Night Riders – Tips and Tricks for Riding After Dark

It’s that point of yr once more.

Shorter days, early sunsets, and preventing off the urge to go to mattress ridiculously early as a result of it’s pitch darkish.

The excellent news is that we at the moment are lower than one month from winter solstice, the shortest day of the yr (December 21). After that, every day will get longer (by a mean of two minutes and 7 seconds ) till the time modifications once more in mid-January.

Whereas some bikers are accustomed to nighttime using, this time of yr can turn into a problem for cyclists who would usually take a night experience or a fast spin after work – and will not be as acquainted or snug with the nocturnal bike experience.

Listed below are a couple of ideas for secure using after the solar goes down delivered to you by a couple of of our staff members right here at Jupiter Electrical Bikes.

Forrest F.

Gross sales & Buyer Expertise

Select the most secure routes. Map out plans which are well-lit and have much less site visitors throughout the night hours. Lighted bike trails and roads with designated bike lanes are safer choices if obtainable. Get conversant in your route within the daylight so you may map out any complicated intersections or potential pitfalls forward of time. Purposefully selecting roads and instances with as a lot quiet as doable is a sound technique for security.

Lex S.

Gross sales & Buyer Expertise

Use reflective duct tape in your again and legs when doable (movement catches the attention of nighttime drivers). Gloves with reflective patches are nice for alerts after darkish. Bike fundamentals for night time using ought to embody a dependable headlight, a helmet gentle, and a rear gentle. The entrance headlight ought to be pointed in direction of the bottom 20 ft forward of the rider. Overly vivid or flashing entrance lights aren’t advisable as this could distract oncoming drivers.

Josh C.

Buyer Expertise

Experience with Warning – Using at night time means it’s far more troublesome to see hazards corresponding to slippery leaves or approaching potholes. If using in tandem, depart house between you and the riders in entrance or again. Additionally, regardless that your Spotify after-dark playlist is filled with bangers, it may be finest to have your listening to 100% obtainable for night time using so you can be conscious of approaching automobiles or curious neighborhood canines.

Will C.

Lead Technician

Personal the Street – Nighttime using shouldn’t be the time to hug the curb too tightly particularly on busy roads. Staying too near the curb might encourage a automobile to move you when it may be unsafe to take action. Additionally, there may be security in numbers. If you’re solo, inform somebody the place you’re going and you’ll want to deliver alongside a cellphone and instruments if doable. In case you discover a nighttime route that you simply love and grasp, it turns into a good way to finish the day. Breathe within the recent air and clear your head from the day’s actions.

Andrew H.

Advertising and marketing/Digital Content material

Be certain you cost up earlier than you head out to your night time experience. Select a light-weight setting (corresponding to medium brightness) that will provide you with time to finish your experience. The objective is to not be left at midnight by the tip of your experience so having a number of gentle choices is a plus. If doable, save the brightest gentle settings for probably the most troublesome stretches or fully unlit areas of the supposed route. In case you plan to do intensive night time using, a dynamo lighting system (powered by the movement of your wheel) is advisable.

For extra info on secure using at night time, take a look at this text from folks for bikes

or this launch from bicycling.com.