Rucksack lights-very poor.

[BlackPanther]

I was following someone this morning, and from a distance the lights are virtually invisible.The big problem is that the rider is leaning forwards, and the optimum angle is completely upright. Not having a rear reflector doesn't help either. The video doesn't really do justice to just how poor the lights are. I would say that those cheapo 4 led Poundstretcher type lights are miles better.

I'm (pretty) sure that from a legal standpoint, you must have lights fixed to the bike anyway?

The first 8 seconds may as well be a game of 'Spot the cyclist' (he's approaching the brow of the hill), but from a few feet you can just about tell they're actually on........a bit too late for traffic approaching from behind though. Just a warning to anyone who uses these rucksacks with lights on the back, it's advisable to use proper lights as well.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8O8hjj94hc

 

[ianrauk]

Agggghhhh.. one of my beefs... commuters with rear lights on a helmet or on a rucksack but not on the bike.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Agreed. They might do as supplementary lights but are useless on their own.

GC

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Never seen a rucksack light positioned in any way to be of genuine and significant visibility. Putting them in the what is it for mesh pocket on the back is a favourite round here and makes a bad set up even worse

 

[jack smith]

I run 4 lights on my rucksack 2 silicone ones for the sides and two proper ones on the back, not sure if any of you know what molle loops are but they are perfect for sliding lights onto i position them right at the bottom though and they are very visable i do run my straps as loose as possible though so the bag sits really low.

 

[Tynan]

yes indeed, likewise people that clip them to their collar, | have no idea why people don't have one either on the seatpost or the back of a rack, exafctly pointing backwards and unlikely to be obscured, I assume it's too much ag for them to unclip them

given you can't know how your rear lights show when hung from your person when riding I wonder at some riders' imagination

 

[jack smith]

Ive asked a few people and even took a photo of myself with a timer on my phone, i couodnt get a backlight to fit on the rear of my venge

 

[bubbles3]

my pride and joy are my fibre flare lights one attached to each side of the bike at the back( used on flashing mode) along with another solid red light attached to my saddle bag. on country roads I need to be seen.

 

[Crankarm]

You should ride with panniers not a rucksack. Whats the point of wearing a reflective hi viz jacket then sticking a dark coloured rucksack on your back covering all this?

Lights should be on your bike.

 

[classic33]

Never used them as a primary light, back-up only.
The only positive is that they're higher up and as a result "closer to" anything following behind.

 

[steveindenmark]

I ride with my Ortleib panniers on all all the time. They have really good reflective patches. Then I have my rear light and warning reflector. My Endura high vis jacket has strip of webbing sown just over the rear pocket to take my flashing Smart light.

During the Winter months I ride with my lights on even in daylight and even if it is sunny. I think it is more dangerous when it is sunny because the sun is so low, drivers often have difficulty seeing cyclists.

 

[cd365]

I have a light on my bag, when one of my mates drove behind me one time, the light was the first thing he commented on, said it was a good idea.
I also have 2 lights on the bike though.

 

[jonny jeez]

The big problem is that the rider is leaning forwards, and the optimum angle is completely upright.

I've mentioned this before on these pages...really gets my goat with riders pointing their rucksack lights to the sky.

 

[jonny jeez]

given you can't know how your rear lights show when hung from your person when riding I wonder at some riders' imagination intelligence

 

[summerdays]

Saw a cyclist tonight with only a front light at head height, and noticed that it took that little bit longer to recognise him as a cyclist, as there weren't any lights lower down. It probably didn't help that we were going uphill and he was going down so exaggerating the height of the light.