Shine a light on your cycling with the latest technology

It’s now that time of the year, which seems to come around all too soon, when the darkness of the night encroaches ever closer into our valuable time for riding our bikes and many turn towards their indoor trainer to keep some semblance of fitness through the winter months.

Fortunately, the advance of bike-light technology means that the darkness no longer forces you to lock your trusty steed in the shed until spring.

There are a vast array of lights available on the market that can extend your cycling throughout the year; no longer are we limited to a few heavy battery-operated lights or the leg muscle-sapping dynamo lights powered by a turning bike wheel.

As usual, however, along with choice comes the inevitable confusion of which light is best. For starters, you have to choose the type of light that matches the type of riding you will need it for; do you want to see, be seen, or both?

Generally, if you are commuting in an urban environment your priority will be to be seen and a choice of reflective, bright clothing and front and rear lights will do the job.

If your ride takes you along roads without street lighting, or you plan some winter off-road riding, then you will need a front light with a bit more power to illuminate the way ahead.

Again there is a wide choice of products available, but manufacturers often add to the confusion by marketing the brightness of their lights in various ways: candela, candlepower, lumens, lux and watts are all used to describe the brightness of a light and it makes comparing products difficult.

As a general rule of thumb, get the best lights you can afford – they will work well and, if looked after, last you many years.

It is worth doing some research, but from experience I have used the same light over several winters of weekly riding in extreme conditions and it is still going strong, so the initial outlay is often worth it.

The last consideration is to make sure your lights are fulfilling legal requirements.

Whatever light you choose, riding in the dark on and off-road, away from the glare of street lights, lets you enter a whole new world of cycling – engulfed in your own sensory bubble, roads you may have ridden many times previously take on a whole new feel and thrill. Where to ride: Cairn O’mount

Grade: Hard – road route

Details: 2.1 miles/ 3.5km

The climb: OS 1:50,000 Map 45 – NO650735

Start/ Finish: Fettercairn – Cairn O’mount

THE CLIMB

Details: At an average of 8.9%, starting from Clatterin Brig this climb is tough and is one of only seven in Scotland listed in Simon Warren’s “100 Greatest Cycling Climbs”. It starts with a chainsnapping 16% section and although that lessens as you ascend there is very little respite from bottom to top. A variety of routes can be added to extend the distance of this ride and take in some beautiful riding around Angus.

Riding with the kids at night on Kinnoul Hill.