A nocturnal trundle is a great way to escape the heat and discover a whole new side to the city in summer, finds Margot McGovern.
There’s a lot to enjoy about riding at any time of day—especially when the sun is out—but when the light disappears, the traffic thins and night owls begin their hooting, it can be the best time to hit the streets for a trundle.
It’s particularly pleasurable during the height of summer; night brings cool relief from the heat and glare. In the dark, the city takes on a new look. The familiar becomes unfamiliar in the shadows. Places that stand out during the day retreat in the darkness, while others, previously unnoticed, light up.
Night riding is an ideal way to discover new places in your local city, catch up with friends, share the romance of the evening with someone special or even join a group of like minded pedallers to check out the scenery.
In the US, community night rides are a popular way to unwind at the end of the work week, with many cities hosting monthly Friday night ‘Bike Parties’. The trend began in 2007 in San Jose, California, and quickly spread across the nation, with Bike Parties now held in San Francisco (sfbikeparty.wordpress.com), Baltimore (baltimorebikeparty.com), Washington DC (dcbikeparty.com) and Boston (bostonbikeparty.com), to name a few. The rolling parties are designed to bring together local bike communities to celebrate and spread the joy of riding. They are typically held monthly and welcome riders of all ages and abilities, with some regularly attracting more than 1,000 riders. A committee of volunteers set the route and theme for each ride, and participants are encouraged to dress up and decorate their bikes, adding to the party vibe. Along the way, riders stop at designated parks and plazas to feast, dance and be entertained by DJs and performers. The rolling revelry aims to boost the profile and appeal of riding and get people engaged with their local community. As such, riders are expected to follow all road rules, pick up their rubbish and behave respectfully. Sound like fun? Similar events are now being held in Australia, with the Melbourne Bike Rave and Sydney Rides the Night taking place earlier in 2014 and the inaugural Ride the Night, Melbourne, (ridethenight.org.au) set to roll on the stroke of midnight, 1 February 2015.
However, if a subdued trundle is more your style, a night ride can also be a romantic accompaniment to dinner or a film. It may even boost your chances for a second date, as Robert Louis Stevenson noted: “There is a romance to all who are abroad in the black hours.”
It’s not just romance that can be increased by a trundle through the darker streets— according to a 2013 German study, it’s in the dark that we are at our most creative. As researchers Anna Steidle and Lioba Werth of the University of Stuttgart and the University of Hohenheim explain: “dim illumination heightens perceived freedom from constraints, which in turn improves creative performance.” So when you’re stuck on a problem, or just need to clear your head after a long day, head out for a solo spin. Meander through empty streets, focusing on the rhythmic rotation of the pedals and the stretch of road ahead and enjoy the thrilling strangeness of seeing the city anew.
Remember, when riding at night, or in low light conditions you are legally required to run a white front and red rear light visible at a minimum 200m. For light recommendations, see the 2014 Ride On lights test.
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