Cyclists mega-thread (WARNING: Before posting you must read post #1)

plodder · 15-02-2017 10:58AM

07Lapierre wrote: »

Gardai have the power to confiscate cars for no road tax/insurance etc. I see no difference between this and confiscating bikes with no lights. They are confiscated because the vehicles should not be on the road and the users of these vehicles are a danger to themselves and other road users. Makes sense to me.

Now that you mention it, I think they do have the power to confiscate "unroadworthy" vehicles already and it has happened with regard to broken lights. There was someone on Joe Duffy recently complaining about it. Though as is usual, the "real" reason that the car was taken was that the driver p!ssed the guard off over something else.

BlinkingLights · 15-02-2017 11:18AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMLINNMcWj8

That's something that needs to be regulated out of existence. If end users are expected legally (notably in France, the home of Renault...) to have spares and be able to change them at the roadside, that design's just seriously ridiculous!

I changed to bulbs in an infinately more technologically complicated but highly reliable 2008 Prius in about 3 mins without tools.

Macy0161 · 15-02-2017 11:23AM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I still remember the night I was heading down the quays and realised how little extra visibility the high vis jackets afford. I always wear mine because it's better than my black jacket.

The hi viz or the reflective bits? Reflective strips don't have to be attached to something hi viz.

But less chance of seeing RSA logo so as to be seen to be doing something on an old style browne belt or an ankle/ arm band compared to the advertising opportunity presented by a builders vest...

btw, upland fog/ mist on my commute home last night. Plenty of cars not bothering with headlights, never mind fog lights...

07Lapierre · 15-02-2017 01:15PM

Macy0161 wrote: »

The hi viz or the reflective bits? Reflective strips don't have to be attached to something hi viz.

But less chance of seeing RSA logo so as to be seen to be doing something on an old style browne belt or an ankle/ arm band compared to the advertising opportunity presented by a builders vest...

btw, upland fog/ mist on my commute home last night. Plenty of cars not bothering with headlights, never mind fog lights...

+1 this is an important point. Most items of cycling clothing have reflective strips which are just as good, if not better than Hi Viz clothing.

Example: Most Overshoes are black, but they all have reflective zippers on the rear which are very effective as they move up and down as you pedal.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/sealskinz-neoprene-overshoe-ss17/rp-prod109157

RichardoKhan · 15-02-2017 01:30PM

Quick story which kinda sums up why we are seeing this grow......Couple of years ago my folks were stopping at Buswells hotel opp the Dail. I had reason to take a private call on my mobile and stood outside the hotel on the corner. It was fairly dark. As I chatted on phone doing the sum mobile dance. Saw a what looked like a courier cyclist wheeling up the road. On the path, off the path. Zig zagging away. No lights, front or back. No reflective clothing. Dark bike , dark clothes. Wheels up to the two Guards outside the Dail there. Had the chat and away he goes........No comments from the Guards. Nada!

RD10 · 15-02-2017 01:53PM

07Lapierre wrote: »

I'd go further and say a Garda should confiscate a bike from a cyclist he catches cycling at night with no lights! When they turn up at the station to collect their bike (and pay the fixed penalty notice) the next day, they don't get the bike back until they fit lights. Introducing fines and then not enforcing the rules is a total waste of time and effort!

spot on.

LeinsterDub · 15-02-2017 02:10PM

RichardoKhan wrote: »

Quick story which kinda sums up why we are seeing this grow......

If we are seeing this grow it's because the growth in the number of cyclist

Roadhawk · 15-02-2017 03:00PM

LeinsterDub wrote: »

If we are seeing this grow it's because the growth in the number of cyclist

There is definitely a growth in the number of cyclists which would contribute to the number that is see without lights but I would also think that motorists would notice them more over the last few months because of the dark morning and evenings. Coming into the summer with brighter mornings and evenings you can be sure that motorist wont notice them as much.

LeinsterDub · 15-02-2017 03:28PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

There is definitely a growth in the number of cyclists which would contribute to the number that is see without lights but I would also think that motorists would notice them more over the last few months because of the dark morning and evenings. Coming into the summer with brighter mornings and evenings you can be sure that motorist wont notice them as much.

Aka lights not needed when it's bright?

HugoRune · 15-02-2017 03:33PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Not always, no. Not everywhere I go is it well received to have a handful of bike lights. If people would stop interfering with other people's stuff in the first place it wouldn't be an issue.

I'm just throwing out a theory as to why some people might not have lights on the bikes.

Lights can be tiny now, around the size of your thumb. Half twist to remove and put in your pocket. USB rechargeable as as well. And nobody will bother taking the mounts.

It can be pretty difficult when people go the other way though. One cyclist on my commute seems to provide enough light for half the city. The front light is really distracting when she's behind me because I keep thinking there's a truck lining me up. And I'm practically blinded by the blinking (not a substitute swear word) red light when she's in front, meaning that there's essentially no chance of seeing a pothole or anything.

PeadarCo · 15-02-2017 03:56PM

LeinsterDub wrote:

Aka lights not needed when it's bright?

To be fair a good red rear light can be very useful when the sun is very low in the horizon and in a drivers eyes, typically in around mid December and early morning/late in the evening other parts of the year. In those type of situations you'll have no problem seeing a car because its size blocks a lot of light. Bikes/pedestrians have a far smaller shadow from behind particularly in the case of bikes. A good red light can provide a better contrast in that situation.

Roadhawk · 15-02-2017 04:05PM

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Aka lights not needed when it's bright?

Lights may or may not be needed when its bright out but as it stands a cyclist is not legally required to use a light during the day unless they want to. Its optional.

At night however, they are legally required to have a front and rear light.

