Dense Fog, One eyed Monsters, and Stealth Cyclists

[Rhythm Thief]

Is there any chance you could contribute some 'grown up' input to this thread ?

None at all.

Then you aren't really fit to share the roads with the grown ups....

That's a leap of logic of almost biblical proportions, Linf ...

 

[theclaud]

I did cycle commute a couple of times last summer, but I don't like it given the nutters who occupy my commute route, and so preffer to use the m/cycle so they stay behind me and don't attempt to pass. I didn't think this topic belonged in P&L as it is a road safety issue, so commuting seemed more appropriate.

I see - you live in the one place the country that "nutters" so predominate as to render cycle commuting unthinkable? I've got a Fenix L2D - what are your thoughts on that?

 

[thomas]

If someone is driving around with their fog lights on, or doesn't turn main beam off I see nothing wrong with making them aware of this by flashing your light at them (which is a typical way of doing it). Much better they get blinded for a second, than the cyclist is blinded for a longer period of time where they could hit a pot hole, person, etc.

 

[very-near]

I'm not sure anywhere on a cycling forum is appropriate for a pro-car, anti-cyclist type post, do you?

Where have I stated that the issue of incorrectly adjusted or broken) headlights is only a cycling one (a clue is in the title 'Dense Fog, One Eyed Monsters'). It was upsidedown who suggested that deliberately dazzling passing motorists is a reasonable thing to do. If you think that my rebuk of his assertion/strategy makes me anti cyclist then I would suggest you are trolling yourself smeggers.

 

[marinyork]

Can't see the fuss. I know my hope vision 1s work function all right in fog and a smart 1/2 watt and cateye el-1100 on the rear work fine. The problem is when silly people use fog lights.

 

[very-near]

I see - you live in the one place the country that "nutters" so predominate as to render cycle commuting unthinkable? I've got a Fenix L2D - what are your thoughts on that?

It is a CREE torch. I'd not be very happy if you deliberately tried to dazzle me but it is a good piece of kit used responsibly

 

[Armegatron]

I was having a terrible time with my lights in the fog last night. The light was being reflected back off the fog, resulting in me not being able to see a thing.

I had to switch the lights down to there lowest power setting and point them down at the road directly infront of the bike.

On high and pointed straight ahead I might as well have been shining the light straight in my eyes. I could't see a thing.

Had a similar issue with my helmet mounted fenix - had to lower the output as the air from my breath made a smoke screen infront of my face . Was fun getting home!



I only really use my fogs to "flash" oncoming traffic that have their fogs on. Most of the time they dont bother turning them off as most car ads advertise fogs as a "sporty feature" so unfortunately its become a fashion statement.

I very rarely use my foglights. Well, I never use the front ones - they don't seem to make much difference - and the rear ones only get used when I can't see more than about 100 yards, which hardly ever happens. People who use their foglights because it's raining really annoy me, and get a blast of main beam for their troubles. Oh, and people who sit at traffic lights with their foot on the brake pedal, thereby dazzling the driver behind with their brake lights are justas bad.

I do admit to putting the brake lights on when stopped - but this is done when the handbrake is already applied (had a nasty accident a while back and the handbrake being on prevented me being shoved into flowing traffic so I totally agree handbrake usage is wise). The reason for me putting the brake lights on is only when I see a car approaching at speed from behind, to warn him that I am stationary and he should slow down. As soon as I see the car slowing I take my foot back off the brake.

 

[theclaud]

It is a CREE torch. I'd not be very happy if you deliberately tried to dazzle me but it is a good piece of kit used responsibly

I recommend it, for when you've overcome your unhealthy fear of other traffic. Upsidedown was talking about using a brief dazzle to signal to oncoming drivers that their lights are blinding. Seems reasonable to me. But then in Linfworld cyclists can't do anything right. Surprise me, Linfy, and relate a positive tale about cycle-commuting.

 

[very-near]

By your own self admission (or wimpishness, depending how you look at it), cycle commuters are a vulnerable group.

I think as motorists, we can turn a blind eye (excuse the pun) to this can we not?

