lights again:- (paranoia)

bearfraser

Time to dig out the main lights,dark at 07:00 & 18:00 appx. run with secondary lights mainly on flash. Was thinking DO i need a back up for these or am i just becoming extremely paranoid???????????????

iPete

Also running 2 up front and 2 at the back, the best back up is good batteries. As long as the secondary lights can get you home, I wouldn't bother with a third set..

RufusA

+1

2 front (one to see, one to be seen), 2 back (1 blinking, one constant) and a small case of spare rechargeable batteries in my bag in case something runs out unexpectedly.

Only issue I've had to date was when my Dinotte went a bit crazy and kept switching modes. Managed to run on just my backup front with reduced speed, but not a comfortable commute beyond the streetlights!

Would love to know how all the ninja cyclists manage to pelt along with no lights without hitting something or being hit!

Rufus.

gbsahne001

am down to headtorch and back up for front, as main front torch and 2nd backup are in for repair, if it goes beyond next week, then I can see a new main being bought.

PBo

bearfraser wrote:

Time to dig out the main lights,dark at 07:00 & 18:00 appx. run with secondary lights mainly on flash. Was thinking DO i need a back up for these or am i just becoming extremely paranoid???????????????

Decision also depends on your route. Well lit, urban, with your lights for "being seen", then batteries and use of secondary in an emergency probably fine, particulalry if backed up with reflectives/hiviz etc.

However, if rural/poorly lit, and you need lights to see, not just be seen, then maybe you do want to consider what the situation will be if you lose main light.....

(trundles off to add spare batteries to pannier.......)

nikstar1

i would suggest spare batteries, its always better to be safe than sorry. If your route is very rural maybe even a ruther back up option.

cyberknight

2 front (soon to be 3)
and.........

5 on the back
2 smart 1/2 watt flashhers on the seat post
1 standard smart flasher on each pannier bag
1 helmet flasher

I do ride a good 4-5 miles on unlit country back roads though so i go for over kill

Tom Butcher

I've been using 1 front and back but mainly because i've not got round to getting the winter bike together yet - normally I'd have 2 front and 2 back mixing flash and constant.

Head torch isn't a bad idea as it's a bit higher and you can shine it at drivers who might pull out on you - you can also clip a small red led on the back of the strap so you've got a red light at a different height -maybe a bit more visible in some circumstances such as twisty lanes.

Just bought a nice Smart rear - the newer type rather than the half watt - looks blinding in my kitchen with the light off !

jeremyrundle

PBo wrote:

bearfraser wrote:

Time to dig out the main lights,dark at 07:00 & 18:00 appx. run with secondary lights mainly on flash. Was thinking DO i need a back up for these or am i just becoming extremely paranoid???????????????

Decision also depends on your route.
(trundles off to add spare batteries to pannier.......)

.........................................................................................................................................

Perhaps I am wrong but I think regardless of what or where you are cycling it is just as important, in fact I would consider being seen on a busy main road more important that a country road.

Don't get me wrong you need good lights anywhere but on a quiet country road one good front and rear may well be seen by the odd car or two, in town where motorbike riders are hit surely you can't have enough lights.

I havew SIX on two mounts front and three rear, and I believe the RSP Night Flare lights on ebay at £10 INC. are identical to the cats eye ld600 at £16

beverick

I currently have a 2+2 configuration with one flashing and one steady which, as soon as I'm cycling in full darkness for the entire journey (ie from 1 Nov), they will be supplemented with a second flashing red LED tucked in the rear collar of my shirt.

I don't bother carrying further backups as the chances of any two lights failing is pretty much remote. (I can also switch the red and clear lenses on two of the lights which means that they back each other up!)

I also have a stock of spare batteries at home and at work.

nb, when changing batteries (I'll be putting fresh batteries in all of the lights this weekend in preparation for the winter) I make sure I put batteries from different packs in the each light. I bought a pack of 12 AAA batteries a couple of years ago and they must have been from the same bad batch as they all failed within a couple of hours of each other!

Bob

jeremyrundle

One other thing when people say don't waste money on four or five lights buy one good one at £300, duh I don't have £300 for a light, as I said I have SIX on the front from 5w and up, and the total was £40 plus Uniross aaa batteries on special offer at £2.50 from celpak solutions.

The benefit is

2 lights pointed downish for close up
2 lights about 15' ahead and
2 lights ahead

and if 1,2,3,4 or even 5 pack up I still have a light, with one no matter how good, you have had it.

lemoncurd

A head torch is a great buy, aim it straight into cars that look that they may pull out on you at roundabouts and junctions.

jeremyrundle

When you say head torch are you talking about something like a LED Lenser H7 or a small powerful torch strapped to the helmet, my only concern is I don't appear to have enough space for an H7 and would the strapped on torch compromise the integrity of the helmet if you came off.

A very good idea and seriously would like your view as I would consider this.

---

OK just tried cable tieing a small cycle torch to the helmet, added one each side, GOOD IDEA, glad you suggested it.

Regards

coopster_the_1st

PBo wrote:

bearfraser wrote:

Decision also depends on your route. Well lit, urban, with your lights for "being seen", then batteries and use of secondary in an emergency probably fine, particulalry if backed up with reflectives/hiviz etc.

Having brought a light which was primarily purchased for seeing, I would never go back to lights being used to being seen.

A bright light makes a car driver think you are a motorbike and stops them thinking I can pull out in front of this bicycle as they do not register you as one.

I have had many more cars wait at junctions with a 'seeing' light when I in the past the car would have pulled out in front of me.

cyberknight

Coopster the 1st wrote:

PBo wrote:

bearfraser wrote:

Decision also depends on your route. Well lit, urban, with your lights for "being seen", then batteries and use of secondary in an emergency probably fine, particulalry if backed up with reflectives/hiviz etc.

Having brought a light which was primarily purchased for seeing, I would never go back to lights being used to being seen.

A bright light makes a car driver think you are a motorbike and stops them thinking I can pull out in front of this bicycle as they do not register you as one.

I have had many more cars wait at junctions with a 'seeing' light when I in the past the car would have pulled out in front of me.

+1 cars drivers dip their lights to me all the time and some one at work thought i was a moped approaching them in the car park, even on the lit portion of my commute i run one front light on full now.
I might be wrong but i am going with the
"I have a lot of light coming out of the front of the bike as well you better **** well see me and avoid me " theory :roll:

MarjMJ

I might be wrong but i am going with the
"I have a lot of light coming out of the front of the bike as well you better **** well see me and avoid me " theory Rolling Eyes


I like this theory . I have a rural dual carriageway commute that then changes to urban lit, and since I got myself a rear set of Cateye with flash and constant modes I think that drivers are giving me much more space.

I have to set off in the dark around 7am, and in the last couple of weeks I have just not been too keen to do so though as I have got a weedy front light. Am thinking about a brighter one, but am running out of handlebar! i guess my question is How do you manage to get extra lamps on the front?

cyberknight

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=11337




shop around for cheap , powerful lights , i run 2 of these ...

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26800
that gives me just enough to cycle on my unlit route confidently , soon to be joined by...

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14909

cyberknight

Or replace your weedy light with one bright one !, my set up does the job cheaply or you can get ...

Lots of people like ...

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Hope-Vision-1-L ... _19885.htm


or...
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30864