Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: Yep ! on November 16, 2006, 12:53:32 AM
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Do you prefer riding at night...and why ?
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/Pict_photos/ExportWizard-1.gif)
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I try and avoid traveling at night if I don’t have to mostly because of the increased risk of not being seen and hit or hitting something not seen. I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking necessary risk even to have fun but now that I am 50 and have had my share of Murphy's law, I try and avoid unnecessary risk which has more then once really paid off.
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I prefer sunshine. I find it more difficult to judge distances and see at night.
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I prefer the day but its nice to ride at night during the heat and humidity of summer. :motorsmile:
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I don't mind riding at night, although I don't do it often.
I do try to avoid riding at dawn and dusk - the sun is in a shitty position and is either blinding you or the drop kick in the car coming the other way.....
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IN the worst of summer, a night ride can be fun. But at night, there's nothing to see along the way, other than what little the headlights catch. So "prefer"? No. Enjoy sometimes? Sure.
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It isn't my favorite time to ride, but I will ride at night without hesitation. I try to avoid dark twisty roads at night if possible. I've done that once or twice and didn't care for that at all.
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I agree, it does make it much harder to see which is not pleasant. But it is nice and cool, so crispe, dense air and of course less traffic means more fun i.e. big roundabout = 3 laps.:motorsmile: And practicing wot starts at lights on the HWY :wink:
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im gonna buck the trend, i actualy prefer riding at night, the glow of the cats eyes in the road guiding you round the bends cant be beaten. that and late at night there are so few people on the roads that you can open the bike up a little more and enjoy it :)
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I like nights as well. Not that I really have a preference for day of night. I like riding in both for different reasons, but I do enjoy riding at night. Daytime is nice, especially when riding in picturesqese places, and for all reasons most are familiar with.
Nightime is great 'cause there's less, and sometimes no, traffic. When riding on certain roads the lane reflectors sometimes feel like you're in some 80s videogame (where the local and express lanes merge on NJ's Garden State Parkway is one example). When such a road is yours, it's trip to let 'er rip!
There's a spaciness (for lack of a better word) to riding at night that I like as well. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's like traveling in a floating space.
My only real concern with riding at night is that you stand a better chance of having bambi run across the road. Not that it can't happen in the day, but night always appears to be their party time.
I guess I like riding at night so much, I think I'm the only one here who's taken their portrait with their bike at night! :lol:
http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=1098&start=45
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I like night riding as well. Obviously the animals and road debris are concerns. The one thing that is harder for me is depth perception. Its harder for me to run corners at good speeds. I seem to have a harder time judging my speed at night.
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There are three deer hit every week on the ten miles of highway between Cochrane and Calgary.
I prefer riding in day light.
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I used to like riding in big cities at night. Nothing like a cruise downtown on a warm evening, but like others mentioned, too many deer, elk, goats, sheep, moose, antelope, coyote, etc. on the road from dusk to dawn. It just freaks me out now. I'm always nervous at night.
Give me a nice warm (not hot) sunny day, with good friends, twisty roads and great scenery. Ahh...I can hardly wait. March/April is too far away.
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When I was in Texas, one of my biggest fears was hitting a cannon ball (armadillo). It is because they have such a hard shell, and are so low, they are hard to see. I've come close a few times hitting a critter at night. I almost hit a skunk once too while making a turn.
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I,m like CW04GUNNER + 9
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I try and avoid traveling at night if I don’t have to mostly because of the increased risk of not being seen and hit or hitting something not seen. I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking necessary risk even to have fun but now that I am 50 and have had my share of Murphy's law, I try and avoid unnecessary risk which has more then once really paid off.
I hear that! (49)
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I definatly prefer the daytime. I like to look ahead as far as I possibly can. And especially this time of year, (the rut) deer travel at night ,along w/ other critters.In the summer,a night ride can be enjoyable,but I certainly slow the pace a bit. Don't want to overdrive my total stopping distance. Maybe some brighter lights up front would help.
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>>...now that I am 50...<<
>>I,m like CW04GUNNER + 9<<
>>I hear that! (49)<<
What a bunch of old farts. :stickpoke: :monkeymoon:
Phil (51)
(http://members.aol.com/vidrazor/new_yawk.jpg)
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I'm 50 also, but I try my best not to act like it. Yesterday there was a armwrestling tournament in town. I was going to see if they had a masters class,and if they had weight breaks in the masters(alot of times the masters is just that,40 and over and no wieght breaks)I've been around187lbs. But instead I decided to stay home,butchered the turkeys,stocked firewood,visited my grandson and wrestled with the wife instead.(much more fun) It was my only day home,leaving for work in Buffalo this morning. So I am getting wiser(sometimes)
old fart Dan
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>>I'm 50 also, but I try my best not to act like it. Yesterday there was a armwrestling tournament in town...But instead I decided to stay home, butchered the turkeys..<<
Damn, you could'nt even armwrestle the turkeys so you had to butcher 'em? What a wimp. :monkeymoon:
Get out there and ride at night, dammit... :stickpoke:
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Daytime for me for sure. Yes, it's hotter, but part of the joy of riding for me is enjoying the scenery. Plus, riding at night increases the time spent the next day cleaning bugs off. I hate bugs. Dern bugs!
