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Night Riding

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James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
So I'm going on my first "real" night ride tomorrow, pretty stoked. It'll be with a good buddy, on trails I know very well (ridden there 3 out of the last 5 days too!), so I'm pretty stoked.
Went out and got myself a pretty trick HID light from Marwi: http://www.marwiusa.com/default.aspx?taxid=24&cid=productview&bbid=3&pid=43
It's supposed to be pretty sick, cost me an arm and a leg, but let's hope I ride enough to make it worth it!
I swear this light could burn a mark on my wall, it's so bright. Plus it came with a nifty little "suitcase" with foam cut-outs where all the parts go in. Pretty cool...

Anyone got any cool night riding stories to pump me up?

JJames
 
Brian HCM#1

Brian HCM#1

MMMMMMMMM MAGA!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 7, 2001
32,224
381
Bay Area, California
No stories but a tip...................For the climbs, try to do it by moonlight to conserve the battery for any downhills. Then again about 11 years ago, we went riding and came across an old mercury mine, took the lights off the bike, cut the lock to the gate to the mine and went exploring for an hour. It was very freaky but cool. Then as a tradition we'd go to Denny's at 12-1am in the morning (after our ride) for a grilled cheese and chocolate shake. Then wake up at 6:30am to go to work:dead:
 
Curb Hucker

Curb Hucker

I am an idiot
Feb 4, 2004
3,661
0
Sleeping in my Kenworth
Brian HCM#1 said:
Then as a tradition we'd go to Denny's at 12-1am in the morning (after our ride) for a grilled cheese and chocolate shake. Then wake up at 6:30am to go to work:dead:
Click to expand...
Nothing like early am Denny's. When we went to that Rays indoor MTB park we went to a Denny's at 3:00am in downtown cleveland and it was full, there were only 2 empty tables in the place. Creepy ohio people and their eating habits.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Brian HCM#1 said:
No stories but a tip...................For the climbs, try to do it by moonlight to conserve the battery for any downhills. Then again about 11 years ago, we went riding and came across an old mercury mine, took the lights off the bike, cut the lock to the gate to the mine and went exploring for an hour. It was very freaky but cool. Then as a tradition we'd go to Denny's at 12-1am in the morning (after our ride) for a grilled cheese and chocolate shake. Then wake up at 6:30am to go to work:dead:
Click to expand...
Yeah, that was the plan, try and ride in on the fireroad and some of the climb with the lights off, just use 'em when I have to, then leave 'em on.
Damn, I just saw that they have a better version of my light, with an 8-9.6 hour burn time!
Shoot.
That's ok, I'm sure the battery is much bigger.
Oh man, chocolate shake and grilled cheese sounds DOPE. I think I may have to suggest that!
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Curb Hucker said:
Nothing like early am Denny's. When we went to that Rays indoor MTB park we went to a Denny's at 3:00am in downtown cleveland and it was full, there were only 2 empty tables in the place. Creepy ohio people and their eating habits.
Click to expand...
They have a place called "Carrows" out here too, kinda almost exactly like Denny's, used to go there in college for 2am shakes and ****.
Fun.
 
Brian HCM#1

Brian HCM#1

MMMMMMMMM MAGA!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 7, 2001
32,224
381
Bay Area, California
Just James said:
Yeah, that was the plan, try and ride in on the fireroad and some of the climb with the lights off, just use 'em when I have to, then leave 'em on.
Damn, I just saw that they have a better version of my light, with an 8-9.6 hour burn time!
Shoot.
That's ok, I'm sure the battery is much bigger.
Oh man, chocolate shake and grilled cheese sounds DOPE. I think I may have to suggest that!
Click to expand...
WOW, over 8 hours thats awesome, I still have my old dual beam NightSun from 1992. Make sure you get sourdough for the grilled cheese, thats the key:thumb:
 
Brian HCM#1

Brian HCM#1

MMMMMMMMM MAGA!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 7, 2001
32,224
381
Bay Area, California
Just James said:
They have a place called "Carrows" out here too, kinda almost exactly like Denny's, used to go there in college for 2am shakes and ****.
Fun.
Click to expand...
Is that the one in Carpinteria? I used to go there when I'd come into town at 11pm.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Brian HCM#1 said:
Is that the one in Carpinteria? I used to go there when I'd come into town at 11pm.
Click to expand...
No, it was in Goleta.
The Carp one actually is closed now, it's just an empty shell of a building...
Make a cool bike shop...:)
 
Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
I remember back before the days of HID, we always used to have to think of ways to conserve the lights, etc. With HID my light lasts much longer than me :p
 
splat

splat

Nam I am
Apr 27, 2002
14,763
345
Well Maybe Windows is Bearable ! Unix Rules !
Echo said:
I remember back before the days of HID, we always used to have to think of ways to conserve the lights, etc. With HID my light lasts much longer than me :p
Click to expand...
I finaly broke down and Got a HID this year. But I Have been night riding before they had decent commercial systems. At pedro's fest this past year I demoed an HID on a night ride and they just wade it so I knew what I wanted.
 
