Now lockdown 2 is here. Night riding is about the only option I will have to go out of the house, after working from home. Thinking of local village circuits as opposed to heading out into the countryside.
I find a flashing light is the best safety feature. It helps drivers see you better than a solid light. "TOP TIP" : it's a good idea to use said light regardless of the time of day.
I’ve been night riding for over 12 years. SON dynamo hub, supernova lights, GARMIN Varia radar, rear view mirror, PROVIZ cycling kit all work. Flashing lights, also I just acquired a Helmet with MIPS, Lights(turn signals/brake lights)as well as Bluetooth audio. TOPEAK iGlo products and tires with reflective sidewalls are a huge help also. Anyway to be seen is worth it! Only problem are those suicidal bunnies I have pop out in front of me on the bike route I use. I regret to say I reached ACE status this year as The third bunny in 12 years ran right under my front tire two weeks ago😕
I love riding at night. It's my favorite time to ride. The city is quiet and there's not much traffic. When I say riding at night, I mean proper night; 2, 3, 4 o'clock in the morning.
Amazing..I'm also doing it in Estonia 🇪🇪 basically I'm from India 🇮🇳..but I have to say Indian road is far better and wider as compared to Europe (but we indian are idiots don't have rules and regulations). Lol
Keep in mind that in some countries like Germany and Austria, it is ilegal to use your front light in flashing mode. Only the back light can flash on its different modes. Cheers
German road laws say, that flashing light is reserved for emergency light, so it’s illegal to use on road. In fact a bike light that is able to flash is not road legal in Germany. The is restrictive regulation on brightness aswell, to not blind or distract other road users...
temperatures can really drop off after the sun goes down when the sky is clear, so dress for conditions. also need for lighting in urban area is different than in rural
Hey girls and boys, Best regards from Germany, I have two things: Be aware of animals running through the road, a lot of animals seeking for food at night. Bigger and smaller ones, rabbits, cats, deers or boars. The second one is for avoiding getting worrys by your partner: use WhatsApps position Sharing or "device locator", it is using your GPS data if incoming SMS is with given code, automatically answering with Google maps link by SMS. It is great for more remote areas without good data connection. Good ride!
I played and drived a night cycling at February, 23rd 2020 from Minangkabau Airport to Padang City. I have not a bicycle LED lamp but I drived a bicycle with looking a lamp in street.
I work 4pm-2am. I commute in the dark, ride brevets in the dark, and love my long urban rides in the dead of the night. Those cheap LED lights they recommend are rubbish. Always ride with redundant or back-up lights... More for longer rides. Also carry a light on your helmet especially for bike repair in the dark. Have at least two headlights and two rearlights. No lights are really reliable.
I did my first night ride without any lights, on a bike trail that was almost 10 miles long. It was remote and terrifying. Since then, I've stepped up my game with 1,700 lumens and have been night riding for years now.
Rode at night for the first time. Loved it until I must have hit a large rock at full speed and flipped over the handlebars. Thank God for my helmet. I am a bit sore, shoulder and left upper thigh but it could have been worse. I never saw the rock. Lesson is to maybe slow down in real dark sections and turn the light to the brightest setting. Rocks and potholes are the worse.
A spare bike light is always good just case you brake the one on the bike when crashing, don’t want to be injured in the dark miles from home with no lights
My daily commute meant cycling in the dark every winter. What a joy it would have been with the new light technology we have now. I used to use battery powered bike lights with the lumens to illuminate very little! These days I work from home, so night-time adventures are rare, but when I’m completely fed up with indoor training, these tips will come into play. Thanks 😊
Wearing glasses at night isn't just good for stopping bugs, it's good for stopping debris from the road getting flicked up by cars and hitting you in the eyes, just like during daylight hours 😉
Yep, tried to night ride. My light attracted a lot bugs, Basically, I just covered my Mouth and nose and just squint so that no bug can get in my eyes.
I recommend carry a cheap taillight in your pocket for a backup when riding at night. I have had my taillight just quit working for no reason, I had just charged it that evening, but it decided to die permanently. I now carry a simple LED light that's good for up to 2 hrs and is small, but bright for that reason as my backup
@@willek1335 My original was a Hotshot Micro that quit, my backup is a Blackburn, but I can't remember the model. On flash mode it's good for 2 hrs, small, and just uses a rubber band to strap to the seatpost
I always carry backup lights - 2x small button ones and one 3W torch, just in-case. They've come in handy a few times during the winter when the main light batteries don't last as long as usual.
My top tips: two lights on the front and two on the back. That way if one fails, or you forgot to charge it, you won’t disappear from a driver’s view half way through your ride. Other tip is cheap valve lights - a bit gimmicky but gives visibility from the side which is important for bigger roundabouts where you can be very vulnerable.
I've always enjoyed biking at night - it's great in the summer when it's too hot during the day. One of my favourite rides is along the Lake Ontario waterfront from the east end of Toronto to Frenchman's Bay in Pickering.
more reflective gear especially ankles and calves also, use a white light pointed at your torso, to illuminate your body and create a larger visible area for an observer
One of the best videos on GCN so far! Keep in mind though, that some of your suggestions are not allowed in countries like the Netherlands or Germany. Here in the Netherlands f.e. it is not allowed to use flashing lights, lights mounted on your head or helmet, or to use more than one light shining in the same direction. So wherever you live, check your local legislation.
