Lights

Dublinflyer

Bit of an odd question to all you cyclists from a non-cyclist!!

My normal drive to work is nowhere near Dublin city center but recently I was attending a thing that involved me crossing from the north-side all the way over to the south side. Two thoughts occurred to me. First of all, the traffic. It's been a very long time since I had to commute during the rush hour but is has got so bad I could not believe it. Crossing the Liffey at any point is impossible.

But the second thing I noticed is what I wanted to ask about. A lot of cyclists have really powerful lights on the front of the bikes now and as a car person these are great. It's so easy to see cyclists as you negotiate in and out of traffic it's brilliant. What I noticed is that a lot have two lights, one static and one flashing. Is the one that flashes not really distracting especially on some of the not so well lit roads? There was one guy behind me and could not get around so he was waiting for things to move. His lights were a bit too high and it was right in my eyes via the mirror. It was actually a bit blinding and even distracted my passenger.

NeedMoreGears

I use a flasher and a steady light - the flasher is to draw attention so that others will notice me and the steady one to see the road (I travel some fairly dark roads). I try to keep them pointed in a direction that doesn't blind other road users but allows me to be easily seen.

mirrormatrix

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

I try to keep them pointed in a direction that doesn't blind other road users

I wish all cyclists would do this. Really annoys me when someone has a high-powered light pointing straight at eye level, blinding everyone in their path.

dreamerb

I have one steady, one flashing, front and rear. Like NeedMoregears, the steady one is to see the road ahead. The flashers are those little ones the RSA was giving out recently - just a small extra contribution to my general visibility. If I was using a light as powerful as my main light I would be *very* careful about angle for precisely the reasons you give.

Aside - has anyone else noticed some flashing lights appear to be at the frequencies for photo-sensitive epilepsy? There's someone I occasionally encounter on my commute with a high-angled high-frequency flashing light, and I keep wondering if I should say something about the frequency. At the moment, I just cycle faster to escape her.

Tenzor07

I find the flash mode very useful when cycling through heavier traffic, and the steady beam on high in lighter traffic, I guess having two lights is a good thing if it helps you to be seen by cars/vans/bus's etc...

Dublinflyer

Yeah like I said i found the new bright flashing lights great as a driver. Makes you really easy to see especially in the bad weather.

Chips Lovell

There's a growing number of people with head-mounted high powered lights. Utterly blinding.

Tenzor07

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

There's a growing number of people with head-mounted high powered lights. Utterly blinding.

Probably Mountain bikers!

They're not very aerodynamic on the road! :pac:

Chips Lovell

Most appear to be commuters

lennymc

Oscar Gateaux wrote: »

Most appear to be commuters

I saw a jogger with one the other day. He was jogging on a cycle path.

cheerspal

Have mine point towards the ground to light up the road. Dont see the point in having them straight out shining into peoples faces.

nak

cheerspal wrote: »

Have mine point towards the ground to light up the road. Dont see the point in having them straight out shining into peoples faces.

I do the same, sick of being blinded by people's lights pointed in my face. Commute on the canal which is lit, so there is no need for people to have 2-4 super bright front lights on pointed skyward.

cheerspal

Bought two of these last week and they are bloody ridiculous. Cateye HL-EL620RC Nano Shot Front Light Black



One is loads but suppose handy to have a flashing one.

cdaly_

cheerspal wrote: »

Have mine point towards the ground to light up the road. Dont see the point in having them straight out shining into peoples faces.

I have a small, bright torch mounted on my helmet. I used to use it to aim at drivers who I didn't expect to look out for me. These days it's pointing downwards to read route-sheets on audax events.

07Lapierre

cheerspal wrote: »

Have mine point towards the ground to light up the road. Dont see the point in having them straight out shining into peoples faces.