What distinguishes weather they are required or not it the "lighting up hours". This is usually when the street lights are on.

magicbastarder · 15-02-2017 04:08PM

an aside, but the design of a lot of streetlights leaves a lot to be desired. ideally you should not see the light(bulb) itself, but only the objects the light is actually reflecting off. makes it easier for your eyes to see what's actually ahead. and is better for the environment too.

07Lapierre · 15-02-2017 05:00PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

Lights may or may not be needed when its bright out but as it stands a cyclist is not legally required to use a light during the day unless they want to. Its optional.

At night however, they are legally required to have a front and rear light.

What distinguishes weather they are required or not it the "lighting up hours". This is usually when the street lights are on.

See, the Law assumes that people would use their god given intelligence/ common sense and switch on lights on dark/dull and wet days.

If More people did use a bit of common sense/intelligence, we'd need less laws, less enforcement etc. etc.

Carawaystick · 16-02-2017 12:26AM

07Lapierre wrote: »

I'd go further and say a Garda should confiscate a bike from a cyclist he catches cycling at night with no lights! When they turn up at the station to collect their bike (and pay the fixed penalty notice) the next day, they don't get the bike back until they fit lights. I

You'ld have the gards lettin fellas with shivs/sharp instruments into a lockup?!:eek:

ted1 · 16-02-2017 01:39AM

All bikes that are intended for use on the road other than actually racing should be sold with Dynamo hubs as standard. Integrated lighting should be the norm not the exception

magicbastarder · 16-02-2017 10:25AM

my wife was asking the other day (after seeing a cyclist tailgated by a bus) whether there are rear lights for bikes which can be triggered by a brake pull. i've certainly never heard of them.

07Lapierre · 16-02-2017 10:48AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

my wife was asking the other day (after seeing a cyclist tailgated by a bus) whether there are rear lights for bikes which can be triggered by a brake pull. i've certainly never heard of them.

There are "intelligent" lights that react to traffic..

https://seesense.cc/?gclid=COWBormqlNICFam87QodGcMBjA

(although i doubt the bus was tailgating the cyclist because he couldn't see the cyclist..i suspect he was trying to intimidate the cyclist to get out of the way!)

magicbastarder · 16-02-2017 10:54AM

it was at a point (in drumcondra) where the cycle path swings to a ludicrous off-road position (and my wife is familiar with it from me giving out about it); but a car was parked across the entry to the cycle lane, so the cyclist continued on the road. my wife reckons the bus driver was annoyed the cyclist wasn't using the cycle path.

07Lapierre · 16-02-2017 11:01AM

When I was a kid I connected a micro switch to the rear brake caliper and had it linked to my rear light!....although it had to be constantly adjusted as the switch kept moving due to vibration from the road I thought it was brill!

Roadhawk · 16-02-2017 11:03AM

Lets not run away with ourselves...there are loads of lighting options out there but the main issue is that not many cyclists are using them. If they could just use a basic (and decent) light it would be more than acceptable.

My favorite lights for bikes are:
https://revolights.com/

RobertFoster · 16-02-2017 11:53AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

my wife was asking the other day (after seeing a cyclist tailgated by a bus) whether there are rear lights for bikes which can be triggered by a brake pull. i've certainly never heard of them.

Some dynamo rear lights can detect braking and get brighter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoCAhxAy7tE

Macy0161 · 16-02-2017 12:03PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

my wife was asking the other day (after seeing a cyclist tailgated by a bus) whether there are rear lights for bikes which can be triggered by a brake pull. i've certainly never heard of them.

No need - we have hand signals. I'm sure all our super dooper highly trained people driving cars know and remember them!

07Lapierre · 16-02-2017 12:08PM

Macy0161 wrote: »

No need - we have hand signals. I'm sure all our super dooper highly trained people driving cars know and remember them!

To be fair...when was the last time you saw a cyclist using the "I'm Slowing down" hand signal? We do use it on group spins to signal to other cyclist behind us that were slowing/stopping, but I never use it when cycling solo.

magicbastarder · 16-02-2017 12:11PM

also, if you do need to brake suddenly, do you really want to be using one of your hands to signal to motorists behind?

MrMorooka · 16-02-2017 12:18PM

ted1 wrote: »

All bikes that are intended for use on the road other than actually racing should be sold with Dynamo hubs as standard. Integrated lighting should be the norm not the exception

I agree with this, seems like the best solution.

Roadhawk · 16-02-2017 12:24PM

07Lapierre wrote: »

To be fair...when was the last time you saw a cyclist using the "I'm Slowing down" hand signal? We do use it on group spins to signal to other cyclist behind us that were slowing/stopping, but I never use it when cycling solo.

So you would signal to a fellow cyclist but not a motorist? Why not?

Roadhawk · 16-02-2017 12:26PM

MrMorooka wrote: »

I agree with this, seems like the best solution.

It is great a solution with the extra benefit of a break light but its useless if cyclists dont buy (and fit) them. The options are out there...

magicbastarder · 16-02-2017 12:30PM

Roadhawk wrote: »

So you would signal to a fellow cyclist but not a motorist? Why not?

how many motorists would understand an 'i'm slowing down' cycling hand signal?

Macy0161 · 16-02-2017 12:49PM

I've used it when I've been pulling into the kerb rather than taking a left, in traffic. Even at my fatest, I'd say a car or bus could see around me to see traffic stopping or some other reason for me to slow.

I learnt the hand signals initially when I did cycling proficiency in primary school, but they were (potentially) something you could asked in your driving test (I predate the actual theory test). They're still included in the rules of the road I'd assume?

Cyclists mega-thread (WARNING: Before posting you must read post #1)

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