Darkness is coming - could we have sensible front light use?
Comments
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i'd like a ******* laser on mine
:twisted:
What for?
What on earth are those rules in your signature?
Enjoy
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
These rules are poppycock. It's embarrassing. What would Graeme Obree make of them? Is he the type of rider we aspire to emulate?Would you promote cycling on your shorts as you commute? www.quickerbybike.com0 -
i'd like a ******* laser on mine
:twisted:
What for?
What on earth are those rules in your signature?
Enjoy
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
These rules are poppycock. It's embarrassing. What would Graeme Obree make of them? Is he the type of rider we aspire to emulate?
The Rules are slighty jokey but also deadly serious. Rule 42 is a given. Sleeves must be worn. I ride in bad weather because I am a badass (and PT sucks worse than cold and wetness). The thing about matching tape and saddle and all the rest is a bit over the top just make sure it is Fizik ;-)
I have a dirty great light. If I see someone coming the other way I put my hand over it. Strobing front lights or the absurdly bright rear lights are pointless especially in an urban envoronment. The last thing you want to do is blind drivers so they can`t see anything. Also the sort of person who kicks out a gazillion lumens and says sh!t like "You can see me and its my right of way" will be in for a sad awakening when they come across the sort of cockwomble in a metal box who just doesn't look or couldn't give a monkeys (of which there are quite a few in London).0 -
Does the OP know this is commuting chat? Perhaps he's come to the wrong part of the forum.Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
@Kurako........
As a driver in a relatively busy town I feel that bright lights are the way forward for bikes, and if these lights are flashing then so much the better.
I find it helps me see them earlier, and act accordingly. Sometimes it is hard to judge distance, so I just slow down until I am safely past them.
As a cyclist I try to go big and flashy in the hope I am seen by others.0 -
I shout "dip your f-ing light, you f-ing tw@t" at them. If enough of us committed to doing that it might help.
If a car does not dip I cover my eyes with one arm to make it obvious they are blinding me, followed by the magic beans as they drive past (if still on high beam). Expletives maybe added if appropriate.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19678564#p19678564]Snakebite the 2nd[/url] wrote:@Kurako........
As a driver in a relatively busy town I feel that bright lights are the way forward for bikes, and if these lights are flashing then so much the better.
I find it helps me see them earlier, and act accordingly. Sometimes it is hard to judge distance, so I just slow down until I am safely past them.
As a cyclist I try to go big and flashy in the hope I am seen by others.
Well there are two kinds of driver to think about:
There's the ones who are careful and observant and a bright flashing light may help them a little but I think there is enough light around to be seen with 2 smaller units (like a Cateye EL130) together. Battery life is good and if one fails (broken/smashed/lost/stolen/no juice) chances are the other will be ok so you get additional redundancy. Best to always carry a spare set of batteries in any case. So with that set up you are covered with good drivers.
Bad drivers are the kind who are either so incompetent they don't look or so selfish they see you and just don''t care. No amount of hi-viz/disco lights is going to help and anyone who think it will is in danger of a nasty surprise.
Here's my thinking on it if you disagree that is fine but I have done this for quite some time and I do ok. In a urban area there is enough light around so there's no need to go over the top. Wear bright colours, have some reflectives and make sure you have good lights in working order. Suspect everyone. Assume everyone else around is incompetent and/or trying to kill you and ride accordingly. Be prepared to slow down or stop even if it is 'your right of way'.
PS. When I am riding and someone behind has an ludicrously bright light it makes it more difficult to see anything coming from behind when doing a shoulder check. How anyone can think that is safer is beyond me. If it is strobing the irritation is increased tenfold and there is also the danger of setting off epileptic fits.0 -
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I think we agree on a lot of things.
Bad drivers are the kind who are either so incompetent they don't look or so selfish they see you and just don''t care. No amount of hi-viz/disco lights is going to help and anyone who think it will is in danger of a nasty surprise.
Here's my thinking on it if you disagree that is fine but I have done this for quite some time and I do ok. In a urban area there is enough light around so there's no need to go over the top. Wear bright colours, have some reflectives and make sure you have good lights in working order. Suspect everyone. Assume everyone else around is incompetent and/or trying to kill you and ride accordingly. Be prepared to slow down or stop even if it is 'your right of way'.
Everything you said here was spot on.
Like you I have been doing it a while now, over 20 years.
My route is primarily on unlit roads that connect two neighbouring towns, with a bit of street lighting at either end.
