Unlit roads commute
chippyk
Posts: 529
My commute is about 20 miles, the first/last half is unlit roads, I can pick my route a bit to stay off the faster roads and go down some very lightly used roads. This time of year it’s daylight obviously, but I’d like to do a few days a week in winter, when it’s dark.
I’m thinking Exposure Diablo and a strong flashing light to see/be seen at the front and a Proviz type jacket and rucksack. Some advice on the best lighting would be appreciated please.
What other advice would you give?
I’m thinking Exposure Diablo and a strong flashing light to see/be seen at the front and a Proviz type jacket and rucksack. Some advice on the best lighting would be appreciated please.
What other advice would you give?
0
Posts
Exposure Toro on the front (4 years old, still gives amazing battery life) which I use on low power until I get to the unlit miles then it goes on medium or occasionally high (unless it's misty, then it's low because anything higher just lights up the mist!) Exposure TraceR (pulse mode) on the rear along with a small unknown light that I have there just in case the battery fails on the TraceR or the light falls off without me knowing. It never has but it stops me being paranoid and keep checking for the light being there between my legs.
Since being knocked off head-on in broad daylight by a Mum picking her Daughter up from school I now use both lights in daylight as well. I run the Toro in pulse mode and it lasts for many weeks during the Summer months.
A decent named front light and back it up with an eBay nitestorm light on the front too.
If you have reflectives they're best on your lower legs as the movement tells drivers you're a cyclist from way off.
I'd ride the route in daylight First so you know the Dodgy pothole bits.
My typical commute is about 10 miles each way.
I don't wear hi-vis, but do wear reflectives, especially in winter - normally overshoes have a reflective strip at the back, which really help grab attention, especially if you're using clipless pedals without reflectors on.
I have 3 front lights - 2 seeing lights ( a Halfords 1600 lumens bike light, does 400 lumens for 4 hours without a problem, and a very old cateye nanoshot+) and a aldi be seen moon comet knock off, which runs for about 16 hours on low flash.
I can always slow down if I run out of battery on my main lights - but I'd rather not be without anything at all.
3 Rears - a moon shield, and 2 aldi flashers (1 normally off)
In my view, it's essential that you run with 2 rears, as you'll never know if one goes caput while you're riding until someone says they can't see you....
I looked at the Exposure Strada a lot last year, as the shaped beam is, personally, really important to avoid blinding oncoming drivers/cyclists/other road users - and while I didn't buy it (I couldn't justify to the other half a £300 light), I've modified my seeing lights with Fresnel lenses to give a similar, cut off, beam shape.
Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...
On the back is at least 2 rear lights - one on flash the other on steady.
I do have a Pro-vis 360 jacket (phew it's warm!) as they were on special offer last autumn. but prior to that, just normal clothing with the reflectives - mostly in the overshoes.
I've generally found that I get more space in the winter - because people can't tell exactly where you are.
I've also toyed with mounting lights on the lid - forward facing - for my own benefit as I find they're confusing to a driver (lights not steady, darting about all over & glaring) - but only use those if it's a narrow lane/path that I'm going along quite quickly and there are bends the normal light doesn't shine around - it's not essential though.
In the end I went with a Hope R2 front and rear light, the best thing about this system is although external battery pack, both lights run off the same battery. I can have different size battery packs either 2,4 or 6 cells. Easily get replacement bits and decent brightness both on and off road. The rear light has same lenses as car brake lights.
I looked at the exposure stuff but more expensive, spare parts not as easy to get and difficult to replace internal batteries and other than the little red eye the front and rear lights have their own internal batteries. Also the mounting didn't look as robust as the Hopes.
That applies to snow aswell.
Driving in general is better done at night. If I ever go travelling long distance, I will do so at night. Avoids the congestion but in the countryside, animals are more of a hazard as you can't see them very well.
penis
I personally don't use a flashing front light, it would do my head in. I use a Volt 300 for commuting and a Volt 1200 for my racy bike. On the back of my commuter I do use 1 flashing light and one constant.
Until this morning. First time ever, arrived at work in the dark and my main rear light was off, I must have missed the flashing red light to tell me it needed charging. So, yes, always have 2 lights on the rear.