Cyclist with so many rear lights...

[longers]

I've found it very difficult following someone with a basic half-Watt Smart Superflash that was pointing upwards too much. Given how hard it was to cycle behind I really wouldn't want a car to have to deal with that when trying to overtake me.

Would you or anyone tell them though?

I'd appreciate it if someone were to tell me about a possible problem with my lighting, I guess not everyone would be quite so happy to get free advice.

We rarely get to see ourselves as others see us.

 

[Greenbank]

Would you or anyone tell them though?

I do, reactions vary, as expected.

I also tell people on group rides (i.e. Audax) that flashing lights aren't very sociable. Either switch them to solid on or turn them off.

 

[marinyork]

What counts as a problem though? I've had people tell me that my cateye el-1000 with freshly charged batteries was very "dimly" lit right through to Mars 4 which points at a funny angle (it's blinding head on) getting a bit low and my helmet rear light on. The Mars 4 does work reasonably in daylight dull but expecting most lights to work well in such conditions is unrealistic.

 

[John the Monkey]

I've let someone know where their light was at an angle where it couldn't be seen (the bracket had broken).

On the commute, I don't mention bright lights, I just hang back, or pass.

 

[Helly79]

I think its a good idea to be visable as possiable, I know for motor cyclists it good practise to have your side lights on all the time so why shouldn`t we have our lights on all the time if it helps other people to see where we are. I know some lights are not that bright in daylight

 

[ufkacbln]

The trouble with lights is not the visibility, but the response.

My classic was a front light "dit"...

Exposure USE 720 Lumen (VERY bright) and a taxi pulls out at point blank range - evasion and collision closely avoided. When challenged it was because he thought I was a motorbike and therefore it was my fault because I was on a bicycle and motorcycles have better brakes!

This numpty was pulling out regardless of what was in his way and that is the point. Do not rely on the fact that you are visible - there ae still idiots who will fail to act appropriately no matter what you use and how bright you are!

 

[Bigtwin]

Most people's problem is looking, not seeing.

Not a lot you can do about that save expect the worst and ride accordingly.

 

[Helly79]

The trouble with lights is not the visibility, but the response.

My classic was a front light "dit"...

Exposure USE 720 Lumen (VERY bright) and a taxi pulls out at point blank range - evasion and collision closely avoided. When challenged it was because he thought I was a motorbike and therefore it was my fault because I was on a bicycle and motorcycles have better brakes!

This numpty was pulling out regardless of what was in his way and that is the point. Do not rely on the fact that you are visible - there ae still idiots who will fail to act appropriately no matter what you use and how bright you are!

Good point there

 

[fossyant]

I have had the comment....'do you have enough lights', then got totalled a month later using the same set....."sorry didn't see you" ( - me on road pointing back to the lights still blazing despite the impact........... doh.......)

 

[Craig Kreiser]

My winter setup;

2x Knog Frogs on helmet (one rear facing red, one front facing white)
1x High Power Torch on bars
1x Knog Toad (5x LED light) on flash on bars
1x Blackburn Mars4.0 Rear light (steady, on seatpost)
1x Torch 9x rear light (3rd flash pattern, on seatpost)
1x Smart Superflash (flashing, on seatstay)
And usually reflective + LED ankle and armbands.

They do have to be looking to see all that though, as my painful experience last October proved.

I am trying to figure out how to charge the bsattery pack on a Blackburn x8 system. Any clues ? I may be missing a component. Thanks.

 

[cyberknight]

3 here, 1 on the seat tube and 1 on each pannier bag as well along with plenty of reflectives.
On the front 1 magicshine and 1 p4 torch.

 

[daSmirnov]

I run with a MJ818 on flash during the day, and steady at night. In the winter I also run with 2 fibre flares on flash at night. On the front Terra 2's on all the time, and MJ808 at night.

Other half has 3 Smart Lunar R1s on her rack. On the front she's got two Smart lights, that I'd like to replace at some point with something with a wider beam.

Can never have too many lights.

 

[DCLane]

He's missed the hi-viz overshoes and hi-viz gloves

I run one bright front and one bright rear light only, plus a hi-viz backpack cover at peak times in the evening.
I've a couple of the Chinese frog copies as backups front/rear.

That's all.

I'm partly of the opinion that if someone won't see me, it won't matter what I'm doing. On Thursday I nearly took out a pedestrian who ran across the road, without looking and an umbrella hiding her view.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Peds are a nightmare,esp at night.I have two superflash on my bag and three on my bike including a magicshine.Three on th front soon to be upgraded to four.Use different lighting combinations for the close passing motorists on the backstreets.Esp Gainsborough Road.

Want to get one of these for the fixie.Already have one on the Audax.

 

[Sore Thumb]

I have 2 exposure flares together on a saddle rail holder.

1 6xled cat eye light on my yellow waterproof roll top rucksack.

1 x exposure red eye short cable light which attaches to the rear of my exposure joystick light that I have on my helmet.

Also exposure Diablo on bars.

And finally 2xorange fibre flares on my frame that are good for side visibility.

Then lots of black reflective on my black framed fixed gear bike.