First ride in the dark

[9000white]

always carry a pair of socks with you if you are riding long distance at night not for your feet but for your mirrors.i have had bikes that the light from vehicles following would totally blind you from reflection in the mirrors.this is not recommended for high traffic areas because you need to know what is behind you.but on long isolated stretches you can cover mirrors with socks instead of turning them down that way they are still adjusted right when you remove socks.

[iwannadie]

always carry a pair of socks with you if you are riding long distance at night not for your feet but for your mirrors.i have had bikes that the light from vehicles following would totally blind you from reflection in the mirrors.this is not recommended for high traffic areas because you need to know what is behind you.but on long isolated stretches you can cover mirrors with socks instead of turning them down that way they are still adjusted right when you remove socks.

isnt there a risk of being pulled over with your mirrors covered by something? at least if you turn them down and a cop tries to do anything you can say it just happend as he passed by and you were 'waiting for a safe spot to pull over and adjust them'. but if they are covered i dont see why you couldnt get a ticket....

[9000white]

always a chance of that ticket but that is better than a crash.the only time i do it is on them long boring stretches of interstate where the chances of a cop being around are slim.

[Mag7C]

isnt there a risk of being pulled over with your mirrors covered by something? at least if you turn them down and a cop tries to do anything you can say it just happend as he passed by and you were 'waiting for a safe spot to pull over and adjust them'. but if they are covered i dont see why you couldnt get a ticket....

You could get a ticket, but if you explain it honestly that you were preventing yourself from being blinded (and are driving on a low-traffic road), they'll probably let you off with a warning. Cops usually appreciate not being lied to.

[blues2cruise]

I'd rather ride in the rain than ride in the dark. My first ride in the dark was quite unnerving. I had chosen a road that I was used to driving in a car, so, it didn't occur to me how different it would be on my bike.
It was too dark and I was worried about potholes.

In the winter here, there is a constant freeze/thaw/freeze/thaw....and it produces a lot of potholes and frost heaves. I was tense the whole way along that highway because of not being able to see ahead.

I think I'll stick to Hwy 1 next time. The visibility is better. I

Gore-tex booties from the bicycle store work quite well for keeping your toes dry in the rain.

[Itzamna]

I ride at night every day. I don't really like riding in the day or night better than the other. Both are quite nice. I've found that having a vary loud full exhaust system, lets the deer know your coming and they seem to never run out anymore. Possums are the worst honestly. They don't even try to move. Just keep on eating some other road kill.

I don't personally like to ride with my low beams on at night. Just not enough distance of sight. The brights always catch animals eyes very quickly, and let that idiot coming over the hill he needs to get back in his lane.

[jonrobertd]

I've put very small driving lights on my bike to improve low and high beam visibility at night. They work very well on those long dark roads.
I love to ride at night, but those possums are a pain. The lights are on a switch of course so I don't over load my battery and I had to redrill a hole on the lights but they are a great investment here in the North Georgia mountians.

[TheReaper]

Gore-tex booties from the bicycle store work quite well for keeping your toes dry in the rain.


I've got a set of gore-tex riding boots. I was just too stupid to wear them that night. LOL. That'll learn me.