I joined up with a group of riders to race a 24hr race this spring. I have never done a 24hr race and I thought that this was an opportunity not to miss. Besides I always need some sort of event to keep my mind occupied and prevent me from becoming a complacent slob. I have nearly perfected the art of the latter and I think that spectating is a sport. But with a 24hr race looming in the near future riding my bike has become more of a priority. I think that I am ready to go, the only thing that I didn't have any experience with is night riding. Seeing as how we race for 24 hrs, and we are situated south of the arctic circle my guess is that I will at some point during the race have to ride at night. I purchased a set of lights from Light and Motion. I have heard nothing but good things about those lights so I figured I would give them a go.

I was supposed to meet up with a friend last night to head out for my maiden night ride. At the last minute something came up and he could not make the ride. Bummer. I was already kitted up and decided that I would take off solo. I gave my wife a detailed description of where I would be headed in case I didn't show up at the expected time. I also gave her a list of places that I would take short cuts to get home in-case of the I-chickened-out-in-the-dark factor. The first 45min still provided me with enough natural light that didn't need to turn on the headlamps. Once I reached the top of Sidewinder though it was time to give these lamps a go. It is a bit of a funky field of view with the lamps on for the first time. The bar mounted lamp is pointed one way the helmet lamp is pointed in a slightly different direction, and every once-in-a-while both light illuminate the same area. Being a newby to that experience of the lights lining up I found it rather cool. An accomplishment really, so I kept seeking out the times when the light lined up. A kind of target practice on the bike. I was like Luke Skywalker trying to shoot down the Death Star - sound effects and all.

I made it down Woods Gulch and made my way into the Rattlesnake. I turned off the main corridor and made my way up Curry Gulch. This is where nearly all natural light disappeared and I was very much relying on my lights. It was dark all around me. I am quite at home in the Rattlesnake. I love the place and spend as much time as I can up there. But I have seen mountain lions and bear up there as well. I know they are up there and the longer I rode the more often my head was reminding of the different encounters I have had with wildlife up there. Although those encounters are more like sightings at best and they are exceedingly rare my head was still churning with scenarios of big cats following me up the trails. My headlights cast shadows off of the large trees and shrubs and caused them to move at unnatural angles as I rode past. Each large shadow looked for a brief moment like an animal I didn't want to see. It is just like that burnt tree stump you ride past on your favorite trail. For the briefest of instants you think it might be a bear. I kept my self occupied trying to destroy the Death Star. Worked like a charm.

At Star junction I could have continued up to ride Vague but I decided it was time to head back down into Sawmill. The single track coming down into Sawmill Gulch was a riot to ride in the dark. I may have been going slower than I would during the day but it sure didn't feel like it. I spooked several deer. I thought they were supposed to freeze in the head lights. I pointed my lights right at them and they just turned and ran away. So much for hunting with headlights I guess.

I turned onto "Ewok" (Nee Secret Sauce) for one final single track run. Night or day Ewok is like a favorite pair of jeans. I would have had hard time riding without lights of course but even with the lights the trail twists and turns enough that you cannot see anywhere beyond the turn you are coming into. Secret Sauce is different though; it is like that favorite album you had in the ninth grade. The one you listened to too much and you started humming the tune to the next song before it even started playing. I have ridden that trail more times than I can count. So I was already anticipating the next turn before I could even see it, initiating the turn before it was even lit up - like a Jedi Knight using the force. A totally cool feeling - a groove of sorts. And it kept my mind off of all the hairy beasts that were waiting to pounce. I am looking forward to my next night ride aleady, hopefully with some company next time… care to join me?