Best LED spotlight, flashing light, horn, mirror and reflective material for tunnel and hairpin turn approach[nighttime and/or speed pedelec features]

BikeMike said:
Thank you. That is very helpful!
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Your picture solved a perplexing problem for me. I sold my car because i put less than 1000 miles per year on it. I rode more each week, than i drove in a month. My car was most useful for taking my bikes to the shop, which is a 40 minute drive.

My plan to take the bikes (3) to the shop is to rent a $20 Home Depot truck. Of course, i have to ride one bike 20 minutes to the Home Depot. So, my problem is only partly solved.

I did not know how to keep the bikes upright. Your PVC Solution is the answer. My bike shop also has a mobile service. I doubt they can fix problems like squeaks. I took the same bike in twice, consecutively, for squeaks that reappear after ten miles.
 
6zfshdb said:
My Pedego doesn't use the Bosch Intuvia display. The Pedego display does have a USB port however but the Nitecore EA41 does not have a charging port. The batteries must be removed to recharge.

The more powerful Nitecore MH23 does have a USB charging port:

https://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-Rec...33673148&sr=1-23&keywords=nitecore+flashlight

I don't think the USB port on the bike will provide enough current to operate the light at full power but it will recharge the batteries when not in use.

Without the diffuser, the brightest center beam on the EA41 is 20' wide at 150' The secondary beam, about half the intensity of the center beam, is approximately 50' wide at 150'. Most of the time, I use the diffuser in tunnels which creates an even, well lit area 60' to 70 feet ahead.

If there is anything outside the tunnel entrance to reflect light, trees, rocks etc, oncoming riders might be warned of your approach. It would depend on the time of day and amount of ambient light. The concrete trail surface might reflect the bright center beam. It would be tough to predict though without experimenting.
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I am not sure how this would work, or how to articulate it clearly. But some type of emergency light that reflects off of the tunnel walls would be a clear signal of my presence. The tunnel walls are dark within ten feet of the entrance, so they provide clear contrast. Cop car lights are always readily apparent. Some type of pulsating colored light on the tunnel walls would be unmistakable and always visible, regardless of the ambient light.

Perhaps, the solution for a tunnel is not only light beam pattern, but also a rotating or pulsating emergency light? I think lighthouses are most effective because the strong, concentrated, focused beam also rotates. Fog is perhaps the most diffused form of light.

The other morning i noticed a rider who stopped on the side of the bike path. His 900 lumen, dual beam light, pulsating light was obvious from about a half a mile away. I could not see him. So, i could not figure out what the light meant. I think the reason the light was so unmistakable was because the very focused beam was pulsating.

We both agreed that the C470 tunnel is sketchy, at best. We both we unsure whether his 900 lumen Luzeme light could illuminate mud or ice at the far end of the tunnel. The difffused light at the end of the makes it hard to judge.
 
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You might try a super loud air horn. I've seen other riders use them for this purpose.
 
6zfshdb said:
You might try a super loud air horn. I've seen other riders use them for this purpose.
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Yes, i was just reading about lighthouses. Fog horns are just as important as the light.

I think tunnels should have an automatically triggered sensor at each end. Some type of traffic signal that someone is inside the tunnnel. Railroads have semaphore signals.

Also a moisture sensor. Detecting the tunnel surface condition is hard in dark light. Denver tunnels are actually called "culverts". The reason is the culverts protect the roads, not cyclists. Sometimes, the culverts are at the bottom of a steep ravine, which results in a combination of dangerous circumstances. You plunge down and ride back up the same side of the creek bank.

Culverts are always adjacent to water. I sometimes take a route with a pedestrian bridge, when i think the tunnels might be muddy, flooded or icy. The pedestrian bridge is inconvenient because it goes over a very large arterial intersection. So, i tend to avoid the pedestrian bridge.
 
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6zfshdb said:
You might try a super loud air horn. I've seen other riders use them for this purpose.
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The web site is filled with tactical lights of all kinds.

Full Size LED Light Bar for Personal or Emergency Vehicles
Our lights are made of heavy-gauge aluminum completely sealed with industrial grade epoxy. You have the choice of TIR or Linear 1 lenses, both constructed of shatterproof polycarbonate that won’t fog up or yellow. The sleek aerodynamic designs accommodate efficient airflow with virtually no drag on the system. Some light bar models come with cigarette lighter power plugins; others have control boxes and are hardwired. Gutter brackets are included for permanent mounting. You pick the solid or split color combinations of the most popular emergency vehicle light colors including red, blue, white, amber, and green. There are 15 or 30 flash pattern options, all come standard with pattern memory.
Why Choose a Full Size Light Bar?
Our Full Size light bars have takedown and alley lights, are traffic advisors, and have 360° visibility! They are powerful performers that come with Generation III 1-watt or Generation IV 3-watt LEDs; some light bars have a combination of both LED wattages for even more luminosity. Shorter, less bright light bars could serve you well, but if you need a whole lot of bright, high-intensity light that is a pulsating beacon on the darkest, rainy nights, then a full size bar is your only choice.
 
6zfshdb said:
You might try a super loud air horn. I've seen other riders use them for this purpose.
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I think a motorcycle solution narrows the choices. Whatever works for a motorcycle will work for an eBike. I consider an eBike to be an electric scooter, not a bicycle.

