6 Tips for Riding at Night

Carnivals, concerts, baseball games—they're all better under the lights. Riding can be, too. Here's how to do it right.

Go Disco

Most states require you to ride with a front light at night. A model with 100 lumens (a measure of brightness) should work for most situations. Look for one that also has a strobe function—the flashing light makes you more visible to cars.

Blink, Blink!

In addition to a front light, you'll want at least one rear-facing red blinky light so you're visible to drivers behind you. Most mount easily to your seatpost and some are rechargeable via a USB port, which eliminates batteries.

6 Steps to Achieving Your Cycling Goals

Double Up

If your route takes you on poorly lit streets, consider two front lights. Mount the brightest to your handlebar to light your path; put another on your helmet so you can see around corners when you turn your head.

Know Your Road

Stick to routes you know until you're comfortable riding in the dark. You'll need to focus on detecting obstacles and avoiding automobiles—not searching for street signs or scanning your GPS device.

Rules of the Road

Get Reflective

Look for clothing, backpacks, and other gear with reflective accents or piping, especially on your shoes and legs—the up-and-down movement of pedaling helps drivers distinguish you from a car.

Stay Loose

You will have less time to see potholes or swerve around debris in the road. Keep your arms and shoulders relaxed so you can react quickly to hazards or absorb the blow if you can't get out of the way.

More: Fall Cycling Gear Review

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