In riding school they told us not to out-ride our head-light. With that in mind I usually ride slower after dark, I still keep up with the traffic flow but limit my maneuvers, I reduce overtaking other vehicles, and wear my hi-viz gear all the time.
My commute is mostly on well-lit city streets, so there is still a good chance to notice and avoid hitting potholes, jaywalking pedestrians in dark clothing, stray dogs or other road hazards. Yet I don't feel as comfortable.
I still ride, but I don't like a riding in the dark, so when I expect to work late, I chose to rather commute by car.
I like riding in the dark. All the things you say are true, and I certainly ride with a lot more circumspection than in the daylight. I tend to wear a few high-viz items too, not so much so that cars can see me in traffic, but as passive safety in case I am down on the floor and unable to look after myself. But riding in the dark is fun, with much more of a 3-D feel about it, the headlight picking up the hedgerows and the black sky above and behind.
ReplyDeleteI will give up and take to four wheels when it's ice and snow, but not before!
Cool picture Sonja.
ReplyDeleteI too don't like to ride after dark. We aren't cats and aren't made for night vision, or so my optometrist tells me.
The only experience I ever get to ride in the dark has been in the last weeks of September into October. It is dark when I go into work. One of the bigger hazards is moose on the roads especially if you are travelling out of town. The headlight on my bike seems pretty anemic so I'm glad that I don't need to travel much in the dark. But this is now a moot point as the roads are now covered with ice and snow (more accurately snow on top of ice). Hopefully it'll cool down a bit more soon to get us out of the 0°C range so the roads will improve. Yesterday was our day to see all the new arrivals to snow in the ditches or worse.
ReplyDelete@Richard: I can see what intrigues you in night riding. Imagine riding in pitch black here with deer, moose, bears and such jumping at you...
ReplyDelete@Trobairitz: Yep, although coming to think of it I would like to see how cats see at night.
@RichardM: Now it seems that riding time is really over in your neck of the woods... brrrr.
I don't particular mind riding at night or in the dark....but things being equal, my vision is not what it used to be....so if its dark, I ride much slower.
ReplyDeleteNow, rain and dark....that's more "interesting".
dom
Redleg's Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
If by any chance you wanted to improve the headlight on your Harley for riding at night, check out this video of the new H-D LED headlights. They look incredible compared to the stock ones.
ReplyDeleteH-D LED Headlights
@Charlie6: Dom, I don't fear the dark per se, but the risks are so much higher...
ReplyDelete@Gary France: Gary, The stock light for my Sporty sucks anyway, so I will gladly look into that. Thanks!
I LOVE riding in the dark but there again, we don't have bears waiting to chew my head off!
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to go the whole 9 yards with HID, there are some great inexpensive aftermarket bulbs on the market which are a great improvement over stock. I have Osram Nightbreakers in the Triple and I'm extremely happy with their performance.
There is some of the year when I commute to and from work with out the sun. Like you I travel on well-lit streets. I upgraded my headlight and it was months before I finally got out in the really dark to check out the change. My winter gear is black, but it has reflective piping.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I've never thought much about whether I like riding in the dark. It is just something I do. I certainly don't go out of my way to ride after dark, but I don't avoid it either with one exception: Deer rut season.
And, I agree with Dom -- it gets interesting when rain is added to the dark.
@Geoff James: Thanks Geoff, I will check out this brand, too.
ReplyDelete@Circle Blue: Traffic is a bit crazy here, and if you add rain and fog in the mix to darkness the cagers drive like they have never been in a car before. My poor Paolo almost got clipped twice this week.
In my earlier comments, I hadn't factored in the wildlife! The worst we get round here are rabbits or foxes, and you'd be unlucky to be unseated by one of those. With moose and bear, I would be in a car with the doors locked, I think.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Geoff regarding the 'high-power' bulbs. I have fitted some '+80%' bulbs to two bikes now and they are a big improvement, although rumour has it that they don't last as long as standard. Free lunches, and all that. But well worth it for the increased light output.
Sonja,
ReplyDeleteFolks here like to complain about the traffic, but having lived in Chicago and driven often in Detroit back in the boom days I find people here almost too polite. That said, I'm sure one of the reasons traffic isn't so much a problem is I've been able to route myself on streets most folks avoid. I have lots of stops and goes, but don't mind. I'd say the combination of courteous Midwestern drivers and my routing have minimized my risk exposure.
Please do continue be stay safe and ride your ride.
I generally don't ride at night after all I live in the town of "near us deeds and newlyweds" so the nearlydeads don't see too well as they are looking through the space in their steering wheel and mistaking the gas for the brake. I have ridden the scooter quite a bit at night, and like you I go a little slower to increase my space margins and do whatever I can to increase my conspicuity (how can you tell I just finished a motorcycle course). I have been dying to use conspicuity in a sentence somewhere - lol.
ReplyDeleteI am going to add some hi-viz tape on the side of the legs of my riding pants, they didn't really think about that when they made them. I will also wear a reflective vest at night. Hmmm I wonder if I could add a strip of LEDs to my jacket, ohhh better cheaper idea a glowstick attached ti the back of the jacket.. I know I am getting carried away here.
Safe riding with the creatures of the night Sonja.
I hardly ever ride at night anymore, in Australia its just far to dangerous with all the skippies and all. We usually pull into the nearest pub we can find about an hour before dark and live to ride another day and drink ourselves happy!
ReplyDeleteI actually like riding in the dark, but like you aI pick my moments. Man i have to say i am loving my GS, have been riding to work and taking the long way home every time I can.
ReplyDeleteGreat pic. Nice capture of an evening out on the bike.
ReplyDeleteI've only ridden after dark a couple of times. I don't even like to drive after dark anymore, at least not out of town on unlit streets. My night vision just isn't that great these days.