It’s night riding season! Some of us are clearly excited, while others grudgingly accept the loss of daylight riding hours in the northern hemisphere.
Like every other aspect of mountain biking, there are many ways to dial in one’s light setup for riding in the dark. In fact, we tested three common configurations with mixed results, which suggests there’s no right or wrong answer.
5 Comments
Oct 28, 2023
Something that doesn't get discussed much in, "where to mount your lights" is viewing angle and soil brightness or reflection. Some locations have brighter soil. (Like the southwest and Southern California).
Light colored soil with a bright spot beam can bounce the light back at you (especially if it's helmet mounted because it's at the same viewing angle as your eyes) it creates a white out spot or hot spot and you loose definition of the trail. Lowering the mounting position of the main light will increase shadows and create more definition. When combined with a helmet light you have the best combo. Head light for following the trail and switchbacks. Lower mounted main light with a wider beam for trail details.
Brighter soils should use a light with a broader beam. Darker soil should use at least one light as a tighter beam.
Oct 30, 2023
Oct 5, 2020
Oct 6, 2020
Oct 5, 2020