Night riding/driving

**Dont_die_wondering** · 3rd May 2006, 14:49

Originally Posted by Skyryder

Pray and hope the man upstairs is listening.

Skyryder

or put ur headlights on dip and look out for ditches

**Dont_die_wondering** · 3rd May 2006, 14:53

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

i love it....but hate it when its busy as the oncoming headlights blind me somewhat. but im getting used to that.
finish at 7pm, so ride home...bout a 30min ride depending. bought a fluro vest specially for that ride.
my former job i used to finish at midnight-1am depending how busy, and i loved that...no traffic, no cops. just me, my bike and the road.
havent done much night riding in the country.....last time i nearly wound up the ditch, lol. [headlight was shit and not lighting up the road properly, even on full!]

in short...if its a cool, crisp night, then im there. same with early starts when its a bit foggy [not too thick!] just enough to wake me up!

i find just fixing your eyes straight ahead and slightly to the side minimises headlight glare, and i love fog ! lol

**Wolf** · 3rd May 2006, 16:12

I had to put down "prefer sunlight" - not what I would have put down a few years ago.

I used to love riding/driving at night - peaceful, quiet etc. Parked up in the middle of nowhere lit only by star/moon light having a quiet ciggy before riding on. Ahhhh, them were the days.

Now, for a start there are a lot more vehicles on the roads even very late at night and I find the glare of approaching headlights too much. In fact, even if I'm the only one on the road, I find the glare of my own lights - reflected back at me off the cat's eyes, marker posts, reflectorised signage etc - can get too much on a long ride.

I really detest that night riding has become such a literal pain for me. I just cannot cope with the glare - it's intensely painful on my eyes and very tiring. We went down to Sanson after work at Easter and I had to get strayjuliet to take over driving because my vision was being affected to the point I was unsafe to drive. Once she had control of the car I quickly fell asleep I was so worn out (and constantly shutting my eyes against the oncoming traffic didn't help, I'm sure).

For me, that's the price of advancing age. When I was younger I was fairly intolerant of glare and night driving on main roads at busy times could get nasty but I seem to be less tolerant of the glare now and to cap it all off there are more bloody cars and the headlights are brighter - a few times I've been sure that the bastard has had his lights on full because they're so much brighter than most of the other cars so I've flashed the lights only to get an answering flash of full beam that's nearly blown me off the back of the bike or out the back window of the car. So many modern cars have the brighter bulbs these days, too.

**Ixion** · 3rd May 2006, 17:16

Originally Posted by Wolf

I had to put down "prefer sunlight" - not what I would have put down a few years ago.
..

As a werewolf are you sure you don't want to reconsider that?

**sunhuntin** · 3rd May 2006, 19:51

wolf....ive got to agree on the brighter headlights! some of them are insanely bright...even on dip. i dislike the white ones the most....and the double layered ones.

but i must admit the worst of all is the numbnut with only one headlight....cant tell if its a car or a bike, so never sure how close i can cut.

**Wolf** · 3rd May 2006, 20:20

Originally Posted by Ixion

As a werewolf are you sure you don't want to reconsider that?

Only for riding or driving, ya nong, it's for other things that I prefer moonlight.

Besides, you shine fucking-great spotlights into a wolf's eyes and see how long it sticks around...

And Mr Ixion has, of course, stumbled upon the real reason I prefer motorbikes over cars - driving up the road with your head out the window can look kinda suspicious but on a motorbike you're already out in the open.

**Wolf** · 3rd May 2006, 20:30

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

wolf....ive got to agree on the brighter headlights! some of them are insanely bright...even on dip. i dislike the white ones the most....and the double layered ones

Likewise, they sear into the back of my skull. I'm sure neurons get cooked whenever I encounter those bastidges.

I've got to the point of recognising whether it's the full beam of an older car or the dipped lights of one of the newer ones so I don't tend to incur their wrath by flashing my brights at them but they incur my wrath often enough. I actually agree with the German legislation that has a maximum output for headlights and they're strict on ensuring they're properly aligned. We can buy brighter bulbs here than they can in Germany.

After any length of time riding or driving at night I find myself having to dip the headlights approaching those sharp corners that have lots of warning signs and all the reflectorised panels with the arrows on them because the light flung back at me is blinding. Some of 'em I feel like I'm falling into the sun.

**Hitcher** · 3rd May 2006, 20:41

Originally Posted by Wolf

And Mr Ixion has, of course, stumbled upon the real reason I prefer motorbikes over cars - driving up the road with your head out the window can look kinda suspicious but on a motorbike you're already out in the open.

But your hair is. Perfect.

**Wolf** · 3rd May 2006, 21:46

Originally Posted by Hitcher

But your hair is. Perfect.

Of course.

Another Pina Colada, Trader Vic!

**kickingzebra** · 3rd May 2006, 21:48

I always had problems with the whole wanting to howl at the moon on those perfect nights. Invariably the urge rises just before the tightest set of twisties.

**justsomeguy** · 3rd May 2006, 21:52

Originally Posted by kickingzebra

I always had problems with the whole wanting to howl at the moon on those perfect nights. Invariably the urge rises just before the tightest set of twisties.

If you're ever able to go on a night ride in Auckland give me a yell, I know just the place for you.

One "return lap" only takes 30 mins or however long it takes you to do 43kms, probably less on your race rep.

**kickingzebra** · 3rd May 2006, 21:55

One must put the emphasis on rep, unfortunately. Mine has never been over 5000 revs in top gear... Thinking out the back towards clevedon? theres some cool roads out there, when I can remember how to find them. Has to be a clear night for full howling pleasure (sorry to plagiarise Wolf! I did always think Werewolves had the edge over other random zombies etc)

**Street Gerbil** · 3rd May 2006, 21:58

...but then again, I am still an L-plate rider. Heck, I don't have an L-plate yet. By the way, here is a curious question. By law I am not required placing an L-plate on my 50cc bike. If I'll get a learners permit, will I have to put the L plate on? :-))))
Speaking of night riding, as every commuter I do a fair share of it, but I really hate being blinded by headlights. Besides the standard 15Wt headlight of Street Magic is clearly deficient. Anybody knows where I can get UK standard 25Wt bulb?
Cheers!
V

**sunhuntin** · 3rd May 2006, 22:04

wolf.....im not quite that bad when it comes to the reflectors...but then country road i ride at night is barely used so there are none [hence the near ride into a ditch! LOL]
but honestly.....that dont sound right to me....being blinded by the reflectors. is there nothing an optometrist could do? maybe semi tint visor? such a shame really..... night riding is the best.

zebra....ive had that feeling myself....and give into at times too....no matter where i am...night riding, or being passed by a bunch of bikes on the open road in the middle of the day.

used to ride with glenn....my partner in canada. wed set out about midnight and not get home till 3 or 4 am. literally. saw so many amazing things. a gravel back road in the middle of the night is something i never did get used to! LOL. only downside was it meant id be ages cleaning the bike the next day due to bugs! LOL.