Contrary to the popular belief, mountain biking isn’t over after sunset. Riding a mountain bike at night offers the rider a set of fresh challenges to look forward to. If you go for a ride after sunset, you can enjoy an extended riding session. Before you pack your bags and plan to go out for an adventurous ride, here are a few tips that’d come in handy.

Safety remains a priority

  • Darkness adds elements of uncertainty and risk to any given task. Therefore, it is better for you to prepare and plan everything in advance.  Tell someone where you’re going and take a friend along incase of any accidents.
  • It is advisable to give your bike a comprehensive pre-ride check before heading into the woods. You don’t want to end up doing any repairs in the dark.
  • The temperature drops quite significantly during the night. It is better to get a few layers and gloves
  • Wear safety glasses to avoid unseen hazards such as branches
  • It’s also good to pack a set of essentials such as a small first aid kit, it can make all the difference in survival situations.
  • Bring some hot chocolate or cocoa along, to keep your energy levels up and also hydrate you along the way.

Lighting is important as well

Lights are the most important equipment if you’re going on a ride in the night.  There’s more to lighting than merely fitting a light on your bike’s handle bar. This has three major parts

 Placement & mounting

In an ideal situation, there are a couple of lights. One of them remains on your handlebars and the other one on your helmet. The brighter one out of the two would go on your helmet. Also, you should be able to point your light toward the next obstacle or section of trail. This is very important.

It is advisable to be careful while mounting handlebar lights, lines and batteries. Be mindful of your front brake line and suspension. Make sure nothing gets tangled while you ride it. Batteries need to be mounted near your centre of gravity rather than on the top tube, for it can decrease standover height.

Light Management while you are undertaking the trial

You should know the run time of your lights. It is always good to carry a backup light or battery, as well as a headlamp.

While you’re climbing, you can lower the intensity of your lights to save battery because you’re not moving fast. Therefore, the obstacles in your way can be dealt with rather easily.  Also, you can wrap the batteries in something warm in order to avoid unnecessary loss of power.

Hit the brakes while moving down and don’t outrun your lights. If you’re riding with a friend, don’t get too close as this may create disorienting shadows.

While taking a break, turn-off your bike lights and use your headlamp. Most bike lights are designed to keep cool with the airflow from movement and can overheat when still.

Shredding in the Shadows

Night riding requires a few adjustments in order to stay safe and have fun. Stick to familiar trails. Darkness might make things look unfamiliar, so having prior experience is really important.

Also, shadows will hamper your depth perception, so approach obstacles cautiously. They could be a lot bigger or smaller than you expect. Most importantly, it is recommended not to cut tight into corners.

To top it all, stay alert and you’d be able to enjoy a nice riding session at night.