Riding in the dark

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Daimo

Night tip riding -

Ride Faster, the roads are clearer!!!!!

tbh, I think people are vastly over complicating things. Do this, do that, don't do this....

Just get on the bike, and ride. Its no different from daylight riding, expect its dark.......... I've made most of my records in the dark.


Now dark AND raining AND traffic AND dirty visor, thats another story....

of course its different to riding in daylight, your reactions and senses are much different riding in th dark. People aren't overly complicating things, they are just posting how they feel about riding. I certainly hate riding in the dark, and only last week did an epic ride on the type roads the OP is worried about, plus I'm pretty certain if we sat in a room our feelings would mirror each other, she mentions being a single mum, riding in itself is a different thing all together to a single guy.....and that really isn't a load a bull, I really do know what she is getting at on that one.
I'm not getting at you, I just think your post is a little abrupt for advice thats needed for someone thats new.

Originally Posted by Mark_h

Beware of deer!

Don't try and avoid small stuff like rabbits as you'll usually do more harm avoiding it than you would hitting it and you're pretty unlikely to actually hit it anyway. but definitely try to avoid Deer. And they usually come in two's.

On my most deer infested bits I tend to catch a car and sit behind it for a while so it acts as a buffer.

A bit of animal advice I got a while back was "If you wouldn't eat it in one sitting, try to avoid hitting it"

Apart form that, pretty much what everyone else said. Clean your visor and ride like you would do normally.

This is one of the things that frightened me the most riding down the A65. Its the org legend of Dizzy ramming straight through bambi and living to tell the tale, but to go down the same stratch of road in the dark, kinda reallly spooked me..........then a duck appeears on a stretch just before the 'deer' incident...yes..a duck! It were stood in my headlight like some zombie in a horror movie, just stood, in my line, I'm sure with an evil stare. Bleddy scared the bejezzus out of me, I was expecting something much larger, but i did laugh after I'd slammed on the brakes and realised I'd let it go by a hares whisker!

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by ophic

Thanks Gavin. That was the information I was after, as you're right, they don't teach it nowadays. Or even back in the dim mists of time when they taught me.

During my trainging i asked and they told me the same thing as gavin just said. Its a good thing to use at the right time.

Originally Posted by GavinD

As you are approaching a car to overtake, as you cross the hazard lines/centre line and you are directly in line the drivers’ door mirror (about 2-3 car lengths back) you flick the yellow front switch on your left switchgear quickly and it flashes your high beam.

What this does is make a flash in the mirror so the driver notices you, but doesn't blind them; you see them do it in cars on top gear from time-to-time. This makes a huge difference to the number of drivers who actually see you and give you space.

They don’t mention it on tests now a days, but it is good practice for safe, fast riding.

Or you could just use those little things called indicators that do the same thing?

REALLY winds me up, when im overtaking traffic, to have some tw4t commuter on his 1-2 day bike stint "cos its sunny" who flies past the oncoming traffic without a care in the world.... No indicators, so all of a sudden see a bike popout from behined a car with no thought but for themselves... Meanwhile im mid overtake...

can't say i've ever flashed anyone, i just use the appropriate signal on my bike... Indicators n mirrors...

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

of course its different to riding in daylight, your reactions and senses are much different riding in th dark. People aren't overly complicating things, they are just posting how they feel about riding. I certainly hate riding in the dark, and only last week did an epic ride on the type roads the OP is worried about, plus I'm pretty certain if we sat in a room our feelings would mirror each other, she mentions being a single mum, riding in itself is a different thing all together to a single guy.....and that really isn't a load a bull, I really do know what she is getting at on that one.
I'm not getting at you, I just think your post is a little abrupt for advice thats needed for someone thats new.

No, its not, your reactions and senses are EXACTLY the same unless your riding asleep or not paying attention. People are over complicating things. Do this, do that, wear this, look out for that...

So this new bikers going on their night ride, with a millions things popping in their head from "the experts"..

When in fact your mind should be clear, eyesight good, and go out and ride, and deal with any hazzard as you would in the daylight.

Night time riding is easier, especially on roads, as you can see on-coming car lights much earlier than you can in the daytime. Only issue is you might find a fox jump out on you...

Abruptness is how YOU read it, not how its posted.. they are mear words on a screen, without abuse. Its straight and to the point, simplez.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by Daimo

Or you could just use those little things called indicators that do the same thing?

But that rellys on the driver actually using their mirrors in the first place and knowing you're there and watching at the exact moment you turn you indys on. A quick flash simply catches their attention and makes them notice you at the right moment.
Not all car drivers are at good as using their mirrors as you are Damio

[dizzyblonde]

I suppose if you only use your indicators in the dark, the driver you are over taking won't necessarily see the flashing one, as its on the opposite side to his mirror. The passing button is a lot more noticeable

But then I don't overtake in the dark...so I won't be using that much. Always wodered what it was for.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Daimo

tbh, I think people are vastly over complicating things. Do this, do that, don't do this....

Just get on the bike, and ride. Its no different from daylight riding, expect its dark..........

I have to agree with Daimo on this.

Originally Posted by GavinD

As you are approaching a car to overtake, as you cross the hazard lines/centre line and you are directly in line the drivers’ door mirror (about 2-3 car lengths back) you flick the yellow front switch on your left switchgear quickly and it flashes your high beam.

What this does is make a flash in the mirror so the driver notices you, but doesn't blind them; you see them do it in cars on top gear from time-to-time. This makes a huge difference to the number of drivers who actually see you and give you space.

They don’t mention it on tests now a days, but it is good practice for safe, fast riding.

It is good practice in daylight or at night to do this, to attract the other driver's attention. I do it all the time*. Do not flash other drivers to make them move, just to help make them aware of your intention to overtake. Especially useful with lorries who may not have noticed you catching them up.

EDIT: Where appropriate

[Mark_h]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

........
..........then a duck appeears on a stretch just before the 'deer' incident...yes..a duck! It were stood in my headlight like some zombie in a horror movie, just stood, in my line, I'm sure with an evil stare. Bleddy scared the bejezzus out of me, I was expecting something much larger, but i did laugh after I'd slammed on the brakes and realised I'd let it go by a hares whisker!

So far as I can see, a duck is a single sitting meal (all be it quite ambitious) so
do not take overly drastic action to avoid. Obviously far easier said than done....

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Mark_h

So far as I can see, a duck is a single sitting meal (all be it quite ambitious) so
do not take overly drastic action to avoid. Obviously far easier said than done....

+1
I don't like animals that appear as if by magic, they seem to like doing that it seems
Its funny as I didn't swerve to avoid it, I just ploughed on ahead(see the pattern here) but as I was getting twitchy by this time, because of the last 'incident' and it being dark, I just jammed on the brake a bit(which was naughty)

I seem to remember 'ooo F** a duck' then , as I called myself a silly billy, caused a bit of a steamy visor did that

anyone read motorcycle roadcraft?... its all in there. i learnt roadcraft over 18 years ago for work, and it is taught as PART of the passing manuvre (sorry, the headlight flash thing).

get a copy of it off amazon. its a good read if you want to improve your riding/driving style, and gives you a good "system" to work to.night driving included