AberdeenBikers

For the last couple of nights I have been out on the bike well after dusk.

It was surprising how many things I forgot, then had to think about it while on the move


So I thought I would post up some reminders for the old…sorry I mean experienced and tips for the novice.


First of all, being out on the bike in the countryside when it is dark is great…fcuking great, the further from street lights and busy roads the better


Clean your visor before your journey, inside and out. If the inside is dirty/dusty it is more likely to mist up.


Sign posts can reflect the light very well, and as you move closer to the signs the reflected light area moves…it is often best to go to dipped beam…even small sign post can give you an unpleasant blinding reflection.


I tend to ride a bit slower…there is a lot less (to none) visibility in the distance and around corners.


Be more careful turning into side roads or drive ways, reduce speed and try to go over the "interface between the side road and main road" upright and straight, often that can be a build up of gravel the same colour as the road and you can miss judge the slippy bit.


Clean your head light, and other lights / reflectors


Start your journey with a clean visor.


Scan everywhere all the time, if you see eyes reflecting back at you, that will be some animal just waiting to jump out in front of you, and the feckers do that all the time.
But don’t worry about the reflectors in the middle of the road, although there are called "cats eyes", the council don’t burry real cats, well I don’t think so


Bambi's like trees, especially trees at the edge of open farmland, but more caution required.


Bambi's rarely travel by themselves, so if one crossed the road in front of you, then you better what out for their chums.


Bambi, is best served with a red current jelly , lashings of gravy , roasted potatoes and roasted veg …sorry wrong thread


All manhole covers and white lines will be more slippy that the road surface, and will be at a different level, at night any little fondle to your tyres feels worst than during the day.



And like all night time riding activities, it is best to stay upright and smooth while wearing appropriate protective equipment



Any other tips

Dave wrote:Any other tips

Move to somewhere less isolated and they have street lighting.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote:

Dave wrote:Any other tips

Move to somewhere less isolated and they have street lighting.

dare i say wear high vis?????????

Either swap to a clear visor or carry one with you for when the light fades. Tinted visors at night are no good.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote:

Dave wrote:Any other tips

Move to somewhere less isolated and they have street lighting.

no way

If riding on a busy road, consider not overtaking every car that you catch up with

If it is travelling at an OK speed, keep behind it at a comfortable distance for a few reasons…

That car will act like an early warning system…its lights will pick out stuff and give you a bit more time to react, back off the throttle, instead of snatching at the brakes that often happens if you are the lead vehicle at night.

When there is oncoming traffic…the car you are following will get the that moment of full beam in their face

If you are unsure of the road, the lead vehicle will give you a heads up of the road layout…but be careful, it could turn off up a side road or driveway without indicating.

If you start to make a wrong turning, say you follow a car up a side road/driveway you don’t intend taking, with that side road being at corner with a main road…try and judge your next move…often following that car but slowing down to make a u-turn is better than forcing the bike round the corner on the main road…this goes for daylight riding/driving as well.

Quicksilver wrote:Either swap to a clear visor or carry one with you for when the light fades. Tinted visors at night are no good.

Yes I finaly succumbed to the clear visor yesterday. Riding home in the dark in heavy rain with a dark visor is a tad scary negotiating country roads with visor up coz cant see then getting stingging eyes from the rain is not pleasant either.
Arai visors come off easy enough but getting them back on...ARRRGGGHHH!!! or is it just me
Will it break, will it damage the side pods

When changing the visor on an Arai, there is a bit of an un-healthy sounding "crunch". Its quite normal though. Just be firm and it should change easily with practice.

Be able to stop within the distance you can see

Dave wrote:Be able to stop within the distance you can see

Oh dear.

meepmeep wrote:

Dave wrote:Be able to stop within the distance you can see

Oh dear.

no...OHHH F~~K its a DEER

This is the thread I was looking for

Another tip...generally it get colder when it gets dark, moisture can collect on the metal manhole covers/white lines/ and on the random sections of the road, often leading inconsistent grip levels.

You all ride carefully in these changing conditions.

Badgers make a right mess of fairings

Dave wrote: Another tip...generally it get colder when it gets dark, moisture can collect on the metal manhole covers/white lines/ and on the random sections of the road, often leading inconsistent grip levels.

Important point about the slippery white lines and manhole covers - watch out for where you stop at a set of lights and put your foot down as it's very easy to have your boot slide on the line and you end up rather ungracefully toppling over in a queue of traffic. Almost happened to me twice, but just managed to recover.

Yarek wrote:

Dave wrote: Another tip...generally it get colder when it gets dark, moisture can collect on the metal manhole covers/white lines/ and on the random sections of the road, often leading inconsistent grip levels.

Important point about the slippery white lines and manhole covers - watch out for where you stop at a set of lights and put your foot down as it's very easy to have your boot slide on the line and you end up rather ungracefully toppling over in a queue of traffic. Almost happened to me twice, but just managed to recover.

Similar at petrol stations

What a handy thread this is...just reminded myself of a few points

A winter riding tip for both day and night is watch out for temperature inversions.

We all know that temperature falls as you go up hills etc. but temperatures can also lower as you go down into dips and valleys so be prepared for slippier conditions if you are out on the bike.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

I thought I read somewhere that if you do happen to kill bambi on your way home and survive, that you can't strap it to the back of the bike to take it home for dinner - you have to leave it for the bike behind you

Good thread and good tips (apart from mine ofc)