Bright cycle lights?

[HenryDorsetCase]

I used to do quite a bit of night mtb riding a few years ago. The hot setup was a halogen 50W 12V bulb (like in your downlights at home) and a motorcycle battery. Good for a couple hours blat round the forest. Hell of a lot of fun and makes a boring track quite interesting. Protip: always carry a wee torch with you.

The big change a few years ago was LED's: the lumen output went up massively and the battery size decreased substantially. So what we used to use night riding now comes in a thing you can stick on your helmet.

I only ever used on helmet mount but a few guys swore by a handlebar mount for flood and a head mount for punch.

My point is if the light is a head mount and it is dazzling car drivers it is most likely because the cyclist is looking at the fuckwit car driver and wondering if today is a good day to die.

My view is that the only response is "Good you have seen the cyclist now dont target fixate and kill them".

And as for the rear red? More is better, more strobe-y and flashy the better. I do not accept that any competent driver could mistake a flashing light far away for a bike rear light close in. Unless, of course they are from Craggy Island. In which case they shouldnt be driving at all.

TL;DR: MORE IS BETTER. BRIGHTER IS BETTER.

Just so we are clear on the difference, this applies to cycle lights and cows:
[youtube]GFTgkibl7DU[/youtube]

[Mr Revhead]

My point is if the light is a head mount and it is dazzling car drivers it is most likely because the cyclist is looking at the fuckwit car driver and wondering if today is a good day to die.

My view is that the only response is "Good you have seen the cyclist now dont target fixate and kill them".



TL;DR: MORE IS BETTER. BRIGHTER IS BETTER.

So you don't mind if I shine my LED torch in your face as you drive along?
I'd do it, but I wouldn't want to be in the car with you.


Why are some drivers/riders such fucktards? That's the real problem. Doesn't matter if you drive/ride or walk. You can be a fucktard either way.
And mounting a huge light to your head and directing it in peoples faces makes you a fucktard in just the same way not dipping your full beam makes you a fucktard.

[HenryDorsetCase]

So you don't mind if I shine my LED torch in your face as you drive along?
I'd do it, but I wouldn't want to be in the car with you.


Why are some drivers/riders such fucktards? That's the real problem. Doesn't matter if you drive/ride or walk. You can be a fucktard either way.
And mounting a huge light to your head and directing it in peoples faces makes you a fucktard in just the same way not dipping your full beam makes you a fucktard.

Just dont bring your fleshlight: as long as it IS a torch this time.

or, you know, using 2 1/2 tons of steel and rubber as an offensive weapon does.

[Mr Revhead]

I don't see how that is a valid defence of your attitude?



I'm not going to show you my fleshlight for free....

[Erelyes]

I've been given a complaint to deal with.

A concerned motorist is complaining about how bright some cycle lights are. He's dazzled daily, apparently.

Any thoughts?

Send him this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW3MIixEps4

[Big Dog]

I found my little wind up 3 led setup perfect for commuting. Leave it on flash where the street lights are good ( to preserve power and improve visibility.) and steady beam in poorly lit areas. But then i have better than average eyesight.
One auto red les at the back. Vigorous riding it goes solid. Flashes slowly normally. And for two minutes after last movement except where uv is present.
Riders need the freedom to choose the lighting option that is right for them, but they also need to be responsible enough to align them safely. Anything up from level is unnecessary unless you are going very fast. I found the optimum angle to be down about 5-10 degrees.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[pzkpfw]

It's the same as arses who ride their motorcycles on high beam all the time for "their safety".

Phooey. Some cycle lights are disturbingly bright. One day someone'll be dazzled by one cyclist and run over the one near him who had no lights on.


On a sciency note - assuming anyone actually tests/approves bicycle lights; I wonder if the flashing ones "cheat"? That is, if the measuring devices have an unintended effect of averaging the lights on and off (rather than measuring peak), they could pass lights that while on are over the allowed brightness.

[Paul in NZ]

We have some cheap chinese Cree LED lamps for our mountain bikes...

I would not use them at night on the road as I mount it on my helmet and its hard to avoid blinding oncoming traffic that way. These things are seriously bright... There is no reflector or lens science to make them acceptable for road use (like a car or a motorcycle) they are just there to throw as much light down the road as possible... They are friggin awesome...but not for the street.

[Mike.Gayner]

When motorists stop not seeing me, I'll know my lights are bright enough. Until then...

[Mike.Gayner]

yeah i like bright especially flashing rear ones but just tonight in wellington traffic i had two head height led ones in my face, confusing, yes

If a bright light renders you confused, you don't have the mental fortitude to drive on our roads.

[willytheekid]

I actually had an issue with a cyclist's STROBE LIGHT this morning
...Don't mind bright lights etc, but this thing was rediculasly bright and would cause fucking epileptic seizures in a godam nightclub!!...should NOT be on a road going vehicle...full stop!.

....but once again, all other road users are forced to used approved lighting and lens covers etc(and for good reason!), while road going cyclists are just left free to ride around completely unchecked...while packing a terawatt of strobe lights!



In reply to ya question Ras-
Its Road going vehicle...So how bout stopping it and checking it*!


(*But you have already admitted on here that your mate tried to deal with cyclists and there dangerous "habits"...and gave up!, due to most of them not carring ID and being beligerant fuck tards towards authority & Road rules...maybe its time to shift focus to another set of two wheeled road users for a while Rastus)


ps...and yes...I high beemed the prick! (But sadly, it was just my headlight vs his "disco strobe"...I was the only one who left completely blinded!)

[nodrog:Me]

Bright lights are fine, its the homos that fit strobing spotlights that light up the buildings either side of a 4 lane road and blind you from over 200m away that are the problem. Oh how i laughed when the fuckwit was pushed off his bike by an angry pedestrian.

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

A static light doesn't bother me, the flashing type do. When they are flashing it disgises the distance the cyclist may be and ruins any sense of depth of field (fr want of a better description).

[SMOKEU]

I've got quite a bright front light on my push bike, it does flashing or steady mode. In flashing mode, it's so bright at night that the flashing actually trips me out too much, which is why I don't use that mode at night, only during the day in rainy or otherwise poorly lit conditions.

I want to get a light that's even brighter. With the number of stupid, dopey cagers around who have no sense of situational awareness, brighter = better. I imported my lights off dx.com, but unfortunately they don't stock that model any more.

[nodrog:Me]

I've got quite a bright front light on my push bike, it does flashing or steady mode. In flashing mode, it's so bright at night that the flashing actually trips me out too much, which is why I don't use that mode at night, only during the day in rainy or otherwise poorly lit conditions.

I want to get a light that's even brighter. With the number of stupid, dopey cagers around who have no sense of situational awareness, brighter = better. I imported my lights off dx.com, but unfortunately they don't stock that model any more.

So you would rather have retarded drivers who are now blind sharing the road with you? Dumbass.

Id run you over just for shits and giggles.