helmet or handlebar for main light?

[dele]

Hey again guys,

I had a cheap (£30) Cateye light set from about a year ago, but the front one had to go because it was big, chunky and ruined the aesthetic of the bikes lines (not it's primary purpose i know, but i like things to look good!)

So that recently went in favour of two Lezyne Femtos which put out around 15 lumens each I believe. Not very much, but I ride exclusively in city, lampost-lit areas so I have been under the impression that it was adequate for being seen with, rather than being used to see.

Due to a couple of incidents where drivers have pulled out of a side road -directly- in front of me, it has occurred to me perhaps it's not just a blatant disregard in general for cyclists as I assumed, but that perhaps my front-on visibility just isn't as good as I thought it was.

So with that revelation, I purchased a new set of lights (Moon XP300&Shield 60 rear light) and I have attached the 300 lumen front light to my helmet. It has various modes where it can be turned down to about 150/200 lumen/constant/flashing i believe.

I'm not sure whether the more powerful light would serve me best on the handlebars or the helmet - I can think of pro's and cons for both (bars - good height for wing mirrors, helmet - good to unmistakibly warn drivers), but I wondered if you guys have any info/advice I may be ignorant of?

Thanks in advance,

Dele

 

[mchunt]

I have the XP300 and the bracket wouldn't fit on my fat Kona Dew Plus Hybrid handlebars nicely so use it on my helmet when riding the Dew Plus and on handlebars when riding my road bike.

The light on helmet also allows me to see the lock on the gate at work and also lock my bike up easily in the dark car park. I also have a flasher on the handlebar just to be a bit more visible and am Mr Hi Hiz when commuting as the local drivers are dreadful (lots of estate agents 4x4's and new drivers coming out of the FE college) - I give them no excuse to not see me.

 

[BentMikey]

I would suggest having your lights on flash only in the daytime. At night, put them on constant and you'll look less like a bicycle. It's looking like a bicycle that's the problem - they do see you mostly, but think "'ck it, I can go ahead of that".

 

[Drago]

Handlebar. The brain works best when there's a bit if a baseline between the eye and the light source.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Main light on handle bar all the time. Your lights that way are most of the time pointing down the road and not disappearing (from a head on view) every time you look over your shoulder.

 

[mangid]

I would suggest having your lights on flash only in the daytime. At night, put them on constant and you'll look less like a bicycle. It's looking like a bicycle that's the problem - they do see you mostly, but think "'ck it, I can go ahead of that".

+1 Riding in the winter I get far fewer incidents of cars pulling out in front of me at junctions. I always make sure to give them a cheery thankyou wave as I go past.

Modern LED lights are bright enough to make you look like a motorbike/moped and the car drivers adapt their assumptions about your speed accordingly. I don't wear a head mounted light, not sure if that might nullify things and get them back into assuming that your travelling at bike speed?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Handlebar, you can be sure then that the light is pointing at where the wheel is about to go and what holes it may hit.

I do use helmet lights for a high level warning to other drivers, where bar mounted lights are below the body panel level of most vehicles in traffic, that the gap they may think is there actually has something in it & I find that using it as a 'paddington bear hard stare' with a little 'no' shake of the head at a driver encroaching over a give way line or looking like they're about to right turn across you works quite well to stop them.

Also it lets you be seen over walls and hedges on more rural stretches again where bar mounted lights aren't visible at distance.

 

[ufkacbln]

You are legally required to have a light complying with the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations fixed on to your bike

A helmet light does not comply with this so the quick answer is that you must have a light on your bike, and a headlight should be additional

 

[snorri]

The front light should be no higher than 1500mm.
Thats the height at which people expect to see a cycle light, if they don't see a light at that height it is assumed there is no bike within range.

 

[defy-one]

Main light on handle bar all the time. Your lights that way are most of the time pointing down the road and not disappearing (from a head on view) every time you look over your shoulder.

I have never felt the need for a helmet light in London, but then i do have two lights on the handlebars (1 on,other flashing) and two on the rear (1 on,other flashing)

 

[BlackPanther]

Both, both. A helmet mounted light is, imho essential. They enable you to direct the light and I'm sure I've been 'saved' many times at the last second by casting a beam of light directly towards cars emerging from side streets.

 

[HLaB]

+1 Riding in the winter I get far fewer incidents of cars pulling out in front of me at junctions. I always make sure to give them a cheery thankyou wave as I go past.

Modern LED lights are bright enough to make you look like a motorbike/moped and the car drivers adapt their assumptions about your speed accordingly. I don't wear a head mounted light, not sure if that might nullify things and get them back into assuming that your travelling at bike speed?

I understand the theory but nowadays I use all my lights on flashing saving solid (battery) for unlit roads and I don't get pull outs (I'll probably get one when I start back commuting ). I think the flashing catches their eye more and with the strength of modern led's reinforces this.
I don't use a helmet light either, mainly because its more faff than theory I do occasionally fit one for a rural ride after dark, it speeds up drivers in dipping their lights and can be aimed towards where I want.

 

[biggs682]

bars for me and just a marker light on helmet

 

[Drago]

Don't stick anything on your lid you wouldn't be happy to have punch through your skull in an off.

 

[Lanzecki]

+1 for the main light on the handle bars. I'd argue that riding on lit streets needs a main light as powerful as riding on rural streets. After all you need it to be seen thru al the street lighting.

I use a 1600Lumen light on the handle bars on full power for rural riding (most of my riding) and stick it onto flashing on lit roads. I also use a headlight front and back. Mainly for being able to see around corners and see what gear in in etc when it's very dark.