Night-time Mountain Biking

Something growing in popularity is night-time mountain biking. These aren't races for the most part, just fun recreational rides out under the stars put on by the local county and state parks systems. Cyclists enjoy these rides because it's a new look at their favorite trail and it's very peaceful and quiet when you're alone with your bike in the woods at 9 p.m. at night.

I did one of these rides under the full moon last weekend in a park that features three miles of singletrack winding through the woods alongside the Missouri River. There were probably 30 riders out there, and it was a cool sight watching their lights go buzzing off through the woods from the start. The trails were a bit wet and muddy and most people were set up with standard mountain bike arrangements, though I did see one dude on a cross bike too that worked just fine.

I rode my Gary Fisher mountain bike with smooth tires (which were on there cause it's my commuter bike too sometimes) though I wished I had knobbies for sure when I found out how wet it was. It was like the Dukes of Hazzard a couple of times the way I was sliding around. And though the temperature was right around freezing and my water bottles kept icing up, I was plenty warm with layers on layers of clothing, and good cover for my head and hands.

For lights I had two headlights on my handlebars, the Blackburn Voyager and the UltraFazer by NiteRider, and also used a helmet light like you'd see on a coal miner. That combination offered plenty of brightness. If there is any trick to your lighting set-up for night time mountain biking, it's figuring out how far ahead to aim your lights so that you can see things in plenty of time without trying to shine your light so far ahead that doesn't illuminate things enought. There's some trial and error involved in finally finding the right setting, and a part of it is personal preference.

All in all it was an excellent time, and I'd highly recommend you give it a try.

Ever do any night time mountain biking? Why do you like it?

Photo: Mac Balatico