Blackburn components make flashing amber side lights that clip onto your forks that give you great side visibility when riding at night, too. They are usb rechargeable, inexpensive, and last for several hours. A must have if you ride at night.
I night ride regularly, & run two bontrager ion pro rt. I always have them on. Blinking during the day, front and back, steady on the front at night with blinking at night on the rear. Having 2 sets allows me to: no longer outriding the battery life of 1: if I am riding fast with both lights on high I no longer out ride my lights: with 2 lights i angle then differently so the amount of lit ground in front of me is greatly improved. The other advantage i have found is when I have experienced any problem with the light, bontrager simply swapped it out with a new. Keep riding & have fun.
be aware: when riding on your bike your eyes adjust better to the daylight left than drivers who already have their heidlights on the entire time. So Even if you think it's still bright enough to see everything this might not be the same for car drivers. Better switch on those lights early!
I use like night riding until I had a dog run out me that I could not see. Heard the growling and the nails on the pavement, but couldn’t see it. Never sprinted so hard though!
A small 150-300 lumen light mounted to the helmet is crucial for such situations. Make certain that the helmet light you choose has a spot focus rather than a flood (wide) beam. It will be less likely to blind oncoming motorists, and you can more clearly see wherever you turn your head with fewer lumens.
I bought great lights because I live in the country, AyUps for me. I also recommend getting a modern cycle computer that will allow someone to track you and that will send an alert if you have an accident. I bought a Garmin for this but other brands such as Wahoo do it as well.
I did my first ride in the dark yesterday as it was the first time I got home from work before 4pm. Set off in the light, finished in the dark. Had all the kit but didn't stop it being scary, mainly from being dazzled by oncoming headlights.
Now with daylight savings bike to and from work in the dark (And used to work nights). I wrapped 3M reflective tape on different parts of the bike and makes it really stand out at night.
Spare lights and/or batteries. I have a set of clip on pound store lights just incase my main lights go down. Also I have another on the back so I have one brigh solid light and one blinking to make myself more visible.
Make sure your lights are pointing a bit down onto the road! Other road users still want to be able to see something else than the bright light from your bike.
Good tips. I use a flashing red rear light riding in the day for added visibility. Most of my 46km (30 miles) rides in winter end after the sun has set. Starting after 3pm, the sun sets by 5pm so it's dark halfway into the ride. I have a brighter light on the handlebar, and a not-as-bright LED light on my helmet, 2 red blinking lights behind me (one on back of my helmet and one behind my seat) plus a backup rear light. I also carry a tube, toolkit, tire levers and bike pump. I had a flat tire and had to change my innertube in the dark last year, for the first time in years. So be prepared for the unexpected on night rides, especially if you ride alone. I check the weather forecast - no night rides if rain is in the forecast, as visibility declines substantially in the rain + dark.
I cycle home from work late at night at least once a week. I have a reflective rucksack cover, semi hi vis jacket, reflective spoke clip on things, front and rear lights, built in helmet light. Recent addition was i brought a role of white reflective tape. Few quid, self adhesive and bright when lit up. Few strips on my helmet and bike frame. I actually find cars give a lot more room at night. I'd even go as far as saying I feel safer.
I ride 2x weekly, usually 1.5 hrs a time. But have also done 3 to 4 hr rides at night. Here's what I find. Ride wider tyres if you can. Bit of extra margin for hitting bad surfaces you can't see in time. Local loops to stay closer to home in case of trouble. Know your way on longer rides. Ride familiar routes too, you know the roads and surfaces. Double up rear lights in case one fails, actually run with both on, it's harder to tell a rear light failure whilst riding. Running two separate rear lights at different flashing speeds is also really visible. Run with lots of front capacity so you're never close to running out, I try to leave 2x margin (4hrs for a 2hr ride). Head/helmet torches, particularly off road, are great, and can add an extra front light in case of emergencies. Wrap up warmer, it rarely warms up whilst you're riding into the night.
Anyone else remember the heavy but dim old battery lights that leaked chemicals in the wet. This is one area that has massively improved with modern technology.
Also, modern batteries continue to work well below freezing! I went through a middle stage with NiCd batteries. NiCds work fine in the cold but they had terrible capacity.
I once met another driver on the road at dusk who was surprised that it was getting dark earlier and so he brought no lights. Since he still had 45 kilometers to go home that was badly lit or not lit at all, I escorted him home because I had light. 😀
I ride at night and in the evening all the time. Olight makes a flashlight mount that will let you mount any round flashlight. They make 18650 lights that are super bright. You can detach them easily for fixing tires etc. I use three flashing lights plus the olight plus a headlamp. 5 lights total. Plus a reflective strap on both ankles.
It's also a good idea to carry spare lights (cheaper and maybe uses disposable batteries) in case you forget to charge your main lights or you are out for longer than expected, or they end up failing. I had my front light clip fail on me 5 miles from home and my spare was just enough to get home safely. I also have used reflective tape on my wheel rims (not the braking surface), mudguards, and in strategic points on my winter frame. Spoke reflectors are a good idea if they fit.
