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Like many others, I used to love riding at night. But after laser surgery, I get horrible starbursts. In the days of standard head lamps, that was a big problem, but the newer LEDs make enough of a difference that I'm wanting to ride at night more now.
I went nearly halfway across the country during the night back in the day.
Maybe it's my work-shift, maybe the harsh Alabama sun.........but I really prefer riding at night, everywhere, whatever i'm doing.
Much less traffic......fewer Police.....no blazing sun roasting my ruddy Irish skin, traffic lights on sensor instead of timer ( I rarely have to stop).
Yes, I know night time is when deer are more active......but I use Interstates, state highways & other larger roads.
Been hit 1x by a bird & 1x by a bat but that's been the worst in many years.
Any other night riders out there.....or am I crazy like my buddies say I am ?
Dusk is best on a warm summer night.....sun setting, cooling off etc. Night is cool too though depends what I'm doing.
Yes, visibility, deer etc, we get it. But eve and night bring a new flavor to it I too enjoy.
I ride out of state, between clients, for work. I’d approximate my day:night ratio to be 60% day to 40% night. But most of the day driving is from late afternoon to dusk. I enjoy night driving and have no preference over day/night 4pm-7pm is the worst time on the road, with 6am-9am the second worst.
I ride at night. I usually take the bike to work (I workj overnights) when it isnt raining. I draw the line at riding at night in the rain. I am normally on the road about 10 pm or so. Deer, at least in my area, are normally bedded down at that time. They are active at dusk, until about an hour or so after, then bed to digest, getting up later to feed again. I have a higher chance of a deer strike riding home than going to work. I am hyper vigilant riding at night though. We have a LOT of coyotes.
I prefer daylight because I like to look at the scenery. That said I don't mind riding at night but I like to stay on secondary roads with slower speeds because of the reaction time. I see way more deer in the daytime but it doesn't mean they're not there at night too.
I just read my own long winded night ride report and yawned out.
Yes there's a skill set required for night riding and the down side is magnified and real at all times , but it is an awesome buzz to ride quick at night.
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