Flashing Lights

[Lazy-Commuter]

one flash one steady, for front and rear.

Same here, but the front flasher gets switched to steady for unlit bits. I find running two at the front gives me a good spread of light. And a backup, of course.

For the really dark bits in the woods, I supplement them with a head torch but that's more to get light where I'm looking rather than merely where the bike's pointing.

 

[yenrod]

Hi

I've found that my flashing front light makes me a little disorientated when riding home in the dark.
It's very dark with no street lights when I ride home (deepest ,darkest West Country) and I have noticed that the flashing and movement ,especially going slower up hills, make me slightly uncomfortable .

I have switch my light over to a solid beam and hey presto no more strange feeling but wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

Not a huge problem obviously as I've sorted it but one that someone else might not have realised is the cause.

HH

YEP I get this and sparx are bad for this - its a good job the front one is blocked by the stem !!!

 

[661-Pete]

I would never recommend flashing for the front. Indeed none of the front lamps I currently use has a flashing mode. Especially on an unlit road, where your front lamp is primarily for you to see by, and you cannot see properly in flashing.

For the rear, opinions vary. I use flashing when riding on my own: I was once told by a motorist who had passed me, that he found my flashing light made far more impression on him than a steady one. And being noticed can mean your life saved! Some disagree with this (with the flashing idea, I mean, not with having your life saved!)

Regarding the comment about Dunwich: perhaps for a large group ride, it should be down to the organisers to stipulate whether rear lights should be steady or flashing. Does Simon have any rules about the FNRTTC? (last time I went on one, most rears were flashing and I agree it was a little bit off-putting).