Police and Emergency Vehicle Sirens work with Emergency Lights
Whether you have a LED light bar, dash & deck lights, LED visor lights, or any other emergency vehicle lights on your car, truck, or motorcycle, you will want to synchronize the lights with one of ETD’s quality sirens. A combination of sirens and lights increase the chances that motorists and pedestrians will hear and see an emergency vehicle coming. Siren use in cities is quite different from highways and open space use. Ambient sound in cities often masks wailing sirens; that’s when flashing lights might be the first warning signal for motorists. Once a police vehicle is at an intersection, sirens help to clear heavy traffic and support the forward movement of an emergency vehicle. In open spaces, sirens can be heard from great distances, but even then, soundproof vehicles will keep the noise from warning the driver.
 
A rear view mirror is very important in a tunnel. Someone coming up behind me is creepy. I would never turn my head to look behind me. I want to keep my eyes on what is ahead of me. Judging their position by sound is something i do not trust. The sound in a tunnel is strange, like a mini echo chamber. Like the silly warning on car mirrors, objects may be closer than they appear.
 
6zfshdb said:
You might try a super loud air horn. I've seen other riders use them for this purpose.
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I think the horn or siren should be wired to an emergency light switch. The oncoming rider would hear some repeating sound and notice red/blue pulsing light coloring the tunnel entrance walls. These features would be controlled by a single switch.

Ideally, this would be implemented according to some DOT standard (page 28). I guess tunnels fall into the category of Night Riding Equipment.

Bells and horns
Colorado law requires you to give an audible signal when passing pedestrians and other bicyclists on paths, sidewalks or other facilities. A good way to do this is with a bell or horn that has a friendly, pleasant sound which will not startle or anger others. Sound it or say a pleasant greeting such as, “Hello up there, passing on your left,” prior to passing.

Night Riding Equipment

Colorado law states when bicycling from sundown to sunrise or when weather or other conditions cause poor visibility, your bicycle must be equipped with a rear red reflector and reflectors on both sides that can be seen for 600 feet in a car’s headlamps. You must also have a white headlight that can be seen for at least 500 feet from the front of the bicycle.
flashing red refleCtor light

These LED lights are more visible than a plain reflector and can be attached to you or your bicycle.
white headlight
A powerful white headlight will make you visible and light your way. Battery operated headlights are available and some have rechargeable battery packs. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Your local bike shop can help you decide which is best for you.
refleCtive Materials

You cannot wear too much reflective material at night. Wear it on your helmet, shoes, arms, legs and torso. Pedal reflectors move as you pedal and will make you more visible. Reflectors and reflective materials are important even with good lighting systems because bicyclists are hard to see and motor vehicle drivers may not be looking for you at night. Be safe. Be seen.

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6zfshdb said:
You might try a super loud air horn. I've seen other riders use them for this purpose.
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Rather than a horn, something like a constant truck reverse gear warning sound.

On a CAN bus wireless system, I imagine these different levels of functionality are programmable. So, if CAN bus versions of these accessories exist, then a device like Intuvia or Nyon might be able to control those devices. LED Lights are programmable.

Handlebar switches or some type of CAN head unit could also control the accessories.

BMW motorcycle CAN bus horn.
Garmin eBike Remote
Wearable Compact emergency police light
Police motorcycle emergency lights
Backup Alarm
 
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Perhaps, i am reinventing the wheel. I suspect "tunnel" features have already been defined by European law for Class 3(Speed pedelec) bikes. These requirements are a natural extension of my initial car replacement goal:

https://electricbikereview.com/foru...s-a-practical-car-replacement-strategy.24554/

  • The "spotlight" that i was originally looking for may simply be the high beam on a two beam light?
  • The backup alarm sound may also aready exist on some European speed pedelec horns capable of two sounds?
  • The special mirror may simply be an ordinary mirror, with a taillight brake light? The taillight braking lights need to be strong enough to illuminate the person behind me.
  • The in-tunnel identification flashing red/blue LED lights, may merely be police motorcycle lights? This may be illegal. But two flashing red lights are like ordinary car/motorcycle emergency lights. In other words, ordinary turn signal lights that are very strong LED lights.
I will try to find a European CAN standard, so the features can be controlled through a standard switch. This type of switch may already be a standard motorcycle component.

The main difference is that i want the flashing turn signal lights, backup alarm and rear brake light to be connected by a single CAN switch.

Perhaps, greater visibility in the hairpin turns adjacent to the tunnel can be achieved by standing up. The reason why i remain seated is to keep my fingers on the dropbar brake levers. The Powerfly has straight handlebars with hydraulic brakes, so standing up is practical.

Reise&Mueller is probably a good starting point.

Accessories that are readily available. They seem hardwired, rather than CAN or Bluetooth activated. I just skimmed the descriptions.

The idea is to mount this to the front. The light will alert riders about to enter the tunnel from the hairpin turn by coloring the walls with a flashing red light. I wish the lasers projected further.

 
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The real problem with tunnels is their aspect ratio. A boxy tunnel has poor visibility, because light has little opportunity to enter. A tunnel that is very high is like a church or cathedral. Light is welcome.
 
I measured the C470 with my Garmin -- 425 feet long. I just cannot get over how badly I underestimated the length at 150 feet. Darness my really distort my depth perception.
 
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