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RE: [RC] [RC] Tevis - headlamps??? - Nancy MittsI haven't ridden the Tevis trail, so I can't speak to that in particular. Most of my night riding has been in the woods where the moon doesn't help and getting smacked in the head and poked in the eye are real concerns. So is getting in old fencerow wire if you get even a few feet off trail.I recomment the Petzl Duo. It has a narrow beam that will cast a long way (I use it the most), and a shallow wider beam. I don't like it, makes lots more shadows. It might be useful to look for something or work on a foot. Here's a few tips I've learned. Use a helmet with a visor, the light sitting right above your eyes causes problems (halo vision & headache!) Don't look right down at the top of your horses head (Probably causes problems for the horse.) The horse can't see whats right in front of their nose anyway. Look on down the the trail ahead of the horse like you would (or should) during the day. The light will be far enough above and behind the horse's head it doesn't seem to bother vision. All our horses have travelled easier and faster with the light! (When it's really dark. In a moonlit meadow or open road we go without.) Keep your head still. If something crashes through the brush to your side, if you turn your head the horse will follow the light beam. When traveling in a group, a light behind will bother the riders in the front. The rider with the light should be at the front of the line and can call out warnings to the riders following. The other option is to separate yourseselves by several horse lengths. The beam of your light should hit the trail just behind the heels of the horse in front. (Again, the narrow beam is best for this.) If you need to turn the light off, stop momentarily (or at least do it at a walk). The horse's eyes seem to adjust much more rapidly than mine & they'll quickly take off again. Do the same when you turn it back on. There is no good answer on trails where people are also riding towards you, except that hopefully it's wide open enough the light isn't necessary. If you ride into someone unexpectedly, cover light with your hand or look straight down to the side opposite them. I don't really like the breastcollar lights. I think they interfere with the horses vision because the light is between their eyes and the ground. At the ROC they insisted we put a glow necklace around our neck when it got dark. I couldn't see a thing and removed it as soon as I left the check. The light is too low to be of any use finding markers hung up in trees. I try to be a responsible light user around other people. I do get pretty peeved when I find people LOST or having to walk in the dark who then hollar for me to turn out my light. Just close your eyes till I'm gone, then stay lost! Nancy Mitts From: Wrecksduke@xxxxxxx _________________________________________________________________ Get tips for maintaining your PC, notebook accessories and reviews in Technology 101. http://special.msn.com/tech/technology101.armx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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