Lights: how bright is too bright?

[Norm]

I'm a bit doubtful of the effectiveness of pointing a Maxx Daddy downwards a little - the spread of light is so wide that the light reaching drivers will only be reduced a little.

That broad spread is why I love it off road and also why I only use it on flash when other vehicles are around.

When driving the car I find head-mounted lights almost invisible. Cyclists wearing them and using no other front light have been the cause of the two closest near misses I've ever had with bikes. (In both cases no other lights at the front, dark clothing, and every other step taken to ensure invisibility as well)

I was thinking that 2Loose was buying an additional light, rather than an alternative light. I would always, without fail, recommend people have good lights on their bike in addition to a head mounted unit.

I'm surprised that you missed two, though, David, as my write-up after the first time I used the head-mounted light showed I feel that it saved me from two SMIDSYs on that first ride.

Handlebar and helmet mount lights complement one another. Issues of legality aside, if I had to choose one, I'd go for a handlebar mount.

Indeed, if anyone wanted just one light, then I'd say go with the bike light and not only for legal reasons. If possible, though, something like the Joystick mounted on your head is fandabeedozee.

 

[Bollo]

Lupine do suggest their lights for commuting, now if I had the money I would happily use a Betty 14 for commuting. Provided you use the lights sensibly, don't aim them at other people faces, dim them to the appropriate light level for the situation, there shouldn't be a problem. It is just a case of behaving in a responsible manner...

I've a Betty (a 7 - the number just refers to the battery size as the head unit is the same for both 7 and 14) that I use on-road but rarely for my commute. It's ok in traffic as long as you set up the power settings so that you can select something like 5%, which equates to something under 100 lumens. The betty has quite a large lit surface area, so the effect is like a small motorcycle headlight - visible but not dazzling.

Mine is set up to step 5%-60%-100%. The 60% setting can be dazzling as the standard lenses aren't directional and have something like 16 degree spread. However, the betty mount is easy enough to 'nudge' on the handlebars, effectively dipping the beam. It sounds crude, but works well when you're just encountering the odd car. 100% is more like a weapon than a light.

I have run the Betty alongside a Diablo on the odd really dark run. This is nice as you can leave the Diablo alone on a medium setting, giving a rideable non-dazzling splash of light and then just modulate the betty depending on conditions. Both on max setting is something over 2200 lumens. I have never needed this!

 

[tdr1nka]

I've been running an Ay-Up lamp on the front and a Di'Onette 140L on the back for over a year now. In that time I've only had one driver(sat in a queue of oncoming traffic)actuallly complain about the dazzle(from Ay-Ups).
I have them pointing down, the beam in the road about 5m ahead, I like to be able to see the road. Sodium streetlight can make everything two dimensional and the lamps pick out potholes and road cr*p much more clearly.
Having my lights on in both the night and the day(a throwback from my motorcycling days)means they get me seen, which after all is what they're for.

One warning with regard the Di'Onette tho, you shouldn't run it on fast flash in slow and heavy traffic as it fries the eyes/mind of any driver caught behind you!

 

[hackbike 666]

On unlit, potholey roads, yes.

True true,or a canal path.

 

[Davidc]

I'm surprised that you missed two, though, David, as my write-up after the first time I used the head-mounted light showed I feel that it saved me from two SMIDSYs on that first ride.

Indeed, if anyone wanted just one light, then I'd say go with the bike light and not only for legal reasons. If possible, though, something like the Joystick mounted on your head is fandabeedozee.

The point about using head lights with another, at driver's eye height, is what I agree with. I'm certainly not against using head lights in that way.

Fortunately I did see them - I just noticed them much later than I would have liked, and IMO too close for comfort.

I have no problem with helmet lights being used, it's when they're used alone I complain.

In both the cases I've nearly missed them I think its because the bright beam han't been pointing at me, and as has been said above I may not have seen the best, working and mounted well.

Cyclists, peds, and motor cyclists having plenty of lighting and reflectives is good, as it helps drivers see them and avoid them, and adding a helmet light &/or reflectors can only be good IMO, although back to the OP dazzling other people isn't a good move.

 

[Norm]

The point about using head lights with another, at driver's eye height, is what I agree with. I'm certainly not against using head lights in that way.

I thought we were in agreement, I just missed a few salient bits from my earlier post.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Gosh, I go away overnight and all this good stuff.

Hmmmmmm, perhaps if I see someone dazzling me again I shall politely suggest a change in angle.

 

[scouserinlondon]

I've got two DX $11 torches on the front which are okay but not amazing, and the batteries only last two commutes before I recharge. I also have a fenix L2d on the lid on medium which is awesome. Agree that you should always have decent lights on the bike itself.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I've got two DX $11 torches on the front which are okay but not amazing, and the batteries only last two commutes before I recharge. I also have a fenix L2d on the lid on medium which is awesome. Agree that you should always have decent lights on the bike itself.

Decent without being dazzling though......

 

[scouserinlondon]

Decent without being dazzling though......

I've got the torches pointed at the road so they're not a problem. I've not had any abuse about the fenix on me bonce, though it is quite bright even on medium. I ride on such wide roads that there's a lot of stuff between me and the opposite carriageway.

 

[ufkacbln]

I use a 720 Lumens Exposure Enduro MAxx and there are still some drivers who cannot see it!

The question is whether a brighter light (if there was one) would be any more visible to thses numpties.

 

[ufkacbln]

On a more serious note - do we need to have a whole new genre of lights?

Off road lighting fulfils different needs than those of commuters. However the difference is simply fixed. Car headlights have a reflector that is designed to produce a beam pattern to give visual field for driving and cut out the top section which would affect other drivers.

It should not be too difficult to provide commuting lights with high output and "road friendly" beam patterns.

Could even be a selling point?

 

[fossyant]

I use a 720 Lumens Exposure Enduro MAxx and there are still some drivers who cannot see it!

The question is whether a brighter light (if there was one) would be any more visible to thses numpties.

Hmm get some lasers No not pens, military grade.......

Plenty don't see 480 lumens of Hope 1's though......

 

[fossyant]

On a more serious note - do we need to have a whole new genre of lights?

It should not be too difficult to provide commuting lights with high output and "road friendly" beam patterns.

Could even be a selling point?

You can get them - B&M do them

 

[GrasB]

I'd find it hard to imagine anyone having only a helmet light and not bike mounted lights as well.

it's getting quite common now & people are using 'heavy weight' lights on max... I almost missed a parking space due to some idiot looking at me with a 240 lumen helmet light.