One of my favorite things is to go mountain biking at night. Now and then, it can be a real relief to ride in the dark rather than in the bright sunshine. However, the more time I spend doing it, the more I learn how to make the experience error-proof.

In this article, Ill introduce you to some of the best tips and essential equipment for night cycling.

Why You Should Try Night cycling

Before discussing tips, let me try to convince you why you might come to enjoy cycling at night. For the following reasons, this activity has become popular among most cyclists.

It helps you concentrate better.

Unlike day cycling, night cycling only limits your field of vision to the area directly in front of your bike. Since you will be riding in the dark, the light from your bike will be your only illumination source.

Wondering how this can be good for you?

You should practice reading your surroundings better by keeping your focus on the trail ahead of you. That way, the more you do this, the higher your sense of awareness should be. This can be helpful even if you are biking during the day. This way, you will be able to notice the small details of the terrain, which may help you avoid encountering obstacles.

An excellent way to avoid the sun

It can be difficult for a cyclist to stay under the merciless sun for hours in the middle of summer. As you know, exposure to the sun for a long period can be embarrassing.

It can cause :

• Heatstroke
• Sunburn
• Dehydration

On top of that, we all know the health risks of UV rays on human skin. Scientists say they are associated with many diseases, including skin cancer. Therefore, riding in the sun requires a lot of planning. From applying sunscreen every two hours to lowering the exposure to the sun, there are many details to keep in mind! Instead, riding your bike at night should save you all the trouble. The temperature usually drops at night, and you wont sweat as much as you would during the day.

Perfect for solo cycling

Sometimes youre just not in the mood to ride alongside other bikers. Some days you prefer to be alone on the track so you can go as fast as you want without meeting other people.

During the day, it can be hard to find an empty spot. But this is not the case at night.

If you cycle at night, chances are you wont meet other cyclists on your way. Also, it will be easier to know if another cyclist is approaching you because their lights will give them away.

Of course, we can continue to explain why night mountain biking is such a good idea. Im sure you agree. The other reasons are the following.

• It can be more fun and challenging than riding in the light
• Gives you more freedom to do other tasks during the day.
• Less chance of coming face to face with hikers on the trail

Now you are probably convinced of the importance of this experience. Its time for you to start planning your next overnight trip.

Top 7 tips for night cycling

Even though I love it (and so do you), mountain biking at night can pose some challenges for cyclists. For this reason, you should take a moment to read our list of hacks to save you the trouble.

Avoid starting your ride in full light.

If youre riding at night for the first time, youll probably think turning on your brightest lights is a good idea. For many reasons, its not.

First, if you do this at the beginning of your ride, your eyes will have a harder time adapting to the sudden illumination after dark. This way, it may take a long time to see what is around you.

Second, brighter lights mean faster battery consumption. Of course, this is fine if you plan to drive for an hour or so. But if you intend to ride longer, then riding at full intensity may not give you a chance to last more than two hours.

For these reasons, I suggest you start with the lowest light setting. You can ride for a while until you feel you need more light. This way, you will save more battery power and help your eyes to better adapt to the track in front of you.

Pay attention to the life of your battery.

My second piece of advice for you is to always know how your battery is doing during your trip. As I said before, the brighter the lights, the more energy they consume.

Of course, you can balance everything to get the most out of your trip. As a rule of thumb, the brightest light option is better for driving at higher speeds.

Therefore, you should only ride at full intensity when going downhill. You should use the lowest light setting for horizontal or upward movement, which tends to be slow.

Doing so allows you to control your battery life better instead of letting it die in the middle of your ride.

Keep your batteries warm on cold nights.

Its another hack you must remember if cycling on a particularly cold night. Lithium-ion batteries can lose their capabilities at low temperatures.

To prepare your batteries for a cold trip, keep them warm in your house until you need them. Also, you can keep them in one of your pockets to get some of your body heat.

Dont ride in a tight group.

Make sure you dont do this if you decide to go cycling with your group of friends at night. Yes, the whole experience can be more fun and challenging, but staying too close together can be awkward.

Why is this?

If someone is riding a bike behind you, their bright lights cast a shadow in front of you. As a result, you wont be able to see your path.

You may encounter different obstacles without being able to avoid them.

To avoid this, you can move away from your friends. You should avoid these problems by keeping a few meters between them.

Increase your visibility

Sometimes riders may encounter weather conditions that make it harder to see with only the lights on their helmet.

If you face one of these conditions, you must increase your visibility. You can turn on the light in your bar to see if you have one.

What if you only have the lights on your helmet? Thats not a problem. Please attach it to the bike bar; it should do the job.

Always bring a spare light.

You never know if you need an extra light source during your trip. Many things can happen that you need to prepare for.

• Your battery may die
• The light on your helmet may stop working
• A trip may take longer than expected

For these reasons, bringing extra light is always a good idea. You shouldnt depend solely on the lights in your helmet.

Also, ensure all your lights are properly working before leaving your house.

Night Cycling Gear

Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is to buy a reliable set of lights; helmet lights and bar-mounted bicycle lights.

As I mentioned, including both can be a lifeline in many situations.

When choosing lights for night cycling, aim for a high-quality product and dont choose cheaper options. Investing in good lights can save you a lot of problems.

Of course, following the above tips may not be enough to get the most out of your bike. Thats why Ive put together this list of products every cyclist should purchase for a mistake-free adventure.

Lights

• They have a longer battery life
• Several power modes
• Better lighting
• Weather-resistant materials

Also, always choose wireless helmet lights. Flashlights with cords can get tangled in your clothes, helmet, or low branches. Its best to save you all that trouble.

A jacket

The second item on the list is a light jacket or hoodie. As you know, temperatures drop at night, and you need to be prepared for that extra cooling.

It doesnt have to be a heavy jacket; youll already be moving and sweating. Nevertheless, always take an extra hoodie if you need to stop for a while.

If you can get a waterproof jacket, its even better. That way, it can somewhat protect you if youre facing the rain.

An extra set of batteries

Just as it is essential to have spare lamps, an extra set of batteries is also indispensable. They should cover you if your trip takes longer than expected.

On top of that, they can be useful if you are with a group of friends. Sometimes more than one light may stop working. You should always be prepared for these circumstances.

A GPS or map

You dont always have to rely on your senses or knowledge of the path. Even if you memorize it during the day, it may look different at night. Everyone can easily get lost in the dark.

Thats why you should always bring a map with you. If youre not good at maps, its best to check the GPS on your smartphone or smartwatch from time to time.

A bike repair kit

The last item on this list is a solid bike repair kit. You never know when you might have problems with your bike. Again, preparation is always the key.

This kit should include :

• A pump
• A multi-tool
• A spare tube
• A patch kit

In conclusion

Mountain biking can be fun whether you are alone or with a group of cyclists. Plus, doing it at night gives it a new perspective and opens your eyes to more details.

Hopefully, after you learn and practice these tips and the essential equipment for night cycling, you should have the adventures of your dreams.

Its just a matter of paying attention to your surroundings and ensuring your lights are working efficiently. After all, your lights will be your only guide when you go out in the dark.