Night rides

lefty · Night rides

I did mention it to those out on Sunday and I thought I would drop a line here as well. As im sure you are aware it is sometimes tricky to get out during the weekend so I am planning to do some night riding to keep the legs spinning. it might also make a few of those trails we all know and love seem a bit newer. Of course as the days lengthen it will be dusk / night riding but I quite fancy the challenge of the dark.

Anyone up for it? 8pm ish starts?

Cazza

Hi Jon

I'm getting a bit cocky now, having been out a fair few times since we bumped in to you at High Beech. Don't wanna speak to soon, but reckon the foot's not minding the hammering too much. Anyway the psychological benefits from riding far outweigh any pi*sy pain. Count me in for the night rides. I can't start till after I move work back to Waltham Forest, but as that's on 30 April, gives me a bit of time to improve fitness wise.

See you soon

Caz

hamster

hi jon

good to meet you finally on sunday. where do/will you start these night rides from and how long do you expect to stay out? i'm currently doing a 'chase the daylight' ride from HB at 6.15 and getting enough light til about 8 but in many ways it's easier to start out later as 6.15 is pretty early on a work day.

cya soon

ham

tonto

Hello Jon et al

despite me saying that it was too far for me to travel in on a weekday, I reckon a late start would reduce the rush hour problem.

I could ,therefore, make the odd late nightride. (wednesdays only).

btw caught a stinking cold which has moved to my chest and means I have had to pull out of the welsh night marathon this weekend Crying or Very sad

ttfn Paul

lefty

Hi all,

I will be getting my night lights in the next week and then I am doing http://www.nightrider12.com/ so I will try and organize something after that. Based on where people are coming from we can agree on where and when. Living next to the forest I am fairly flexible.

Anyone else fancy it?

Simonc

Definitely up for night rides, need to give it a little while though to build up fitness/recover from injury.

Last couple of years I have done night rides directly form work so starting at south end of forest at 6/7pm. Happy to be flexible though.

Simon

smellyengine

Any excuse to spend some money on lights sounds good to me.....8pm gives me a chance to ride back from work too.

lefty

AWESOME... any other takers? Who's up for a ride next Wednesday at 8pm?

Things i tend to notice on night rides are

- I feel like im going fast even when im crawling along
- all the trails have a different character in the dark
- wow how much wildlife is there in the forest at night.. Ive seen loads more than during the day
- Its nice a n peaceful and quiet in the forest at night
- Its a little creepy in bits especially when u scare something big like a fox in the bushes.

New lights are up to speed and are fab.

tonto

where do you meet for this night ride malarkey?

lefty

Well.. I thought originally starting at the Bike Shop might be a good idea. However what that does mean is that you have to ride up to the woods then back down. Not everyone might be able to give up the 2+ hours to do this.

What I thought might be interesting is to meet at High Beech? and do routes out from there.. eg we could do an hours loop over to Loughton then and hours loop over towards Chingford. That means if you can only do an hour then you can shoot off half way through...

Parking seems easy up there and there are a wide variety of routes from the tea hut to keep it interesting.

This of course depends on people ability to get there.

Thoughts?

tonto

not really happy about leaving my old banger at high beach in the summer evenings - someone might start a bonfire Shocked

we have parked at a pub by the reservoirs at the back of pole hill but I can't remember its name.

maybe Alaric will help.

Simonc

We have also parked on Holly Drive before
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap...map.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

Bit nearer to the riding than that pub

smellyengine

Seeing as I live at the bottom of Kings head hill, I say Holly it is!

tonto

I shall be there at 7.50 this wednesday then!

lefty

Ok cool getting over there is a bit of a trek for me so do you chaps fancy all meeting at Holly drive and then making your way to the top of Pole Hill to meet me at say 8.10 at the obelisk?. Will save me having to road ride that bit further and then come all the way back.

Cheers

Simonc

It is an offroad downhill from the obelisk to holly drive, folloow the track and look for the gap in the hedge Very Happy

lefty

Hehehe yea I know but then I will have to climb back up Pole Hill lol once is enough

smellyengine

Holly drive, obelisk...I'm easy whichever. Gotta get lights first...

lefty

Cool ok so that is

Simon C
Tonto
Lefty ( me )

Pete u got ur lights yet
Any More?

Ill meet you all at 7.50 - 8.00 on holly drive?

smellyengine

I'll just head for the Obelisk...Gonna be shagged after riding home tho.....

Simonc

I was merely suggesting meeting points!!

Too unfit and too busy at work for a ride tonight, maybe see you all in a couple oif weeks

lefty

No worries... Smile

In that case ill meet Pete at the Obelisk? 8ish? ill be pooped too so ill keep it a nice and easy pace.

tonto

I'm crying off tonight as well I'm afraid Crying or Very sad

Have had to trek up to Coventry this morning and won't get back in time.

Just have to save my legs for the Dyfi enduro.

btw Lefty - How was the Nightrider 12?

smellyengine

Obelisk it is...Keep your eyes peeled for late night crack heads, although they could even be on the crank. If I'm ten mins late or something, fear not, I'll come wheezing up the hill like a Sopwith Camel at some point...

lefty

Tonto.. Nightrider was great.. very well organized with a really interesting and technical course.. We did however underestimate our sleep requirements lol.. and that killed us.. I think I managed 5 laps of 12k plus a practice lap.. as part of a 4 man team. The solo winner did 21 laps on his own?????? Madness. We will do something similar soon but will be better prepared next time for sure.

Pete see you there.. my new lights are uber bright so I should be able to blind any oncoming crack heads Smile

smellyengine

Good ride....True to say the the trails are different in the dark and a surprising number of riders out late too. Won't mention the over the bars moment....The thought of riding through that horse muck proved too much so there you go...
Nice one Lefty, Here's to the next night ride.
Latte.

lefty

Yea nice one Pete was good fun... apart from my bog snorkelling and being attacked by a baaazillion caterpillars. The trails do really take on a whole new character at night.

Im keen to do another so anyone up for one next week let me know.

Ill post it up as a separate ride in the forum.

smellyengine

Found one trying to sneak out my bag this morning. Blighters...