Even it’s dark almost whole time at winter I still prefer midnight because it’s only time to go highways.. other roads (especially bike lanes!) usually are undrivable because winter ice and sharp sand on ice/asphalt to make friction. On ice with road bike no possibilities to ride and that ”sand” punctures tires on first minute. Only way is the salted highway outside normal traffic time. Yep, with lights into total darkness... madness!
A pair of Serfas elume 1600 for the front, one to see and one to be seen. Lezyne zecto 250 on the back. I always run lights day and night, flashing in the daylight, on for early ride to work 2 times a week in the dark.
Rear lights: at night, or even daytime when conditions aren't the best, I use two rear lights in case one fails (insufficiently charged, broken, or even falls off). One flashing but not a strobe-like flash, just a steady on-ff flash, and one on steady/ pulsate. The flash serves to catch the eye, the steady or pulsating light makes it easier to judge distance. Also, when I see a vehicle approaching or I'm approaching a junction I often momentarily switch my front light to flash/ pulsate for the same reason.
I only go riding at night! Usually leave at 7:30pm and come back around 9pm. The weather is so much cooler and there’s almost no cars on the road. We usually leave in groups of 5-10 people for extra safety 😊
Thanks very much for your videos, i love watching them. I realized last week that i actually could ride at night and i'm definitely gonna do it in the futur
It was customary to ride in Lima before dawn back in the pre Covid days but always through well light streets. Thankfully we did not suffered any problems.
In some areas, it is not legal to use a flashing headlight. Also, as someone who rides in the dark pretty much all winter long, flashing headlights are super annoying, both to the user and to other cyclists. I think it's wiser to just keep the light on a steady setting.
I have a cat eye volt 1200 I find the low constant with a flash mode in built up areas really makes drivers pull in and give way, normal mode for dark roads and high when there's no on coming traffic on very dark roads.
I've been riding my bike at night @ 11pm for past 3 years due to my night shift. Other than head and tail lights and bright clothes, I recommend wheel lights (Monkey Light for example) for extra visibility.
I ride when I get home, off of work after midnight. I check in before I leave and run a 640lumen olight bar light. Im usually out till 130AM. Cooler, and less traffic.
I love riding at night. No one around to bother me on back roads. I have a pretty bright light mounted to my helmet that works great. Some reflective on my backpack, back of my helmet, ect.
A constant thing I see in winter here is black kit, followed by a black bag over the top. Any reflective panels on the tops are negated by covering with a backpack.
We really need company’s to develop better road specific beam patterns for U.K. riding. I put black reflective tape on the outsides of my crank arms. Still look black cranks during the day, but highly reflective movement at night. I’ve also put black reflective strips on opposite sides on my wheels. Still look ok during the day, but the reflective movement of the wheels are really eye catching at night.
I ride at night twice a week. It‘s much nicer to ride at 4 or 5 in the morning than in the evening. Much less traffic and a nicer outdoor expierience. I use a supernova airstream. Works brilliant. Flashing rear lights are Important. For some reason the speed riding in the dark is about 2 km/h lower. But sunrise on the bike is a extraordinary expierience.
Been Riding At Night (1:00 AM - 5:00 AM) On Rural Roads East Of Houston Tx For Years. Dogs And Wildlife Can Be A Problem At Times. I've Been Taken Down Twice By Dogs. Even With The Dogs I Find Riding At Night More Exciting. I Ran Over A Opossum Last Week But Fortunately I Didn't Crash And The Opossum Recovered And Was OK. I Have Also Encountered Some Sketchy Individuals On Foot. As Stated In This Video, Ride Safe Routes And Have Somebody Following You On GPS.
for me was a reflectiv helmet (carnac for example) a game changer for too be more visable. Most exposed position, 360° and not covered by backpac like vest.
BTW in colder weather, I wear my DHB Flash Light rain jacket, layered as necessary for temperature. They are literally brilliant - the reflective surfaces are a cannot miss for visability. From a car driver's perspective, I think the jacket is more effective than the lights.
I use flashing LEDs front and back in the UK all the time. That way there can be no excuses for not seeing me. You can now get jackets that are made entirely of reflective material. They show up better than anything else I've seen. You can also get a reflective aerosol spray that will spray on clothing or bike but is only visi6in the dark when a light shines on it. I think it washes off after a while so its maybe not very "green" but might be helpful if you only have black gear available or you need a confidence boost!
For the reflectives to work there needs to be a light to reflect. And with the low beams there may not be any light hitting the cyclist at all. Or if the vehicle comes at an angle. Or if they 'forgot' to turn on the lights. It is better to combine the 3 elements - reflectors, emitters and colours.
Lights that flash briefly and then slowly pulse are best for visibility. With only flashing lights, it can be hard for motorists to judge their distance from you. But with a flash to get their attention and then a slow pulse, you can be seen and they can more easily judge their distance from you.
I ride at night very often. I use a flashlight powered by a 18650 rechargeable battery, attached to the handlebar with a standard gopro mount. Its Very powerful and long lasting. Plus always two small flashing red light on the seatpost and helmet.
