Dimming lights

[sean8997]

I ride to work a few times a week, mainly along cycle track from Chester to Flint, and as the mornings are now a tad on the dark side lights are the order of the day. I like to think of myself as a considerate cyclist so when I see another cyclist I cover my front light a little so I don't blind the poor devil who is coming towards me.

Who else does the same? It is a bit annoying when someone comes towards you with lights brighter than the sun pointing directly in your eyes!

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Surely of you have to cover your light you have it aimed too high?

 

[ianrauk]

It common sense. There's really no need to even put your hand over your lights if they have been set properly ie aimed down in front of you, a couple of meters ahead rather then aimed straight ahead or upwards.
I am constantly amazed at how many cyclists do not set their lights properly. That, or they do it on purpose witch is completely selfish to others.

 

[mjr]

I would struggle to put my hand over my fork-mounted headlight for long and stay on the bike, but I'm using a ROAD light (beam stays below the horizontal except a minimal be-seen spill) and not an MTB one, so it doesn't dazzle oncoming road users.

 

[sean8997]

my light is set down so the main beam is pointing down towards the floor a few meters I front of me, the light does however still have a wider beam that is still quite bright.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I'm using a ROAD light

Yeah - mine has a shaped beam to avoid that dazzle problem

 

[Slick]

Same for me, just set the lights lower. One thing did surprise me on one particular ride about my own lights. Whilst out on a training ride with someone else, we knew we would get caught in the darkness but as I had twin lights back and front, we decided my lights would do for the both of us. As darkness fell, I shared my lights with the other guy, and was promptly blinded as I travelled behind my own light. I never realised exactly how bright it was, and was promptly binned.

 

[fossyant]

And then there are those with the fit inducing strobe mode.

 

[ianrauk]

And then there are those with the fit inducing strobe mode.

They are the work of Stan.
A cycle commuter this evening had 2 blasting away. Big twit.

 

[mythste]

And then there are those with the fit inducing strobe mode.

Mounted on their helmet.

 

[united4ever]

What of its an unlit path completely black otherwise......i want to see more than a few metres ahead. I also cover them as a cyclist approaches.

 

[fossyant]

They are the work of Stan.
A cycle commuter this evening had 2 blasting away. Big twit.

Stan !

 

[fossyant]

Worse is those that use the strobe on unlit paths. How they see is a question.

 

[Moodyman]

What is the preferred option for 'to be seen' lights in well lit areas?

I'm a flasher personally because I think a constant light just gets lost in the wider light pollution (cars and street lighting).

 

[Tim Hall]

What of its an unlit path completely black otherwise......i want to see more than a few metres ahead. I also cover them as a cyclist approaches.

You can have a light with a well shaped bright beam that will light up your way. These tend to cost more than the zillion lumen, splash the light everywhere jobs available from a mass of suppliers on Ebay for a few quid.

There's more to lighting than a bright light source.