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Night rideing

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sidewinder
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PostPosted: 22:18 - 10 Mar 2012    Post subject: Night rideing Reply with quote

Dont laugh but im slowly building up the courage to ride at night time.Up till now i was a little bit worried about it.but i am slowly doing a bit more.So i was hoping you could give me a few tips to enjoy it more.I know i should mtfu but some words of wisdom would be gratefully received.
Thank you sw
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Shaun
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PostPosted: 22:40 - 10 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Switch your headlight on.
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Muscle Bike Rider
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PostPosted: 22:48 - 10 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dont stare at oncoming headlights, keep focused on the road ahead, make sure your visor dont have a lot of scrathches, lights are clean and working, road position I tend to move a bit in my lane so that my lights dont merge with the lights of cars behind me making me invisable, I wear hi vis and keep a greater distance and wrap up more than through the day as its colder come night time. upgrade your headlight bulbs, makes a big difference I find.

When stopped at traffic lights if theres hot tottie in the car beside you all glammed up for a night out, get a good luck before pulling away. Always makes me enjoy a night ride Laughing
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Hetzer
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PostPosted: 22:52 - 10 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cane the fuck out of it and don't be where they were going to smush you.
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 01:49 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most of the riding I currently do is at night, people order pizza in the evenings, evenings are dark.


- Move around in the middle 1/3 of the lane, so your headlight moves with it. Moving objects are easier to spot, and so a moving light will stand out compared to car headlights.
- Flick occasionally between high and dipped beam, again a "change" in something will draw attention. When approaching corners, even if it's fairly well lit, flick high beam on and off, this'll usually be noticeable to cars coming the other way so they can anticipate another vehicle.
- Wear an extra layer, or a few, it's colder, especially in winter.
- Wear a reflective high vis vest or jacket.


And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, as there are much more of them at night, particularly friday and saturday night, WATCH OUT FOR F***ING TAXIS AND MINICABS. They do what they want and to hell with the consequences. They don't use their mirrors, they turn without indicating, they stop suddenly regardless of whats behind them, they go from driving 15mph if you're behind them, to 45mph if they're behind you.

Seriously, 90% of the near misses I've had on the bikes at work have involved a black cab or a minicab. Assume they're going to kill you and give them a real wide berth.
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Shaun
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PostPosted: 09:31 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ben-B wrote:
- Flick occasionally between high and dipped beam


Yes, intermittently blind oncoming traffic, do this to periodically give yourself shots of adrenaline when you know that traffic is now highly likely to veer wildly in your direction. It sounds stupid but it'll give you a shot of adrenaline and that makes your reactions quicker.

My advice, ignore advice from Ben-B, there's no need to swerve all over the road and flash your headlights.
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 10:53 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shaun wrote:
Ben-B wrote:
- Flick occasionally between high and dipped beam


Yes, intermittently blind oncoming traffic, do this to periodically give yourself shots of adrenaline when you know that traffic is now highly likely to veer wildly in your direction. It sounds stupid but it'll give you a shot of adrenaline and that makes your reactions quicker.

My advice, ignore advice from Ben-B, there's no need to swerve all over the road and flash your headlights.


I didn't say swerve, I said move between the middle 1/3 of the lane. IE drift left/right a metre or so and back then you will get noticed more. On a straight road, oncoming headlights tend not to appear to move, and a bike having one headlight might be mistaken for a car that's further away.
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Hetzer
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PostPosted: 10:57 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you really think anyone is going to notice the relative movement over 1/3rd of a lane? Tosh.
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Alpha-9
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PostPosted: 12:31 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I find everyone's lights piss me off at night

Even some brake lights, WHY SO BRIGHT BRO
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UnspeedySam
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PostPosted: 13:41 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

soforene wrote:
Alpha-9 wrote:
I find everyone's lights piss me off at night
Even some brake lights, WHY SO BRIGHT BRO

Do you perchance mean the tosspots that sit at lights with their foot on the brake, bathing your eyeballs in hi intensity red light?

Absolute scumbags !! Evil or Very Mad

Amen!

OP, you've got nothing to worry about. Keep warm, wear a hi-viz and make sure all your lights work. Tbh I do these things when it's light too.

If you get blinded by a tosspot with xenon lights then watch the line on the left of your lane as a point of reference.
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Alpha-9
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PostPosted: 14:49 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

soforene wrote:
Alpha-9 wrote:
I find everyone's lights piss me off at night
Even some brake lights, WHY SO BRIGHT BRO

Do you perchance mean the tosspots that sit at lights with their foot on the brake, bathing your eyeballs in hi intensity red light?

Absolute scumbags !! Evil or Very Mad


Them the ones!

But to be fair i'd rather them do that than roll backwards into me!
Well actually i'd rather them use there handbrake if we're there for a while and on a hill, as my old driving instructor actually told me one should do

But yes. And when my visor is down the plastic seems to spread the light in a gaybo way
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Last edited by Alpha-9 on 15:21 - 11 Mar 2012; edited 1 time in total
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Teflon-Mike
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PostPosted: 15:12 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ben-B wrote:
And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, ............. WATCH OUT FOR F***ING TAXIS AND MINICABS.....


