From: Rides 2 Far <rides2far@xxxxxxxx>
To: jlong@xxxxxxxx
CC: heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,a.yovich@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC] head lamps
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 16:45:45 -0500
> Only once in many miles of night riding without a light have I ever had
any mishap:
Well I had as doozie. I was trotting down a very nice jeep road (I know
this gets boring when it's my usual event) and we did...a summersault.
(that was number 2 of 3 we've done) I had to crawl around in the dark
feeling for what got us. There was a deep little washout and his leg on
the diagonal I was posting had gone directly into it. The really weird
thing about falling in total darkness was that I never knew we were
falling. I felt him stumble, but since I couldn't even see his head I was
just waiting for him to recover and was totally caught off guard when the
ground smacked me flat against my entire upper body. Heck, I was just
sitting in a nice riding position on my horse and it felt like I hit a
wall. I never even raised my hands. I had a flashlight hanging on a
string around my neck and it made a real impression on my ribs. :-P
The next 100 I was in Marilyn Horstmayer had a flourescent bar light on
her horse's breast collar. I got in behind her and it was great. The
ride after that Joylynn Carlson had one. I tailgated her until she was
sick of me. I finally broke down and got one of my own. I love it. The
light is very soft and stays in a pool about 6' in front of the horse
with no shadows. I can see footing in time to avoid a major catastrophe.
I remember seeing culverts with holes in them at one ride and knowing we
were coming back that way after dark. It was nice to know later that I
could see the ground. I like it dark if we're walking, but trotting I
love my light.
One other thing. Just before I had my mishap in the dark I had been
riding out from camp on a dirt road. I heard a truck coming around the
blind curve and wanted to signal. There was no way for me to get off the
road. I couldn't get my stupid flashlight out of my shirt in time and it
scared me to death. (it happened to be a crew truck and the idiots were
just booking down through there!) I've tried glow sticks and don't see
the use of them unless it's to let cars see you. They pretty much light
up what's already under your nose. It would be way too late to dodge
whatever you happen to see. I guess maybe it might satisfy your
curiosity to let you know what got you though.
Angie
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