Helmet lights
- Thread starter david k
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Drago
Legendary Member
If you don't like solid objects rammed into your skull in a collision then no.
LCpl Boiled Egg
Three word soundbite
A nice bright one on the front is great for blinding people coming towards you.
glasgowcyclist
Charming but somewhat feckless
Fine if they are to be seen by, not if they are to see by.
Even then I’d use them only as a supplementary to proper lights on the bike.
Even then I’d use them only as a supplementary to proper lights on the bike.
Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
If you want redundancy, just put more than 1 rear and front light on the bike. As someone else already mentioned, helmet lights have a tendency to blind oncoming cyclists and pedestrians, because even with the best of intentions, their users don't always keep the lights pointed down.
And rears for blinding cyclists behind - cleverly positioned to shine straight in their eyes. Used by a fair few idiots in london.
No good reason why you should be left lightless - just carry a couple of small spare lights that clip into the clamps on your bike. Or some spare batteries.
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Sharky
Guru
To me, with my drivers hat on, when I come across a cyclist with a head light, it just confuses me. The moving light on the head does not to me give me an image of a cyclist. Can be confused with a pedestrian carrying a torch.
Wheras when the bike has a light in a fixed position, I instantly recognise as a cyclist.
Wheras when the bike has a light in a fixed position, I instantly recognise as a cyclist.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
No they are not , mount your lights on the bike, correctly angled, and all will be well in the world.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
They tend to dazzle horribly. No thanks.
Well the jury seems pretty clear.
So maybe the only question is, why do folks do it?
They think it makes them look like a go-getting trendy road warrior?
They don't want to add to the bike's weight?
So maybe the only question is, why do folks do it?
They think it makes them look like a go-getting trendy road warrior?
They don't want to add to the bike's weight?
vickster
Squire
They think it makes them more visible presumably, without considering the potential effect on others. If worried about lights failing, get better lights or carry a spare cheapie
winjim
Straddle the line, discord and rhyme
The redundancy / failure issue is solved by reflectors. There is no problem which is solved by helmet lights, but a number of problems which are caused by them.
I can't believe it's the time of year already when I start banging on about reflectors. I love reflectors.
I can't believe it's the time of year already when I start banging on about reflectors. I love reflectors.
Drago
Legendary Member
Folks do it because they're don't think. I've given CPR to someone with a torch sticking out of his skull, and spent the rest of the shift wearing a pint of his blood. That kind of decided the matter for me.
PS, he lived, spent 6 months learning to walk again, and another 6 before he left hossy. 11 or 12 years on he still sends me Christmas cards.
Heltor Chasca
Out-riding the Black Dog
I think there is a case for using them on night rides when stopped, retrieving stuff from luggage, checking bike, navigation etc.
Personally my lights on the bike are sufficient and the backlight on my Wahoo means I can do without it. I also don’t use a helmet so a little head torch over my cap does the trick.
Personally my lights on the bike are sufficient and the backlight on my Wahoo means I can do without it. I also don’t use a helmet so a little head torch over my cap does the trick.