Drivers fascinated by blinkies?

[deckertim]

Am sure Adrian has two of them on his saddle pack and its awesome and has often got me staring into a trance. But however, are a great rear addition.

However, this driver patience has really been noticed by me this week since buying and installing these in addition to my normal front and rear lights http://www.wiggle.co...-duo-combo-set/ on the rear stays (x2) and front forks (x1) and the whole attitude of change has been striking.

The single review on Wiggle wasn't that complimentary. Made me chuckle when he the reviewer said they would be better of clipping the free Haribo sweet to the bike

 

[sunnyjim]

I have a Smart Lunar 35 set to flash (forward facing) on my bars. As it's a "be seen" light, I have it angled up higher rather than pointed down at the road surface and as a result, it's very noticeable when bouncing back off the reflective coating of road signs. Quite often I've noticed drivers see the flashing before realising where it's coming from, slow down and pull in slightly thinking that I'm some form of emergency vehicle.

I think you should consider whether this is really making you safer.

Last winter I was driving along a suburban road (with not particularly bright streetlamps. For maybe 10-15 seconds there was a very bright flashing light on the other rside of the road. I thought it was probably a bike, but not everyone would know that, as you say. It was quite dazzling, although not blinding and also as you say it was easy to see, but quite hard to work out exactly where it was coming from, how far away it was, and what speed it might be doing. I think this has something to do with the eyes/brain procesing movement and location differently. Like the drivers you encounter I had slowed down while trying to work out WTF it was.

Suddenly the light disappeared.
Equally suddenly, a cyclist appeared turning right across in front of the car - obviously the light dissappearing was when he turned the handlebars, so about half a second before crossing the carriageway and not enough time for the eyes to re-adjust.
I think I'm a careful driver who looks out for cyclists, 'cos I are one, but I nearly hit this guy. (he appeared not to notice the little drama)

I'm not anti bright lights (My town 'be seen' includes a car daylight running lamp maybe 300 lumens), but badly pointed they are dangerous, IMNSHO.

 

[siadwell]

In the dark:

You should always have 2 (or more lights) front and rear, in case one packs up whilst you're riding.

If you use a flashing light, you should pair it with a constant light to allow drivers to better gauge your position.

Lights on a helmet, rucksack etc. should be in addition to those above, not instead, for the same reason as above.

 

[gambatte]

this is mine.

2 x Superflashes, spaced on a home made stainless bracket. Theory being to give some impression of width.

3m diamond grade tape on the seat stays and mudguard.

I'm also riding in one of the Decathlon hi-viz/reflective cycle specific gilets. Nice bit of kit.

 

[BentMikey]

There was a cool rear light on the Cateye stand at Eurobike this year - I don't know if it's available here yet - which pulsed rather than flashed. It was much easier on the eyes and got me wondering if it might be interesting to time the pulses to mimic a heartbeat. The resting heartbeat of a pregnant mother might have a calming influence on approaching traffic for example.

You could even have it driven by the rider's heart rate monitor.

I think that would have been a Radbot:

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APSnqi77Mrk[/media]

 

[d87heaven]

I like the pulse on that.......... but I don't like that it goes off completely for a second(ish). Fine if you have another constant light on of course.