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I'm heading up tonight with a coupla buddies to ride Spin Cycle in the dark (we bring bike lamps) if anyone is interested. Even if you aren't in for tonight, lemme know if the idea interests you and next time I go I'll give you a shout. Night riding has got its own interesting feel, and while it isn't as flowy and fast as day riding, its got kindof a spooky feel to it. You also usually encounter a lot more interesting wildlife. Wildlife in leather pants with tons of chest hair.
I would post a follow up message with my David Hasselhoff alias, but I am too lazy.
what time are you guys meeting up? Where is spinn cycle?
Anyone who would like to come, but doesn't know where Spin Cycle is, we're meeting at the main lower Deer Valley lot (Snow Park Lodge) at 9:00 pm. Make sure to bring your bike lamp. And bear spray. And crushed velvet leisure suit.
i'm out for tonight but would be interested in going another time if you don't mind a chick tagging along. i haven't used my light once since i moved to utah. it's so sad and neglected. i bet it cries when i'm not looking.
I would go, but don't own lights.
I guess I could duct tape a big mag light to the top of my helmet or something... or not.
Does sound fun though.
Sounds good Re. I'll post in this thread the next time I'm planning one.
AG I have a bunch of headlamps that would fit over your helmet, but they are backpacking lamps. Not sure if they would provide enough light. Sure would be interesting to find out the hard way on one of those switchbacks that they don't. . .
I'd be down, but I don't really have lights that I trust...
J McGyver'd some for me for 24 hrs of Moab out of some old BD headlamps. He said they might blow up while I ride. I survived that time, but not sure if I trust them.
We have to invest in real bike lights soon. :)
Heh. Yeah, I guess I do own a headlamp, I just don't know that a couple of LED lights would cut it...Quote:
Originally Posted by Long Duck Dong
And actually, tonight I'm going to be up in PC at 5:30, so I figured I'd get in a ride around 6:30. I don't know that I want to spend that long waiting for the sun to go down to ride tonight when I have to get up for work in the morning.
You do have me thinking that I should invest in some decent lights though.
Common magettes, get those backpacking headlamps out, get those mini mags out, and get your duct tape ready. This is the stuff that makes a TGR adventure. hell, go to smiths and pick up a $2 flashlight and tape the sucker to your handle bar :cool:
I hope you're joking, night riding without real lights is difficult at best, stupid at worst. Also, if you've never ridden the trail they're riding, you may want to ride it during the day before you duct tape your $2 flashlight and make LDD and his buddies wait for your ass all night.Quote:
Originally Posted by shmoesmith
And what makes a light a 'real' light? Tell ya what, I've been doing caving for years and have spent hundreds of hours underground and have done hours of education about proper lighting (which can really get you fucked in a cave compared to out on a trail)....That said, I have tried MANY different headlamps for caving and camping and riding, as well as lights like mini-mags, and have had numerous bike-specific lights. Guess what? in most cases, the bike specific lights were no better than the headlamps or mini-mags infact, in several cases, they were worse..Quote:
Originally Posted by homerjay
The reason comes down to the lighting source. Most bike-specific lights now use LED technology. MOST of the LED technology is weak at best compared to a good halogen bulb in a regular flashlight. The only LED light that I have found that even comes close is the Petzl Myo XP (about a $70 lamp i use in caves) and even that doesnt have the power of my Petzl headlamp that uses a halogen bulb.
Regardless, if you are going to bike at night, you should probably have something on both your handlebars AND your head. The only real issue is probably the ability of the lightsource to handle shock from your handlebars if you dont have it attached very well. If I go out tonight, I will have both a my bike-specific light on my handlebars and a headlamp(probably the Myo XP for weight and comfort reasons)...
Bike specific lights are for riding pavement, not trails. You need more than your average bike light for off-road night riding.Quote:
Originally Posted by shmoesmith
You're talking about the $20 lights that are for commuters to be seen by cars. He's talking about the $250-400 lights that are brighter than car headlights. Big difference. HID instead of LED.Quote:
Originally Posted by shmoesmith
Dude, the Spin Cycle is about as straightforward as trails get.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by homerjay
In all seriousness, I have played around with a lot of light options. The LED backpacking headlamps (BD, Petzl, Princeton Tec) are pretty worthless (for mountain biking). I have the base level NR Trail Rat 2.0 that runs about $80, and its barely enough for night trail riding. But hey, if you have enough lamps and duct tape, and are comfortable giving it a go, then bring that shit on.
a real light:
http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
(and two lights are completely unneccessary if you've got the right one on your head....but thats just one girl's experience)
Ah, now THAT would make a big difference. I didnt even think about HID because the only lights I see sold around here are the LED ones in the $20-$100 range. Looks like I wont be able to go anyway :( . Looks like I'm going to be stuck covering a newbie's client meeting tonight until 9:00 to make sure the company doesnt get into any legal trouble from the newbie saying something that could get us sued.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Blue
How fast are you going when you're crawling through a cave? :nonono2: The more you talk, the more of a complete fucktard you sound like.Quote:
Originally Posted by shmoesmith
Thank you for saying what we are all thinking :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:Quote:
Originally Posted by homerjay
Quote:
Originally Posted by utsnowgirl
YES. Both of you! DOOOO IT! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by altagirl
Sorry, shmoesmith, but you are revealing yourself as an utter blowhard JONG on this one. but you seem to already have sensed that.
Nightriding is a whole 'nother beast, light requirement-wise.
^^^ That's what I was thinking to. In all the 12/24 hours I have done, I always have a one HID attached to the bars and halogen up top.Quote:
Originally Posted by rideit
Lynx-Quote:
Originally Posted by Lynx
How much $$ are we talking? I've been wanting to get set up for night-riding for a while now, but the lights are pricey. Do you like the one you're using right now?
Can we please get back to the business of berating shmoesmith? Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by tradygirl
Quote:
Originally Posted by tradygirl
I LOVE my light. I have niterider storm 2.0. it's about 4-ish years old now, and i think the Firestorm has replaced it in Niterider's line up. But i found my older version online for 300 (i'm pretty sure it used to retail for well over 400, but i got hooked up, and i totally dont remember) here is the one i found: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/138...-HID-Light.htm
The newer firestorm is retailing for WELL over 400.
I'm not familar with other light systems. My roomate bought one from REI last year or so, but im not sure she's actually used it yet. She did mention something about thinking her light was better for riding in sand. But I know from that 24 hour race I did a wile ago in canada that the nite rider was hands down the brightest thing out there. hope thats helps! let me know if you take the plunge!
^^^
Bikelights.com is the site for light `n' motion. There stuff tends to be a bit lighter and abuse prone. I run a Solo mv, Arc Li-ion (HID), and from niterider I run the Moba/flight (HID, same head unit w/2 different batts.)
The Solo mv retails just under 300.00 the Arc Li is can be found for 499.00.
The Moba is a 12 hour battery HID, for about 499.00... Not sure on the flight.
For what its worth, I have the NiteRider Trail Rat 2.0, which is a halogen bulb (not HID). Its enough to not be scared shitless while navigating trails in the dark, but it hardly makes riding comfortable at night. I would recommend to anyne to resist the cheap Trail Rat (I think they are under $100 on pricepoint) if you are serious at all about riding at night. Mine is good enough to head out a few times a year and have some fun, but if you are thinking of getting something that will allow you to do any kind of overnight racing or anything like that, you gotta pony up the dough and go HID.