+1.. I mean, when was the last time you saw a motorcyclist with a headlamp(Flashing) on his helmet?*








*I bet someone posts a photo of a motorcyclist with a helmet mounted headlamp :rolleyes:

lennymc

I changed from an ebay cree light to a tuv approved dynamo light recently, and the beam pattern seems to be quite different. The dynamo light shines on the road, whereas the cree would just shine everywhere.

nak

Encountered a lovely gentleman with 2 ridiculously bright front lights on the canal path this afternoon; was still bright out and as I wasn't on the road, had my lights off. He was cycling towards me, but all I could see were lights pointed at my face, so shielded my eyes and he screamed "get lights!" at me.

Why do people not realise that their lights are the equivalent of full beam on a car?

tunney

Could it be in the hope that motorist will "see" them with the lights in their eyes?

Given that motorists don't "see" cyclists otherwise. (that is don't look and/or don't care)

DaithiMC

nak wrote: »

Encountered a lovely gentleman with 2 ridiculously bright front lights on the canal path this afternoon; was still bright out and as I wasn't on the road, had my lights off. He was cycling towards me, but all I could see were lights pointed at my face, so shielded my eyes and he screamed "get lights!" at me.

Why do people not realise that their lights are the equivalent of full beam on a car?

Father Jack?

NBar

I have a set of twin cree solar storm lights on my mtb for cycling at night but only use them when on unlit roads or on the canal or around Castletown/Carton Houses when it's pitch black etc, otherwise just use a standard cree light on the lowest setting, but I have noticed alot of folk with excellent front lights but the rear ones are pathetic or non existence or badly placed on clothing etc

ted1

NBar wrote: »

I have a set of twin cree solar storm lights on my mtb for cycling at night but only use them when on unlit roads or on the canal or around Castletown/Carton Houses when it's pitch black etc, otherwise just use a standard cree light on the lowest setting, but I have noticed alot of folk with excellent front lights but the rear ones are pathetic or non existence or badly placed on clothing etc

Past someone today and their back light was on the seat post but they had a rear carrier blocking it from view

Wishbone Ash

I occasionally use the flashing mode on my main light to make it last longer. I can get over 5 hours out of it that way and probably up to 10 hours on long rides if I bring the extra battery and an additional smaller emergency light. It only lasts about 1.5 hours in steady high mode.

(I would like if it would flash in low mode but it only does it on the highest setting. I have it angled downwards but do get the odd' 'flash' from motorists on long straight unlit roads).

NBar

Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't, I'd rather be seen or make a motorist slow down with my lights than be another statistic. I prefer to cycle as much off road as I can at night as the only thing I annoy are the rabbits

cdaly_

tunney wrote: »

Could it be in the hope that motorist will "see" them with the lights in their eyes?

Given that motorists don't "see" cyclists otherwise. (that is don't look and/or don't care)

It's often exactly this. When I'm cycling in winter city traffic (particularly in the wet), I'll aim a (modest) light so its hotspot is just below windscreen level in the hope that it will draw a driver's eye.

On the other hand, the searchlight on the handlebars just serves to dazzle people.

mjsc1970

What's the deal with cyclists placing the rear lights (red) on the front or front lights (white) on the back. I just don't get this at all.

Alek

What's the deal with cyclists placing the rear lights (red) on the front or front lights (white) on the back.

Both suicidal and murderous tendencies.

I've almost cycled into such an individual on the Clontarf cycle path at least twice.

nak

mjsc1970 wrote: »

What's the deal with cyclists placing the rear lights (red) on the front or front lights (white) on the back. I just don't get this at all.

I don't get that either, maybe they think bike lights are the opposite to cars . Probably the same people who wear back to front helmets.

NeedMoreGears

nak wrote: »

I don't get that either, maybe they think bike lights are the opposite to cars . Probably the same people who wear back to front helmets.

I've met at clown myself.