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given the choice I will take the cool midnight ride compared to the sweat your arse off daytime ride anytime . M
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A young guy like myself, prefers daytime riding for the pure pleasure of riding and night-time for cruising town, picking up women.
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>>...now that I am 50...<<
>>I,m like CW04GUNNER + 9<<
>>I hear that! (49)<<
What a bunch of old farts. :stickpoke: :monkeymoon:
Phil (51)
You can tell by the look on his face that he had some close-calls getting that night picture LOL.(jest)
:beers:
(http://members.aol.com/vidrazor/new_yawk.jpg)
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>>You can tell by the look on his face that he had some close-calls getting that night picture<<
That's part of the thrill of riding at night! :bandit:
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I try and avoid traveling at night if I don’t have to mostly because of the increased risk of not being seen and hit or hitting something not seen. I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking necessary risk even to have fun but now that I am 50 and have had my share of Murphy's law, I try and avoid unnecessary risk which has more then once really paid off.
***** Right! Recently a riding safety INSTRUCTOR was heading north going home at night from Texas safety event and got killed because a deer jumped in front of him.
The headlight beam on most bikes is way too narrow to make it possible to spot a deer running parallel to you in the woods, and as Murphy (hisself) said, "I am an optimist".
So if you absitvely, posilutely have to ride at night, mount a light bar on yer bike and point the auxiliary headlights at an angle to the right and to the left to get much better light coverage on the terrain.
Minny, minny rides that dragged into a post-sunset scenario have left me with an abiding sense of doom when riding in the dark. Never mind the drunken maroons going home after Happy Hour. :beers: *****
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I guess I like riding at night so much, I think I'm the only one here who's taken their portrait with their bike at night! :lol:
Ha! My avatar is done at night. She's lit by a street light.
There I was laying in the middle of the street in a crappy (and somewhat scary) area of town, trying to get "just the right shot". The other half was running "spotter" for me, watching for cars, and muggers. :roll: Better still is the fact that that was when her battery was fried, and we had to bump start her to get her going. Musta looked like we were stealing her. :lol:
That said, you'd be hardpressed to find a pic of me anywhere on the net with or without the bike, if I can help it.
Vidrazor, it occurs to me you asked for a bigger pic of her, I think you might have been a casualty when I was madly cleaning up my private messages, send me a PM with your email address, and we'll talk.
Nowadays, I don't do a lot of riding at night. It's often too cold for my liking, and the lack of visibility makes me nervous, especially on the 919 for some reason. Of course, if I was just in the city still, it wouldn't be a big deal, but the 20kms on the highway at the very beginning and the very end of the ride decide it for me. Especially cos I have seen porcupines on that highway. Just about got it in my favorite four wheeler, I suspect that one of those will end your day pretty badly on a two wheeler at highway speeds.
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>>Ha! My avatar is done at night. She's lit by a street light.<<
Ah yes, that's right. I remember that shot. It's a really wonderful shot. It's a great mood and really gives the bike character. Interesting story on it's making! :grin:
I don't remember asking you for a copy of it, although I may have, as it's a nice shot. I suspect you shot that with film and not a digital, right?
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Thats it. I'm outa here, before this thread turns into a photographers wank session! I think there's a thread in off topic about cameras if y'all wanna go hang out there!
(I'm only kidding of course, have your fun, I'm gonna go buy some stock photography)
(Just kidding again... I acutally prefer using real photography over stock... )
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>>Thats it. I'm outa here...<<
:wink:
Actually back to the topic, in as much as I was busting chops back there, you should always ride your own ride. If your friends want to do a night run and you're not felling good about, just tell 'em to let you know how it went.
Day or night, ride your own ride.
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Day or night, ride your own ride.
I totally agree. I have a bunch of friends who ride, but I usually avoid going out with 'em. I find riding in a group too much too keep track of.
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Ah yes, that's right. I remember that shot. It's a really wonderful shot. It's a great mood and really gives the bike character. Interesting story on it's making! :grin:
Thank you! I think that story tells you how crazy you have to be to take photography seriously. I don't know a sane pro or semi-pro at all. I guess motorcycles were a natural progression for me. :wink:
I don't remember asking you for a copy of it, although I may have, as it's a nice shot.
Oh crap,... I had it in my head that it was you. The nick started with a V and I thought the person was from the East Coast,.. New Jersey looked right. I guess you don't work in a cube then either eh?
I suspect you shot that with film and not a digital, right?
Correct, it was a Bronica ETRSi ( medium format) camera with a film back, what gave it away?
Interfuse - a wank session? What's the difference between stock photography and real photography? :wink:
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What's the difference between stock photography and real photography? :wink:
Seeing we've already jumped the track...
About $1,500-5,000 a shot. Depending one what kinda usage your after. And with a real photographer you can get a series of shots that actually work together... with royalty free thats not so easy. I'd much rather hire a real photographer... but budgets rarely allow for it.
