around the original concept please
whoa chill emzed riding at nite is more challenging than duringg the day and fatigue can and will set in more so than in daylight... everybody needs to be aware as it is potentially more dangerous.. theres a lot more to think about when in the dark literally... i dont think anyone is criticising your idea.. just be realistic
may i just say,i'm up for it ,but if we get a full moon come out,cannot be held responsible for actions;i used to be a werewolf but i'm all right noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!
I am a novice rider and would really welcome the chance to ride out, at any time but especially at night, with experienced riders... like your good selves.
It's a great idea, if it's your thing, and it is my thing so I'll look forward to it.
Just speaking from past experience esspique, got knocked of my bike in winter, riding home from work, driver said she didnt see me, It hasn't put me off though. That was back in 1995
Well I'm still up for it, I've been going at night on various bikes since I was 16 and I'm still here, mostly in one piece. When a bikes your only form of transport and you have to go somewhere in the dark then you just get out there and do it with no more thought than if you were going out at night in a car.
I'll just have to remember to bring some silver bullets along in case Jinx gets out of hand
Here is the "bulk" of the PM I sent to spaceboy4
Which may interest some more of you ?
> I don't have a "specific" total mileage in mind
Personally I don't mind if its 30 or 300
I had thought 30 to 40 for the novices first time out, just to give them a taste
But for the more experienced, on the longer ride, I rather think it would depend on the location of those wanting to be on it and then working out a route which would pick them up along the way
(as cavywavy demonstrated in another thread with a "Google map" of the route so folks could see their nearest "pick up point")
So some would obviously end up riding further than others but I hadn't thought that far ahead yet
As I said in the forum I just wanted an idea as to whether anyone else was "into it"
I personally love night riding, have done since my elder brother introduced me to it nearly 50 years ago
We would set off in the "early hours" and go up to the Lake District and set up camp as it was getting light
Of course there was even LESS traffic on the road then but these days, apart from a few "idiots" (who are still around in daylight too but not as conspicuous) mainly "professional" drivers are around at night
I do know what I'm doing with this one, regarding people's ability to concentrate, deal with the temperature drop and overall fatigue
But as a 1st exercise maybe a 100 mile trip would be a good "baptism" for "intermediate" riders such as Eight <
I hope that makes it a little more "attractive" to some of you ?
Thanks to those who have already expressed an interest or a desire to join in
I am really looking forward to this and I will try to come up with suitable routes for both proposed rides as soon as I can, so please bear with me
Count me in. Since I was 18 I have LOVED taking the bike out in wee small hours onto nearly empty roads and just rolling along,watching sun come up,you are where you want to be before a lot of people even get up.Just make sure tank absolutely full,not so many all-night filling stations off motorways.Was a taxi-driver for 7 years,90% night drivers are professionals.
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