Friday, 6:30 PM, departure. 250 km, through the night, let's see when we'll be back home. We wanted to do two things: check the entire route once and, of course, experience the Night Shift ourselves.
We're planning to reroute a few sections to make it nicer for you. That's exactly what a test ride is for. A route is never perfect the first time. That's why we ride it ourselves before you do.
Preparation pays off. Check the weather, how cold will it get, do I have enough clothes with me, even if I'm not riding for a while (break, mechanical issue, …)? Batteries charged, lights tested beforehand, backup lamp packed? And a plan for food and water: gas stations are rarely open at night, cemeteries along the route are often the lifesaving water source.
Beyond the gear: The hardest hour is the one before sunrise. Cold, tired, morale low. But don't worry, motivation comes back with the first rays of light. You really start longing for the sun.
Plan in more time than you would for a comparable route during the day. You're slower at night, even if it doesn't feel that way. We needed just under 11:30h of riding time for the route. We weren't in a rush, but we didn't dawdle either.
During the Night Shift, you'll meet other riders out on the route from time to time. A few kilometers riding as a pair or in a group of three gives you more energy than you'd think. The time together definitely carried us through the night.
One more thing that stays with you: A night ride isn't just challenging because the route is long. The sleep deprivation hits hard. Give yourself proper rest afterwards.
Until next time.
Rasmus, Jasper, David und Jan
