Night Ride - This Friday the 16th

[ericbee]

Hi All - Sizzlin'... Now that the heat is on its time to try out night-time ride in the cooler temps. Nitro and I are planning a night-time ride this Friday the 16th up in Hungry Valley. The plan is to meet at the Lane Ranch Campground (just inside the south entrance) at 7 PM... that's right, PM. We'll probably stay in the park since were both fairly new to this and we'd like to tread on familiar ground. If you'd care to join us, let me know. Hope to see you there!

[jonnyNITRO]

Oh yeah.

[Fubar]

You guys are barking mad.

[jonnyNITRO]

Bark, bark ,bark !

[ericbee]

Man, that was a great ride!

We started the ride about 8:00pm and rode until 11:00pm. Because neither of us had done this before, the idea was to start at sunset so we still had some ambient light to ease in to the night-time riding conditions. It was a completely different riding experience in the dark. A couple of times I stopped along the trail and switched off my headlamp - talk about dark! Even w/a crescent moon there was no light source except our headlights - and headlamps when we stopped for breaks. I'm sure Nitro would agree that it seemed like we were riding HV for the first time.

Weather was absolutely perfect, cool temps probably in the mid-70's even after sunset - and a light breeze too. Lots of good riding on close to dust-free and totally people-free trails. As far as the low dust is concerned, the only thing we can guess is that it must have had a light rain there earlier in the day.

We rode a good part of the park, we got in Badlands, Vic's and Gorman (especially crazy in the dark) so we got some miles under our belts. I definitely would have liked to ride a bit longer to get Tatavium Trail in there.

On the way out, Nitro followed me down the 5 just in case I got into any trouble, thanks dude! I think I got home around midnight.

For those of you that would've liked to have made it, we'll have to set up another night ride real soon - a must do. Nitro and I talked about a night ride out in Antelope Buttes area - that'd be fun!

A couple of attached pics of our ride. The first is Nitro on one of our breaks. The second is a shot of me doing a "Rock Solid" trick jump off a 30 foot ramp that was next to the campground - a bit hard to see in the dark.

And BTW, the rumors are true, Nitro does ride faster in the dark.

[jonnyNITRO]

Bark, bark, bark, bark...

[jonnyNITRO]

I loved this environment for the night ride. Like I told Eric, it was like riding Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for the first time at Disneyland. With only a limited amount of road ahead of you, you couldn't quite tell what was coming up next. What lurked around each corner and what surprises awaited you on the top of the next hill?
I almost ran over a few rabbits, one jackrabbit especially! Groups of quail would often burst into the air as I came over the top of a ridge or around a tree. Fortunately, we saw no bears, coyotes or rattlesnakes on the trail...
oh yeah, AND NO OTHER RIDERS!!!

I loved the view from atop those hills; the crescent moon, a gazillion stars, freeway traffic on the 5 and several campfires below us.

It was like riding in a totally different place. I mean, you know where you're going, but you just can't see well enough to know where you are. The GPS units proved to be a big help when finding our way back to camp. (Even though I was going the wrong way at first. Eric- I'll get use to this new technology.)

Also I didn't mind the fact that we both were using our stock headlights. No special rigs here, which I think added to the excitement. I think if we ran some of those racing night lights, it would have been just too much light to make it a night ride. What good does it do when you light up the place like daytime? Might as well ride in the daytime.

Can't wait to do it again.

BTW: Now I know what it must be like for my kids to ride on those trails.

[jonnyNITRO]

Eric- That was one trick jump. (even though I couldn't see it)

[mark_hochman]

looks more like 25'

[Fubar]

Eric- That was one trick jump. (even though I couldn't see it)

I can never get Eric to wheelie, but I'm sure he will during the next night ride....Lunatics.

[DustyRock]

Oh we will get Eric to wheelie. I suspect a video should be in order.

[jonnyNITRO]

I think it's time for another night ride before the summer heat is gone.

[DustyRock]

Yep