Its certainly never bothered me, put it that way.

You by your own admission have not had a big off on the road.
Cycle commuters are vulnerable, motorcycle commuters are vulnerable. Both should IMO make a supreme effort to make themselves seen on the road. Imagine hitting one the huge potholes on a country road which has you off (which there are a few on my commute now). You are lying the road with your cycle and no lights, no reflective or high viz in the fog. Car comes along doesnt see you - game over . I wear high viz on the cycle, and the m/cycle as well as using lights so people can see me and avoid me. Getting run over by a 1 1/2 tonne car is no fun.

 

[thomas]

I do admit to putting the brake lights on when stopped - but this is done when the handbrake is already applied (had a nasty accident a while back and the handbrake being on prevented me being shoved into flowing traffic so I totally agree handbrake usage is wise).

There are times it is appropriate, such as if you were at the end of a line of traffic. Once when driving to school there was a que that was in a place there wasn't usually one. I saw some young girl coming up behind, so (had my hb on) put my foot on the foot brake too, just so she definitely knew it was a line of stopped traffic. I took my foot off when she stopped.

Traffics not moving for a few minutes, then all of a sudden...*crunch*. Dozey cow drove straight in the back of me causing £50 worth of damage. Not sure why she decided to pull away when no one else was....I'm just glad she noticed I was stopped to begin with and didn't go in the back of me at 40mph.

 

[Armegatron]

Traffics not moving for a few minutes, then all of a sudden...*crunch*. Dozey cow drove straight in the back of me causing £50 worth of damage. Not sure why she decided to pull away when no one else was....I'm just glad she noticed I was stopped to begin with and didn't go in the back of me at 40mph.

Youve hit the nail on the head with that. All to common for a car behind to be watching the car infronts brake lights interpretting them as a traffic light. On my commute last week I saw just this, a car bumping the car infront simply because he took his foot off the brake in anticipation of moving forward. I think often its poor observation to blame on the car drivers part.
Hope you were ok.

 

[Norm]

I only really use my fogs to "flash" oncoming traffic that have their fogs on. Most of the time they dont bother turning them off as most car ads advertise fogs as a "sporty feature" so unfortunately its become a fashion statement.

As well as flashing other cars who are driving with their fogs on at night, I use the fogs at night to "flash" my gratitude to other drivers. There's a lot of single track roads near my office and I like to acknowledge others who stop to let me through. Flashing with main beam is a pain at night, ruining vision for many seconds, using the fogs acknowledges their actions without blinding them.

My motor-bike training included a question from the instructor "Why hold the brake when already stationary at traffic lights". The answer, of course, is to illuminate the brake light.

 

[theclaud]

Imagine hitting one the huge potholes on a country road which has you off (which there are a few on my commute now). You are lying the road with your cycle and no lights, no reflective or high viz in the fog. Car comes along doesnt see you - game over .

Christ, Linf. Try and be a bit less dreary - we like cycling round here. Imagine instead conquering Ditchling Beacon to greet a glorious sunrise, and anticipating the breakfast that awaits, then snoozing gently on the sun-warmed pebbles before quenching your thirst with a cold beer in the sun amongst friends.

 

[theclaud]

£20.00 to a charity of your choice if you get Linf on a FNRTTC

Whoa! I think he might fall foul of the stringent admissions criteria. My mission is to get you and Gary on the Northern.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I do admit to putting the brake lights on when stopped - but this is done when the handbrake is already applied (had a nasty accident a while back and the handbrake being on prevented me being shoved into flowing traffic so I totally agree handbrake usage is wise). The reason for me putting the brake lights on is only when I see a car approaching at speed from behind, to warn him that I am stationary and he should slow down. As soon as I see the car slowing I take my foot back off the brake.

That's fair enough. I'm talking about people who, through sheer idleness, sit with their brakes on in traffic instead of using the handbrake. Modern LED brakelights are pretty much as dazzling as main beam when you're in the car behind. But a flash of the brakelights to let approaching traffic know you're stationary is fine.