A few people pissed off? Ah well. I'm still alive.
So if you use your lights more considerately, you'll die? Don't be so melodramatic.
Bike Forum
Commuters - using offroad lights for the road?
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Posted 4 months ago #
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It's a false dichotomy though. It's perfectly possible to make yourself highly visible, without blinding pedestrians and other cyclists.
Problem begins when you need to see where your going, i could run low power lights, but i would then start having issues seeing pot-holes, and my route to work has a fair few.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I commute through heavy traffic with a bright offroad light on my helmet, and have been stopped by a policeman who promptly complimented me on my safety and high visibility - happy days. I always make sure the central (brightest) part of the beam is pointing downwards, and when I ride without it find myself feeling more unsafe and definitely less visible (i.e. noticeably more close-calls with vehicles who saw me later than they probably would have).
Posted 4 months ago # -
I use a magicshine DX bastid every day. Beam directed so the main spot hits the road a good few feet in front of me.
I've found that the persil clothes washing liquid cups (the ones you're supposed to put in the drum) make a perfect glow-ring with the bottom cut off.
It can throw a bit too much light into your face when passing down completely unlit roads, but it is easy to remove. Under streetlighting or in town its just fine. It also softens the halo nicely.
Even with 700 lumen kicking out the front, you still get morons drive into you and break your collarbone for you though
Posted 4 months ago # -
it could affect someone else with epilepsy and cause an accident.
Pretty sure they're not allowed to drive but stand to be corrected. If they are, some of those dual carriage way/m-way central reservations need to be filled in to prevent a similar effect. A mate of my bro was killed by a fitting driver who hadnt taken his medication.
I've been commuting for the last 3 years with a Hope Vision 2, flashing mode in normal traffic, low power when filtering, and mid power on unlit cycle paths and tracks so i can see unlit pedestrians. Never had any grief from the po po. Head mounted means you can angle away for courtesy, or shine into cars and/or mirrors to increase people's awareness of you. I guess it depends if you think everyone in a car is out to kill you or not*
*they are.
Posted 4 months ago # -
first time I used my L&M Stella 200 (200 lumen) I was stopped in Police in Central London and asked to "angle it down slightly" as they felt it could be dangerous to other road users
the Stella 200 has a rapid flashing mode which I found much more useful for commuting than my more recent Hope Vision 2 which is great off-road with its 480 lumens, but has a painfully slow flashing mode...
I took the Police advice, and carefully adjusted the angle on my L&M so I am very visible but not blinding other road users?
however, on numerous occasions, I have still had cars pull out in front of me, and pedestrians step in front of me (off the pavement onto the road or cyclepath) both with the usual "sorry did not see you? excuse
to which I say "did not say me? perhaps you should visit the opticians for an eyetest!"
thinking that pedestrians rely too much on their ears (listening for motor vehicles) than using eyes, and motorists just don't care about cyclists...whether blindingly lit or not?
at other times, I have used my Hope Vision 2 head mounted on full power, and found this more useful as you can control the light beam with slight head movements?
Posted 4 months ago # -
No such thing as too much power, just badly pointed power!
I agree its better to be moaned at than mown down.
I use a Troute liberator, on full but aim it down 5 degrees. The spread is good and similar to a cars dipped beam.
I then have a Hope vision 2 on my helmet, on full and slightly dipped, but ready to be used tactically to make sure drivers have seen me.I use both on steady beam when dark and have separate flashing LEDS for getting the "i am a cyclist not a slow motorbike" thing.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I have a handlebar light which I usually have on low, plus a very spotty helmet light. Putting a splash of light on a drivers dashboard works a treat for stopping them pulling out.
Don't use flashing modes on the front at all. I might also add that with all the distractions on the road I don't think stock 'bike' lights are bright enough. At least with a trail light you're as visible as the other road users but the light could do with being refracted better.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I commute 18 miles each way in Derbyshire about 2-3 times a week. The A road I have to negotiate is pitch black in various sections. Currently using my old trusty hope 2. I am are of this and this is pointed down but the only ones that seem to moan are the odd lorry drivers that flash me (whilst they have their wifes name illuminated in the cab with mini LEDs!!!).
Man, if I push the beam downwards any more its pointless! At the end of the day a good strong light is required to see safely in front of me for potholes, dead badgers, and trees.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I used to use my Hope vision 2 and no-one flashed me, but now just use 2 bright LEDs that flash (partly becaues I'm having battery connector issues ATM) - the lights don't flash at the same time / rate so are far more noticeable than one really bright light - you get a weird knightrider effect.
A flasher on the helmet is effective too.
Regarding the 'shining lights on yourself' - do you get a little white LED front and rear pointing towards you (on steady or flashing?) to 'activate' your reflective gear?
Posted 4 months ago # -
I use off road lights for the on road section of my commute. I use the Exposure flash mode most of the time, unless it is very bright sunshine. I feel this is essential because of the large number of cars around now with LED daytime running lights and HID headlights. Most of these are so bright they make conventional bike lights insignificant, and therefore the roads are becoming a whole lot more dangerous for cyclists. Dusk and dawn are the worst times.
Unfortunately I don't see any solution to this problem other than making yourself stand out even more than the cars. For the same reason I'm contemplating getting some Cree running lights for the motorbike. Sad, but it seems to me that the likes of Audi and Mercedes, with the backing of the EU, have started an arms (lumens) race, and if you don't keep up it could cost you your life. At least I have a switch and so the option to turn off or dim my lights as I see fit.I do like the idea of a shield to stop upwards glare. Maybe I'll make a prototype this evening.
Posted 4 months ago # -
So if you use your lights more considerately, you'll die? Don't be so melodramatic.
Real life experience, it appears to be far more likely if I'm more considerate. Obviously if someone had killed me by now I'd not have the option.
And lets face it, my minor inconsiderateness (which as I keep pointing out, hasn't appeared to rankle anyone particularly so far), is nothing compared to the constant severely dangerous driving that cyclists have to endure every single day. You know, where they get run over and killed. Oops, there I go again.
Posted 4 months ago # -
This is my setup: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bflex-driver-in-lumicycle-halogen-more-light-diy. One pointed well down and another mounted horizontal which I can switch between full power and pretty dim.
The problem is that you need to bright LED lights a really long way down to stop them being offensive. What's really needed are lights with car-style beam patterns with a really sharp cut-off. There's a few around for the German market, but not a lot of choice.
Posted 4 months ago # -
reflective stuff is very effective especially on the pedals.
Posted 4 months ago # -
They proper wind me up. Usually just MTB'ers on the road linking bit of trail.
I just use a Joystick on the road.
But three of you full beam bars and lids Why TF did you thank me when I had to stop and turn away
AH's of the very highest order.Posted 4 months ago # -
I use a P7 on the bars and a cree headtorch
80% of my commute is unlit B roads,had previously used
a cheap bike light set from Halfords which was no use at all ...
I always dim the lights if i encounter any traffic
lucky if i see half a dozen cars on the 13 mile commute
thoughPosted 4 months ago # -
I always used to use lumicycle halogens, helmet mounted, pointing quite sharply down, when I commuted in London.
It was brilliant when you spotted someone about to pull out into you from a side road despite all the other lights / reflectives I had on, you could just aim the light at them straight on, and suddenly they slammed on the brakes and stopped. Worked 100% of the time. I was pretty careful not to dazzle oncoming drivers / riders, or point it straight into people's rear view mirrors or whatever, but it was very very useful for cycling in a busy city.
Nowadays my commute is much more straight country roads, with few side junctions, so I don't bother with a helmet light for it, but I can see why people do in cities.
Posted 4 months ago #
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