Night riding is something new to me. I wanted to give it a go to create a new challenge but also ride differently and find some more fun.
The winter is not always all pretty for riding. Usually very slippery, cold, shorter days etc... having lights on my bars and head makes me feel like I'm riding new trails and also got me to enjoy sections I did not love before.
Follow Nate and I on Instagram: @ztipsetan and @remymetailler
Discovering night riding is like unlocking new levels in a video game. Old trails become fresh again, features look and feel different, and in winter the sun no longer limits your riding windows.
Going out alone is really unnerving, luckily a small group of us meet up weekly for a night ride. There are some places and times out there that can be absolutely surreal. A flow trail through a grove of arrow straight sentinel pines. Coming down through a meadow and the LED lights on the dew covering all the grass on the side making it look like it's all glowing. The sounds of owls and fisher cats, glowing eyes of a herd of deer. Snow blowing past the lights.
@JWadd: Unnerving is the right word, I don't ride alone after dark except here in town. Even more unnerving is seeing blood in the snow with cat footprints the size of dinner plates leading away under your lights right beside the trail. We seriously bunched up after that (and I looked over my shoulder tons too).
Night riding with a nice inch or two of packed snow is amazing.