[ebxtreme]

Just saw this online. Remember what a weird trip is was on your first night ride? The author does a good job of describing it.......

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2002668739_nwwnightriders08.html

Nice press for the BBTC, Juice!!

Chers,
EBX

 

[borregokid]

Thats a nice article. I see they all had HID lights. I still cant believe I have three 10watt lights, which in comparison to the HID's barely light the trails. Its interesting to see that Cateye which was a pioneer in the HID is going with the LED setup which is more durable but has less light. My first real experience with nite riding was at the 24 hour race in Tucson. I went out the night before the race with a single 10w and realized I was in need of some serious equiptment upgrade, so I bought another 10w for the helmet. That still wasnt enough and fortunately L&M was renting lights. Although most riders will only go with two light sources I saw a lot of double light failures at the race last year. I think three sources of light isnt a bad idea.

 

[Speedub.Nate]

I guess, thankfully, the article mentioned nothing of "mounting $400+ lights to $3000+ bikes" -- a sure way to turn a positive article sour in the minds of the non-biking reader.

Neat story!

 

[<sL4yEr>RuLz]

You think so, Nate?

Not to start and arguement, but I don't see how, (if the article did mention some of the outrageous costs of bikes and equipment these days) it would sour readers' response. While it did capture the essence of night riding, I feel that people should also be aware of the high-degree of danger. The right equipment (usually expensive) is essential. Granted, I've used cheap equipment (bike and light) and still had a blast night riding, sometimes I've paid for it dearly.
If this article were to somehow turn people off from night riding, so be it. I love being part of this small subculture of "extreme riding." I mean, how cool is it to come into work the next day and tell everyone you were out biking until 10 p.m.?

 

[JLantz]

WTF does 'twixt mean?

 

[<sL4yEr>RuLz]

Tis a new word...

that's been used in the correct context, "Between the time we decide to do something and the time we do it, things often go wrong."
Try using it in a sentence today.

 

[JLantz]

The article worked well 'twixt my ass and my hand.

 

[Skookum]

Cool article and some really nice high exposed shots. Makes me wanna go nightride the worm, i haven't done it since last year. It really has to be in good shape now with the dry weather.

 

[Monte]

Just saw this online. Remember what a weird trip is was on your first night ride? The author does a good job of describing it.......

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2002668739_nwwnightriders08.html

Nice press for the BBTC, Juice!!

Chers,
EBX

Now Mikey needs to do some night riding at his home trails, Galbraith.

Monte

 

[ebxtreme]

Just did a night ride.

8 (or was it 9?) guys, 3 doggies and a few stashed Miller's in our camelbacks....we headed out for a 3 hour jaunt into the woods for laps of up down and across. The trails were dry (tokul) and we didn't see another soul out there......ooh, a deer nearly took out a buddy on the SVT, but that was the extent of it. Finished up with beers/food at the Last Frontier in Fall City. Others may have put away the bikes for the year (won't name names......ahem, Borneo ), but as long as there isn't fresh snow in the hills, I can't justify heading up to the hill.

Chers,
EBX

 

[blackDoggy]

What is a 'boogeyman'?

 

[Speedub.Nate]

I don't see how, (if the article did mention some of the outrageous costs of bikes and equipment these days) it would sour readers' response.

Only in that, as it was written, the article did an excellent job of capturing the flavor of a night ride which, in many respects, encourages the imagination to explore the possibilities... "riding in the chilly winter air, riding in the dark, getting together with group of friends, hey, if they can do it... I should look into this whole mountain biking thing."

At work, I share pleanty of watercooler and lunchroom stories of rides in general, night rides in particular, and the non-riders and occassional riders are usually receptive, even inspired (ok, plus the regular "you're crazy" comments).

But those times when somebody brings up prices, and dollar costs get passed around the conversations, it's as if a switch gets flipped off. "Oh, that's so expensive." "My bike cost as much as your light." People get a little defensive and the pretty pictures fade away.

Let the willing participants worry about the real dollar costs (as well as the sweat and the effort and the mud and the pain -- we all know the payoff).

