I can't even find half of the lights that Peter White has on his page. Nice that he included the prices though, after reading the light testing marathon page I Googled 'Lupine Betty' and got a shock.
Will lights be limited?
- Thread starter magnatom
- Start date
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I can't even find half of the lights that Peter White has on his page. Nice that he included the prices though, after reading the light testing marathon page I Googled 'Lupine Betty' and got a shock.
hackbike 666
Guest
I have a supplier in Hong Kong who is doing me a nice line of Cree lights using Ultrafire batteries.
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
Yep, I was there last weekend...
+1 I had someone coming towards me on a dark road last winter, the lights were so bright that I couldn't see anything, I couldn't even confidently gauge the distance to the cyclist. If there was anything / anyone behind or beside the cyclist, I'd have had no hope of seeing it.
As I had some sympathy with the rider, I stopped until my eyes readjusted, but I would suggest that many / most motorists wouldn't.
arallsopp
Post of The Year 2009 winner
- Location
- Bromley, Kent
I've had this whilst riding infront of a fellow cyclist. If the light from the bike behind overpowers yours, you end up riding into your shadow, with your eyes adjusted for peak brightness everywhere that you aren't. Its horrible. I try to be aware of this when riding the lanes at night in a group, and either sit wide so that the shadow is cast into the verge, angle it downwards, or get in front. There were a series of FNRttCs around last summer where wattage/lux/lumens seemed to get into a bit of an escalation nightmare, and (with rear view mirrors fitted) it was quite painful at times.
I think Dell also discourages those super bright rear leds, as they're a real eyesore to tail for any distance.
Andy.
Oh, yeah, I've had that too. I posted here about it about 6 months ago, as it was on the way home from my only commute to Chesham.
I had a car (as I thought) following me for about a mile on the dark lanes through Burnham Beeches. It was only when it passed (which it only did as I had slowed right down) that I realised it was a bike. Payback was by drafting him for the next 3 miles.
I had a car (as I thought) following me for about a mile on the dark lanes through Burnham Beeches. It was only when it passed (which it only did as I had slowed right down) that I realised it was a bike. Payback was by drafting him for the next 3 miles.
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
I think arallsop has got it right. The important thing, for road riding, is to have lights which let you see but don't dazzle. Like him I use the CYO 60 from a dynamo as my main light, with a LED tail light. The CYO 60 is bright enough and lights up a wide enough piece of road to ride at up to about 20 mph on unlit country roads in the winter in any conditions I'll go out in.
Where the light goes is as important a its brightness.
I do back the dynamo up with battery lights as well. A Smart at the back (which has to go off if riding with someone else behind or they can't see), and an decent battery light at the front which is normally aimed at the left road side to help spot animals or pedestrians.
On my round town bike the lighting's a bit different and more tuned to being seen.
Back to the OP - I don't see any action being taken on brightness, too difficult to enforce, and what effort is available goes into dealing with the light-free part of the cycling community. (Quite rightly IMO).
Where the light goes is as important a its brightness.
I do back the dynamo up with battery lights as well. A Smart at the back (which has to go off if riding with someone else behind or they can't see), and an decent battery light at the front which is normally aimed at the left road side to help spot animals or pedestrians.
On my round town bike the lighting's a bit different and more tuned to being seen.
Back to the OP - I don't see any action being taken on brightness, too difficult to enforce, and what effort is available goes into dealing with the light-free part of the cycling community. (Quite rightly IMO).
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
The bright LED cycle lights all have a range of power setting, so they can be set to the appropriate level as needed (or to make the battery last longer), it is for each person to take responsibility for their own actions.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
I do, if I can get close enough... 
Trumpettom001
Well-Known Member
O.k. hands up - who's looking forward to the long nights now - just so that they can play with their new toys?
MEEE!!!!!
MEEE!!!!!
Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
"Blinded driver"? - please don't exaggerate.
The light output of the E3 Triple is still negligible compared to car headlights, particularly the newer HID style lights. I use these lights to see the road in front of me, as not all my commuting route is well lit. I also have them angled down slightly, to illuminate the road in front of me.I don't know why some motorists are flashing their lights at me, but if it's a comment on the brightness of my headlights, then they're guilty of being hypocrites.
Furthermore, the "illegal light" defense wouldn't work, as these lights aren't illegal in Australia, and I don't see why they should be, since as I mentioned above, they're still only about 500 lumens, with lenses that spread the light, not concentrate it in a narrow beam.
Sorry I should have made myself clearer. The useless light was referring to the portion directed up into the sky, not light directed towards the side of the road.
I've been dazzled a few of times by cyclists coming towards me with crazy bright lights that appear to be pointed upwards too much.
One was a guy I used to pass regularly on my way in to work - I think he was a bit of a dick generally as he'd be charging down the split cyclepath/pavement stretch of a particular road rather than on the road itself, sending pedestrians scattering. More than once I looked at him holding my hand up to my eyes suggesting he had his light on too bright or too raised and he just grinned back. Also worth noting it was broad daylight, so if something is able to dazzle in the full light of day it must be FAR too bright.
Second memorable incident was a guy coming towards me from some distance down a long road with a very bright light that felt very focused to me. It was SERIOUSLY impairing my vision as I felt it was pointing directly into my eyes - I could feel my field of vision closing as my eyes tried to compensate. Couldn't actually see the cyclist at all - just the light - and had no idea how far away he was until he came quite close.
I'm sure these powerful lights are very useful, but don't make this a pissing contest about who can strap on the most lumens. Please make sure your lights aren't potentially making you and others LESS safe.
Maybe stand your bike up with the lights on and stand in front of it from some distance and walk towards it. If you find yourself squinting or feeling at all uncomfortable, dip or dim the light.
One was a guy I used to pass regularly on my way in to work - I think he was a bit of a dick generally as he'd be charging down the split cyclepath/pavement stretch of a particular road rather than on the road itself, sending pedestrians scattering. More than once I looked at him holding my hand up to my eyes suggesting he had his light on too bright or too raised and he just grinned back. Also worth noting it was broad daylight, so if something is able to dazzle in the full light of day it must be FAR too bright.
Second memorable incident was a guy coming towards me from some distance down a long road with a very bright light that felt very focused to me. It was SERIOUSLY impairing my vision as I felt it was pointing directly into my eyes - I could feel my field of vision closing as my eyes tried to compensate. Couldn't actually see the cyclist at all - just the light - and had no idea how far away he was until he came quite close.
I'm sure these powerful lights are very useful, but don't make this a pissing contest about who can strap on the most lumens. Please make sure your lights aren't potentially making you and others LESS safe.
Maybe stand your bike up with the lights on and stand in front of it from some distance and walk towards it. If you find yourself squinting or feeling at all uncomfortable, dip or dim the light.
DrSquirrel
Guest
I tilt my light down in a "dipped" manner when I have oncoming - although I will not do this if the oncoming car doesn't dip their lights.
You can get them for cheaper (£77) "direct" from China, or if you want just the P7 LED, you can get it for £50.
1400 is a joke though, the P7 bins they use will more likely get you 700 rather than the 900 claimed.
These lights are good but a suitable amount of "hacking" experience helps - although a quick clean out and repasting thermal paste should suffice - they need a little sealant on the cable exit too.
You can get them for cheaper (£77) "direct" from China, or if you want just the P7 LED, you can get it for £50.
1400 is a joke though, the P7 bins they use will more likely get you 700 rather than the 900 claimed.
These lights are good but a suitable amount of "hacking" experience helps - although a quick clean out and repasting thermal paste should suffice - they need a little sealant on the cable exit too.
