Lights

[BentMikey]

Ah, is a lot of cycle craft just common sense then? By the way, I'd have taken similar evasive/non-confrontational action had I been in my car.

Hehehe, LOL, yeah. OTOH common sense isn't always common - look at how many drivers think cyclists are only allowed to ride in the gutter/in the cycle lane, and are wrong about it.

 

[pwh91]

After reading this thread, I thought I'd try a bit of an experiment this morning and put both front light into Flash mode, vs. my normal 1 steady/1 flash. This isn't very scientific data, but I definitely got the idea that people seemed to take my presence more seriously - in particular, cars stationary (or close to stationary) in queues moving themselves deliberately out of my way as I came up behind them. Maybe they subconciously thought I was some sort of emergency vehicle at a distance?

As for HLaB, my lights are quite a way apart from each other.

Anyway, maybe worth continuing with...

 

[purplepolly]

The last few day since I moved my lights further apart on my bars (I use 2) a lot more of the cars that I might expect to pull out but are edging out more slowly into the middle of the road but are giving way. Does anybody think the new light positions are causing this ?

more than likely - having two points to focus on will make it easier for drivers to judge your distance and speed

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Regarding helmet mounted lights...two things are a bit concerning.

My wife was telling me the other week...she saw this guy coming toward her, and as his head was moving around, she found it very disorientating. She said, it was so distracting it made her feel a bit funny.

Then, last week i was riding in the countryside...and i thought ?..what the hecks that in the dark distance A light, that seemed so high, i thought it was a low flying plane. Moving a bit as it came toward me, i really couldnt work it out, and found it distracting as well.
Of course, it was a guy with a helmet mount light. I was surprised how high it appeared in comparison with 'normal' lights

Is there an arguement that helmet mount lights distract and confuse motorists ?

Possibly .. I only use the helmet mounted one when off road, and on an unlit quiet lane. I use the "famous" 3W Tesco torch on my head and so also have to remember to avoid shining it in people's faces when I say "hi" to them on the bridleways 'cos it's a bit dazzling.

But confusing car drivers - or at least making them think - has served me well a couple of times on the quiet lane, 'cos like John says ..

The use of flashers is largely to draw attention, and keep it. The brain is more likely to habituate to something that's constant (in the way that a smell might seem very strong when you enter a room, but seem no longer noticeable after a few minutes). Apparently the brain finds this harder to do with an on/off light source, so you've more chance of the driver registering and continuing to be aware of your presence with a flashing light.

The downside to flashers is that it can be harder to judge speed and distance, so I use a steady light with the flashing lights to try and mitigate that effect.

Of course, if I wanted serious room given me, I'd ride a recumbent, which are treated by drivers as though a horde of unseen recumbents are just out of sight, waiting to pounce on the unwary driver passing them too close... (Seriously, I've seen Manchester buses that wouldn't give a monkeys about DF riders pass 'bents with a couple of car widths to spare...)

.. getting attention is good. And I've had people in cars wait for me in the little lane 'cos they obviously haven't got a clue what's facing them. Seems to work for me .. and I've heard that hypothesis too JtM, so I also use flashing and steady front and rear. It's all been good so far. Touch wood.

 

[purplepolly]

I've had people in cars wait for me in the little lane 'cos they obviously haven't got a clue what's facing them. .

I think there's definately something to be said for confusing drivers - when I was cycling to an art class at night the other year I hit on the idea of expanding the art tube* to the same width as the handlebars, fitting it across the rack and attaching hiviz snap bands on either end. I've never been given so much room by traffic - a lot of it went by slowly on the other side of the road as though overtaking a horse! One person suggested it was because drivers couldn't tell what I was in the dark.

* expandable plastic tube to store rolled up paper

 

[HJ]

Up until now I've had lights that don't make me look anything like a bike. Both front and rear are powerful lights, no flashing LEDs, and the idea is to look like "unknown vehicle", and not a bicycle.

That only really works if you have lights that are bright enough to make you look like a motorised vehicle. Most cycle lights aren't bright enough to stand out unless they flash. Having bright lights is definitely safer, but many cyclist are unwilling (or simply can't afford) to buy seriously bright lights. So long as they have got lights and use them I don't really care.

Anyone who thinks that a really bright set of lights is over kill in the urban environment obliviously hasn't tried them, I have been amazed at just what a difference they make.

 

[Origamist]

That only really works if you have lights that are bright enough to make you look like a motorised vehicle. Most cycle lights aren't bright enough to stand out unless they flash. Having bright lights is definitely safer, but many cyclist are unwilling (or simply can't afford) to buy seriously bright lights. So long as they have got lights and use them I don't really care.

Anyone who thinks that a really bright set of lights is over kill in the urban environment obliviously hasn't tried them, I have been amazed at just what a difference they make.

HJ, you can buy torches that are very powerful. Lots of people are impressed by the Tesco Torch - but for £25 or so you can get P7 or MC-E torches that pump out 3 to 4 times the amount of lumens...

 

[allen-uk]

Can I have some recommendations for extra-bright flashing front and rear lights, i.e. names and manufacturers?

I've had 30+ years of car prices (high), so haven't got much notion as to what is silly cheap or silly expensive when it comes to bits for my bike.

A.

 

[Bodhbh]

I like to have powerful lights for an urban commute as there are a lots of competing light sources to contend with...

Well the problem is when they are so bright you end up pointing them at the floor anyhow which is a waste of money if that's how they get used.

 

[HLaB]

Can I have some recommendations for extra-bright flashing front and rear lights, i.e. names and manufacturers?

I've had 30+ years of car prices (high), so haven't got much notion as to what is silly cheap or silly expensive when it comes to bits for my bike.

A.

Allen,

What is often talked about on the forum are the smart superflash and Mars 4 rear light both are excelent value for money and super bright, I can confirm this as I own them. Ayup are supposed to be great for the front too but there a bit more expensive too but look a nice piece of kit. I opted for a cheaper Bspoke set (I was really only after a front but the rears a nice bonus) and I'm very happy with them. If you check out this site you'll find several reviews of light of all prices.

 

[Origamist]

Well the problem is when they are so bright you end up pointing them at the floor anyhow which is a waste of money if that's how they get used.

As I previously mentioned, you can mask the top third of the torch...

 

[BentMikey]

Depends on the light path though - you might end up having to mask the bottom third, plus the emitter itself is probably blinding from anywhere in front.

 

[Origamist]

Depends on the light path though - you might end up having to mask the bottom third, plus the emitter itself is probably blinding from anywhere in front.

No need, tilt the beam downwards so it's not in motorists' eyelines. With masking and tilt you're not going to "blind" anyone...

 

[BentMikey]

I think you may have misunderstood - depending on the torch, often there is an element of crossover in the beam, i.e. the bottom third spills light to the top of the beam once you're more than 5-10m away from the torch. That means masking the top third might be the wrong bit to do.

 

[hackbike 666]

Why are you such an expert on everything?