The summers are here and unlike earlier times, this season it is at its hottest best. Indeed we can get up in the morning super early and ride. However, a good number of us are working the night shifts and getting up at dawn means breaking that rhythm or riding out sleep deprived. But then again the nights are cooler and offer great promise of pleasant weather so as long as we respect the highways.

Night Time Riding Tips – The Shadow rider

The current state of roads is inversely proportionate to the taxes paid by the average breadwinner. While at some places it may be at par with international standards elsewhere apathy is only a compliment. While some of you reading this would be able to meander through the planet mars and reflection of the moon’s surface while jumping of a set of speed breakers. This would catapult the average Joe higher than an X games jumper, the rest would be glad to have reached the parking lot! So, here are a few Night Time Riding Tips.

Night Time Riding Tips – The Idea

Taking a cue from this thought about the road conditions I began to observe patterns that formed. I did this while giving complete disregard to all the jargon on the internet so and simplify it for anyone. I made few observations that would prove helpful for those having difficulty. Particularly at night – a time when the chances of missing a road hazard are at its peak. Even at times, the speed breaker is visible on a poorly lit or dark road because of nighttime reflectors or white stripes on it. What do you do in case the speed breaker is not visible?

Night Time Riding Tips – How

It is easy to follow the pattern shadow formed by the obstacle. The longer the shadow, the bigger the speed breaker and the shorter it is, the nastier it is for the rims of your bike. It is no daunting task to make this observation. It is best practiced on a daily route during the night. So as to be able to acclimatize oneself to riding the wave of darkness thus created. While this will require a few nights of travel on the same route, it is advisable to memorize the location of the speed breakers so as to slow down or brake well before time and go over the obstacle.

Shadow riding aims to throw light on those times when we ride sans natural illumination or in simple terms – sunlight. Indeed, this is synonymous with the term clarity of thought. There is no denying that even the slightest misunderstanding can turn the sweetest of relationships sour.

Night Time Riding Tips – Throwing light on the subject

Here we will talk about the headlamps of our vehicles. Irrespective of the wattage even the slightest speck of dust can render the rider blind in poor light or heavy fog conditions. Not all of us park indoors nor live in surroundings that are dust free.  Once while riding back home on a clear yet dark night I realized that in areas of low lighting the high beam was not travelling as far as it should. Taking advantage of the riding glove’s fabric I lean forward and wiped the headlight. Lo behold, to my surprise the dark patches got significantly brighter. Nowadays, We certainly have more food on our plate than we can ask for. In order to meet the lifestyle and career needs we tend to ignore some small yet potentially important aspects. In doing so would then to ignore cleaning the head light of our two wheelers.

Night Time Riding Tips – Things to remember

Also, please do ensure that while you may keep the visor up while you ride at times. It is clean before a ride out during or after sunset. With the visor down the dust that had settled inside will direct any light source on your eyes and take your attention off the road. I recommend that you clean not only the headlight but also the visor. Preferably, use a soft non abrasive cloth on both, the inner and outsides. A clean visor is a good way to avoid any light source to distract your attention when you are on the road.