Effin gobsh****!

mardybumbum

I have a cateye mini rear light which fell 6 stories off my balcony earlier today and still works a treat. :pac:

Pinch Flat

To put in context a car headlamp is about 700 Lumen normally, 1200 lumen on full beam. Some of the eBay Cree lights, while bright, can distribute insane amounts of light everywhere. Unless you spend long nights in the Wicklow mountains on a bike, 1000 or 1200 lumen is overkill imo.

I use a lezyne light upfront - 400 lumen on full beam (with the option to flick it down to around 100 lumen). It is also a flashing light, so in town I'll use this mode - I know there's different schools of thought between the lights that attract drivers attention, but I've found myself in the "sorry didn't see you" scenario whether flashing or on constant beam. I personally prefer flashing as it can catch the motorists eyes, particularly in rear mirrors if I'm approaching from the rear. Some studies I've read suggest this makes it also hard for a motorist to judge my speed, so can have cars pull out in front of me.

I go through the cycle path in the Phoenix park which is the darkest part of my commute - previously used the strawberry beds. I have to see what's in front of me - drains, fallen branches, joggers, rollerbladers, dog walkers, unlit cyclists. I have the beam tilted down but positioned so I can see around 30 metres ahead - plenty of time to react if I'm travelling at 35 kmh

cheerspal

If I was on my crappy bike and that happened I would have cycled into him and said I couldnt see anything cause of his fvcking lights!!

Pinch Flat

cheerspal wrote: »

If I was on my crappy bike and that happened I would have cycled into him and said I couldnt see anything cause of his fvcking lights!!

Sounds good but in reality being laid up for months for something like a broken clavicle is not worth having over a point of principle.

Tenzor07

Pinch Flat wrote: »

To put in context a car headlamp is about 700 Lumen normally, 1200 lumen on full beam. Some of the eBay Cree lights, while bright, can distribute insane amounts of light everywhere. Unless you spend long nights in the Wicklow mountains on a bike, 1000 or 1200 lumen is overkill imo.

Where's "Lumen"

Pinch Flat

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Where's "Lumen"

I'm Sure he'll put me right - my own amateur research of course when lumen figures are quoted.....:)

Lumen

Pinch Flat wrote: »

I'm Sure he'll put me right - my own amateur research of course when lumen figures are quoted.....:)

I can only add that some cars have two headlights, and HIDs are something like 3000 lumens.

So the answer is somewhere between 700 for a clapped out Corolla with one working dipped headlamp to 6000 for a fully loaded Audi cockmobile with two full beam HIDs.

mjsc1970

Kudos to whoever it was on the road bike travelling north past swords pavillion direction skerries about 5.15 this evening.
Your front light (blinking) could be seen at least 500yards away from my motorbike rear view mirror.
You couldn't be missed.
Fair play for taking on this commute in this weather too.

ipodrocker

so what is your recommendations for lights to get for front of the bike in terms of brands etc?

Carawaystick

Where are you going cycling?

ipodrocker

around dublin mountains and also commuting to the city, but lights for different spins is good too.

jive

http://www.zavvi.com/cycling-accessories-nc/bell-radian-850-rechargeable-led-bike-light-set/11136860.html

Ordered these myself. USB rechargeable with decent reviews. Probably not suitable if you actually really need to see at night but perfect for a street lit commute.

Only thing to note is there is no quick release for removing them from the bike so they have to be screwed off or charged in situ (longer lead or USB battery pack).

devonp

anyone use Cateye Volt400 ?
how good are they for non-lit areas?

Alek

I've lost (or got stolen) my Lezyne Macro front light yesterday. Bummer.

Went to Halfords to buy something similar and found this: http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bike-lights-locks/bike-lights/rechargeable-bike-light-set

Essentially a very close copy of Lezyne Macro (front) and Micro (rear). Tried it this morning and it seem to offer 90% of the performance for 1/3 the price - its good enough to cycle unlit rural roads. Plus the rear light, which I consider too bright for use in city - its fecking blinding. Need to DIY a diffusing dome or something to it...

For 25 quid (for both!), there is no better option out there.