Are you worried about not being able to ride enough during the short daylight days of Winter? Are you tired of the same old mountain bike trails during the day? Do you want to add some excitement and challenge to your rides? Then it's time to try night mountain bike riding with night lights! This thrilling activity allows you to explore familiar trails in a completely different way, pushing your skills to the limit while enjoying the cool and mild winter nights of Nelson, New Zealand. However, it's essential to have high-quality lights that won't fail you during the ride. In this blog post, we'll outline the fun, challenge, and exhilaration of night mountain bike riding with night lights, including the ideal setup of head-mounted and handle-bar mounted lights.
Night Mountain Bike Riding with Night Lights: Fun, Challenge, and Exhilaration
Why should you try night mountain bike riding?
A New Perspective on Familiar Trails
Night riding can make familiar trails exciting again. The same old route that you've ridden dozens of times during the day will feel completely different at night. The darkness adds a new level of intrigue and adventure, making even the simplest trail feel like an epic adventure. You'll experience your surroundings in a completely different way, relying on your senses to navigate the terrain.
Challenge Yourself
Night mountain bike riding is also a great way to challenge yourself. With reduced visibility, you'll need to rely on your skills and instincts to navigate the terrain. You'll also need to be more cautious and attentive, making split-second decisions that could mean the difference between a smooth ride and a nasty fall. As a result, you'll become a better rider overall, improving your balance, coordination, and reaction time.
Perfect for Winter Nights
Winter nights in Nelson, New Zealand, can be surprisingly cool and mild, making them the perfect time for night mountain bike riding, as climbing can be more comfortable. Rather than huddling indoors, waiting for the warmer weather to return, you can enjoy the great outdoors and all the excitement it has to offer. Being able to ride at night during winter months provides you so many more opportunities to ride than just waiting for the weekend and hoping it won't rain.
What kind of lights do you need for night mountain bike riding?
Importance of High-Quality Lights
When it comes to night mountain bike riding, having high-quality lights is essential. You don't want to be stranded in the dark, miles away from civilization, with a dead battery or a faulty light. You also don't want to risk a light failure while you're flying down a steep descent or navigating a technical section. Look for lights with a long battery life, a powerful beam, and durable construction that can withstand the bumps and jolts of the terrain.
The lights we recommend are the NZ designed Gloworm Lights, we have had years and years of experience running these and they are exponentially more reliable than cheap Ali-express lights. You can check out many great reviews on the lights HERE.
The new G2 range of Gloworm lights are amazing, and we highly recommend them as they have more reliable connectors, can double as a phone charging bank, and have adjustable light settings which can be controlled from your phone, but we are also aware that they are quite expensive so families might initially just want to invest in G1.0 lights. You can check out the different lights in our online store. Please contact us directly if you want a set, some items listed as SOLD OUT are now back in stock.
A note about cheaper lights, we understand the Gloworm lights are quite an investment, but they do last and are very reliable. Cheaper options are available, just make sure you get at least one light with more than 1500 lumens and the other with at least 1000 lumens, and if buying cheaper lights PLEASE make sure you have two lights so if one fails you can still get home safely in the dark.
Ideal Setup of Head-Mounted and Handle-Bar Mounted Lights
For the best visibility and safety, it's important to have both a head-mounted light and a handle-bar mounted light. The head-mounted light illuminates your path, giving you a clear view of the terrain ahead. The handle-bar mounted light provides additional visibility, allowing you to see the trail from a different angle. Together, these lights create a powerful beam that illuminates the entire path, giving you the confidence to ride at full speed.
FAQs:
Q: Can I use regular lights for night mountain bike riding? A: No, regular lights are not suitable for night mountain bike riding. They are not bright enough, and their batteries can quickly run out. Instead, you need to invest in high-quality lights specifically designed for this activity, we generally recommend one light of at least 1000 lumens, and one higher one of 2000+ lumens.
Q: Is night mountain bike riding safe? A: Night mountain bike riding can be safe as long as you take the usual precautions to wear safety equipment, and to take it easy on your initial excursions as you get used to the different field of vision and how the lights work.
Q: Is night mountain biking dangerous? A: Like any extreme sport, there are risks involved with night mountain biking at night. However, if you take the proper safety precautions, wear the right gear, and ride within your limits, you can minimize the risk of injury.
Q: What should I wear for night mountain biking? A: It's important to dress appropriately for night mountain biking. Wear bright and reflective clothing, and make sure you have warm layers to stay comfortable in cooler temperatures. Don't forget to wear a helmet, knee pads and gloves for added protection.
Q: Do I need to be an experienced rider to try night mountain biking? A: Night mountain biking requires a certain level of skill and experience, but it's not limited to expert riders. If you're comfortable riding a given trail in the day then you can give night mountain biking a try on that trail.
In conclusion: Night riding is awesome fun, and makes familiar trails even more exciting, you and the whole family will love this slight twist on your summer daytime riding experience. Good quality night lights will only improve the experience and make it even more enjoyable.