Flash light setting is forbidden in many countries and this is for good reasons: It is difficult for other road users to estimate the distance and it is much more dazzling as the eyes don't know if to adapt for dark or brightness. As I use to ride regularly in the dark especially also in winter only a light driven by hub dynamo was acceptable as all kind of battery suffer if it is below -15°C or fails in worst moment. On the other hand dynamo on the tyre fails often under snowy or rainy conditions. However, bike lights are much better than some years ago. Especially LED made a big difference. I remember a night ride through a narrow lane downhill through the forest. At that time only old fashioned light bulbs existed. I was looking upward into the sky to find the way as the ground was too dark to see anything even the road itself was invisible as there were no lines painted on it and no reflecting posts. Compared to that bright LED is a real revolution.
Been riding eight years, but have done more night riding this year already than in previous seven combined. Biggest gripe is that on dark unlit roads 90% car drivers do not dip their lights for a mere cyclist. You then simply cannot see (a) the road surface to spot unexpected potholes and (b) the road edge - critical if road is not straight.
I use 8500 lumens in the front usually flashing. And three rear red flashing lights in the rear at 100 lumens. Works great so far. Look for waterproof if you don't want to be annoyed.
I ride at night with handlebar end lights. These make it look like more than one bike from the rear and also light up the frame well so it's visible from the sides. Cheap to.
Noxgear’s light vest is also a good option for making yourself visible at night. It’s comfortable and lightweight. I’ve used it once on the bike and many times on runs.
i was used to using flashing lights in ireland ... moved to germany and got some strange looks.. No Flashing lights on front allowed here . not sure about back but have never seen anybody use them
Rear flashing lights aren't allowed in Germany, either. The official ruling is that flashing lights might irriate drivers...and probably cause them to run you over or something. Idiotic German bureaucracy.
I was surprised you did not recommend rear lights. Do you have a separate video on that? Also, in my experience different manufacturers can measure lumens differently. I have a rear light by NiteRider that claims to be 250 lumens but seems to be more like 30 lumens when I compare to my 200 lumen rear light by Cygolite. How many lumens do you recommend for a rear light?
Do you like to ride at night? What tips do you have? Let us know👇
Now lockdown 2 is here. Night riding is about the only option I will have to go out of the house, after working from home. Thinking of local village circuits as opposed to heading out into the countryside.
Makesure not ride on your usual sleep time...its will effect your body health..choose the right time to ride at night
I find a flashing light is the best safety feature. It helps drivers see you better than a solid light. "TOP TIP" : it's a good idea to use said light regardless of the time of day.
Well..my best advice is not to drive in dark clothing..
I’ve been night riding for over 12 years. SON dynamo hub, supernova lights, GARMIN Varia radar, rear view mirror, PROVIZ cycling kit all work. Flashing lights, also I just acquired a Helmet with MIPS, Lights(turn signals/brake lights)as well as Bluetooth audio. TOPEAK iGlo products and tires with reflective sidewalls are a huge help also. Anyway to be seen is worth it! Only problem are those suicidal bunnies I have pop out in front of me on the bike route I use. I regret to say I reached ACE status this year as The third bunny in 12 years ran right under my front tire two weeks ago😕
I love riding at night. It's my favorite time to ride. The city is quiet and there's not much traffic. When I say riding at night, I mean proper night; 2, 3, 4 o'clock in the morning.
Ditto! It’s become my habit to ride out at around 3 am. The roads are so peaceful, it’s borderline eerie. haha
Amazing..I'm also doing it in Estonia 🇪🇪 basically I'm from India 🇮🇳..but I have to say Indian road is far better and wider as compared to Europe (but we indian are idiots don't have rules and regulations). Lol
As someone who learned to ride a bike well on my 30s I ride during those times to avoid the embarrassment of learning to ride at this age.
Keep in mind that in some countries like Germany and Austria, it is ilegal to use your front light in flashing mode. Only the back light can flash on its different modes. Cheers
Nope backlight should also not flash
In DE at least neither light is allowed to be flashing.
@@bartus9891 a flashing light is easier to see and lasts twice as long on 50% duty cycle. That's two reasons for. You didn't give a reason against.
@@stevek8829 You should use a flashing light anywhere that it is legal. However, in Germany it is not legal, and that is that.
German road laws say, that flashing light is reserved for emergency light, so it’s illegal to use on road. In fact a bike light that is able to flash is not road legal in Germany. The is restrictive regulation on brightness aswell, to not blind or distract other road users...
temperatures can really drop off after the sun goes down when the sky is clear, so dress for conditions. also need for lighting in urban area is different than in rural
Manon should have been reading this before doing the video xD brrrr....
Hey girls and boys,
Best regards from Germany,
I have two things:
Be aware of animals running through the road, a lot of animals seeking for food at night. Bigger and smaller ones, rabbits, cats, deers or boars.
The second one is for avoiding getting worrys by your partner: use WhatsApps position Sharing or "device locator", it is using your GPS data if incoming SMS is with given code, automatically answering with Google maps link by SMS. It is great for more remote areas without good data connection.
Good ride!
I played and drived a night cycling at February, 23rd 2020 from Minangkabau Airport to Padang City. I have not a bicycle LED lamp but I drived a bicycle with looking a lamp in street.
