Exposure "Flare"

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totallyfixed

totallyfixed

Veteran
Location
The only county without a McDonalds
Went to cycle show and got a good look at the Exposure "Flare". so impressed [seeing red spots for ages after looking at it] bought one for my better half to use on her long dark commute.
Yesterday I drove out in the car and had a look from a drivers perspective......Wow! The light was just beginning to fade and really you would have to be literally blind not to see this light at any distance. I certainly feel less worried now.
BTW I think for quite a few of the things we use / do, it's aways worth looking at it from a drivers point of view.
 
jonny jeez

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Location
Chislehurst, Kent, UK
totallyfixed said:
BTW I think for quite a few of the things we use / do, it's aways worth looking at it from a drivers point of view.
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I would add "think" to that list too.

Glad you like the flares. I did the same and drove behind a guy in Beckenham sporting one...it was very easy to spot him.
 
N

Norm

Guest
I had a chat with the guy from USE about these.

I've got a few Exposure lights and I'd heard great things about the Flare, and, because it was my birthday a few days before the show, I actually went up there with the cash to buy one. When you see it mounted on the seat post, or the one the chap had mounted to his pannier bag, the light points downwards quite a lot. There is no way to angle the bracket, so the light always shines at right angles to whatever stay its mounted upon. That means that, if it's mounted on the seat tube, it points at the road about 10m behind the bike.

A asked the guy from USE how to change this, how to adjust the angle so that the light shone backwards rather than downwards. The guy looked at me as if I'd grown an extra head, and said "Oh, these are too bright to do that, you wouldn't want them shining straight at cars!"

How weird is that? If they are too bright to mount horizontally, why not just make them less bright, thus increasing the burn time, and have an adjustable bracket. That's got to be better than having something which is too bright so is intentionally wasted by pointing it at the tarmac.

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't buy one.
 
fossyant

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Saw one in the 'flesh' last week. Very compact, and I'd say same sort of brightness as my Magicshine rear. Most of the TT'ers I believe are buying these Exposures (now recommended for riding on fast courses). Selling like hot cakes.
 
D

DrSquirrel

Guest
P4 for £36, not that bad really - this uses the CR123A? you'll need to be looking for some decent rechargables and charger now (budget £10 for charger and £5 for a pair).

And 9hrs on primaries would make 6 or so on rechargable li-ion - even then I find this very pie in the sky for a small capacity (looking at 800mA max) CR123A

Though I don't agree with this "I can see red dots" lark - you can look directly at a regular status LED etc and be "blinded".

There are more and more bright rear lights coming out these days - there will be better soon and for cheaper even from the big names.
 
N

Norm

Guest
[QUOTE 1206716"]
They're not supposed to be set horizontally -as has been said they'll just dazzle. As with the Dinotte rear light, they're better pointing down as they light the road and give a larger visible area.
[/quote]What is the benefit of them pointing down? It's not like anyone can see the red patch on the road and I don't understand how having them pointing down increases the visible area.

If the had something like the Beacon fitted as standard, I can see that would help both make the light larger and make it more visible from the side, but I just don't see any virtue in having it so bright that you have to point it down.
 
N

Norm

Guest
Is that Flare as bright as that? :ohmy: That's impressive.

I'm still thinking of getting one, BTW, but I will get the Beacon cover with it if I do.
 
A

As Easy As Riding A Bike

Well-Known Member
Norm said:
If they are too bright to mount horizontally, why not just make them less bright, thus increasing the burn time, and have an adjustable bracket. That's got to be better than having something which is too bright so is intentionally wasted by pointing it at the tarmac.
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An indisputably valid point.
 
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DrSquirrel

Guest
WheelyGoodFun said:
An indisputably valid point.
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It's partially choice - most people would probably go for longer burn lights - a select few go for these and obviously see brightness above battery life.

It would be nice to have one that is bright with low/med options for clear dark nights and leave hte high settings for fog and bad weather etc (im not sure on the dinotte light pattern but know the 818 doesnt have a low just flashing and strobe).
 
A

As Easy As Riding A Bike

Well-Known Member
DrSquirrel said:
It's partially choice - most people would probably go for longer burn lights - a select few go for these and obviously see brightness above battery life.
Click to expand...

The point is that battery life is being sacrificed needlessly because of the angle of the light.

It's not about brightness vs. run time.

You could have an equivalently bright light (to someone driving behind you) for a lower power output, simply by mounting it on an adjustable bracket.
 
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