Invisible back lights

[Rhythm Thief]

I passed a bloke on the unlit single carriageway section of the Gloucester bypass last night. I could see him, but only just, and I remember thinking that he had a really dim rear light. It was only when I got really close that I could see that he had his light set to the "one LED moving around" setting.
Here's a tip ... if you have a light with this setting, never use it. They're crap, and what you end up with is basically one dim LED. The motion of it is indistinguishable from more than about ten feet away. There's no point at all buying a multi - LED light and then just using one LED of it!

 

[HLaB]

The plenty of times I've made out the shadow of a person on a bike and thought they've got no lights only to find when I'm closer they've got 1 led that seems to project no light and is only visible from one angle. I think my cateye does the 1 led thing but its not the default and it seems quite effective.

 

[wiggydiggy]

The single rear light I was using last year was definitely was like this, didn't realise until I invested in a better one and I compared the two

 

[Bobtoo]

LEDs are great for their low power consumption and shock resistance, but they need well designed lenses if they are going to be properly visible- something that the people who make car lights must know, but have chosen not to bother about.

I'm not sure why seat post mounting has become standard anyway, it's a stupid place to put a light. It's far too easily obscured by saggy arses, coats, stuff on the rack and even the seat itself.

 

[PBancroft]

Hm. I must admit I do use this... but I have a proviso. I have two rear lights, both Cateye TL-LD1100's. On both I set one row of lights to constant, one to random.

Seems to work pretty well. When my wife overtakes me to work in the dead of winter she often comments she could see me for "bloody miles"

 

[Bman]

I dont like using the "nightrider" setting either. I prefer the random flashing setting

 

[cyberknight]

I was behind another cyclist a while back and i was sure he did not have a rear light till i saw it dimly flashing from behind the saddle
bag they had thoughtfully installed over the light .....

 

[fossyant]

Nah, I think it's more a problem of old or uncharged batteries - seen loads recently. Who has had the battery in since March ?

 

[fossyant]

The night rider setting is OK if you have fresh batteries, and another light !

 

[Headgardener]

Nah, I think it's more a problem of old or uncharged batteries - seen loads recently. Who has had the battery in since March ?

<Puts hand up tentatively> "me sir". But I am aware that the batteries will last a little while yet, certainly until I can get over to town and get some rechargables from Maplins.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

The night rider setting is OK if you have fresh batteries, and another light !

It still seems a bit pointless to me, buying a light with five LEDs then having only one of them lit at any one time. Whether the batteries are fresh or not, one LED is less visible than, er, more than one.

 

[Black Sheep]

LEDs are great for their low power consumption and shock resistance, but they need well designed lenses if they are going to be properly visible- something that the people who make car lights must know, but have chosen not to bother about.

I'm not sure why seat post mounting has become standard anyway, it's a stupid place to put a light. It's far too easily obscured by saggy arses, coats, stuff on the rack and even the seat itself.

I have enough seat post that my light clears my pannier (except from cat-trike riders) I can actually have my rear light vertically mounted there is enough space.

I never ride with anything hanging from me so that's not a problem.

my wife's light is rack mounted, I was worried that it might be a bit low but it seems fine, does bounce about a bit from the home made mount I made but that just draws attention to it.

I dont like using the "nightrider" setting either. I prefer the random flashing setting

I use it on grey days when it's light but quite overcast just to draw a little bit of attention to myself incase the conditions make me slightly less visible

Nah, I think it's more a problem of old or uncharged batteries - seen loads recently. Who has had the battery in since March ?

Yo!

 

[theclaud]

It's perfect for the FNRttC - not as annoying as the flashing setting or as wearing as the constant. User10571 has the best Knight Rider effect, with two 5-led lights in vertical tandem...

 

[mickle]

I passed someone yesterday who had his rear light installed behind, and completely concealed by, his reflector.

'Some people don't have the sense they were born with', as my old Ma used to say.

 

[Night Train]

I've seen rear lights completely obscured by panniers and saddle bags.

I'm trying to remember the last time I saw a local bike with lights on at night, aside from my own. They don't seem to be commonly in use here.