Night Riding

Riding your mountain bike off-road at night sounds a little crazy at first, but it is a lot of fun. When the woods are dark and quiet, and the stars are out, you can be sure of having a magical experience. Out on the trail, you'll find yourself tuning into your surroundings in ways you just don't do in broad daylight. It is exciting to stop, turn your light off and just listen. Eliminate vision, and you rediscover your other senses. The woods feel like they did when you were a kid. In fact, it can get spooky if you ride alone, so grab a friend or two for companionship.

Besides your friends, you'll need a reliable off-road light, spare batteries, your helmet, and good eye protection (branches at face level are hard to see in the dark). Next, pick an appropriate place to ride, and get set for high adventure! It's a good idea to stay off trails with steep drop-offs or other hazards which tend to be exacerbated by darkness.

Every night ride is scads of fun. Riding purely for the sake of fun, it becomes a very social experience. Travelling at a fraction of the pace you'd keep on a daylight ride, everybody stays together. Laughter seems to await you around every bend in the trail. Night riding is different and very exciting. Just as many of us got into mountain biking because road cycling began to take on a certain "sameness", night riding adds another dimension to mountain bicycling. For a real treat, go when the moon is full. Try it once and you'll be hooked!