Dense Fog, One eyed Monsters, and Stealth Cyclists

[theclaud]

I'm already in training

Glad to hear it. Do some pub training as well and you might make the Lushketeer Division. Gary, meanwhile, has gone a bit quiet, but I have a plan.

 

[theclaud]

... of being a sentient human being (with a bike)?

Don't be mean, Smeggers. It's an inclusive affair, but it helps if you actually like cycling, and don't bang on to your companions about 4x4s for 70 miles...

 

[very-near]

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.

It also serves to stop the bike rolling when on any sort of gradient

 

[bigtrike]

The only time I have seen a car driver switch off their fog lights is when they have either emerged from fog, or have seen other drivers do the same first.

I had the misfortune to be dazzled by a cyclist using an incorrectly aligned HID kit when I was driving through Nottingham in the works van a few years ago and it left a big hole in my vision for a few minutes afterwards. How do I explain that to the kids mother I have just run them over because I was blinded by an inconsiderate road user on a cycle as I passed them ?.

High beam should be used as a warning, not a weapon.

Does not the Highway code say that you should slow down or stop if dazzeled by oncomming lights.
So I supose you would say to the poor kids mother that you
1, Ignored the Highway code,
2, forgot comman sence and drove while blinded,
3, I fainted, m'Lord
4, frankly as a motorist I'm to important the kids should have got out of my way!

 

[very-near]

Don't be mean, Smeggers. It's an inclusive affair, but it helps if you actually like cycling, and don't bang on to your companions about 4x4s for 70 miles...

Did it occur to you that if there wasn't quite so much venom for anyone who dares admit they own a 4x4 on here, I'd never had made anywhere near as much an issue of it. I'd like to think I bring a bit of balance to rationale of the unbalanced

 

[very-near]

Does not the Highway code say that you should slow down or stop if dazzeled by oncomming lights.
So I supose you would say to the poor kids mother that you
1, Ignored the Highway code,
2, forgot comman sence and drove while blinded,
3, I fainted, m'Lord
4, frankly as a motorist I'm to important the kids should have got out of my way!

It is 'common sense' - I think your argument is lacking it. Less of the straw man if you will please.

If some idiot has already robbed you of your vision, then you would naturally jump on the brakes. One hopes you don't run anyone over between being blinded and coming to rest.

If you are going to quote the highway code about dazzling others on the road better to cut and paste =

114
You MUST NOT

- use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to
other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

Given advances in the last 5 years in cycle light technology, a modern CREE LED or HID cycle light easily has the ability to dazzle as a car headlight!

I suggest that all be responsible in this area given the above statement, no more , no less.
Riding a cycle doesn't excuse you or I from our responsibility to avoid injuring others any more than driving a car does.

 

[tdr1nka]

It was upsidedown who suggested that deliberately dazzling passing motorists is a reasonable thing to do.

Upsidedown only said that he will flash a motorist that hasn't dipped their headlights upon seeing him.
A quick flash, just as drivers give each other as a warning of their presence, I admitted also doing the same in a later post.

One of the many good points of the Ay-Up mounting is that you can quickly & easily adjust the lamps independently or both at the same time.

 

[very-near]

Upsidedown only said that he will flash a motorist that hasn't dipped their headlights upon seeing him.
A quick flash, just as drivers give each other as a warning of their presence, I admitted also doing the same in a later post.

One of the many good points of the Ay-Up mounting is that you can quickly & easily adjust the lamps independently or both at the same time.

He also said

Yesterday was mildly foggy here, drivers seem to think that if visibility is less than a mile and a half they should put their fog lights on, AyUps set to stun soon sort that.

I agree with what you are saying. Cars and m/cycle have the flash function for this purpose, but I got the impression he uses it as a weapon to force drivers to turn off their fog lights rather than a warning that they still have them on - which I don't agree with.

 

[tdr1nka]

I'd like to think I bring a bit of balance to rationale of the unbalanced

Might be the tracking?

 

[theclaud]

Might be the tracking?

 

[theclaud]

Did it occur to you that if there wasn't quite so much venom for anyone who dares admit they own a 4x4 on here, I'd never had made anywhere near as much an issue of it. I'd like to think I bring a bit of balance to rationale of the unbalanced

Did it occur to you, Linfling, that what unites people on here is an interest in cycling? There's a big clue in the strapline. We can help with your irrational fears, but the first step is to recognise that you have a problem. Just take a deep breath and say it: my name is Linford and I'm scared of bicycles.

 

[Norm]

Come, come, MrP, what are the chances of that!

 

[Origamist]

Did it occur to you, Linfling, that what unites people on here is an interest in cycling? There's a big clue in the strapline. We can help with your irrational fears, but the first step is to recognise that you have a problem. Just take a deep breath and say it: my name is Linford and I'm scared of bicycles.

John Forester had a name for it: cyclist inferiority complex.

Perhaps we can come up with something a bit more catchy?!

 

[theclaud]

John Forester had a name for it: cyclist inferiority complex.

Perhaps we can come up with something a bit more catchy?!

Lunchbox's Scourge?

 

[very-near]

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

It would take more than £20 to get me to give up my weekend and cycle 60 miles through the night from London to Brighton, and I don't drink beer at 7am either

I did a local CTC run a couple of years ago - 55 miles (mostly in the dark) and getting home after midnight after a pub stop. It didn't really do it for me as I felt there seemed a lot of rivalry/snobbery and a few looking to prove themselves in front of a newcomer.
Out with another rider, or a couple of riders is plenty for me thanks..