With the advent of battery/bulb technology it seems like nearly all cyclists are equipped with these now and mostly on their heads rather than fixed on the bike. A few months back I was confronted with a sole cyclist down an unlit country lane while driving a car. The contrast of light and dark was enough to literally stop me in my tracks as I was dazzled to the extent that I couldn't see where I was going. Had I been on a motorbike I'm not sure how it would of ended. On this occasion I do feel sorry for 'the governing body' as I really don't know how rules and laws regarding bicycle lighting could ever be effectively policed. This topic has been coming up regularly whenever I sit down and talk to 'biker mates' so wondered what else anyone could add on this forum?
Well it's a tricky one, as it's not usually the brightness of the lights but the angles they use. Most riders use 2. 1 on the bike which does the near view, 1 on the helmet that does further out. It's the latter that's often the issue for other road users. The problem is, that riders now seem to think they need to light up the universe like it's the middle of the day. I rarely ride at night and try to angle mine down a bit... but I rekon I'm a minority in that context.
It's those damned flashing LEDs on bikes that get me........both the red rear ones of the front white ones.... ....IMO they don't register in my brain as a proper light as a continuous one would.......
I reckon it's every bit the brightness weeksy as nobody ever noticed what angle bicycle lights were at before because they never dazzled or blinded anyone
60 At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.
I have found seeing an on coming object a distance away with such bright high lights, I do not know what it is, and end up going through a list of vehicles, and ends up a cyclist that is blinding you. and more and more are riding at night for the clearer empty roads. Hence on a narrow road you would assume at first it is a something big coming at you with a light broken on one side
So many more people ride bikes now, so many more ride off-road at night than in the past... Hence the brighter lights. It's hard in a forest with crappy lights doing 25mph downhill through trees.
It would be nice if the cyclists here had lights!!! That said I came across a cyclist with helmet light which was flashing he was about 6ft tall I did wonder what it was in the distance flashing so high yet he wore no reflective clothing!? and dressed all black Flashing and bright lights are a distraction on the road as your looking to see what it is and momentarily your drawn to it which could result in an accident
And use random guesswork and blind faith for the sections where we need to ride on the road ? None of the MTBers I know use flashing mode, it would be a bit pointless in the woods.
From what has been said on this thread already I need to make it clear that in no way am I an anti-bicyclist Weeksy and overall I am glad that people can at last achieve adequate lighting in the dark. All of the motorbike people I know are very thoughtful when it comes to bicycle lighting and how they use theirs.
I have flashing front/rear LED's on my bicycle. I don't ride in the pitch dark so I don't use them to see where I am going. I have them primarily so that I am seen by other road users to hopefully prevent me from being ignored and "taken out" on a busy road.
Are the lights there to help them see where they are going orto warn other road users? Some bicycles have lights that would be more suited for a lighthouse. (Warning-Off Topic)Please cyclists, if you are in a group and there are 20 cars queued behind, please go single file until they pass. Respect all road users and their journey. thank you
Impossible to say, in my case it's to see where I'm going... Others are likely to be to warn other road users..
I have a flashing light on the bars of my push iron that I know about when its too high as I get flashed (not in the woods). Same as the 848 going up hill under acceleration gets me flashed (also not in the woods) by oncoming traffic (lights are set correctly). Got a head torch too which is useful for directing at oncoming traffic who feel that cyclists don't get dazzled by oncoming full beams. Just like most of us do when a driver coming from the other direction forgets to dip his lights.... frantic flashing :Wideyed: followed by just leaving them on. I had a little renault 197 before I parked it in the side of a bus, that had 'self levelling' lamps which regularly got confused and lit up the night sky, which used to lead to the above on a regular basis.
should have run him over @Chris as I said yesterday I have a Cree head torch around 1000 lumens its dangerously bright, so in the winter evenings I wear it all the time, I just love those 2 wheeled Lycra wearers who feel the right to flaunt any law of the road, ( rant over ) I then play them at their own game and dazzle them with my head torch............ problem solved
And of course on your motorbike you never break the speed limits thus also flaunting the same laws of the road ? or pass on double whites? Or etc etc etc.
we talking lights, get back to the thread lol, and no I don't wear lycra, what is the point in that.............
