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Night Riding at Terrey Hills
Just taken delivery of the cell bikes 1200 lumen light - Great distance.
Is there anything other than being sensible about riding at Terrey Hills at Night. I have ridden the trail half a dozen times during the day and really enjoy it. Find it easy to ride.
Concerns are, Snakes (not jelly ones), spiders, horses, wallabies and the 'Homeless'or any hoods. ( I have ridden around beecroft/epping over the years during the day and come across numerous homeless/hobos and teenagers looking for trouble.
Any advice would be great. Also would like to join someone who would like to go on a night ride. (I do have a mate who rides with me) - Certainly wouldnt go it alone
Thanks
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I have ridden it on my my own at night no problem its a nice easy ride in the dark.
With temperatures dropping at night this time of year I'd take a rain shell jacket or similar in case you need to stop for mechanicals. Also a fully charged mobile phone, a basic first aid kit including compression bandage, a whistle, and let someone at home know when you expect to be back.
While TH is tame, things can and do happen. Last month someone broke a shoulder getting it wrong off a water bar on Long Trail and had to be taken out in a 4WD by the ambos. So my suggestion is not to ride alone after dark. Could be awhile before someone happens by if you get into trouble.
Thanks Hawkeye,
All very sensible stuff. Will be going slowly on the first few runs.
Any wildlife to be wary of?
Spiders are a pain during summer, as their webs stretch across the narrower parts of the trail. My suggestion is to send any kiwis in your party to the front of the queue - their reaction to potentially venomous wildlife is not only highly entertaining but it saves you getting anything creepy entangled in your helmet.
Just keep an eye out for any moving sticks, and treat them all as potentially venomous until you can clearly identify the snake as a non-poinonous variety. In other words, give them plenty of room. Other than that, the occasional wallaby: they're not too bright and can be a collision risk.
Don't usually see any wildlife, let alone anything dangerous. It's more common to hear things occasionally skittering away in the undergrowth at the side of the trail as you pass.
Any objections in sending a pom first. The whingeing may send the wildlife running.
Thanks for the advice.
Keep you posted!!
I have done that ride a few times but always take someone else - for extra light for one and just in case. If you came off broke your light and messed yourself up I wouldn't want to walk the 20 ks out in the dark. I have had two punctures on that trail and had to walk out in the day and it wasn't fun. A mate snapped his frame on a waterbar recently and had to walk it....If your going alone obviously give someone detailed instructions of which trail, where and when you will be back.
In terms of wildlife - you hear heaps scuttling off but haven't seen much at night - love to see one of those stripey snakes but at an average 22kph slim chance - at night every stick looks like a snake.....it makes you ride faster!
Personally I love riding at night by myself, its peacful alot more animals to spot. I let my girlfriend know my route gps wise and have a set time I call her . I carry the same gear I would on a normal ride + a smaller head torch.
If you are looking for someone to ride with at night post a ride, and if I am in town I would be keen to join you - we have just moved to Terrey Hills and can't wait to explore the trails I know well from the day at night.
I often ride alone at night in Terrey Hills. Tonight I rode Terrey Hills/Duck Holes & Centre Tracks (opposite way, i.e. starting at Centre and finishing at Terrey Hills Trail/SES centre. The last stretch is always when the Kamikaze Wallabies try to take you out. I nearly took out a very young and daring joey who decided to hop across me 1 mtr from the front wheel while I was doing 20-25kph. All the advice given above is sound. Use common sense.
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