3 Must-Haves for Night Riding Season

Megan Ross August 7, 2008

You don’t have to give up your weekday rides after work just because daylight is fading! Night riding is a great way to maintain your technical skills and keep you fit, regardless of Earth’s orbit. Here are three “must-haves” for riding after hours:

  • Light & Motion’s Arc head lamp. It’s like riding around with the moon strapped to your forehead. If you can afford the $400 price tag, this super-bright HID lamp will not let you down. The halo is brightest in the center but includes ample fill light. The battery is lightweight and fits easily into my pack (charge time is 3.5 hours for about 5 hours of light). I don’t have any complaints after four years of night rides on all types of terrain, from pavement to rocky singletrack. For a less expensive but dimmer option, try the Night Rider MiNewt X2 LED Bike Light for about $200. TIP: Run the cord through one of your helmet vents and out the back instead of letting it flap around outside your helmet. With the cord under wraps, it’s less likely to get snagged on a branch and ripped out.
  • Clear Glasses. Bugs love a bright light in the woods. Keep your eyes gnat-free with a pair of sport frames that have interchangeable lenses for any light condition, like Smith’s Toaster Sunglasses. Lenses come in gray, yellow, amber, and clear.
  • Arm warmers. When temperatures start to drop at night (or early in the morning on the way to work), arm warmers are the ideal transition layer. Push them up for just enough extra warmth, or down to cool off, without having to dismount. Ladies, try a women’s-specific design for smaller arms, like Pearl Izumi’s Women’s Seamless Arm Warmers.

Other posts & articles from Megan Ross

Share This

Comments

2 Responses to “3 Must-Haves for Night Riding Season”

  1. Chris Weiss on August 7th, 2008 4:19 pm

    Cool article, I haven’t done any night riding since I was arrested for it about 10 years ago, but have been looking to get into it again. I am shopping around for a light sytem so I’ll check out this NiteRider.

    Thanks!

  2. Megan Ross on August 8th, 2008 9:02 am

    Thanks, Chris. I should have said something about that–as you know, it’s always wise to get permission first! The NiteRider MiNewt X2 isn’t something I’d recommend for super-technical courses, but it’s ideal for your morning or evening commute. For a list of reviews about dozens of bike lighting systems, visit http://www.mtbr.com.

Got something to say?

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Close
E-mail It