I do not have to deal with a lot of stop/start traffic and red lights, it is mainly fastish moving traffic overtaking me.
This is probably where we differ, I get the impression you commute in a more urban environment, correct me if I am wrong.
At the end of the day, I'm not going to argue/fall out etc with anyone on here because a difference of circumstance. The way I look at it is we are all on the same side!0 -
Nothing worse than shoulder checking and ending up blind because some muppet drafting fairy has a million watt light aimed directly at you (rather than angling it down a bit?!) . As above, commuting in London generally involves pretty well lit streets so all you need is a "be seen" light and some reflectives, you're not on a MTB night ride in the pitch black, miles from civilisation FFS. I guess if the later part of your ride takes you into the sticks (or your whole commute is not town /city based) then you need something more, but most of these clowns seem to only go as far as Balham or Clapham - maybe Tooting, though that is the heart of darkness after all... ;-)CS7
Surrey Hills
What's a Zwift?0 -
Yes. This forum is very London-centric have you not spotted yet?
I deal mostly with commuting traffic and I dare say a lot of others do to. Hammersmith, Putney, Fulham, Wandsworth.... No more City or Tower Hamlets for me any more (thankfully). There are very few dark spots around. There's the occasional foray into Richmond Park in the evenings. Once the main gates are shut it is lovely not having the cars around excepting sometimes you come across a racing pack with head torches coming in the opposite direction. Wimbledon Common is about as dark as it gets. It's the highest point around and a lot of the lighting from surrounding roads is blocked out by trees. There are no lights on the common at all. In those conditions you need a genuinly bright light but it's just as much about seeing where you are going as being seen which would apply to more rural roads too....0 -
My 808e and Vision 2 are on standby for the murkier times, and you've reminded me that I need to post 2 failed district 3s back to get them repaired. Also need to replace the ld1100 as it has finally broken a clip after years of steadfast service.
I must say that the R4 looks fun.
Yes, I think that's got to be the primary reason commuters use massive lights when they don't need them. Because they've got them, they're fun and they want to use them.
Not really a good enough reason. London's a busy place and if people are not considerate then it can be a hateful place.
Derby is not a suburb of London
The unlit NSL country lanes I commute on require "massive lights" to be safe, and when I do the longer loop home via Nottingham (also not a suburb of London) which takes me through a nature reserve, I damn well *need* several hundred lumen to see. The ducks, voles, geese and squirrels haven't complained yet. The swans might be, but they're just damned unfriendly at the best of times.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Yes. This forum is very London-centric have you not spotted yet?
Really?
On my commute home I have been known to ride faster than my lights, by that I mean I have them pointed too low, or not bright enough and therefore am looking into the middle distance that is pitch black.
A quick adjustment sorts it out, but I may run 2 lights, one running further out than the other.0 -
Kieran....
They are all suburbs of London. Have you learned nothing."If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
You should listen to Jack Burton. Never drive faster than you can see.[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19678736#p19678736]Snakebite the 2nd[/url] wrote:Yes. This forum is very London-centric have you not spotted yet?
Really?
On my commute home I have been known to ride faster than my lights, by that I mean I have them pointed too low, or not bright enough and therefore am looking into the middle distance that is pitch black.
A quick adjustment sorts it out, but I may run 2 lights, one running further out than the other.
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Kieran....
They are all suburbs of London. Have you learned nothing.
We have defences....
There are people who say "Hello" to you in the street. The London lot flee for their lives. Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Nothing worse? I can think of many worse events.Nothing worse than shoulder checking and ending up blind because some muppet drafting fairy has a ......
As a cyclist who also drives, I will categorically state that the most effective way for a cyclist to be seen is to be using flashing lights. Dipped of course.
Flashing to be seen by, constant to see with. Use as appropriate.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
i'd like a ******* laser on mine
:twisted:
What for?
What on earth are those rules in your signature?
Enjoy
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
These rules are poppycock. It's embarrassing. What would Graeme Obree make of them? Is he the type of rider we aspire to emulate?
Oh get a sense of humour please (or at least get some background on road cycling culture to understand the joke). And no (although Mr O is a top bloke in his own unique way)
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Kieran....
They are all suburbs of London. Have you learned nothing.
I suspect that we aren't far off a well known Irish airline advertising London-Derby airport.0 -
Surely estate agents are already advertising Derby as a quiet commuter suburb with easy access to central London..?CS7
Surrey Hills
What's a Zwift?0 -
[quote=
Nothing worse? I can think of many worse events.
