Is riding on unlight country roads at night suicide?

[Ming the Merciless]

reflectives are the way to go . this is a screenshot from my ring at 4.20 am
View attachment 672367

You have a camera in your wedding ring?

 

[Dogtrousers]

I was wondering if was maybe some kind of 007 style spy camera worn on the finger.

 

[Petrichorwheels]

its the noises in the hedgerows that give me the heebie jeebies, particularly on one stretch where im slogging uphill next to woodland and theirs crashing in the undergrowth .

Sounds positively freudian.
Ever investigated?

 

[Petrichorwheels]

Cycling downhill at 30+mph and blinded by car lights I hit a pothole and almost lost control. Thankfully I kept it upright but front wheel buckled and busted water bottle and tool bottle. In fairness the car lights were dipped but the brightness meant I couldn't see the road.

Potholes as much a danger as cars i think, probably a fair bit more, especially on rural downhills. You do definitely need good lights with a proper beam pattern.
Love night riding. Was out at 3.30 in the morning christmas day morn delivering cards for my mum in rural parts. Cars were fine, one driver apologised for stopping in the road - was himself doing a bit of furtive card dropping I think.

 

[brommieinkorea]

The brighter it is, the brighter lights need to be to be seen. So, if its real dark, your lights dont have to be as bright (tail lights) for you to be seen. That said,a good headlight still matters. Potentially much safer to cycle in the dark.

 

[cyberknight]

You have a camera in your wedding ring?

actually my ring hasnt been worn in about a year as my hands have shrunk, keep meaning to get the ring altered , but haha

 

[cyberknight]

Sounds positively freudian.
Ever investigated?

err no , we all know its probably just a deer or similar but i have been dive bombed by an owl and had to bunny hop a badger in that area .
The wildlife is out to get me !

 

[brommieinkorea]

err no , we all know its probably just a deer or similar but i have been dive bombed by an owl and had to bunny hop a badger in that area .
The wildlife is out to get me !

Ran over a Opossum with the Brompton one evening. He kept on running so I hope he was o.k.

 

[Petrichorwheels]

The brighter it is, the brighter lights need to be to be seen. So, if its real dark, your lights dont have to be as bright (tail lights) for you to be seen. That said,a good headlight still matters. Potentially much safer to cycle in the dark.

Good advice - despite this some choose to ride in daylight sporting lights brighter than the sun. As you say not much power at all needed at the back, just use 2 or 3. Front decent power but no need to compete with suns, just good beam pattern.

 

[Oldhippy]

Never understood the riding in full daylight with lights on thing even on long range cycle paths I see it.

 

[Petrichorwheels]

Never understood the riding in full daylight with lights on thing even on long range cycle paths I see it.

Particularly bad on cycling paths of course as if two-way you can get blinded by the nit approaching. My only explanation is that they are showing off/kit-tech bragging/fitting in with their cycling club ethos. Quite often see them sitting for a breather/feed in daylight deep rural parts on full power. Often wonder if their lights will fail on the dark way back (for sure they won't be carrying spare batteries) but then I am of course twisted.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Never understood the riding in full daylight with lights on thing even on long range cycle paths I see it.

I tend to leave my lights on all the time, with a hub dynamo I figure I may as well use the energy produced.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Never understood the riding in full daylight with lights on thing even on long range cycle paths I see it.

Solar powered lights. Only work in daylight…

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

No, side reflectors are required by law. Indicator repeaters are optional.

They can, of course, be designed to be retro-reflective when not illuminated, and so serve both functions - just as the rear lights also serve as the required rear retro-reflectors.

I think you'll find you are mistaken https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/7/made/data.pdf

That is unless you are in New South Wales....

 

[Alex321]

I think you'll find you are mistaken https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/7/made/data.pdf

That is unless you are in New South Wales....

I already said I wasn't sure any more at post #136