How to Equip Yourself for Night Riding: Lights, Gear, and Safety Tips
Mountain biking at night is an entirely different way to experience your local trails. It also extends your riding season when the daylight gets shorter in the fall. If you're looking to get into night riding, here are a few tips to help get you rolling:
Go with a group. It's way more fun riding with a group and far less eerie than riding alone. More people and more lights = better visibility too.
Start with easier trails that you're already familiar with. Save it for the daylight to explore new and challenging trails.
Run your light on the brightest setting for optimal viewing. Always, always, always fully charge your lights before heading out.
The best setup includes having a helmet-mounted light (with a "spot" light pattern) and a handlebar-mounted light (with a "flood" light pattern). If you can only have one light, opt for a helmet-mounted light.
Lights are expensive, but better quality lights will have more lumens (brighter) and better battery life. We'd suggest getting something with at least 1,500 lumens. You get what you pay for.
Rear/tail lights (i.e. red lights) are not mandatory and can be bright and distracting for the rider behind you.
Clear safety/riding glasses. Bugs and branches are less noticeable. Keep your eyes safe!
If you need to purchase lights, or have more questions about the proper setup, visit your local bike shop. Our partner, Bateman’s Bike Co, has plenty in stock and can help you find the right light for your setup and budget.
We hope you extend your mountain biking season by getting out after dark!
Happy night riding!
FYI, the Bateman's link does not work, 404. FYI, I have been riding at night
I have hard enough time keeping track of obsticles in the daytime, nighttime is a no go for me.