Anyone go out fast riding at night? More often than not, when I nip outside for a cheeky fag on a Saturday night, I can hear 2 or 3 bikes getting a right shift on. I get the whole empty roads thing, but I'm really not a fan of riding fast in the dark. Anyway, whilst listening to it just now, the Police helicopter flew over, heading in the same general direction, so the game may well be up. Wondered on your general thoughts on the subject?
I do like dual carriageways at night, especially when they're empty-ish. Not certain why, maybe it's easier to focus when everything around you is dark, but it makes me want to drive and ride quick. Where I live, most roads have got more twists than a fart in tight pants and in the dark they're a death trap. My village has a bypass which is visible from my house. It runs for about a mile and is one long, gentle curve from one end to the other and sometimes the noises that come from it in the middle of the night are glorious.
I went on a ride with a few of the lads from Penzance to landsends a few weeks ago it not very far, but it was dark and that road is quite narrow and one bend after another from start to finish. Well it wasn't enjoyable in the slightest my eyes struggled to focus quick enough and then you'd get a few cars coming the other way making it even worse. The same road in the daytime without to many cars on is a joy to ride, but i'll be in no rush to go for a blast in that direction by night.
I don't like it at all.. Cant judge the corners , how fast the bend is coming , when to brake etc .. As said above, not enjoyable
I glad it's not just me, I thought it was mainly due to my eye sight at the time being a glasses wearer!
I ride to work in the dark especially on weekends. Due to dark visor etc always misjudge distances of cars etc. Normally only a problem when overtaking and having cars approaching with dipped beam!!! Keep thinking that the cars are further away than they actually are!! It's a dangerous game !!!
Had a few fast years of it and at the time with about 5 of the boys we were always out at night mainly due to the fact it is (even now) dark at 7 pm. somehow i got used to it and we seemed to go as fast and daft as if it were lite.Roll on a few years and most of the gang have give up and if i go for a run after dark it seems to be a lot less enjoyable for the following reasons (1) fast a roads truck headlights the same level as me (2) Cars with lights on full beam .(3) Can't see cars stopped at juntions wanting to come out (4) No bikes out to warn you of the fuzz (5) You hit your favorite corner and the tarmac ''now'' looks like it is wet which soon levels you up .(6) You do hit corners faster than you would like due to having your day head on.(7) Its also a lot colder = less enjoyment. Having said all that i will still get out and about as much as i can ,but a good lesson i learn't a couple of years ago was i was itching to get out so about 8 pm i got wrapped up and got out the bike ended up within minutes on damp shiny roundabouts full of salt i was back home within 5mins and then spent 1 hour in the cold washing it and after a days work in the cold it is a good lesson for all you new boys to think about.
This is another point. Your eyes take precious seconds to readjust from dark environment to light and then back again. It's not just the iris opening and closing. This happens in...well...the blink of an eye. The real problem is that the retina adjusts, like going from 400 ISO to 800 ISO on a camera, and it takes time. It's always easier to find your way back to bed after getting up for a pee in the middle of the night than it is to find the bathroom in the first place. The problem is the time it takes the process to cycle. Much more time than that of an oncoming car appearing around the bend in front and setting the whole thing in motion, and it disappearing out of your right peripheral vision, leaving your vision out of phase for setting up the curve he came around. Multiply that by a serious twisty and even the bits in between will find you at the wrong film speed for the situation.
