Front white, back red?

Roundandround
Roundandround Posts: 31
edited August 2011 in Road beginners
I've always thought there was some law or other that regulated the colour of front and back lights on all vehicles, including bikes (white for the front, red for the back), and every back light I've ever seen / bought for the bike has been red. So, what about http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-tl-ld610 ... rear-light? Looks good, but is it UK legal?

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    it is still a red rear light.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    it's a red light. Just the les is white.
  • ductions
    ductions Posts: 274
    From the description
    5 red LEDs

    I think they are referring to the colour of the casing.
  • Roundandround
    Roundandround Posts: 31
    Feeling a bit stupid now. Can't see anything on the light casing that would convert the white LEDs to red, but will take your word for it.

    :oops:
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    no it has red LEDs in it. Not white.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • ThatBikeGuy
    ThatBikeGuy Posts: 394
    :lol:
    Cannondale SS Evo Team
    Kona Jake CX
    Cervelo P5
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    Different materials in the silicone in LEDs can provide different colours. The colour of the diffuser is normally irrelevant. They're not like incandescent bulbs which can only provide the whole spectrum then needs to be coloured via the use of filters.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    It's like car indicators with an orange lens,there is a white bulb behind but you can buy orange bulbs for use with white lenses.

    LED'S can glow in different colours(red in this case) behind a white lens so still being legal.
  • Squarepants
    Squarepants Posts: 1,019
    I apologise in advance, good question but this thread is seriously lacking a

    1260528522_itcrowd-facepalm.gif
    Cube Hanzz Pro FR
    Squarepants wrote:
    It's not that I'm over over biked, my bike is under personed...
  • Stewie Griffin
    Stewie Griffin Posts: 4,330
    This needs a facepalm :lol:
  • SLX01
    SLX01 Posts: 338
    The LED creates red light putting a clear lens on it means its brighter as the light generated is not diffused by a red lens.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    It's like car indicators with an orange lens,there is a white bulb behind but you can buy orange bulbs for use with white lenses.

    LED'S can glow in different colours(red in this case) behind a white lens so still being legal.

    I really dislike these. I find it far more difficult to spot a flashing indicator when it isn't a big orange lump, especially in bright sun or peripheral vision. I find I need to look right at them to see the orange.

    Of course, that's an academic problem as nobody uses indicators, even though many manage to leave fog lights on permanently. What is it with car lights? Why are so many determined to turn the right ones off and the wrong ones on?!
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    balthazar wrote:
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    It's like car indicators with an orange lens,there is a white bulb behind but you can buy orange bulbs for use with white lenses.

    LED'S can glow in different colours(red in this case) behind a white lens so still being legal.

    I really dislike these. I find it far more difficult to spot a flashing indicator when it isn't a big orange lump, especially in bright sun or peripheral vision. I find I need to look right at them to see the orange.

    Of course, that's an academic problem as nobody uses indicators, even though many manage to leave fog lights on permanently. What is it with car lights? Why are so many determined to turn the right ones off and the wrong ones on?!

    Looks cool apparantly.
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    Had a few cat-eye lights and they have all been useless... don't bother now. computers even worse.

    :(

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