Beginner's Guide to Bicycling at Night

Twenty years ago most bicycle lights were powered by generators driven by the rear wheel. These worked okay as long as long as you kept ypur speed up. Unfortunately, the lights would go dark upon coming to a stop at an intersection, which is where having lights is most important. Those days are long gone. Technological improvements such as halogen bulbs & improved rechargeable batteries make this activity much safer today. Riders can also wear reflective vests to make themselves more visible to motorists.

I do some night riding throughout most of the year. In the winter, it's your only option if you have a day job and want to ride during the week. In the summer, when temperatures get up around 90 degrees, I usually head out around 6:00 or 7:00 P.M., riding before & after dusk.

There is a variety of equipment available for night riding. There is much debate among manufacturers about whether lead-acid, nicad, or nickel-metal hydride batteries are best. Turbocat favors lead-acid batteries, because of their lower cost. Nicad batteries are more expensive, but weigh less. Nickel-metal hydride batteries are even lighter & costlier.

I use a TurboCat light with a 10-watt halogen bulb. I generally ride at 15 mph or less, and this light provides plenty of light for me. Because I sometimes ride for several hours after dark, I use their "Macho" lead-acid battery, which is good for 4 hours of usage with my light, and can be recharged overnight. I generally ride in flat areas, so the extra weight of the lead-acid battery is not much of a concern. The battery comes in a case with velcro straps os that it can be easily attached to the frame. I have a rear rack on my bike, so I lay the battery on top of it and wrap the straps around the rack. There is just enough wire to reach up to the light on the handlebars. The light attaches easily to the handlebars with a single velcro strap, can be mounted within a minute. When riding, I find that it is necessary to adjust the position of the light from time to time. Bumps on the road cause it to rotate just a bit on the handlebars, so that the light beam is aimed too far down the road, or it is aimed too directly at the road, and only iluminates the area just ahead of the bike.

There are quite a few options for bicyles lights. Turbocat's lights start at 10 watts and go up to 47 watts. Faster riders need brighter lights to see farther down the road, but keep in mind that the brighter the light, the faster your battery will be used up. Dual-beam systems are available that allow you to use the low beam while cruising at low speed to conserve the battery, then switch to high power when hammering away at top speed. Lights can also be helmet mounted. This has the advantage of pointing the light in whatever direction you are looking. The drawbacks include dealing with wire to the battery, and a little extra weight on your helmet. Also, if you ride with others, don't directly at them while engaging in conversation or you will blind them.

For the rear, I use a vista light. It is red & flashes many times each second. Powered by two AAA batteries, these are supposed to last about 100 hours. I always take a good look at the vista light when I turn it on, to make sure that the lights still flash brightly. The light can be mounted on the seat post or on a rear rack if you have one.

Riding at night is fairly safe if you follow some basic common sense rules:

• Don't ride in high traffic areas.
• Don't ride in unfamiliar areas. Scout them out in daylight first.
• If you start riding before it gets dark, and plan to do ride after dark, be sure to check your front & rear lights before leaving home. You don't want to be miles from home & find out your lights are not working.
• Don't ride too late at night. The only thing I really fear when bicycling at night is encountering a drunk driver. This can happen anytime (including daylight), but at very late hours the odds get worse. I always try to get off the road by 11:00 P.M.
• Flying insects can be a problem during warmer months, especially around dusk. I generally carry a pair of Oakleys with clear lenses to keep them out of my eyes.
• If you are stopped at an intersection and a car approaches from the side, angle your headlight slightly in that direction so the driver can see you.

If you are looking for large organized night rides, Indianapolis hosts the N.I.T.E. (Navigate Indy This Evening) ride in July. It begins at 11:00 P.M. and covers about 20 miles, passing by most of the major downtown landmarks. Participation is limited to 2,500 riders, so you need to get your application in early. Other cities (St. Louis, Chicago) have similar rides.

For smaller, semi-organized rides, try the Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA) dinner rides. These rides generally attract small groups (5-10 riders), and are leisurely paced (12-15 mph). Rides start in the evening, and go to a restaurant in the Greater Indianapolis area. In 2000, this included local eateries such as:

• Compton's Cow Palace in Shelbyville
• The Williard in Franklin
• Mayberry Cafe in Danville
• The Red Onion in Sheridan
• All-Star Cafe in Lebanon

Equipment for cycling at night is not cheap, but if cycling is your favorite form of entertainment, it is money well spent, since it can double your cycling season. Here are approximate prices for some items:

• TurboCat Bike mounted 10-watt light $100
• Macho lead-acid battery $30.00 upgrade
• Nicad water bottle battery $50.00 upgrade
• TurboCat Helmet mounted 10-watt light $115
• TurboCat Bike mounted 15-watt light $130
• Vista lights $10
• Reflective vest $15

Circle City Bicycles carries TurboCat lighting systems. We will gladly order any of their products which we do not have in stock (30% deposit required). TurboCat can also provide for your custom lighting needs. Perhaps you have a recumbent & need extra-long wires? All TurboCat bar-mounted lights & batteries are available with custom wiring for about $20-30 extra.

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