Bright cycle lights?

**Autech** · 20th June 2014, 12:54

Here in Chch there are a few which insist on riding with head height forward facing strobe lights. I'm not talking some feeble LED here, these fuckers are really bright and I believe cause a greater hazard to the cyclist as the driver would be distracted/blinded by the light.

I *555'd one once coming home from work, don't know if the Police caught up with the chap but I believe it would be against the law to have such a thing operating near motor vehicles.

**Paul in NZ** · 20th June 2014, 14:15

Originally Posted by Autech

Here in Chch there are a few which insist on riding with head height forward facing strobe lights. I'm not talking some feeble LED here, these fuckers are really bright and I believe cause a greater hazard to the cyclist as the driver would be distracted/blinded by the light.

I *555'd one once coming home from work, don't know if the Police caught up with the chap but I believe it would be against the law to have such a thing operating near motor vehicles.

I was riding last night with two 3800 Lumen lights. One on my helmet and one on the front. One on the front is angled away from oncoming traffic (like on dip) and I look away from vehicles always. To cross the river we use the SH1 bridge foot path on the same side as the oncoming traffic and zero problems (ie no one got excited or died or anything etc) and both lights were set to lowest power - ie just one cree fired up. Put those buggers on strobe and aim them at traffic and i assure you you would see fuck all else... You are correct - these lights can be as dangerous to a driver as a laser is to a pilot...

Oh - I'm ordering a 9000 Lumen one this weekend - yeah baby - get em while they are legal...

Oh - this is the next step... http://www.audi.com/content/com/bran...high-beam.html

**Berries** · 20th June 2014, 14:20

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

.......and I look away from vehicles.

That sounds safe.

**Big Dog** · 20th June 2014, 15:25

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

I was riding last night with two 3800 Lumen lights. One on my helmet and one on the front. One on the front is angled away from oncoming traffic (like on dip) and I look away from vehicles always. To cross the river we use the SH1 bridge foot path on the same side as the oncoming traffic and zero problems (ie no one got excited or died or anything etc) and both lights were set to lowest power - ie just one cree fired up. Put those buggers on strobe and aim them at traffic and i assure you you would see fuck all else... You are correct - these lights can be as dangerous to a driver as a laser is to a pilot...

Oh - I'm ordering a 9000 Lumen one this weekend - yeah baby - get em while they are legal...

Oh - this is the next step... http://www.audi.com/content/com/bran...high-beam.html

Shirley to look away from them you must first be facing them as they come over a rise, round a corner, out from behind the bushes etc?
Double Shirley you would find I a moment of crisis you would do a possum and turn to face the threat thereby making your lot worse?

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

**SMOKEU** · 20th June 2014, 15:33

Originally Posted by bogan

would that make him a chafingfag then?

What's this whole "chafing" thing people speak so ill of? After a 50km push bike ride in jeans and a T shirt, I've never had it.

**Paul in NZ** · 20th June 2014, 16:04

Originally Posted by Berries

That sounds safe.

Safer than having a blinded driver hurtling towards me... Oh - well maybe not the driver so much as his car...

No - light is on helmet, just tilt head a bit while keeping an eye on the car. I'm on a raised foot path on a bridge and really not wanting to fall over the side...

Point is the lights are dangerous but in the 100M I'm a danger I'm being careful ;-)

**Kickaha** · 20th June 2014, 19:38

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

I was riding last night with two 3800 Lumen lights.

Holy crap, I use 1200 lumen for night rides and don't even get close to outriding it, might need to upgrade so I can fry possums in the trees

**neels** · 20th June 2014, 19:40

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Holy crap, I use 1200 lumen for night rides and don't even get close to outriding it, might need to upgrade so I can fry possums in the trees

bugger the LED's, go straight for lasers to sort the furry buggers out.

**Paul in NZ** · 20th June 2014, 19:50

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Holy crap, I use 1200 lumen for night rides and don't even get close to outriding it, might need to upgrade so I can fry possums in the trees

Either that or you need to ride faster ;-) Not 100% sure the Chinese measure their lumens like others do... Its PLENTY bright and cheap as chips though.. Possibly virtual lumens

http://www.dhgate.com/product/bike-f...4-1|1036562849

want.....

**bogan** · 20th June 2014, 20:10

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Either that or you need to ride faster ;-) Not 100% sure the Chinese measure their lumens like others do... Its PLENTY bright and cheap as chips though.. Possibly virtual lumens

http://www.dhgate.com/product/bike-f...4-1|1036562849

want.....

It'll be like your PMPO ratings on speakers, the most the LEDs can handle before exploding.

Fucking rubbish optics on that one for road use too.

**Paul in NZ** · 20th June 2014, 20:39

Originally Posted by bogan

It'll be like your PMPO ratings on speakers, the most the LEDs can handle before exploding.

Fucking rubbish optics on that one for road use too.

Fuckin awesome for yer mountain bikin though and cheap

**bogan** · 20th June 2014, 20:57

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Fuckin awesome for yer mountain bikin though and cheap

Yeh just keep that shit off road where the hazards neither move nor see the light and we'll have no problem.

**Paul in NZ** · 21st June 2014, 07:51

Originally Posted by bogan

Yeh just keep that shit off road where the hazards neither move nor see the light and we'll have no problem.

That 'possum and those rabbits were moving plenty.... But yes - off road use only...

**R650R** · 21st June 2014, 10:14

An insight into road cyclist behaviour. Now it seems in Europe they have the common sense to do this on a closed road by the looks of it.
But I expect its not far off from the NZ riders behaviour on our backroads on their weekend training/club rides. Video really shows how dangerous the pack riding is, why are cyclist exempt from the 2 second rule.
I've seen several accidents in our local rag where a car knocked off several cyclists when really if they were spread out only one would be injured. I think this domino effect creates misleading statistic also in the car/truck vs bikes numbers...

video insert thingy not working... so http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13BENuYp19w

**nzspokes** · 21st June 2014, 10:33

Originally Posted by R650R

An insight into road cyclist behaviour. Now it seems in Europe they have the common sense to do this on a closed road by the looks of it.
But I expect its not far off from the NZ riders behaviour on our backroads on their weekend training/club rides.

Cool, grab some on board footage of a Pro Level road race finish then say all riders can do that.

You ride a motorcycle so you must ride like this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY9mrKR5SkA