Pinkbike Poll: Do You Ride At Night?

The short days and long nights have officially arrived in the northern hemisphere, leaving riders with little choice but to dig out the lights if they want to get in an after work ride. Luckily, today's lights weigh less, burn longer and are relatively affordable, a huge improvement over the old school systems that required a massive battery held in a water bottle cage, and had frustratingly short run times.

All the same, night riding isn't everybody's cup of tea. For one thing, even if you're running a gazillion lumens on your handlebar and helmet, it's still dark everywhere except where those lights are pointing. That means the cracking of a branch or rustle of dry leaves sounds like a Bigfoot in search of a midnight snack, making solo night rides a perfect way to find out just how fast your heart can race. And the cold is a fast friend with the dark, which makes it even harder to muster up the motivation to leave a warm and cozy home.




On the other hand, night riding is a great way to breathe new life into trails you've ridden a thousand times. The shadows and artificial white light makes everything look different, and even mellower trails can become challenging once the sun sets. Plus there's a sense of satisfaction that riding after dark brings – it almost feels like you're breaking the rules, sneaking around on a secret singletrack mission. A good group of friends also makes it easier to brave the darkness, and that way there will be a witness or three should you miss a turn and go tumbling head over heals into the bush.

If you've never been on a night ride, it's certainly worth a try - borrow some lights, convince some buddies to join you, and get out there. At the very least, it's world's better than sitting on the couch watching reruns, or spinning away on a trainer in a stuffy room.