“You’re already in space Connor” 🤣🤣🤣
Connors face
I work 4pm-2am. I commute in the dark, ride brevets in the dark, and love my long urban rides in the dead of the night. Those cheap LED lights they recommend are rubbish.
Always ride with redundant or back-up lights... More for longer rides. Also carry a light on your helmet especially for bike repair in the dark. Have at least two headlights and two rearlights. No lights are really reliable.
I had my teeth whitened for extra visibility.
Great idea
@@brendangray cheers. I used to use a luminous felt tip to colour in my teeth before I could afford the teeth whitening 👍
are they also red from the backside?
@@mykola_kanyuk No I turn my head and stick my red tongue out at 2 second intervals. Saved me a fortune in lights. 😅
Agreed 👍
I did my first night ride without any lights, on a bike trail that was almost 10 miles long. It was remote and terrifying. Since then, I've stepped up my game with 1,700 lumens and have been night riding for years now.
I wear my sunglasses at night so I can , so I can, see the light that's right before my eyes.
Corey hart!
Yeah, that's why I use The Blinking Lights at some of the incoming vehicles that don't switch to their Low Light from the bright main light.
Rode at night for the first time. Loved it until I must have hit a large rock at full speed and flipped over the handlebars. Thank God for my helmet. I am a bit sore, shoulder and left upper thigh but it could have been worse. I never saw the rock. Lesson is to maybe slow down in real dark sections and turn the light to the brightest setting. Rocks and potholes are the worse.
A spare bike light is always good just case you brake the one on the bike when crashing, don’t want to be injured in the dark miles from home with no lights
I bought some adhesive reflective strips and placed them on the back on my shoes and the back of my helmet.
I've been thinking of putting some on my seatstays.
I’ve been thinking to do this, too. Must get on it.
My daily commute meant cycling in the dark every winter. What a joy it would have been with the new light technology we have now. I used to use battery powered bike lights with the lumens to illuminate very little! These days I work from home, so night-time adventures are rare, but when I’m completely fed up with indoor training, these tips will come into play. Thanks 😊
Wearing glasses at night isn't just good for stopping bugs, it's good for stopping debris from the road getting flicked up by cars and hitting you in the eyes, just like during daylight hours 😉
Clear safety glasses from local hardware store.
@@robertdixon8238 Halfords do them for £5.00. I wear them over my varifocals.
3 pair/$5 at Home Depot in the US, 3M brand
@@MrTaxiRob link? cuz I didn't anything in that price range online
Yep, tried to night ride.
My light attracted a lot bugs,
Basically, I just covered my Mouth and nose and just squint so that no bug can get in my eyes.
Last night was my first night ride, full darkness. I was surprised to see this today. I learned that I need a brighter headlight. I will do it again.
I recommend carry a cheap taillight in your pocket for a backup when riding at night. I have had my taillight just quit working for no reason, I had just charged it that evening, but it decided to die permanently. I now carry a simple LED light that's good for up to 2 hrs and is small, but bright for that reason as my backup
What brand is that?
@@willek1335 My original was a Hotshot Micro that quit, my backup is a Blackburn, but I can't remember the model. On flash mode it's good for 2 hrs, small, and just uses a rubber band to strap to the seatpost
@@willek1335 I have these little button lights as a back up. They're were £20 for the both of them
I always carry backup lights - 2x small button ones and one 3W torch, just in-case. They've come in handy a few times during the winter when the main light batteries don't last as long as usual.
I agree. I always carry 2 taillights.
My top tips: two lights on the front and two on the back. That way if one fails, or you forgot to charge it, you won’t disappear from a driver’s view half way through your ride. Other tip is cheap valve lights - a bit gimmicky but gives visibility from the side which is important for bigger roundabouts where you can be very vulnerable.
Inspired me to ride into the sunrise in the morning. I usually wimp out when it’s dark at 6 am but I’ll give it a go 😊
I've always enjoyed biking at night - it's great in the summer when it's too hot during the day. One of my favourite rides is along the Lake Ontario waterfront from the east end of Toronto to Frenchman's Bay in Pickering.
Wow! This is first time I've seen a helmet cover on GCN! After all these years of GCN! Better late than never!
more reflective gear
especially ankles and calves
also, use a white light pointed at your torso, to illuminate your body and create a larger visible area for an observer
Great tips Scott 🙌
Something other than election coverage to watch!!!!!!
I haven't seen any election videos. :-)
What election?
One of the best videos on GCN so far! Keep in mind though, that some of your suggestions are not allowed in countries like the Netherlands or Germany. Here in the Netherlands f.e. it is not allowed to use flashing lights, lights mounted on your head or helmet, or to use more than one light shining in the same direction. So wherever you live, check your local legislation.
Blackburn components make flashing amber side lights that clip onto your forks that give you great side visibility when riding at night, too. They are usb rechargeable, inexpensive, and last for several hours. A must have if you ride at night.
I night ride regularly, & run two bontrager ion pro rt. I always have them on. Blinking during the day, front and back, steady on the front at night with blinking at night on the rear.
Having 2 sets allows me to: no longer outriding the battery life of 1: if I am riding fast with both lights on high I no longer out ride my lights: with 2 lights i angle then differently so the amount of lit ground in front of me is greatly improved.
