Serious Problem - Lights related! SOLVED!!!

spasypaddy

I am fucked to be honest.

My back light this morning was playing up and flickering, i thought it was the batteries dying so i didnt think anything of it. Got to work and went to get some new batteries from boots at lunchtime, batteries bought, walk back to office.

Take said back light apart and put new batteries in, it doesnt work. FUCK

Took them out put them back in again, still nothing. So now im getting worried, so i ring the shop where i bought them and everything else from (so they know me very very well there!) and told the bloke, we are on first name terms and all that malarky. He said bring them in and he'll replace them no questions asked or anything (he'll send them back to the manufacturer) they are great like that, did it once before with a pair of gloves that broke on their first ride.

So great im getting my lights replaced and all that jazz but how do i get home today!? Ive got a 5 mile journey down lit roads to ride to get home. What should i do? I still have a front light and had i not been on my nice bike id of had two front lights. I dont own any hi-viz stuff either and ive got a backpack of clothes to take home tonight as well...

Any advice on how i can get home safely?
Should i put my front light on the back to avoid being rear ended? As i have more control over what goes on in front of me than i do behind me?

spen666

buy a new light at nearest bike shop

spasypaddy

unfortunately that isnt an option as there are literally no bike shops in the vicinity! my LBS is 3 miles past my house so 8miles from work

dondare

Is there nowhere that you can reach by cycling whilst it's still daylight that you can buy a cheap back light from?

ChrisLS

...buy a cheap light to get you home from a local supermarket or Halfords, Argos, even some car spare shops sell them sometimes is my advice...

dondare

Go home early. (IT is POETS day, after all.)

spasypaddy

dondare wrote:

Is there nowhere that you can reach by cycling whilst it's still daylight that you can buy a cheap back light from?

not in the next 5 minutes which is left of my lunchbreak. had i changed the batteries mid morning id of nipped to halfords (25minutes each way) but its too late now as my lunch is over in 5minutes

and to make matters worse it was nice this morning so i took my planet x not my commuter :evil:

dondare

Lots of places that aren't bike shops sell cheap bike lights. Pound shops, for instance.

dondare

Five miles isn't really that far, you could walk part of the way and use the bike on the better-lit stretches.

spasypaddy

dondare wrote:

Lots of places that aren't bike shops sell cheap bike lights. Pound shops, for instance.

just rang my colleague who was out buying some xmas decorations and shes buying me a set from the pound shop! she just so happened to be in it as i rang!

cheers people, hopefully crisis averted!

fossyant

Won't your boss let you go early at all - explain the situation. No Tesco's etc near work as they usually have them, or no local car spares shops. If not allowed to finish early, maybe they would let you nip out if you caught up the time.

Mog Uk

And here kids is todays lesson, always carry a spare set of lights with you. I've got some cheap as chips Tesco lights in my bag for this very reason.....

spasypaddy

im holding a new rear light in my hands, its very shoddily put together but it cost £1 and the batteries also cost £1. it will get me home and thats all that matter!

Gavin Weeks

Walk, buy a light or arrange a taxi - if not

spasypaddy

new rear light fitted, its horrible but it will do me a job and get me home!

misterben

/me is thinking of buying some of those Ree-Lights as a backup.

richk

I have two front & 2 rear lights on my bike - usually on the basis that at least one will be working at all times. Second front / second rear isn't particularly good, but better than nothing.

spasypaddy

thats the thing i have two front lights normally, but i left one on my commuter as its more hassle to take it off than its worth. Ah well roll on sunday when i can get to my LBS to get my lights changed!

Cheers Ash at the cyclestore!

fossyant

6 sets of lights on mine - Two old BLT's front/rear hard wired to a lead acid battery, Cat eye LED's front/rear, plus front/rear micro LEDS on my rucksack. Plus spare batteries for my cat eyes......

Did you make it home????????? :shock: :shock: :shock:

spasypaddy

yeah got home safely! The rear light that i used in emergency didnt fit properly and worked its way loose and was rocking around a little bit (read almost 180 degrees!) so i took it slowly and carefully. Sorry been cooking supper since i got in and fuming at the fact that guitar hero didnt get delivered!

Cheers everyones advice!

nickcuk

It's a bit late but couldn't you stick a match up yr arse ?

fossyant

Sposed to be good that game..... :?

PC and PSP'er ere !

dondare

spasypaddy wrote:

new rear light fitted, its horrible but it will do me a job and get me home!

Now sell it on ebay, and buy a decent backup that you keep at work for this type of emergency.

spasypaddy

dondare wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

new rear light fitted, its horrible but it will do me a job and get me home!

Now sell it on ebay, and buy a decent backup that you keep at work for this type of emergency.

it broke as i put it on! the whole ensemble (front and back) only cost £1. I had to bodge it up with lots of sellotape!!!

Its going in the bin!

dondare

Demand your pound back.

cntl

I always use two rear lights (one on the helmet and one under the saddle). If the batteries die on one, the other should still work). I also use two lights at the front, 2 x halogen plus a buckup 5 LED light. So in total I have 5 lights, hahaha plus a hi vis vest. If I am run over it's not because I wasn't lit 8)

Cunobelin

Its not just me though!

I always have a spare set of lights (cheap leds) as you never know when one is going to fail, battery run out, or at the worst the light is vandalised or stolen

However, mine have been used by colleagues caught short rather than myself.

Sad I know, but I always keep a spare inner tube, padlock with keys and spare lights at work, just in case.

cooper.michael1

5 miles is run-a-ble in about 45mins-1hr.

I always use two separate rear lights, in case one fails...you would never know if you are riding along and one just failed.

Rear lights are cheap as chips, you can buy a top notch one for £10-15 and then just buy a £4,99 one as back up. They are also so small you can always carry them about.