[/quote]
That's my problem you see - positive thinker & eternal optimist... CS7
Surrey Hills
What's a Zwift?0 -
Surely estate agents are already advertising Derby as a quiet commuter suburb with easy access to central London..?
as soon as HS2 kicks in they will be!www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes0 -
I already thought it was a suburb. It must be somewhere around Chelsea or Arsenal's grounds because they refer to the match as North London DerbyROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH0
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I already thought it was a suburb. It must be somewhere around Chelsea or Arsenal's grounds because they refer to the match as North London Derby
I'd keep quiet if I were you. I have that embarrassing photo pre-weight loss....Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
I already thought it was a suburb. It must be somewhere around Chelsea or Arsenal's grounds because they refer to the match as North London Derby
I'd keep quiet if I were you. I have that embarrassing photo pre-weight loss....
Fairy nuffROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH0 -
I was just thinking that was humour around KB's level.I already thought it was a suburb. It must be somewhere around Chelsea or Arsenal's grounds because they refer to the match as North London Derby
I'd keep quiet if I were you. I have that embarrassing photo pre-weight loss....
Fairy nuff0 -
I was just thinking that was humour around KB's level.I already thought it was a suburb. It must be somewhere around Chelsea or Arsenal's grounds because they refer to the match as North London Derby
I'd keep quiet if I were you. I have that embarrassing photo pre-weight loss....
Fairy nuff
Ah, c'mon - it wasn't THAT bad! ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH0 -
I was just thinking that was humour around KB's level.I already thought it was a suburb. It must be somewhere around Chelsea or Arsenal's grounds because they refer to the match as North London Derby
I'd keep quiet if I were you. I have that embarrassing photo pre-weight loss....
Fairy nuff
Ah, c'mon - it wasn't THAT bad!
Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
[quote="vimfuego" As above, commuting in London generally involves pretty well lit streets so all you need is a "be seen" light and some reflectives, you're not on a MTB night ride in the pitch black, miles from civilisation FFS. [/quote]
Problem is a 'be seen' light might be a magicshine. One of the 'potentially' worst accidents I've had was along lea bridge road. Two lane, inner one is a bus lane, outer one was queuing cars. I had two bright light constant lights and one flashing one. A car just pulled out across the bus lane and speed across the bus lane (hatched area). I went over the bobber at about 26mph.
The problem here I suspect is my lights were no match for the glare of the queuing car lights. That compounded with the driver not looking properly and I had no chance.
I had much fewer dodgy pullouts on me along this route after I started running a magicshine.FCN 9 || FCN 50 -
The unlit NSL country lanes I commute on require "massive lights" to be safe, and when I do the longer loop home via Nottingham (also not a suburb of London) which takes me through a nature reserve, I damn well *need* several hundred lumen to see. The ducks, voles, geese and squirrels haven't complained yet. The swans might be, but they're just damned unfriendly at the best of times.
Oh balls. I do part of my commute on unlit roads including through a wood with deer, badgers, foxes etc. you don't need "several hundred lumen". A single well-engineered light is more than enough. I use a B+M dyno light which works by bouncing the LED off an engineered mirror so it floods the road rather than carving a tunnel of light. There are a few single tracks through the woods which are popular for MTB night rides. Every now and again a MTBer with several hundred lumen appears on the road in order to sear my retina. These hugely powerful but crudely shaped lights may be essential to pick out roots, branches and rocks on twisty single track but on road its like a surgeon using a chainsaw rather than a scalpel.0 -
The unlit NSL country lanes I commute on require "massive lights" to be safe, and when I do the longer loop home via Nottingham (also not a suburb of London) which takes me through a nature reserve, I damn well *need* several hundred lumen to see. The ducks, voles, geese and squirrels haven't complained yet. The swans might be, but they're just damned unfriendly at the best of times.
Oh balls. I do part of my commute on unlit roads including through a wood with deer, badgers, foxes etc. you don't need "several hundred lumen". A single well-engineered light is more than enough. I use a B+M dyno light which works by bouncing the LED off an engineered mirror so it floods the road rather than carving a tunnel of light. There are a few single tracks through the woods which are popular for MTB night rides. Every now and again a MTBer with several hundred lumen appears on the road in order to sear my retina. These hugely powerful but crudely shaped lights may be essential to pick out roots, branches and rocks on twisty single track but on road its like a surgeon using a chainsaw rather than a scalpel.
Unless you cycle at about 4 mph I don't see how (pun intended) a dynamo light could give anywhere near enough light for properly dark unlit roads.www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes0
