antisocial light!

[8kphil]

ive got a light an motion vega 200 front light,as part of my commute i ride about 3 miles through an unlit park down a long cycle path,i keep getting various comments/remarks,"your lights too bright!,"i cant see anything","turn your light off",to name just a few,anybody else have these issues? im tempted to buy a brighter light! 1200 lumens! see what they say then! muhhahahahah

 

[NorfolkNewbie]

Well at least they can see you! It could be worse.... (or better if you consider running them over an option)

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

If you ride in traffic with Hi-Power lamps, it is always a good idea to have them correctly angled as not to dazzle on-comers.

 

[Bollo]

Depending on the beam pattern, 200 lumens is getting towards something that's uncomfortable to look at directly. Do you use the light to be seen with or to see, if that makes sense?

 

[hackbike 666]

I remember using a Fenix* in Bangkok on the first trip and within 5 minutes two cars had blown their horn at me.

*Lost in on the 2nd trip in a puddle in a torrential downpour.

 

[gavintc]

ive got a light an motion vega 200 front light,as part of my commute i ride about 3 miles through an unlit park down a long cycle path,i

. Do you use the light to be seen with or to see, if that makes sense?

Unlit path, he needs to see.

 

[GrasB]

Unlit path, he needs to see.

So why is it aimed high enough to be problematic at ped eye level?

 

[8kphil]

use it to see and be seen with,i also have a cateye el530 but its pretty crap in comparison with the vega so that stays at home!

 

[Bollo]

Unlit path, he needs to see.

Doh! My bad. That'll teach me to post and watch summat about black holes at the same time.

I've got an old vega (80 lumens from memory). I'm guessing the new design also has an integrated switch which would make it difficult to switch to low quickly should the need arise. Some people are just surprised at how bright a decent bike light can be and feel the need to comment, while they're willing to accept being dazzled by an equally bright car light.

For nights out on the lanes I use a 1500 lumen Lupine beast. It's great for picking out road debris, potholes and the odd lurking deer or badger, but I make sure the separate switch is positioned where I can get to it quickly. I'll always dip it if there's a pedestrian or motorist facing my way (unless Johnny driver thinks they don't need to dip their headlights because I is a cyclist).

True conversation...

Non-dipping motorist - "How bright is your f******g bike light?"
Me - "D'ya want to see it on full?"

 

[8kphil]

True conversation...

Non-dipping motorist - "How bright is your f******g bike light?"
Me - "D'ya want to see it on full?"[/QUOTE]



hahaha the thing is the people moaning/commenting have quite bright lights on there bikes!

 

[Tynan]

shining a bright light in people's eyes is noting to be proud of, anti social and possibly dangerous, lets face it, people hardly need ammunition to dislike cyclists

I spoke to a cyclist at Liverpool Street once with a light bright enought to hurt my eyes

 

[rusky]

shining a bright light in people's eyes is noting to be proud of, anti social and possibly dangerous, lets face it, people hardly need ammunition to dislike cyclists

I spoke to a cyclist at Liverpool Street once with a light bright enought to hurt my eyes

Also, if you do get hit, the driver could claim that your lights dazzled/blinded him & he couldn't see.

 

[galaxy1]

Also, if you do get hit, the driver could claim that your lights dazzled/blinded him & he couldn't see.


does this work the other way round too?

I think its an awesome idea.Winter riding in the dark irritates me the most because of all the full beam car headlights which a lot of the time the drivers refuse to dip. It'd be good to have a light with two settings.Normal and dip your f***ing headlights bright.
I'd use the lower power the most purely because of battery drainage

 

[iacula]

I agree it's good to have an extra bright light as a message to "non dipped" motorists

 

[semislickstick]

Unlit path, he needs to see.

...and so do other people on the path.

EDIT! ...this is for the OP...not at Gav.

If you've got them angled correctly it shouldn't be a problem for other people SHARING the path. Just knock them down a bit more if it is, stop being an arse!.