A different way to ride double black diamond features at night.
Geoff Gulevich drops in with no lights on him or his bike, guided only by a few Lezyne lights strategically placed on a selection of double black diamond features.
December 2025, North Shore Vancouver.
We headed out at night to try something a little different on one of my favorite North Shore trails: Boogieman. The concept was daunting. I planned to ride a mix of features of varying difficulty along the double black diamond trail, setting up Lezyne front lights in the trees and propped on rocks and roots. No lights on me, no lights on the bike. Definitely not something I’d recommend trying yourself.
SETTING UP THE RIDE
Right from the start, it felt strange. The trail looked completely different with only parts of it lit up. Everything outside the light just disappeared, which made even familiar sections feel new. It was slushy, wet, and quiet, and once I was rolling there was little room for error. I remember thinking it was a cool concept, but also realizing pretty quickly that it added a whole new level of difficulty.
DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND FEATURES IN THE DARK
Normally, the Boogieman is a trail I’m comfortable riding despite its double black diamond rating, but riding it this way changed that. There were a few moments that felt way closer to the edge than usual. Before one longer section, I spent more time inspecting the feature. There was a decent drop-off off the side, and the lighting only covered part of the line, so it was one of those situations where you really had to commit and stay focused.
We took our time setting up lights for the bigger features, making sure the takeoffs and landings were visible. Even then, there were still sections that felt pretty sketchy. One in particular stood out as the most challenging of the night. It wasn’t just the length or steepness; this feature was incredibly narrow and slippery. At the end of the feature, I realized the runout wasn’t lit as well as it should have been. I clipped a root, went over the bars, and banged my wrist. Nothing serious, but a good reminder of how small mistakes can add up when visibility is limited.
A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON NIGHT RIDING
What surprised me most was how tense everything felt. In the daylight, you can read the trail and let the bike move underneath you. In the dark, with only partial lighting, you’re reacting more than riding. You can’t see all the small bumps and changes in the wood, so the bike gets pushed around in ways you don’t expect.
By the end of it, I was really stoked. It was a different way to experience a trail I know well, and it definitely made me appreciate riding at night in a whole new way. I still love the Boogieman, but riding it at night like this gave it a whole new feel.
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