Lights, lack of them

Laird_Attwood

Well out driving on the roads this evening I have seen a lot, more than I have ever done before, idiots riding with out lights in very dim and dark conditions. (dusk, street lights and lights required on car to pitch black)

a fair few didn't even have the basics of reflectors. Usually its the odd young chav type on a battered up bmx or mountain bike but just gone 8pm this evening a bloke with his child in one of them child seats on bike was travelling against traffic on the road with no lights! fair enough if you don't value your own life but risking your child's life (who's strapped in/on bike)

Even a young lad on a mountain bike all over the road with no lights didn't care when the police drove past, seems they didn't care either.

Seems very few cyclists around here think they need to be seen.

sungod

come winter, there'll be people on black bikes, dressed in black, with no lights - suicidal

but then, i've also seen black cars, on unlit roads, with no lights - homicidal

both are bloody annoying

declan1

Out for a ride the other night, and even though I have a pretty decent light, I couldn't really see much. I saw two kids going the other way on mountain bikes (on a country road), no light, no reflectors, dressed in black/dark clothing, and no helmets. I only saw them when they were about 10ft from me.

I really don't understand it....

butcher of bakersfield

declan1 wrote:

Out for a ride the other night, and even though I have a pretty decent light, I couldn't really see much. I saw two kids going the other way on mountain bikes (on a country road), no light, no reflectors, dressed in black/dark clothing, and no helmets. I only saw them when they were about 10ft from me.

I really don't understand it....

The perspective is so different on a bike, I genuinely believe those who don't drive don't quite realise the risks. Everything's at such a calmer pace and you view your surroundings with great clarity.

Then you get behind the wheel of a car, and that's when I begin to fear for my own safety on a bike...

I can't imagine many of these people would do it if they realised the view motorists have of them, or lack of, as the case may be.

diy

Every keen cyclist should have two front and two rear so that you have no single point of failure.

GavH

Was out last night for a bit longer than originally anticipated and must admit, having no lights left me feeling a bit exposed. First thing I did was go onto Wiggle for a look at some options. Question now is, what ones!?

Bunneh

I bought a load of those velcro strip red LED light sets from Poundland. Wrap them around my backpack, legs, arms and even zip tie a couple to the frame. I look lilke a bloody Christmas tree - add the flourescent jacket, 3 seat post mounted rear lights, 2 ultra bright front LED lights I'm pretty much unmissable - literally - I make a lovely target for chavbots.

meursault

GavH wrote:

Was out last night for a bit longer than originally anticipated and must admit, having no lights left me feeling a bit exposed. First thing I did was go onto Wiggle for a look at some options. Question now is, what ones!?

I found this helpful

http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-database.html

Then bought two cree q5's for about £6 each from the bay. Have cheap rear lights, don't think theres much difference in them.

de_sisti

declan1 wrote:

Out for a ride the other night, and even though I have a pretty decent light, I couldn't really see much. I saw two kids going the other way on mountain bikes (on a country road), no light, no reflectors, dressed in black/dark clothing, and no helmets. I only saw them when they were about 10ft from me.

I really don't understand it....

Why the comment about helmets?

cougie

meursault wrote:

Have cheap rear lights, don't think theres much difference in them.

You'd be surprised. My half watt smart light is miles brighter than cheaper lights.
I don't skimp on rear lights.

declan1

De Sisti wrote:

declan1 wrote:

Out for a ride the other night, and even though I have a pretty decent light, I couldn't really see much. I saw two kids going the other way on mountain bikes (on a country road), no light, no reflectors, dressed in black/dark clothing, and no helmets. I only saw them when they were about 10ft from me.

I really don't understand it....

Why the comment about helmets?

I know they're not a legal requirement, but if you're on a country road in the middle of the night with no lights and/or reflectors, a helmet would probably help save your life when you inevitably get hit by a car.

t.m.h.n.e.t

declan1 wrote:

De Sisti wrote:

declan1 wrote:

Out for a ride the other night, and even though I have a pretty decent light, I couldn't really see much. I saw two kids going the other way on mountain bikes (on a country road), no light, no reflectors, dressed in black/dark clothing, and no helmets. I only saw them when they were about 10ft from me.

I really don't understand it....

Why the comment about helmets?

I know they're not a legal requirement, but if you're on a country road in the middle of the night with no lights and/or reflectors, a helmet would probably help save your life when you inevitably get hit by a car.

The dumbasses who ride without lights/reflectors don't tend to think twice about safety. Evident in that,they are out at night with zero lighting.

diy

Be careful when looking as lots of sellers confuse with Lux, max LED lumen, wattage, "q5" etc.

There are at lease 4 Cree LEDs which come in a Q5 bin. Though personally, given that you can get XM-L U2 for £7 which produces twice the output for the same input as any Q5, I wouldn't go with the older/cheaper LEDs.

I also use the Smart Lunar R1 as a rear light its very good - at £13 it is my most expensive light and also the least bright.

1 Watt is nothing in LEDs. Most of my front LED lights push 5-12w

Bebs

Dum indeed.

dsoutar

sungod wrote:

come winter, there'll be people on black bikes, dressed in black, with no lights - suicidal

but then, i've also seen black cars, on unlit roads, with no lights - homicidal

both are bloody annoying

Darwin had a theory about their probability of survival. It's good for the gene pool

Sentral

I was wondering the same thing the other day, with about 5 cyclists without any lights/reflectors at about 10pm. You can get a set of basic knog copies from eBay for £3 delivered. No excuse!

diy wrote:

Be careful when looking as lots of sellers confuse with Lux, max LED lumen, wattage, "q5" etc.

There are at lease 4 Cree LEDs which come in a Q5 bin. Though personally, given that you can get XM-L U2 for £7 which produces twice the output for the same input as any Q5, I wouldn't go with the older/cheaper LEDs.

I also use the Smart Lunar R1 as a rear light its very good - at £13 it is my most expensive light and also the least bright.

1 Watt is nothing in LEDs. Most of my front LED lights push 5-12w

Some links would be helpful, I cannot find any XM-L's for the price you quote. I'm after a decent compact LED unit for the front for myself

wishitwasallflat

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