Flashing or not?

Notnormal

What are peoples thought on flashing lights? I use mine on constant out of town (no street lighting and need to see properly) and on flashing in built up areas as I think it makes me stand out a little more and prolongs battery life. Any other reasons for and against using lights on flashing mode?

ansbaradigeidfran

I'm with you on that. The only addition I'd make is that you don't tend to need to see by the rear one, so have it flashing all the time.

Two front lights would allow you to have one constant (to see) and one flashing...

linsen

I have one of each at the front and I flash from behind.....

roger_merriman

flashing is harder to judge distance and speed, but it attracts attention, which is why big green has a number of lights some i set to flashing some to just on.

batch78

Yep, thats what I do too, unless I've got both my lights on then one flashing one constant.

Kieran_Burns

I have two sets of lights front and rear - one set flash one set constant.

If you get the LD1100 (cateye) for the rear you can independently set each row, and have one flash and one constant in a single light

gtvlusso

Flashing both end.....And Green and White rugby socks, classy.....

Surf-Matt

I set the front light (Hope Vision 1 LED) to constant at the front and my rear light (some Topeak jobby) to flashing at all times. Except in the middle of the day in July.

daniel_b

One of each (Flashing and constant) both ends, as it were - once the Blackburns arrive from Wiggle - hopefully any day now.

Belv

I have the front on constant, and the rear light flashing. When i had the front one flashing i did seem to be less noticed by our 4-wheeled friends.

Finbar Saunders

linsen wrote:

I have one of each at the front and I flash from behind.....

Fnarr Fnarr!

I popped in as I thought this thread was about a different type of flashing. Oh well, since I'm here already..... when I am driving or cycling I look out for other cyclists (as all road users should!) and I think flashing (lights) seem to get my attention more than non-flashers. I have a second light for when I need to see (Tesco Cree) but only need it for a couple miles.

snakehips

I am an inveterate flasher. A small flashing white light can stand out even when in competition with car headlights.

Snake

my bikes ........ http://beta.yudu.com/library/item_details/17432/Snakehips--Bikes

Nick6891

i have mine on constant just because i need it to see due to no street lights, but if its not completely dark and i can see i have it on flashing

jonnyr5

I tend to set both flashing, but have just ordered this swanky looking illumination device.....

http://www.exelite.co.uk/recreational.h ... ct=lumipac

prj45

I have one light on flashing and one light on steady, front and rear.

IMO just flashing makes it harder for people to judge where you are are where you're going and how fast your travelling.

However, flashing is more noticable.

So, best of both worlds for me.

feel

front flashing in daylight, constant in dark. Rear off in daylight unless on dual carriage way or other very fast road, flashing in dark.

nwallace

Depends on the amount of light around when I set off.

Flashing on both if it's jsut starting to get dark or light when i set off, no point using the batterys for next to nothing when you can use attention grabbing mode.

I get a short rest on the lift onto the bridge (I am not carrying that bike with panniers up the stairs unless I have to) where I can switch the rear if i want.

I switch the front over to low beam when I feel it's time.


My mind was made up about flashing or constant one night as I walked home from Bridge access (4 miles) Saw a flashing white light crawling slowly down the road, couldnt' judge the speed at all and all i could see was a flashing white light.
So I reckon flashing is fine when I can still be seen by an unlit vehicle (in this case a pedestrian) but a steady lgiht is going to be easier to read my speed from once I am invisible without direct lighting.

johnnyc71

Lots of Traffic - one front light on pulse and the other solid. Back light pulsing.

Country lanes - Both front lights solid - back light on pulse.

The pulse is a constant light with a flash - so best of both worlds.

daver1

I have one flashing and one constant, front and back and another one on my backpack. you can't have too many lights in my opinion (except for when it comes to changing the batteries).

attica

Yep, One flasher front, one constant.
I've noticed that in dark lanes the flashing actually seems to impede my vision as my eyes are constantly trying to recover from the flash, so both go on constant then.

As for the rear, constant and flashing mixed

m0scs

Front light constant, rear flashing.

My rear light is a Cateye model

http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/550

It has two rows of lights that are set independently so you can take your pick as to how you have them set.