The other advantage i have found is when I have experienced any problem with the light, bontrager simply swapped it out with a new.
Keep riding & have fun.
be aware: when riding on your bike your eyes adjust better to the daylight left than drivers who already have their heidlights on the entire time. So Even if you think it's still bright enough to see everything this might not be the same for car drivers. Better switch on those lights early!
I use like night riding until I had a dog run out me that I could not see. Heard the growling and the nails on the pavement, but couldn’t see it. Never sprinted so hard though!
"I use like night riding until I had a dog run out me" Are you saying you no longer use it?
Oh poor danmar, in desperate need of attention?
Possibly a Covid-19 infected werewolf? Lucky to escape with your life.
A small 150-300 lumen light mounted to the helmet is crucial for such situations. Make certain that the helmet light you choose has a spot focus rather than a flood (wide) beam. It will be less likely to blind oncoming motorists, and you can more clearly see wherever you turn your head with fewer lumens.
@@prestachuck2867 ģ
Hum the Knight Rider melody, and don't change the name from Night Ride on Strava.
I bought great lights because I live in the country, AyUps for me. I also recommend getting a modern cycle computer that will allow someone to track you and that will send an alert if you have an accident. I bought a Garmin for this but other brands such as Wahoo do it as well.
Pay attention to temperature. Having it ice up when your miles from home or after you've climbed a hill can make for a scary ride home.
I did my first ride in the dark yesterday as it was the first time I got home from work before 4pm. Set off in the light, finished in the dark. Had all the kit but didn't stop it being scary, mainly from being dazzled by oncoming headlights.
Now with daylight savings bike to and from work in the dark (And used to work nights). I wrapped 3M reflective tape on different parts of the bike and makes it really stand out at night.
Spare lights and/or batteries. I have a set of clip on pound store lights just incase my main lights go down. Also I have another on the back so I have one brigh solid light and one blinking to make myself more visible.
Make sure your lights are pointing a bit down onto the road! Other road users still want to be able to see something else than the bright light from your bike.
Riding in the dark is my favourite time to hit the roads. Love using my lights.
One thing I've noticed is that the angle of bike lights is great for illuminating little dips that are all but invisible during the day.
Good tips. I use a flashing red rear light riding in the day for added visibility. Most of my 46km (30 miles) rides in winter end after the sun has set. Starting after 3pm, the sun sets by 5pm so it's dark halfway into the ride. I have a brighter light on the handlebar, and a not-as-bright LED light on my helmet, 2 red blinking lights behind me (one on back of my helmet and one behind my seat) plus a backup rear light. I also carry a tube, toolkit, tire levers and bike pump. I had a flat tire and had to change my innertube in the dark last year, for the first time in years. So be prepared for the unexpected on night rides, especially if you ride alone. I check the weather forecast - no night rides if rain is in the forecast, as visibility declines substantially in the rain + dark.
Thanks for shedding some light on this subject, I was in the dark before this... :)
Brilliant!
I did my first night ride today. Great ride on known roads, not quite so known in the dark.
Agreed. Invest in lights to see and be seen at night.
I cycle home from work late at night at least once a week. I have a reflective rucksack cover, semi hi vis jacket, reflective spoke clip on things, front and rear lights, built in helmet light. Recent addition was i brought a role of white reflective tape. Few quid, self adhesive and bright when lit up. Few strips on my helmet and bike frame. I actually find cars give a lot more room at night. I'd even go as far as saying I feel safer.
I ride 2x weekly, usually 1.5 hrs a time. But have also done 3 to 4 hr rides at night. Here's what I find. Ride wider tyres if you can. Bit of extra margin for hitting bad surfaces you can't see in time. Local loops to stay closer to home in case of trouble. Know your way on longer rides. Ride familiar routes too, you know the roads and surfaces. Double up rear lights in case one fails, actually run with both on, it's harder to tell a rear light failure whilst riding. Running two separate rear lights at different flashing speeds is also really visible. Run with lots of front capacity so you're never close to running out, I try to leave 2x margin (4hrs for a 2hr ride). Head/helmet torches, particularly off road, are great, and can add an extra front light in case of emergencies. Wrap up warmer, it rarely warms up whilst you're riding into the night.
Anyone else remember the heavy but dim old battery lights that leaked chemicals in the wet. This is one area that has massively improved with modern technology.
Also, modern batteries continue to work well below freezing! I went through a middle stage with NiCd batteries. NiCds work fine in the cold but they had terrible capacity.
I cycled from Torquay to Exeter at night once without bike lights. A harrowing experience and I never recommend that to anyone.
how
I once met another driver on the road at dusk who was surprised that it was getting dark earlier and so he brought no lights. Since he still had 45 kilometers to go home that was badly lit or not lit at all, I escorted him home because I had light. 😀
@@Handom1 I've done that a few times 😂
Not even Peugeot drivers?....
I cycle in Greater Manchester in the dark quite often - it is lovely once all the traffic has gone!
Glasses should always be worn. Not just because of bugs - sand, dust, little stones in your eyes can end your ride... forever.
Get some clear lens glasses
Handy if you have buggered eyesight too!
Should I ask for a bit of context......?
"Glasses should always be worn" but I prefer glasses should always be new.