DHS

DHS

Friendly Neighborhood Pool Boy
Apr 23, 2002
5,094
0
Sand, CA
www.tourdebar.com
i still ride with these folks once in a while. not bad.
i have the light and motion high end HID. lasts pretty good and bright.
i like night riding a lot. also i do it a lot cause at night is the only free time i have to ride lately. mouch fun in the snow, cause you don't really need a light.
 
Morryjg

Morryjg

Mr. Ho Jangles
May 9, 2003
905
0
Littleton
My only night riding story is lightless. We hit Mt Falcon and it was a total spur of the moment deal. We had ridden Three Sisters open space earlier that afternoon and stopped in Evergreen for pizza. On the way home we noticed there was a blazing full moon, so one of the guys I was riding with volunteered to drop us at the top and drive down to the bottom. So two of us jumped on the bikes and headed down. We rode the entire trail by moonlight only. It was soooooooo freekin' awesome!!!! :thumb:
 
T-Dog

T-Dog

Monkey
Feb 18, 2004
327
0
different shack, same shotgun
Watch out for wildlife.....a few years ago I was riding sulpher mountain road on a full moon night, and my dog got hosed by a skunk.....about 50' in front of me (when it's that fresh it's like ammonia). We've also had deer jump out in front of us on that road too.
 
Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
55,998
22,032
Sleazattle
Night riding etiquette: Don't shine your lights in someone elses face.

Some guy just standing with his bike on the side of a trail decide to watch a group I was in ride down a nasty rocky section. His helmet light blinding each one of us just as we got to the section. Everyone made it through safely but it was the first time I ever wanted to just beat the crap out of someone on the side of the trail.
 
Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Westy said:
Night riding etiquette: Don't shine your lights in someone elses face.

Some guy just standing with his bike on the side of a trail decide to watch a group I was in ride down a nasty rocky section. His helmet light blinding each one of us just as we got to the section. Everyone made it through safely but it was the first time I ever wanted to just beat the crap out of someone on the side of the trail.
Click to expand...
Why didn't someone just say "dude, your light is blinding us"?
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Well, I suppose that I kinda have ridden at night. Had a buddy eat it out there once, broke his collarbone, so it took us a lot longer to get back. Rode a couple of miles in the basically pitch black, to the yelps of coyotes...:)

JJames
 
TreeSaw

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,813
2,132
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
Curb Hucker said:
Nothing like early am Denny's. When we went to that Rays indoor MTB park we went to a Denny's at 3:00am in downtown cleveland and it was full, there were only 2 empty tables in the place. Creepy ohio people and their eating habits.
Click to expand...
Good to know as the Jackalopes will be out there this weekend ;)

As for night riding, have fun! I had SO much fun on my first night ride. It feels like you're going really fast and it is best to go (for the 1st time ever) on trails that you know. Carry a spare mini-maglight (just in case).

Edit: I also tend to have my flask along for the ride as well...makes for an interesting ride ;)
 
Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
55,998
22,032
Sleazattle
mack said:
If batteries are such a problem why not use night vision goggles?
Click to expand...
Night vision goggles don't use batteries? I guess people don't ride with them because the extension cords suck to drag around.
 
Spunger

Spunger

Git yer dumb questions here
Feb 19, 2003
2,257
0
805
I thought about going on the local Jeusita nite rides that keep going on until I thought of something.....that the time changes next month :)

I wasn't going to spend $200-400 on lights when I'll have another 1-1 1/2 hrs of daylight comming.

But agreed with Brain, use the moonlight if it's out and what not. There's been a few times I got cought comming in late and had to ride by the moonlight and my wimpy lighting system. It's amazing what good lights will do on the trial. BTW I was stuck on Cold springs comming down in the evening. It sucked :( but I made it. I had a buddy who had a mechanical problem & by the time we got it fixed the sun was setting. That's a nasty trail to get stuck on in the dark. Jues is alot easier in the dark.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Spunger said:
I thought about going on the local Jeusita nite rides that keep going on until I thought of something.....that the time changes next month :)

I wasn't going to spend $200-400 on lights when I'll have another 1-1 1/2 hrs of daylight comming.

But agreed with Brain, use the moonlight if it's out and what not. There's been a few times I got cought comming in late and had to ride by the moonlight and my wimpy lighting system. It's amazing what good lights will do on the trial. BTW I was stuck on Cold springs comming down in the evening. It sucked :( but I made it. I had a buddy who had a mechanical problem & by the time we got it fixed the sun was setting. That's a nasty trail to get stuck on in the dark. Jues is alot easier in the dark.
Click to expand...
So who got bailed on by his buddy?
This guy.
Yeah, sucked. God. So now maybe it's Thursday, we'll see.
I wasn't about to go alone either.
Yeah, I'd really like to ride Jues at night, that would be one of the easier ones out there, a good one to start out on.
We'll see about Thurs though...
Might try and do a day-ride on Jues tomorrow though...:)
 
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