& Perhaps Lunatics delivering Pizzas! 'Dodging' them Laughing
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Alpha-9
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PostPosted: 15:22 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

And rudeboys in general

They all come out friday night and wanna race Thumbs Up
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 18:19 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Teflon-Mike wrote:
Ben-B wrote:
And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, ............. WATCH OUT FOR F***ING TAXIS AND MINICABS.....


& Perhaps Lunatics delivering Pizzas! 'Dodging' them Laughing


Touché

Nobody's needed to dodge me though
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Ayrton
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PostPosted: 18:39 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ben-B wrote:


- Move around in the middle 1/3 of the lane, so your headlight moves with it. Moving objects are easier to spot, and so a moving light will stand out compared to car headlights.
- Flick occasionally between high and dipped beam, again a "change" in something will draw attention. When approaching corners, even if it's fairly well lit, flick high beam on and off, this'll usually be noticeable to cars coming the other way so they can anticipate another vehicle.


Why would you flick your lights on and off? Thats just going to blind people.
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sidewinder
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PostPosted: 18:49 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheers for all the help guys Thumbs Up
I will be venturing out tonight after dark to give it a shot.Wish me luck Praying
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Jayy
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PostPosted: 19:00 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Night riding = best type of riding.

Roads are empty but there are some cons...

If riding on a Fri/Sat night, you have a more increased chance of people drink driving.
It's harder for people to see you in the dark.
Police like to hide and wait.
You can't tell if the car behind you is plod or just another car.
Wheelying is only possible on street lit roads or everything disappears when the front end is up in the air.
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Louise
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PostPosted: 20:30 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dislike riding in the dark totally...
Im like a new rider on the road - Just cant shake it.
I seem to 'loose' the road ahead and panic Laughing Embarassed
Only once pulled over from a high beam, which was seriously bright Thumbs Down
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 21:32 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ayrton wrote:
Ben-B wrote:


- Move around in the middle 1/3 of the lane, so your headlight moves with it. Moving objects are easier to spot, and so a moving light will stand out compared to car headlights.
- Flick occasionally between high and dipped beam, again a "change" in something will draw attention. When approaching corners, even if it's fairly well lit, flick high beam on and off, this'll usually be noticeable to cars coming the other way so they can anticipate another vehicle.


Why would you flick your lights on and off? Thats just going to blind people.


Not with the shitty headlights on the ped its not. High beam is less bright than the dipped of a normal car.

I personally haven't been blinded or dazzled by any of the other bikes I've seen doing it either.


That is what flashing your headlights is for though "to make other road users aware of your presence" I think is the wording used. Although doubt many people would know that and probably think that its for giving people right of way.
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Shaun
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PostPosted: 22:28 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I suspect you haven't seen any other bikes doing it, all you've seen is their suspension compressing and changing the angle of the headlight slightly as it does so.

Ben-B wrote:
That is what flashing your headlights is for though "to make other road users aware of your presence" I think is the wording used. Although doubt many people would know that and probably think that its for giving people right of way.


Regardless of what it is supposed to be used for, you're aware that the common perception is that it's used to make people aware that you're letting them through.

That alone is reason enough to not flash your high beam, all you will do is end up in a situation where someone think's you're letting them out and they'll pull in front of you.

It's much safer to leave your headlight on a constant dipped beam, that alone causes enough problems for people trying to judge your distance and speed, never mind when it's on high beam when judging how far away you are will become impossible.
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Shinigami
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PostPosted: 22:37 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

night riding is a bit daunting the first few times but you'll get used to it. I had to learn to ride at night from the go from doing my cbt at the end of october it was always dark before work and after work so this daylight riding thing is new to me!
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Ayrton
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PostPosted: 22:51 - 11 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ben-B wrote:

That is what flashing your headlights is for though "to make other road users aware of your presence" I think is the wording used. Although doubt many people would know that and probably think that its for giving people right of way.

I always ride in the dark and i have never felt the need to flash a car to let it know im there. I would rather not risk blinding the driver.
Flashing a car can also make them think your flashing them through, or warning them of something ahead.
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 00:51 - 12 Mar 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shaun wrote:
I suspect you haven't seen any other bikes doing it, all you've seen is their suspension compressing and changing the angle of the headlight slightly as it does so.

Ben-B wrote:
That is what flashing your headlights is for though "to make other road users aware of your presence" I think is the wording used. Although doubt many people would know that and probably think that its for giving people right of way.


Regardless of what it is supposed to be used for, you're aware that the common perception is that it's used to make people aware that you're letting them through.

That alone is reason enough to not flash your high beam, all you will do is end up in a situation where someone think's you're letting them out and they'll pull in front of you.

It's much safer to leave your headlight on a constant dipped beam, that alone causes enough problems for people trying to judge your distance and speed, never mind when it's on high beam when judging how far away you are will become impossible.


Which is why I don't use it near junctions where it might be incorrectly interpreted. I don't just drive around blinding people constantly, just if a car is following behind me, then you are less likely to get lost in their headlights.

I know the difference between the angle of dipped beam and high beam though, it points in a different lateral direction too lighting up the offside, dipped is angled towards the nearside. The reason I do it is it was suggested to me by several much more experienced riders, so I know I'm not the only one who does it.
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