I ride at night and in the evening all the time. Olight makes a flashlight mount that will let you mount any round flashlight. They make 18650 lights that are super bright. You can detach them easily for fixing tires etc. I use three flashing lights plus the olight plus a headlamp. 5 lights total. Plus a reflective strap on both ankles.
It's also a good idea to carry spare lights (cheaper and maybe uses disposable batteries) in case you forget to charge your main lights or you are out for longer than expected, or they end up failing. I had my front light clip fail on me 5 miles from home and my spare was just enough to get home safely.
I also have used reflective tape on my wheel rims (not the braking surface), mudguards, and in strategic points on my winter frame. Spoke reflectors are a good idea if they fit.
or if/when the main light batteries freezes.
Even it’s dark almost whole time at winter I still prefer midnight because it’s only time to go highways.. other roads (especially bike lanes!) usually are undrivable because winter ice and sharp sand on ice/asphalt to make friction. On ice with road bike no possibilities to ride and that ”sand” punctures tires on first minute. Only way is the salted highway outside normal traffic time. Yep, with lights into total darkness... madness!
Some countries require you to have a permanent-on light. Additional flashing light is up to you. Check your local requirements.
A pair of Serfas elume 1600 for the front, one to see and one to be seen. Lezyne zecto 250 on the back. I always run lights day and night, flashing in the daylight, on for early ride to work 2 times a week in the dark.
Rear lights: at night, or even daytime when conditions aren't the best, I use two rear lights in case one fails (insufficiently charged, broken, or even falls off). One flashing but not a strobe-like flash, just a steady on-ff flash, and one on steady/ pulsate. The flash serves to catch the eye, the steady or pulsating light makes it easier to judge distance.
Also, when I see a vehicle approaching or I'm approaching a junction I often momentarily switch my front light to flash/ pulsate for the same reason.
I only go riding at night! Usually leave at 7:30pm and come back around 9pm. The weather is so much cooler and there’s almost no cars on the road. We usually leave in groups of 5-10 people for extra safety 😊
Woohoo early
I ride my bike every single day btw.
Can't live without it.
Thanks very much for your videos, i love watching them. I realized last week that i actually could ride at night and i'm definitely gonna do it in the futur
It was customary to ride in Lima before dawn back in the pre Covid days but always through well light streets. Thankfully we did not suffered any problems.
Rode around Gower (South Wales) last night. Jittery sheep are THE things to watch out for.
Love Conor's sense of humour.
You can probably get Manon talking to me about some most boring thing in the world and I would still find it amazing 🔥
In some areas, it is not legal to use a flashing headlight. Also, as someone who rides in the dark pretty much all winter long, flashing headlights are super annoying, both to the user and to other cyclists. I think it's wiser to just keep the light on a steady setting.
"You're alredy in space Connor" I agree this guy is high !
He is cycling above the clouds ⛅️- always
@@stefan4341 too much Irish coffee and you're off 😅😅
Love Manon's tights, noticed them in the Halloween video and wondered what they were. Glad you . . . shed some light . . . on the matter.
I have a cat eye volt 1200 I find the low constant with a flash mode in built up areas really makes drivers pull in and give way, normal mode for dark roads and high when there's no on coming traffic on very dark roads.
Thank you for providing tips and information. I'm in the mood for horror night cycling.
Wasn't even aware of high vis helmet covers until this video, thanks.
I put my front LED lights on siesure mode so everyone on the road knows I'm there 🤣
Damn girl I want to ride with you
@@siti-aventador ride what
I've been riding my bike at night @ 11pm for past 3 years due to my night shift.
Other than head and tail lights and bright clothes, I recommend wheel lights (Monkey Light for example) for extra visibility.
I ride when I get home, off of work after midnight. I check in before I leave and run a 640lumen olight bar light. Im usually out till 130AM. Cooler, and less traffic.
I love riding at night. No one around to bother me on back roads.
I have a pretty bright light mounted to my helmet that works great. Some reflective on my backpack, back of my helmet, ect.
"Cycle in the Dark" - sounds like an '80's British new wave song title.
th-cam.com/video/J0N1yY937qg/w-d-xo.html
Even if we were cycling in the dark
Once upon a time there were bikes in my life. Now I only bike in the dark...
A constant thing I see in winter here is black kit, followed by a black bag over the top. Any reflective panels on the tops are negated by covering with a backpack.
We really need company’s to develop better road specific beam patterns for U.K. riding.
I put black reflective tape on the outsides of my crank arms. Still look black cranks during the day, but highly reflective movement at night.
I’ve also put black reflective strips on opposite sides on my wheels. Still look ok during the day, but the reflective movement of the wheels are really eye catching at night.
I ride at night and in the early morning hours for school, and some of the things I do to stay safe is I ride streets that have very little use.
Night riding, cause we all got to go sometime! Thanks GCN!
I ride at night twice a week. It‘s much nicer to ride at 4 or 5 in the morning than in the evening. Much less traffic and a nicer outdoor expierience. I use a supernova airstream. Works brilliant. Flashing rear lights are Important. For some reason the speed riding in the dark is about 2 km/h lower. But sunrise on the bike is a extraordinary expierience.
Love Jon Cannings' Tron Bike.
