Riding Mountain Bikes At Night
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Time to read 3 min
Escaping the summer heat, squeezing rides into short winter days or just spicing up your localloops—night riding opens up a whole new world on the trail. The key is lighting: you needenough lumens to see where you’re going and a setup that keeps your hands free to steer. Inthis Worth It episode I test two high-powered lights from MagicShine and share tips for ridingafter dark.
Table of Content
Summary: Night riding is both fun and challenging. You’ll want two lights: a floodlight on the bars toilluminate the trail and a spotlight on your helmet to point where you look. I tested theMagicShine Allty 1000 (1,000 lumens spot) and the Monteer 3500s (3,500 lumens flood) andfound their build quality, mounting hardware and battery life impressive. On familiar greenand blue trails they provided plenty of light; my 1 hour 20 minute ride barely dented thebatteries. Stick to trails you know, drop your saddle for descents using a dropper post and raiseit back up for climbs[1][2], and you’ll have a blast riding into the night.
Bike Lights - Collection
Why ride at night?
Riding at night lets you beat the heat and pack more trail time into your week. Trails you’veridden a hundred times feel fresh and challenging when shadows play tricks on your depthperception. Wildlife is more active after dark, and there’s something magical about a quietforest lit only by your headlamp. The trade-off is reduced visibility and slower reaction time, soquality lighting and a cautious approach are essential.
Choosing your lights
- Use two lights. A bar-mounted floodlight casts a wide beam, lighting up the terrain directly infront of you. A helmet-mounted spotlight follows your gaze around corners and over crests,reducing harsh shadows. Aim for at least 1,000 lumens per light
Setup and mounting
Mount the floodlight centred on your bars using the supplied straps and Garmin-style mount.Choose the strap that best fits your bar diameter and tighten it evenly; the rubber backingprotects carbon and alloy. For the helmet light, route the straps through the vents and underany MIPS liner so the safety system can still rotate. Angle the light slightly down to avoidblinding other trail users and to prevent your visor casting a shadow.Charge both lights fully before your ride (five hours for the Allty and nine hours for theMonteer) using the included micro-USB cables. If you’re out longer, carry a power bank orspare battery.
First ride impressions
On my local blue trail loop I was immediately impressed by how much light the dual setupprovided. The bar-mounted flood lit the entire trail width while the helmet spot pointed exactlywhere I looked. Depth perception still required focus—shadows from rocks and roots can trickyour eyes—so I rode at a conservative speed. I also noticed heaps of wildlife: two wallabies andfour tawny frogmouths made cameo appearances. After 80 minutes the batteries were stillshowing more than 30 % remaining, suggesting the runtime ratings are conservative. One tip:stick to trails you know; it’s easy to mistake a side path for the main trail at night.
Who should try night riding?
Anyone looking to extend their riding season or add a fresh challenge to familiar trails willenjoy night riding. It’s best suited to green and blue trails you already know well. Riderstackling technical terrain should consider lights even brighter than the Monteer 3500s. Adropper post helps you quickly lower your saddle for descents and raise it back up for climbs[1][2].
How many lumens do I need for night riding?
For mellow green and blue trails, two1,000-lumen lights (one flood and one spot) are sufficient. If you ride faster or on moretechnical terrain, consider 3,000 lumens or more on the bars.
Why use a helmet light as well as a bar light?
A bar light illuminates the trail in front ofyou, while a helmet light points where you look. The combination reduces harsh shadows andhelps you see around corners and over crests.
Do I need a dropper post for night rides?
It’s not mandatory, but being able to lower yoursaddle on descents improves control and body positioning[1]. Raise it again for climbs tomaximise pedalling efficiency[2].
Are these lights waterproof?
The Allty 1000 carries an IPX7 rating (submersible to 1 m for30 min) and the Monteer 3500s is IP65-rated, meaning it’s dust tight and protected againstwater jets. Both will handle rain and splashes without issue.
Jared Morgan
BikesOnline....