Generally I leave them both on flashing, and use them during the day as well. The battery life is much improved and I think flashing lights are more visible to a driver.

Breathless Commuter Man

linsen wrote:

I have one of each at the front and I flash from behind.....

+1

pst88

Kieran_Burns wrote:

If you get the LD1100 (cateye) for the rear you can independently set each row, and have one flash and one constant in a single light

Just bought one of those and love it, it's like a mobile disco! I think in future I'm gonna have my front lights on flashing (or some combination of flashing and steady). Last night I just had one of my 2 front lights on constant and some woman drove into me. Maybe if it was flashing or I had both on she might've seen me before I was sprawled over her car. Think I might get some wheel lights for more side visibility too.

Notnormal

I;ve got one of those cat eye rear lights as well can recommend. But its not as good as my exposure joystick maxx2 front light which is like a strobe light on flashing!!! Plus I can do an unlit stretch of downhill road at 30mph plus in pitch black and its powerful enoujgh for me to see when on constant.

tailwindhome

pst88 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

If you get the LD1100 (cateye) for the rear you can independently set each row, and have one flash and one constant in a single light

Just bought one of those and love it, it's like a mobile disco! I think in future I'm gonna have my front lights on flashing (or some combination of flashing and steady). Last night I just had one of my 2 front lights on constant and some woman drove into me. Maybe if it was flashing or I had both on she might've seen me before I was sprawled over her car. Think I might get some wheel lights for more side visibility too.

Can this be set up for a 'Knight Rider' effect? 8)

Cantdosleepy

Finbar Saunders wrote:

linsen wrote:

I have one of each at the front and I flash from behind.....

Fnarr Fnarr!

Eponysterical!

dirk_van_gently

I don't like flashing lights at either end. On the front I think there is always the danger that some knob will think you are giving them the right of way.

I use a Cateye 5 LED rear on constant, and I have a cheap rear LED light on a Velcro strap that goes around my right ankle, I have this on constant, however the fact it's wobbling up and down does get drivers attention.

+ Fireflies on the wheels, for the "mobile disco/Christmas tree" effect

don_don

My mind was made up about flashing or constant one night as I walked home from Bridge access (4 miles) Saw a flashing white light crawling slowly down the road, couldnt' judge the speed at all and all i could see was a flashing white light.
So I reckon flashing is fine when I can still be seen by an unlit vehicle (in this case a pedestrian) but a steady lgiht is going to be easier to read my speed from once I am invisible without direct lighting.

I'd never really considered that before. I think I might go to 1 flash and 1 constant up front now, as others here seem to be doing.

I have flashing to the rear and also a red Knog Frog on the back of my helmet, which is visible a long way back in traffic. I used to have a B&M 'Topfire' on my helmet - 4 red leds with a small watch type battery. It was a bit fiddly to mount and use but was very noticeable from several hundred metres back, according to my other half. The Frog is similar but much easier to mount on the back of the lid.

lost_in_thought

I have one on the pannier rack, a flashy one, and also a flashy spare light - one of the really tiny ones with an elastic on it - attached to my ever-present ponytail.

Might get a flashy one for the front as well.

Kieran_Burns

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

pst88 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

If you get the LD1100 (cateye) for the rear you can independently set each row, and have one flash and one constant in a single light

Just bought one of those and love it, it's like a mobile disco! I think in future I'm gonna have my front lights on flashing (or some combination of flashing and steady). Last night I just had one of my 2 front lights on constant and some woman drove into me. Maybe if it was flashing or I had both on she might've seen me before I was sprawled over her car. Think I might get some wheel lights for more side visibility too.

Can this be set up for a 'Knight Rider' effect? 8)

Yes. I prefer to think of it as Cylon Mode :P

I have the 610 which can also be set to Cylon Mode.... this could REALLY confuse drivers!!! I think I might try this tonight :twisted:

ansbaradigeidfran

lost_in_thought wrote:

I have one on the pannier rack, a flashy one, and also a flashy spare light - one of the really tiny ones with an elastic on it - attached to my ever-present ponytail.

Ooh, I like that idea. I'll have to hunt around for a light I can do that with.