When it's dark and wet
Clever Pun
Posts: 6,778
It's really very hard to see
the lights coming towards you reflect off everything so sods law you hit every pothole going
Any tips on how to see? or is it a case of skwinting and keeping the front wheel super light? :?
the lights coming towards you reflect off everything so sods law you hit every pothole going
Any tips on how to see? or is it a case of skwinting and keeping the front wheel super light? :?
Purveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
0
Comments
-
yellow lenses? cut down on the ol glare and make it easier to pick out the pot holeys...
no idea to effectiveness - never wornLe Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]0 -
The only tip I have, which I was properly failing to follow last night, is to have memorised where all the holes, cracks and ironworks on your route are. And use the Force.
But generally, it is sh!t when it is that wet. It's very easy to miss white lines - they seem particularly invisible in the reflected light from the road surface.0 -
Polarized clear lenses...if there are such things!
(Helpful, huh?!)0 -
I know Greg, the route is well known but occasionally there that crunch and the wincing
MM I've got photo chromatic lenses, removing the light from the road means it's still hard to seePurveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
Clever Pun wrote:MM I've got photo chromatic lenses, removing the light from the road means it's still hard to see
I'm in the same boat, phto chomatic OR polarising, you can't have both unfortunately.Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
Sun - Cervelo R3
Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX0 -
MonkeyMonster wrote:yellow lenses? cut down on the ol glare and make it easier to pick out the pot holeys...
no idea to effectiveness - never worn
I use these sometimes. Wouldn't say they make it any easier to pick out potholes, but they do give a brighter outlook on life!0 -
Get a proper set of lights and you wont have any trouble.
Yellow lenses are okay, but tbh there isn't much you can do!0 -
I use yellow lenses in the dark. They're better than anything else I've used, but TBH, they're still not good at dealing with reflected light off a wet road.
And whatever lens you have, when it's raining and the lens is covered with droplets, your glasses are fooked. I go for naked eye at that point.0 -
What about everyone else? I have no trouble seeing road markings, potholes etc (apart from the underwater ones, which I can just about remember) but everyone around me (motorists, other cyclists and especially pedestrians) seems to have huge problems seeing either each other or me :-(
In particular, can anyone recommend a strategy for being seen through a pedestrian's umbrella? High vis top and super-bright headlamp don't appear to be sufficient...Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
I wear glasses because I have to (I'm short sighted) but I would prefer not to when it's wet and dark. I definitely wouldn't recommend actually going out and buying them if you don't need them, polarising/yellow lenses or no.
Last night I biked home along OKR at about 9pm. My glasses steamed up every time I stopped at lights or to manoevre round traffic, the lenses were constantly covered in a fine spray of rain or up from the roads. My eyesight is horrible without glasses but it was so bad I actually consdered taking them off and riding without.Do not write below this line. Office use only.0 -
If you wear a helmet with a clip-on visor, they can be helpful - tilting your head down cuts out a lot of the glare from headlights. It also keeps a lot of the rain off any glasses you are wearing, but in last night's downpour, I think no glasses or contact lenses if needed would be the best bet.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
at night if it's raining; no glasses and squint for me, as the drops of rain reflect the oncoming headlights0
-
Yellow lenses work quite well at reducing glare, and you don't have to pay a fortune.
I use safety specs - £7 delivered:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bolle-Viper-Safety-Specs-Glasses-Yellow-Lens-NEW-/130366420043?pt=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item1e5a71b44b#ht_500wt_1154
However, they were rubbish in the rain last night. I tilt the helmet visor low and use my innate spidey senses.Giant Escape R1
FCN 8
"Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Terry Pratchett.0 -
TGOTB wrote:What about everyone else? I have no trouble seeing road markings, potholes etc (apart from the underwater ones, which I can just about remember) but everyone around me (motorists, other cyclists and especially pedestrians) seems to have huge problems seeing either each other or me :-(
In particular, can anyone recommend a strategy for being seen through a pedestrian's umbrella? High vis top and super-bright headlamp don't appear to be sufficient...
I have some sympathy with drivers in these conditions. They can cut through the reflected light no better than us. Often their wing mirrors will be largely useless due to the water droplets on both the surface of the mirror and the window that they have to look through. The only strategy is to assume that they haven't and can't seen you.0 -
Last night, I tended not to notice other headlights causing me problems - my view was focused about 20ft ahead of me searching for puddles/potholes, then used my peripheral vision for other road-users/dangers. A bloke pulled up beside me & I bemoaned the weather and he said that he couldn't see anything! I didn't have that problem at all. No glasses but a visor on the helmet.1997 Gary Fisher Big Sur
2009 Scott Spark 60
2010 Ghost 5000
2011 Commencal Ramones AL1
2012 Commencal Meta AM10 -
Headhuunter wrote:I wear glasses because I have to (I'm short sighted) but I would prefer not to when it's wet and dark. I definitely wouldn't recommend actually going out and buying them if you don't need them, polarising/yellow lenses or no.
Last night I biked home along OKR at about 9pm. My glasses steamed up every time I stopped at lights or to manoevre round traffic, the lenses were constantly covered in a fine spray of rain or up from the roads. My eyesight is horrible without glasses but it was so bad I actually consdered taking them off and riding without.
I have an anti-glare coating on mine - works a treat in the car and on the bike.0 -
Greg66 wrote:I have some sympathy with drivers in these conditions. They can cut through the reflected light no better than us. Often their wing mirrors will be largely useless due to the water droplets on both the surface of the mirror and the window that they have to look through. The only strategy is to assume that they haven't and can't seen you.Pannier, 120rpm.0
-
rodgers73 wrote:Headhuunter wrote:I wear glasses because I have to (I'm short sighted) but I would prefer not to when it's wet and dark. I definitely wouldn't recommend actually going out and buying them if you don't need them, polarising/yellow lenses or no.
Last night I biked home along OKR at about 9pm. My glasses steamed up every time I stopped at lights or to manoevre round traffic, the lenses were constantly covered in a fine spray of rain or up from the roads. My eyesight is horrible without glasses but it was so bad I actually consdered taking them off and riding without.
I have an anti-glare coating on mine - works a treat in the car and on the bike.
Its' not glare that's the problem for me, it's fogging and rain/spray from the roads...Do not write below this line. Office use only.0 -
A helmet with a PEAK (visor?) makes a massive difference and I can't imagine riding without it.
I'm amazed that so many people will never consider wearing it while on a road bike, just to conform to some fashion rules.0 -
Barteos wrote:A helmet with a PEAK (visor?) makes a massive difference and I can't imagine riding without it.
I'm amazed that so many people will never consider wearing it while on a road bike, just to conform to some fashion rules.
My old helmet used to have one but my current one doesn't have a peak. I ride with a cap under the helmet but I find the peak cuts visibilityDo not write below this line. Office use only.0 -
Headhuunter wrote:but I find the peak cuts visibility
Same here. I use my MTB helmet through the Winter; that has a peak and when I ride in the drops it really bugs me.0 -
Many helmets have adjustable peaks. I use Giro E2 and it's brilliant 8)0
-
TGOTB wrote:In particular, can anyone recommend a strategy for being seen through a pedestrian's umbrella? High vis top and super-bright headlamp don't appear to be sufficient...
I opt for an effete: "woo-hoo" as I've yet to find a way to be seen through a brolly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CGhxztbtS00