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Indicators on Bicycle

Squall Leonhart · 2019-01-08 14:23:51

I'm (very!) new to the cycling game, having only recently braved my first cycle to work. It's in Limerick and it's busy but not too bad, most of my 11km route has wide roads, few parts are sketchy enough but overall not bad. I was wondering if something like these are ridiculous/likely to be missed or ignored, or are they…

08-01-2019 3:23pm

#1

Squall Leonhart

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I'm (very!) new to the cycling game, having only recently braved my first cycle to work.

It's in Limerick and it's busy but not too bad, most of my 11km route has wide roads, few parts are sketchy enough but overall not bad.

I was wondering if something like these are ridiculous/likely to be missed or ignored, or are they a good idea to improve visibility on turning etc?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WingLights-Fixed-Black-New-Version/dp/B076CQ7VTN/ref=dp_ob_title_sports

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#2 08-01-2019 3:25pm

Tenzor07

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What's wrong with your arms?

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#3 08-01-2019 3:34pm

CramCycle

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Another poster has a good solution where he attached lights to his gloves to make hand signals more visible.

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#4 08-01-2019 3:35pm

TheBoyConor

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Tenzor07 wrote: »

What's wrong with your arms?

You've to take one off the bars and steer and keep youself stable with just one arm while signalling. If you hit a bump or your other hand slips you will fall.

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#5 08-01-2019 3:36pm

Squall Leonhart

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Tenzor07 wrote: »

What's wrong with your arms?

Nothing... and I use them...
But it's January. It's dark at 7am and it's dark at 6pm.

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#6 08-01-2019 3:36pm

[Deleted User]

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TheBoyConor wrote: »

You've to take one off the bars and steer and keep youself stable with just one arm while signalling. If you hit a bump or your other hand slips you will fall.

It's something that improves with practice.

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#7 08-01-2019 3:37pm

Lumen

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Reflective wristband.

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#8 08-01-2019 3:37pm

CramCycle

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TheBoyConor wrote: »

You've to take one off the bars and steer and keep youself stable with just one arm while signalling. If you hit a bump or your other hand slips you will fall.

The same will happen regardless if your that unsteady.

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#9 08-01-2019 4:01pm

JMcL

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They'd probably just be confusing if they're noticed at all. Find a quiet carpark or somesuch to practice in and get comfortable with using hand signals

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#10 08-01-2019 4:05pm

Grassey

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Galibier have reflective winter gloves - handy I find for signalling in the dark commuting times.

I'd be worried that the light is so small it will go unnoticed as drivers wont expect to see it as it's non standard

Sure you could get this instead - a jacket that uses your back as an indicator (that likely also will go unnoticed)

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#11 08-01-2019 4:05pm

oLoonatic

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CramCycle wrote: »

Another poster has a good solution where he attached lights to his gloves to make hand signals more visible.

I had thought of doing this, I'm cycling about 30km round trip to work. I use my arm but people still have a habit of trying to over/under take me when i am signalling to turn (pretty much pretending i dont exist as to not inconvenience them). I wonder would that make a difference.

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#12 08-01-2019 4:08pm

punisher5112

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I love those jackets that near light up with vehicle lights shining on them, only issue is the amount of numpties going around with their 5 watt side lights on where a candle would be brighter.

Get the reflective arm bands with flashing red lights and make sure to have at least one really good lights front and back.

Stand out from the the rest.

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#13 08-01-2019 4:13pm

ED E

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oLoonatic wrote: »

I had thought of doing this, I'm cycling about 30km round trip to work. I use my arm but people still have a habit of trying to over/under take me when i am signalling to turn (pretty much pretending i dont exist as to not inconvenience them). I wonder would that make a difference.

It wont. The problem is them not you.

There are jackets with indicators if you want. Bar ends arent the best place IMO as they're obstructed hugely by you, your bike, your bag etc.

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#14 08-01-2019 4:20pm

CramCycle

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oLoonatic wrote: »

I had thought of doing this, I'm cycling about 30km round trip to work. I use my arm but people still have a habit of trying to over/under take me when i am signalling to turn (pretty much pretending i dont exist as to not inconvenience them). I wonder would that make a difference.

I have indicated in good time and with more than enough time to pull out with drivers seeing me and then speeding up to cut me off intentionally. Hate to say it but Id have been better off not indicating at all.

The long and short of it is, they may help you get more seen on a dark night but they won't stop d1cks being d1cks. Indicating grants you no right of way but it doesn't stop people being d1cks either.

Indicate before a turn, look around and check over your shoulder. If it is safe to go, do it, if its not, hold back, simples.

A light on your wrist may increase your confidence, it might alert someone who is simple and didn't cop from your arm or road position but don't ever presume it will make anyone give way.

i

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#15 08-01-2019 4:35pm

oLoonatic

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CramCycle wrote: »

I have indicated in good time and with more than enough time to pull out with drivers seeing me and then speeding up to cut me off intentionally. Hate to say it but Id have been better off not indicating at all.

The long and short of it is, they may help you get more seen on a dark night but they won't stop d1cks being d1cks. Indicating grants you no right of way but it doesn't stop people being d1cks either.

Indicate before a turn, look around and check over your shoulder. If it is safe to go, do it, if its not, hold back, simples.

A light on your wrist may increase your confidence, it might alert someone who is simple and didn't cop from your arm or road position but don't ever presume it will make anyone give way.

i

Thats a fair point alright. Very frustrating though. I used to drive alot for work from bikes to extra large vans and know all too well how vulnerable cyclists are. In particular around the city centre. On reflection maybe i'm mad to commute by bicycle now, But for health and financial reasons its fantastic.

