Night rides are awesome and definitely one of the best ways to spend long, dark evenings in the winter. But let’s not kid ourselves; heading out into the dark can feel slightly intimidating and even overwhelming. It’s dark, it’s cold and then there is this technical detail called bike lights – what kind do you need, how many, and are there any right and wrong models? Also, what should you think about before heading out into the dark? So many questions, but don’t worry. We’ve listed all the most common mistakes and how to avoid them so that you too can become a nighttime bike wizard.
Mistake: Cheap lights
It might be tempting to go for the cheaper option when it comes to MTB lights as they can be quite pricy, but don’t do it. Lights that aren’t powerful enough will make riding in the dark difficult and not much fun. Also, the batteries on cheaper lights tend not to last as long, which can become a problem if you’re in the middle of a dark wood when your batteries run out.
What to do: It is worth investing in some proper and powerful off-road MTB lights with at least 1000 lumens, a wide beam and a long battery life. Remember that if you buy some good lights the first time around, you won’t have to invest in a 2nd pair further down the line, as they last for years.
Mistake: Have one, instead of two, lights.
It is definitely possible to run just one good light when you’re out riding in the dark, but having two lights will make a huge difference to your range of sight. Simply put, it will make riding more fun.
What to do: Double up on the lights. Having one light on the handlebar and one on the helmet means that you will have one stable light constantly pointing forward and one that is moving with your line of vision (as you move your head). Suddenly going round dark corners will feel a lot easier. The difference will blow your mind.
Mistake: Run out of battery
Even on the best of lights, the battery won’t last forever. One of the worst things that can happen on a night ride is running out of battery in the middle of a dark trail – it makes things really tricky (and kind of spooky) to get home.
What to do: First of all, make sure you plan your route after your light’s battery life. Secondly, save battery by swapping between the different light settings during the ride. There are normally 2 to 3 settings: low, medium and high. Have your light set on high when you ride technical singletrack, but take it down to medium if you’re on the road or a wider path. It makes a huge difference to the life span of your battery.
Mistake: Ride alone
Riding with friends is the best, but the one-off solo ride is also pretty nice, and very convenient if you can’t find a riding buddy. The problem with night rides is that you can’t just go gallivanting off on your own, as riding by yourself in a dark forest is never a good idea. Firstly, because of security reasons, but secondly, because you are so much more vulnerable if something would happen – a crash, a mechanical or simply getting lost.
Mistake: Forget to fuel
Going riding after work or school is awesome but it happens to coincide with dinnertime, meaning that you have to either eat before or after the ride. Everyone knows that riding on an empty stomach is not much fun, but neither is riding with a stuffed one, so make sure you plan your food around the ride.
What to do: Don’t forget about food. Either have a big snack an hour or two before heading out and then have dinner once you come back home, or eat an early dinner and have a light snack when you come back.
Mistake: Get lost
A forest looks very different in the dark – even the most mundane route can become a little bit like a maze. In a way, it is both a good and a bad thing. It is good because all trails will feel new and exciting, but it’s bad because it is very easy to get lost.
What to do: Plan your route before the ride and keep to trails you know well. Make sure you don’t go “adventuring off” as it is highly likely that you will lose your sense of direction. Which is actually kind of scary in the dark.
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Reference: [https://www.redbull.com/se-en/beginner-mistakes-night-rides-bike]