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OK it happened. On the way back from the family thanksgiving in LA, I miss calculated my arrival time back home to BHC Arizona and had to my B12 through the desert night roads for the last 90 minutes of the ride. Talk about darkness and chillier weather, and if that is not bad enough I almost hit a giant Owl sitting on the roadway like a Lawn troll. I missed it by inches and almost hit my bike when it took off flying. So as I said I will defiantly try and avoid riding at night again.
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>>I find riding in a group too much too keep track of.<<
I find riding in a group a great way to get a speeding ticket... :bandit:
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there are several videos on the net of bike deer collisions and the one thing they all have in common... shot during the day :duh: need I say more ?
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About $1,500-5,000 a shot. Depending one what kinda usage your after. And with a real photographer you can get a series of shots that actually work together... with royalty free thats not so easy. I'd much rather hire a real photographer... but budgets rarely allow for it.
Ahh,.. slight correction. A stock photographer IS a real photographer, and does not always submit their images to royalty free stock libraries. In fact, most don't. Some stock photographers get paid in the range that you mention for stock images, more often it's much lower though. Royalty free libraries are a way to get exposure. They're a marketting tool, which is also why you rarely find a photographer's best images in them.
The main difference between stock photography and "real" photography as you call it, is the way that the images come about, and how they are licensed.
Stock images are made by real photographers, they are considered "generic" enough or to have enough mass appeal that they can potentially be used for more than one type of ad or otherwise. Their copyright generally stays with them, but may be sold in part or in whole depending on the scope or use of the image (depending on the contractual agreement)
The other sort of photographer that you're talking about takes "assignments". In general, this is a project for one person or entity, and the copyright remains often with the client, but depends solely on the contract in place.
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I guess it's a live by the sword die by the sword type of situation. I know lots of photographers who are starving for work now because of stock photography (royalty free and rights managed). IMO I prefer custom shots. You can always capture exactly the feeling and tone you're looking for.
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I almost hit a giant Owl sitting on the roadway like a Lawn troll. I missed it by inches and almost hit my bike when it took off flying. So as I said I will defiantly try and avoid riding at night again.
Yeowch! Those are scary as hell eh? Our first trip to the mountains we did the same. We miscalculated and ended up riding a lot more in the dark than we wanted to back to the campsite. As we came around one twist in the road, I got divebombed by a bat ( I am really terrified of them too,.. for no real logical reason) and nearly dumped the bike. Then on the last km from the campsite, there was a huge friggin Owl that decided it liked the light from my headlight. He was close enough I could have reached out and touched him as he crossed my path. I, however, was too busy ducking and trying to keep the bike between the ditches to touch him. If I hadn't been, I might have tried to tug a tail feather just to let him know it was a bad idea. :banana:
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I guess it's a live by the sword die by the sword type of situation. I know lots of photographers who are starving for work now because of stock photography (royalty free and rights managed). IMO I prefer custom shots. You can always capture exactly the feeling and tone you're looking for.
I do think that the stock libraries can be deterimental to a lot of photographers, but that's also largely because of the general public's acceptance of photography as an art. (or lack of acceptance)
It's hard to justify a photographer's price, if all you want is a couple of images for an ad. The perceived cost of an image is significanly lower to the client if they don't have to pay for all of the photographers time. ( As is generally the case with a stock image, because the photographer counts on the image to sell more than once, therefore the are able to charge less for licensing -per- sale. ) Therefore, the client is often willing to settle for close to what they wanted, instead of what they actually wanted.
That said, I prefer custom shots as well, and in my own case, if I want a particular shot, I usually just pull the camera out and make that image. Of course I have spent a lot of time and money getting to the point where I can usually do that, and I have my own "stock library" of images I can use for the things I typically need that are not close at hand.
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I guess if Cowtown had a lot of nice nights (warmer than +20C or 68F) I might ride more at night. I'm a warm weather rider and Calgary only gets one or two nights in a summer where the temp stays up after about 11PM or so. I agree with gyrogearcrunch about the lighting thing. It is absolutely amazing what a good set of driving lights can do for your peace of mind at night. The G3 Bandit has a nice flat area under the bottom of the front of the fairing that would be perfect for mounting a couple of PIAA driving lights.....
if I had megabux and if I rode at night more often. Yep, there's certainly something to be said for a nice ride on a balmy evening..... :grin:
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In the stifling sauna that is the great state of Florida, night is when I do most of my summer riding. In the heat of the day even 60 seconds at a stop light can be unbearable. I frequently head out about 10pm and ride for a couple of hours. You definitely have to watch your speed as road hazards are obviously harder to see (in FL the ever-present sand in corners is a big one) but the lack of other traffic far outweighs those risks I think. I always head for the country and get away from the bar traffic.
I totally get the "spacy" thing that Vidrazor was talking about. I remember riding a lovely little road south of the town of Brooksville one night where I started going in and out of little wisps of fog just as the road started going up and down through a series of gentle rises. The road was lined with live oaks, and in places the branches completely over-arched the road, like a tunnel-- it was amazing, and it really did feel like I was flying. I think it has something to do with the way the darkness kind of shrinks your world a bit so you're sort of riding in your own little bubble.
If you can get comfortable with it, the rewards of night riding are many.