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#16 08-01-2019 4:37pm

mgadget

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https://lumoshelmet.co

More Visible than bar end lights and you can use it on any bike.
[Y

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#17 08-01-2019 4:38pm

CramCycle

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oLoonatic wrote: »

Thats a fair point alright. Very frustrating though. I used to drive alot for work from bikes to extra large vans and know all too well how vulnerable cyclists are. In particular around the city centre. On reflection maybe i'm mad to commute by bicycle now, But for health and financial reasons its fantastic.

Your not mad at all, despite all this, the long term benefits to your health far outweigh the perceived risks, which are not all that likely to happen.

I couldn't go back to driving or even PT, I just couldn't hack that rubbish day in day out.

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#18 08-01-2019 4:40pm

Squall Leonhart

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oLoonatic wrote: »

for health and financial reasons its fantastic.

This is my motivation behind it!
I'm going to work anyway.. I badly needed some exercise.. why not combine both. And saving petrol money is a big plus.

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#19 08-01-2019 4:41pm

Effects

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TheBoyConor wrote: »

You've to take one off the bars and steer and keep youself stable with just one arm while signalling. If you hit a bump or your other hand slips you will fall.

I usually indicate while I'm still moving straight ahead, then put my hands back on the handlebars for when I start the turn.

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#20 08-01-2019 4:43pm

magicbastarder

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one issue with those lights is that i suspect that theoretically if a garda saw you using one, you could then be done for not indicating correctly before making a turn (though i have to actually confirm if the law states a cyclist must indicate with a hand signal).

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#21 08-01-2019 4:44pm

benneca1

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There are rucksacks with inbuilt indicators and remote switch Santa brought me one a few years ago

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#22 08-01-2019 4:45pm

oLoonatic

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Squall Leonhart wrote: »

This is my motivation behind it!
I'm going to work anyway.. I badly needed some exercise.. why not combine both. And saving petrol money is a big plus.

Within a month and a half I had lost a stone. I knocked 15 minutes off my commute time since i started on an old heavy mountain bike not built to withstand the hills of the phoenix park and chapelizod. Am looking forward to getting a proper road bike and seeing the difference it makes.

I do not miss the car at all, In saying that i dont mind getting wet and too stubborn to look back now.

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#23 08-01-2019 4:46pm

Tell me how

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Effects wrote: »

I usually indicate while I'm still moving straight ahead, then put my hands back on the handlebars for when I start the turn.

Yeah, if you are indicating as you start to turn, it's too late. Is as frustrating as when cars do it.

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#24 08-01-2019 4:46pm

average_runner

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Lumen wrote: »

Reflective wristband.

Will only allow cars to see them and not people crossing at a junction.

Anyhow going by what i see everyday on the roads, most cyclists don't signal, the same way drivers don't used indicators.

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#25 08-01-2019 4:56pm

Lumen

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average_runner wrote: »

Will only allow cars to see them and not people crossing at a junction.

Well OK, but pedestrians won't be looking for an indicating cyclist anyway.

I can't say I've ever needed to use anything but an unlit, non-reflective arm.

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#26 08-01-2019 4:59pm

[Deleted User]

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Saw a fella with them on his helmet recently they were controlled via a little device on the bars. Initially I thought hey isn't that cool but then as I rode on and lost him at the next set of lights, and he made it through I realised it was useless as I couldn't tell which direction he was turning at a distance. Mind you a flashing light and extended arm might catch the attention vs arm alone.

Agree with Average runner re: lack of signalling , and don't get me started on roundabouts.

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#27 08-01-2019 5:00pm

Weepsie

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Planet X are selling the Magicshine helmet with indicators. Looks brighter than the Lumos one, but also looks silly.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HEMSMJ898/magicshine-mj898-helmet

That said, don't think it will make a huge difference. Indicated plenty of times in broad daylight, and people "don't see you"

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#28 08-01-2019 5:04pm

average_runner

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Lumen wrote: »

Well OK, but pedestrians won't be looking for an indicating cyclist anyway.

I can't say I've ever needed to use anything but an unlit, non-reflective arm.

In fairness I would always look before I cross a junction and it really pisses me off when a cyclist/car turns without signalling.

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#29 08-01-2019 5:15pm

Tell me how

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average_runner wrote: »

In fairness I would always look before I cross a junction and it really pisses me off when a cyclist/car turns without signalling.

Everyone is p*ssed off at others not obeying the rules of the road.

Pedestrians dislike cyclists not indicating
Cyclists dislike motorists for not leaving enough room or not indicating
Motorists dislike cyclists for weaving in and out of traffic.
Cyclists and motorists dislike pedestrians for jaywalking.
Pedestrians dislike motorists for not obeying lights and pedestrian crossings.

There is fault on all sides and it p*sses off people on all sides.

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#30 08-01-2019 6:02pm

Wishbone Ash

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TheBoyConor wrote: »

You've to take one off the bars and steer and keep youself stable with just one arm while signalling. If you hit a bump or your other hand slips you will fall.

How did you manage when we had down tube shifters?

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#31 09-01-2019 12:54am

tomasrojo

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I might be the poster with wrist lights mentioned earlier. I used sweatbands rather than gloves though. They're very cheap to make; the only expensive bit is the light, and Aldi do pretty good value COB lights now, which I think are knock-offs of Moon Crescents. I used Moon Crescents, which are plenty bright, even on the lowest setting, and nice and small and light, and come with a belt-clip as standard, which is what I used to attach them to the wristbands.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=99673160&postcount=53
How to make them (a hair tie or small elastic might be needed as the elastic in the wristbands age to stop them rotating on your wrist):
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81976804&postcount=40

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