Summer evenings are disappearing and many riders will only ride at weekends and holidays.
Regular groups shrink in size with only a few hardy souls venturing out into the darkness but if you have never ridden in the dark the difference is remarkable.Familiar trails seem strange and new and the challenge is renewed. Speeds seem to rise and you feel that you are hurtling along, although the cycle computer betrays the lie. The thrills and excitement are new and fresh even though this is a trail you have ridden numerous times before. And that hill that you dread as it seems to go on forever is diluted in the darkness as you cannot see the top. You concentrate just on the next section and find that you reach the top more easily because you have not been thinking about the whole hill.
You do not need any other equipment apart from lights which range from hundreds down to a few tenners. The newest form of high end lights are powered by LED lamps and can have super lightweight lithium polymer batteries but the light output does not always match the output of Metal Halide or HID units. The cheapest units are Halogen powered similar to older car headlights and a quick trawl around the web found a twin set for £25 from All Terrain Cycles.
With a cheap halogen set on your handlebars you will get a few hours out in the darkness before the lights begin to dim. If you add a small head torch on an elastic strap to your helmet you will also have a light for repairs and finding things in your backpack. As the light output of halogen is lower they can be out-competed by HID units when riding in a group but you get by fine.
HID units have a high contrast blue light that differs from the warm yellow glow of the halogens and the depth of field is not the same either but these are details. You get lots of light and greater penetration. Many riders have these handlebar mounted as they can be heavy and get quite warm but the smaller head units can be helmet mounted and the battery pack carried in your backpack.
The lower weight of the LED sets can mean that you mount light and battery on your helmet and the duration is better than all the others but the light output does not match the HID sets so various manufacturers have a different number of LED’s including Lupine producing a seven LED lamp unit.
So shrug off the mantle of darkness and pull on an extra jersey and ride the winter nights. That expensive toy in the garage will get more use, you will be much stronger on a weekend ride, fitter next spring and the few of us who do ride in the dark will appreciate having a riding buddy.
