Dark and Ride

This is a take on the Park and Ride Skyride (with a few minor modifications). Starting from Leverhulme Park, we will head down through the Gravel Pits towards Moses gate and then follow the trail to the Meccano bridge and pick up the Outwood trail at Radcliffe. Then we head out to Waterdale Park where we can either have a blast round the MTB trail here or if the group feels like it we can head up to Philips Park! We'll play that by ear. The ride is not especially technical but we will be riding along canal tow paths and there may be some small obstacles along the way. For that reason, good quality lights are ESSENTIAL. We will be heading out into totally unlit areas so commuting lights just won't cut it. You will need something that will let you see what's coming so something offering around 900 lumens or more would be recommended. Also, we will be spending well over an hour in unlit areas so you need lights with a decent burn time at full power to last the distance! Some general points to note: Obviously at this time of year the weather is going to be chilly at best and with this being a night ride, the temperature can drop quickly after dark so it's important that you have warm clothes - layers work best starting with a thermal base layer and then a long-sleeved jersey and either a windstopper or waterproof jacket (depending on the weather!). Good winter gloves will also make the ride much more enjoyable. It is likely to be wet and muddy in places - especially along the canal so be prepared for that :) I would also recommend something like a buff or neck gaiter to keep the chill off your head and clear lens glasses to keep the mud out of your eyes! Helmets are not essential but I would highly recommend it. Also, at this time of year, you are far more likely to pick up punctures so I would recommend you bring at least 2 spare inner tubes with you along with your normal tools to save you having a long walk back home! :) If you've never experienced a night ride before I would highly recommend it. It's a totally thrilling experience and makes trails that you might have ridden hundreds of times in the day feel like a totally new ride. It's a lot of fun!