Let the general population see the pretty pictures and romanticize the sport and they'll support our wholesome activity. Alternatively, let them begin to think we're a bunch of priviliged kids with too much money and they'll think less of us and be less likely to lend their support for land access issues.

 

[MarkHL]

Night riding...

What is a 'boogeyman'?

If you do enough night rides, it starts seeming more normal, and the fear goes away. I can't believe the guy was spooked riding with a large group of people, he should try it by himself and go for the bigger rush

Statistically speaking there is a far greater chance of harm coming to you from an auto-accident commuting to your favorite trail than ever having any problems with animals in the woods. Besides, I suspect the bright light must be pretty frightening to a nocturnal animal.

I've been starting up Green Mountain at dusk and finishing the ride with a light and it's really been great the past two nights. Must have been a temperature inversion last night, it was colder (frozen ground) at the lower elevations and considerably warmer at 1500 feet.

Ride #210 for the year last night, it helps having the trails memorized for riding at night.

Looks like a good weekend for riding ahead...

 

[e<i>o]

8 (or was it 9?) guys, 3 doggies and a few stashed Miller's in our camelbacks....we headed out for a 3 hour jaunt into the woods for laps of up down and across. The trails were dry (tokul) and we didn't see another soul out there.....

Crap!

I'm almost done building my 5-Spot.........but now I gotta go out and get a head lamp.

....... T minus 13 days and counting.

 

[ebxtreme]

o]Crap!

I'm almost done building my 5-Spot.........but now I gotta go out and get a head lamp.

....... T minus 13 days and counting.

E,

There's deals (if that's what one calls a $300 light!) to be had on good lights, but you gotta keep your eyes out. A bunch of guys are running Light and Motion HIDs and love 'em, but the night riders are, of course, solid as well. Jet is another brand that is well made. I think Universal Cycle has them.

Of course, a HID isn't necessary, but after night riding for a long time, I'm not going back to halogen.

See you in a couple of weeks.....the 5 spot's going to love the local trails.

Chers,
EBX

 

[e<i>o]

The 5 spot's going to love the local trails...........

Yepper..........Some cables and a chain and done. She's saving her virginity for that sweet NW soil.

 

[Skookum]

o]Yepper..........Some cables and a chain and done. She's saving her virginity for that sweet NW soil.

i see alot of those on the trail round here, and Oly and some other pals has em for their XC bikes. Oly is running a Pike for his, a great combo....

May i suggest doing Galbraith Mountain to devirginize that bikey.

 

[[email protected]]

Just now had a chance to read this article.
A pretty decent vehicle for describing night riding at the Worm.

It's funny to see how a simple ride can be such a different experience for riders.
I've been on niterides with very capable riders who get spooked in the woods and I've also been out with other riders who, like me, thrive on pushing the limits of our lighting systems.

One of my favourite times to ride is just as it has been these last couple of days, when temp gets into the 20°'s, the wood sections are treacherous but the trails are crispy, yet tacky. And as bonus, you flick your light off and admire how the full moon creates a fantastic wonderland kind of sparkle over the hard frosted landscape. A surreal environment I'd say very difficult to capture on film.

Juice and I helped Greg Johnson out last (fall/winter?) put together a similar article for the Getaways section in the PI. Only we took him and the photographer up into the foothills.
It wasn't until about a third of the way into the ride that I realized the photographer was in jeans, a rain-gear type jacket and two cameras (one hanging around his neck). Yes, we were just riding very casually, but regardless, the reporters hung with us up a few grunts to the top and down some semi-technical trails. Greg ate a spoonful of sh!t, no doubt, but got up and kept kept the pace without skipping a beat.
In retrospect, Juice and I agreed we took them on a longer ride than we probably should have, considering their experience and the equipment brought along for the shoot.
But I feel that because of the ride we did, Greg did a nicer job capturing the essence of our the night ride.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/201870_nightriding02.html

I'll have to make sure that next time he revisits the "mountain bike night ride" topic in his column I bring him along on one of our "stunt night rides"... that would be a crazy fun article for sure, not to mention the cool pix