For me the cycling season is neatly bracketed by the twice-yearly changing of the clocks. Although it’s not too long until we jump forward an hour and welcome the lighter evenings, there is still some time left to enjoy the darkness that we have left.
While many cyclists are looking forward to lighter evenings and have spent the winter gloom inside on their indoor trainers, or snatching the odd ride out in daylight at the weekend, an increasing number of mountain bikers have been out riding in the dark and murky winter evenings and loving every minute of it.
The progress in bike light technology has helped fuel this dusky desire, but good lights are only a small part of why you need to have a try at riding off-road in the dark.
For a start, it sharpens your skills as you ride aided only by the circular white beam in front of you, your awareness heightened as your ride depends on quick reactions.
A year into my first mountain bike purchase I could count on one hand the times I had ridden it in daylight; such was the thrill of night riding I couldn’t really see the point of riding my mountain bike at any other time. Now older and wiser, I have seen the error of my ways, but still, the draw of riding on the edge with your sense of sight diminished is a strong pull.
In those days my way ahead was lit by the yellow-tinged, halogen beam of a Lupine Passubio. At that time it was at the forefront of lighting technology (with a price-tag to match). It had a reasonably large external battery pack but was still compact enough to fit in a small pocket of a backpack while I ran the power cable up to the helmet-mounted light. I still have that light, and it still works well 15 years down the line, so I think I have managed to get my money’s worth.
The years have passed and I still feel the same thrill with night-time mountain bike riding that I did all these years ago. I often come home from a day working and the lure of a fire in the stove and a hot mug of tea try to divert me from my mission – to head out into the darkness and whatever the weather is ready to throw at me. I will usually be meeting friends and that is motivation enough to get me out of the door when my desire sometime ebbs low.
Once I am riding, trails that in daylight are simply winding, in the dark become twisting demons that at every turn throw a new obstacle in my way. At the edge of my vision, the light catches the eyes of creatures lurking at the trailside, then they are gone as I turn quickly to keep the bike on the trail.
Back at the car park I am invariably soaked, caked in mud and freezing cold, but what better way to spend a mid-week, winter evening. It beats sitting indoors watching TV anyway. Roll on next winter.
Join the Blazing Saddles Strava Club at: www.strava.com/clubs/BlazingSaddlesWeekendCourier
Where to Ride? Jubilee Bridge Loop – Dunkeld
Start: Kemback OS Landranger 1:50000 Map 53
Dunkeld North Car Park NO 026426
Distance 5 miles/ 8km
Description: Starting in the North Car park in Dunkeld ride around the back of the Cathedral towards and beyond the Hilton Hotel towards the Jubilee Bridge that crosses the A9. Go under the bridge and then ride along the path at its side to cross the river, before turning right onto the B898 (Dalguise road). Approximately 20 metres down the B898 turn right on the trail which takes you under the railway line and the A9 and back to Dunkeld.
