Steve's Mountain Bike Page
Turlock, California

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, CA

Night Ride, February 16, 2005

Just about one year ago I did my first night ride with a borrowed light. Although the light wasn't that great and it went out on me at one point, I was recovering from a cold and I couldn't keep up with everyone, the experience was quite exciting. In December of 2004 I met a local who said he'd like to do some night riding so I bought a really good, long lasting and very reliable light, a Niterider Flamethrower HID + LED. I got one ride in with that guy and I never heard from him again. Although I've been riding solo for years it didn't seem like a good idea to ride solo at night, especially during the winter. I don't have a cell phone and nobody would notice my absence for days if something happened. That decision essentially become a law after I encountered a Mountain Lion on the trail at New Melones just last month and two weeks ago the ranger said it was still there.

Earlier today Jim (imjps) sent me an email asking if I wanted to join him that evening. It had been raining all day and rain was predicted for the entire next week. However, I've gotten used to riding in the rain at NM this winter, and at least the temperature was quite moderate. So I went home at noon and plugged in my battery charger. On a whim I also decided to charge up the helmet cam batteries in case the rain stopped. At departure time the skies started clearing and the blue skies followed me out to NM. The rain stopped just as I arrived and it became a beautiful evening, with nary a wisp of wind, requiring just long sleeves and shorts. Occasionally some really cool fog rose from the lake below. It was very quiet and peaceful but with lots of animal sounds. We also startled several animals, including a deer. We had made a joking agreement that the person not attacked by the Mt. Lion must help the person attacked. But I really did get spooked a bit when Jim occasionally got too far ahead and I heard "things" behind me. 

We went out the Frontier Trail and did Angel's Creek clockwise to get some good downhill video. I warned Jim that a downed tree was removed a few weeks ago on the section we usually fly down, but a big dirt hump sloping down the trail was left behind. He successfully negotiated it on the first run and we then went out and did the Buckbrush Loop counterclockwise. We then went back to repeat an even faster run down Angels Creek. As we approached the dirt hump again I slowed down and yelled a reminder out to him. But something went wrong and he did a very nasty endo over it. He hurt his shoulder pretty badly and after some recovery time we headed back to the parking area. By the time we arrived he was in considerable pain and needed to go home. 

However, I'd anxiously waited a whole year to make up for the lame night video I made a year ago, I waited two months to use my new light, it was a long drive out to NM, I'd been seriously practicing the eight downhill switchbacks on the Tower Climb, and I was having the ride of my life. I actually felt a bit guilty for feeling so good in light of Jim's misfortune. But Jim obviously needed to leave so I couldn't expect him to continue riding with me. I'm pretty stubborn when it comes to finishing out the ride I plan, so I decided to continue on solo. Jim tried to talk me out of it so I agreed to call him when I got home so at least he knew I wasn't lying out on the trail somewhere. When I got home I called Jim to assure him I was still alive and he was convinced he had separated his shoulder and he was contemplating going to the hospital emergency room. the next day he went to his doctor and Jim was told he fractured his clavicle in three places and he will probably be out for 8-12 weeks. I wish him a speedy recovery.

I was a bit psyched up, yet a bit scared, so the steep one mile road climb to the top of the switchbacks seemed easier than ever. At the top of the hill I decided the best Mt. Lion strategy would be to go as fast as possible and to not stop under any circumstance. Yet considering the fact that I was alone in the wilderness, on just my third night ride, on the toughest trail with eight downhill switchbacks I could barely make in the light, I began to question my sanity. Fear is a great motivator so I just took off and went for it, making seven of the switchbacks, and not even slowing down until I returned to the parking area via the Carson Creek Trail, several miles later. Needless to say I was quite pleased with myself.

Night riding sure is a blast and it makes trails I've ridden hundreds of times before a whole new experience. In one sense it is actually easier, at least for me. I'm easily intimidated by big drop-offs to the side, deep ruts, or seeing where I might end up if I miss a steep downhill switchback. Since I don't see these as well in the dark I don't psyche myself out quite so much. The downhill switchbacks were as easy as I ever remember them, perhaps also because I purposely tried to go as fast as possible. Maybe I've been going too slow on them in the light. If you haven't tried night riding I suggest you do. But don't be stupid and do it solo!

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