I once had to use my mobile phone torch purched on my handlebars to get me home. I now alway carry a spare set of cheepo lights in my back pack.
Been Riding At Night (1:00 AM - 5:00 AM) On Rural Roads East Of Houston Tx For Years. Dogs And Wildlife Can Be A Problem At Times. I've Been Taken Down Twice By Dogs. Even With The Dogs I Find Riding At Night More Exciting. I Ran Over A Opossum Last Week But Fortunately I Didn't Crash And The Opossum Recovered And Was OK. I Have Also Encountered Some Sketchy Individuals On Foot. As Stated In This Video, Ride Safe Routes And Have Somebody Following You On GPS.
for me was a reflectiv helmet (carnac for example) a game changer for too be more visable. Most exposed position, 360° and not covered by backpac like vest.
What light is he holding at 2:39 ?
What light is on the left with the yellow strip up front at 3:53 ?
BTW in colder weather, I wear my DHB Flash Light rain jacket, layered as necessary for temperature. They are literally brilliant - the reflective surfaces are a cannot miss for visability. From a car driver's perspective, I think the jacket is more effective than the lights.
I use flashing LEDs front and back in the UK all the time. That way there can be no excuses for not seeing me.
You can now get jackets that are made entirely of reflective material. They show up better than anything else I've seen. You can also get a reflective aerosol spray that will spray on clothing or bike but is only visi6in the dark when a light shines on it. I think it washes off after a while so its maybe not very "green" but might be helpful if you only have black gear available or you need a confidence boost!
For the reflectives to work there needs to be a light to reflect. And with the low beams there may not be any light hitting the cyclist at all. Or if the vehicle comes at an angle. Or if they 'forgot' to turn on the lights. It is better to combine the 3 elements - reflectors, emitters and colours.
this is great explanation on lights, but omg Connor and Manon look like it might have been cooooold
Why would you wear black kit at night?
Haven’t done a night ride in a few years, looking to do one this Thursday as spin isn’t on at the gym can’t wait to go 😀
Lights that flash briefly and then slowly pulse are best for visibility. With only flashing lights, it can be hard for motorists to judge their distance from you. But with a flash to get their attention and then a slow pulse, you can be seen and they can more easily judge their distance from you.
I ride at night very often. I use a flashlight powered by a 18650 rechargeable battery, attached to the handlebar with a standard gopro mount. Its Very powerful and long lasting. Plus always two small flashing red light on the seatpost and helmet.
and you can carry spare 18650s in your back pocket (in a ziplocked bag)
Flash light setting is forbidden in many countries and this is for good reasons: It is difficult for other road users to estimate the distance and it is much more dazzling as the eyes don't know if to adapt for dark or brightness. As I use to ride regularly in the dark especially also in winter only a light driven by hub dynamo was acceptable as all kind of battery suffer if it is below -15°C or fails in worst moment. On the other hand dynamo on the tyre fails often under snowy or rainy conditions. However, bike lights are much better than some years ago. Especially LED made a big difference. I remember a night ride through a narrow lane downhill through the forest. At that time only old fashioned light bulbs existed. I was looking upward into the sky to find the way as the ground was too dark to see anything even the road itself was invisible as there were no lines painted on it and no reflecting posts. Compared to that bright LED is a real revolution.
Been riding eight years, but have done more night riding this year already than in previous seven combined. Biggest gripe is that on dark unlit roads 90% car drivers do not dip their lights for a mere cyclist. You then simply cannot see (a) the road surface to spot unexpected potholes and (b) the road edge - critical if road is not straight.
I use 8500 lumens in the front usually flashing. And three rear red flashing lights in the rear at 100 lumens. Works great so far.
Look for waterproof if you don't want to be annoyed.
Don't neglect rear facing lights. Preferably flashing brightly. That is where most of the trouble comes from...behind you.
Connor's flyby bellring at 1.16 was so low key funny.
I ride at night with handlebar end lights. These make it look like more than one bike from the rear and also light up the frame well so it's visible from the sides. Cheap to.
Noxgear’s light vest is also a good option for making yourself visible at night. It’s comfortable and lightweight. I’ve used it once on the bike and many times on runs.
For sure a light up vest/highly reflective clothing is really useful for night rides
I just bought a Reflective Tape.
Just add a few in my Pedal, wheel, and helmet.
i was used to using flashing lights in ireland ... moved to germany and got some strange looks.. No Flashing lights on front allowed here . not sure about back but have never seen anybody use them
Shoulda stayed here in Ireland 😂
Rear flashing lights aren't allowed in Germany, either. The official ruling is that flashing lights might irriate drivers...and probably cause them to run you over or something. Idiotic German bureaucracy.
Nightrider events were a great way of riding at night...let’s hope they reappear on the calendar for 2021
The return of Conor as a tron rider! The dark side of Conor continue. Triathletes force is strong.
I was surprised you did not recommend rear lights. Do you have a separate video on that? Also, in my experience different manufacturers can measure lumens differently. I have a rear light by NiteRider that claims to be 250 lumens but seems to be more like 30 lumens when I compare to my 200 lumen rear light by Cygolite. How many lumens do you recommend for a rear light?
Conor - the only GCN presenter tall enough to be an actual Christmas tree.