Weekly SD night ride..?

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by b5driver

So the one light on the helmet's enough? Or do you think it's necessary to have the lights on the bars too?

Just my opinion here, but..

If you run Halogens, I would suggest 1 on the helmet and 1 on the bars.

If you're going to run HID or the newer LED's, one on the helmet should be plenty.

That being said, the Nite Rider ClassicPlus halogen I run on my bars is so bright it will wash out an HID when in its brightest setting. However, it only has a 90 minute burn time in the highest setting, hence the advantage of the HID's and LED's.

Originally Posted by bjammin

I don't get out of work till 7 on the weekdays. I'm off on Wed. but I'm not going to sit in traffic to ride LPQ on my day off (sorry). I have a shop ride that leaves at 5:30 on Sundays at LPQ.

Ben--please start posting those up!! I should be able to tag along at least a couple times a month.

Just out of curiosity, what's the pace like on those? No worries either way, I just like to know what I'm in for.

[OffRoadie]

If I bought a light, I might be able to make Tuesdays at LPQ or Wednesdays at Florida Canyon. I'm thinking about the batteryspace.com Trailtech HID.

[jonsocal]

I am up for whatever ride y'all are up for. I can get off of work a tad early once a week for a ride. Let me take a couple of swipes at some of the stuff discussed so far...

Gary Fox Rides - I have been riding with Gary's group for several years. Fantastic group. Thursday nights are a fun ride, more mellow and less aggressive than the Tuesday night group. Tuesday nights are much faster paced and much of the time you are going to be anaerobic. (oxygen debt! good times!) Both rides are in RPQ, but Tuesday starts off of the 56 freeway and Thur is in the Qualcomm Parking-lot off of Lusk Blvd in Mira Mesa.

Lights - I am a HUGE fan of HID's. I am well into the 3rd year of my Niterider Flamethrower and it is still running great. Burn time is around 2.5 hours nowadays compared to just over 3 when new. I have gone through 2 ballasts, but nothing else. I use a bar light when riding an HID. I have used a helmet mounted HID, but the bright white light works against you if you are behind someone kicking up dust. The white light and dust blend and you get blinded. LITERALLY, you cannot see the trail. Using a helmet light is very handy so that you can see your gear indicators (I sometimes cross chain the gears at night without a helmet light.) or if you have to complete trailside repairs. If you want a great set-up, maybe check out a HID light on the bars and either an LED or a Halogen for the helmet. I haven't had the opportunity to try the MiNewt LED from Niterider, but have heard great things about it and people keep telling me that they are bright as heck and last a long time. If I'm going to to purchase a new set of lights, I'd probably go with an LED (MiNewt or TriNewt or something like that). The fact that they weigh less, burn longer and are a tad less expensive has a lot to do with that assessment.

Weekly rides - I'm in. Pick a place and time and I'll drag my carcass out there.

[schleppp]

I like my HID mounted on the bars, It throws a much better shadow on the ground and makes it easier to see ruts, rocks and whatever else is looking to reach out and grab you as you ride by. Here's a little about the logic behind this. The shadows created from a light source close to your eyes does not provide adequate depth perception. Any shadow created will be very shallow. The ideal set up for me is to have a bar mounted HID and something more portable and light as my helmet mounted, works great.
You might be able to test this difference yourself with a flashlight, looking down a trail in the dark with it on your head, then held at the waist.

Just my two cents...

[Evil Chocula]

I'm going on the Hodges ride this Tuesday... how about a La Costa night ride next week?

And, ran my HID on the helmet last night... I did experience the dust effect, but: it allows me to scan the bush for the large cat who is inevitably stalking me!

Originally Posted by jonsocal

I am up for whatever ride y'all are up for. I can get off of work a tad early once a week for a ride. Let me take a couple of swipes at some of the stuff discussed so far...

Gary Fox Rides - I have been riding with Gary's group for several years. Fantastic group. Thursday nights are a fun ride, more mellow and less aggressive than the Tuesday night group. Tuesday nights are much faster paced and much of the time you are going to be anaerobic. (oxygen debt! good times!) Both rides are in RPQ, but Tuesday starts off of the 56 freeway and Thur is in the Qualcomm Parking-lot off of Lusk Blvd in Mira Mesa.

Lights - I am a HUGE fan of HID's. I am well into the 3rd year of my Niterider Flamethrower and it is still running great. Burn time is around 2.5 hours nowadays compared to just over 3 when new. I have gone through 2 ballasts, but nothing else. I use a bar light when riding an HID. I have used a helmet mounted HID, but the bright white light works against you if you are behind someone kicking up dust. The white light and dust blend and you get blinded. LITERALLY, you cannot see the trail. Using a helmet light is very handy so that you can see your gear indicators (I sometimes cross chain the gears at night without a helmet light.) or if you have to complete trailside repairs. If you want a great set-up, maybe check out a HID light on the bars and either an LED or a Halogen for the helmet. I haven't had the opportunity to try the MiNewt LED from Niterider, but have heard great things about it and people keep telling me that they are bright as heck and last a long time. If I'm going to to purchase a new set of lights, I'd probably go with an LED (MiNewt or TriNewt or something like that). The fact that they weigh less, burn longer and are a tad less expensive has a lot to do with that assessment.

Weekly rides - I'm in. Pick a place and time and I'll drag my carcass out there.

[jonsocal]

Originally Posted by Evil Chocula

...ran my HID on the helmet last night... I did experience the dust effect, but: it allows me to scan the bush for the large cat who is inevitably stalking me!

I've been stalked by cougars before..... just not on the trail.....