As the air outside cools and we feel time grow tighter and the leaves change their amber colors we can feel our daylight get shorter. This is some of the best time to ride here in our Green Mountain State. As green turns to beautiful shades of yellow, red and orange, our green tunnel takes on a new and fantastic feel. The trail even seems to change as the leaves fall; we feel them crackle beneath our tires as we carve turns.
This Wednesday night was no colorful exception as we rode some of our favorite trails in Waterbury: Perry Hill.   Every light in front or back of you flowing in and out of turns. Old familiar trails turn new and exciting with the absence of natural light, with only our own artificial headlamps illuminating our way. Night rides take on a much more personal camaraderie-like feel with friends navigating together through the dark. Night riding with a pack of ten is like no other. This might be why fall night riding is one of my favorites. The group shares the experience of riding through the dark, staying together, calling out turns or features, guiding each other as we ride.
So as we feel our light fade earlier and earlier each and every day, don’t let it keep you inside! An old trusty headlamp or new high-powered riding lamp can show you a whole new world. One you never knew just happened to be right outside your door; in the dark.
Now get outside.
Tristan Von Duntz works in sales/distribution for www.vtsports.com and at Onion River Sports. A mountain biker since the age of 7, Tristan now lives in Plainfield, VT. Check out his blog at Green Mountain Lines.
