Extra lights.

[Mr Pig]

So a guy, a roadie, cycling along the main road this morning with no rear lights. It was pitch black and you could hardly see him.

Maybe his light packed in, it was too dark to see if he had one fitted, but it made me think. If you're cycling on a dark comute it might be a good idea to use two back lights just in case one fails. I use two anyway, in fact I'm going to fit another one.

Wet, black morning with trucks battering around, this guy was asking for it.

 

[magnatom]

So a guy, a roadie, cycling along the main road this morning with no rear lights. It was pitch black and you could hardly see him.

Maybe his light packed in, it was too dark to see if he had one fitted, but it made me think. If you're cycling on a dark comute it might be a good idea to use two back lights just in case one fails. I use two anyway, in fact I'm going to fit another one.

Wet, black morning with trucks battering around, this guy was asking for it.

Yup. I have two on front and back. Lights are pretty cheap now so it doesn't need to cost the earth.

 

[mr Mag00]

it may have been dirty a mud guard would have kept it clean too

 

[HLaB]

Yup. I have two on front and back. Lights are pretty cheap now so it doesn't need to cost the earth.

+1, although I must admit to have been caught out with a single rear light . One night cycling back from my sister's I switched the lights on and off I went. An hour later a car came up behind me and patiently sat behind me for a lot longer than he needed to. I got home 10mins later and noticed my back light was looking very faded

 

[HelenD123]

+1, although I must admit to have been caught out with a single rear light . One night cycling back from my sister's I switched the lights on and off I went. An hour later a car came up behind me and patiently sat behind me for a lot longer than he needed to. I got home 10mins later and noticed my back light was looking very faded

Happened to me as well. I now have two on the back. Lesson learned.

 

[fossyant]

3 main lights front and rear (makes 6) and 2 x front and 2 x rear backup Sigma leds on rucksack - makes 10....see I can add up.

The backups are for catching attention from rear and side, then the main lights all back up each other - I only ever get one that starts to run dim at the end of a ride, so it's out with the charger.

No excuse for not being lit.

 

[thomas]

I bought a mini red LED today as I have to cycle back in 20 min. It wouldn't be any good by itself but it is another defence...I would like to buy a bigger one but the shop didn't really have anything so I'll look on the internet later!

 

[domd1979]

Wearing hi-vis this time of year also a good idea - its often visible before lights, and if light(s) fail then you're not going to be invisible. Seeing as a hi vis vest is a couple or three quid, the £££ to visibility ratio is very high...

<< puts tin hat on and awaits hi-vis debate breaking out...>>

 

[marinyork]

So a guy, a roadie, cycling along the main road this morning with no rear lights. It was pitch black and you could hardly see him.

Maybe his light packed in, it was too dark to see if he had one fitted, but it made me think. If you're cycling on a dark comute it might be a good idea to use two back lights just in case one fails. I use two anyway, in fact I'm going to fit another one.

Wet, black morning with trucks battering around, this guy was asking for it.

+1. As long as one takes the same line with other vehicles that have defective lights. I'm sick of seeing cars with defective rears.

I'm probably going to be getting an extra back up rear light soon as the cateye 1000 seems to be dying and suffering very badly from the cold. It starts dimming after about half an hour out in the cold and as soon as you get it back indoors it's as bright as.

 

[domd1979]

Sounds like batteries (rather than light unit itself) being affected by the cold - might be worth trying a different type?

I'm probably going to be getting an extra back up rear light soon as the cateye 1000 seems to be dying and suffering very badly from the cold. It starts dimming after about half an hour out in the cold and as soon as you get it back indoors it's as bright as.

 

[hackbike 666]

I have three on my bag plus one fixed on my bike.

Also have an emergency one on the bike which I have been using recently because the three I normally use on my bag had gone missing.

 

[downfader]

I have 3 rear red and 2 white front. I also wear a night viosion jacket. I'm always looking at lights, they fascinate me in the same way as torches... I have no idea why but I love torches. I also love reflectives. I have my ankles wrapped in dayglo and scotchlite, lol!

 

[marinyork]

Not sure dom. I never used to use old rechargeables in the 1000 because it would not be invisible but it would behave like putting say duracell pluses that'd been in there for about 20hrs. I got some uniross hybrios and you get full whack out of it which is very impressive, the problem is the dimming.

The rechargeables definitely suffer in the cold but so do standard batteries (just not as bad). It's behaved like this for a long time where standard batteries would dim slightly and then mysteriously get brighter again at different times. It's been a lot more noticeable with the harsh October and December we've had this year. I did think it was the batteries but I was chatting to someone with an 1100 the same age as the 1000 a while back and was gobsmacked to see he used the old two generation back uniross rechargeables in it and got proper lighting out of it in the same conditions. To be honest it's not so much of a problem as the battery chamber. The chamber on the 1000 mark2 is a pain to get even standard batteries out, it's far too snug. A 3rd light is on the cards but it's getting one which will mount properly on the spare space, has a bigger chamber as much as output.

Have considered Mars, just not familiar with their fittings. It's quite good the prices on the rears have dropped in the last couple of years.

 

[hackbike 666]

I have 3 rear red and 2 white front. I also wear a night viosion jacket. I'm always looking at lights, they fascinate me in the same way as torches... I have no idea why but I love torches. I also love reflectives. I have my ankles wrapped in dayglo and scotchlite, lol!

+1

Another of my weird beliefs is that if you looked like you have made an effort then perhaps the motons will drive sensibly.

 

[domd1979]

Interesting... bit of a bugger the batteries don't solve the problem! I've got a 1000 (the twin row jobby isn't it?) - changing the batteries certainly is a pain! I've not noticed any dimming on it, but then my commute is short (so might not get that cold in 15 mins), and the light not that old.

Not sure dom. I never used to use old rechargeables in the 1000 because it would not be invisible but it would behave like putting say duracell pluses that'd been in there for about 20hrs. I got some uniross hybrios and you get full whack out of it which is very impressive, the problem is the dimming.

The rechargeables definitely suffer in the cold but so do standard batteries (just not as bad). It's behaved like this for a long time where standard batteries would dim slightly and then mysteriously get brighter again at different times. It's been a lot more noticeable with the harsh October and December we've had this year. I did think it was the batteries but I was chatting to someone with an 1100 the same age as the 1000 a while back and was gobsmacked to see he used the old two generation back uniross rechargeables in it and got proper lighting out of it in the same conditions. To be honest it's not so much of a problem as the battery chamber. The chamber on the 1000 mark2 is a pain to get even standard batteries out, it's far too snug. A 3rd light is on the cards but it's getting one which will mount properly on the spare space, has a bigger chamber as much as output.

Have considered Mars, just not familiar with their fittings. It's quite good the prices on the rears have dropped in the last couple of years.