Are You Afraid of the Dark?

It's getting dark earlier, so follow these simple steps I found at www.mountainbike.com for safer, more enjoyable night rides.

Set Your Light Right

The ideal light setup combines a helmet-mounted spotlight and a bar-mounted unit with a broad-coverage beam. But if you can afford only one, a helmet-mounted light is better because it directs the light where you are looking. Mount it close to the center-top of your helmet. "The higher you put it, the more stable it's going to be, which means it won't fatigue your neck as much over the course of the ride.

Look Where You Want to Go

Your light like your bike is going to follow your eyes, so look ahead, not down. "Your helmet light should be aimed at least eight feet ahead The final adjustments depend on the condition of the trail you're riding which you should plan for well in advance. A first-timer? Stick to a trail you know like the back of your hand so you can test your night vision on known obstacles and corners.

Keep Your Perspective

Artificial light sources create shadows that skew your perspective on obstacles. The key to success in technical situations is knowing about the weird shadows, and saving your highest light-output setting for when things get rough.

Be Confident

Night-riding success comes down to confidence and a good attitude. If you think you can do it, then you'll do it.