tomjasz
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Minnesnowta
FWIW Modulating isn’t a
“Slow flash.”
Lights Save Lives
- Thread starter Robspace1
- Start date
“Slow flash.”
Rexlion
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Tulsa metro
Future organ donor!!!
Glad you're getting that fixed.
I don't understand the blue light fixation, though; red on rear is a proven winner and is universally understood!
JedidiahStolzfus
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Lancaster, PA
Ornamental lighting in PA is illegal, but rarely enforced. Back in the late 80's I knew a guy that the cop forced him to remove lights right there along side the road. They were red lights that were between his tailgate and bumper.
Taylor57
Well-Known Member
I can see using the pulse or flashing mode during the day, but the flash at night annoys me when I am driving my car into the direction of the flash. So for now, I have 2 headlights on normally, each aimed at the same spot. I have a seat that has flashing red lights, a tail light built into the bike and an additional taillight that flashes. Also, my helmet has a flashing red on the back and I generally wear a neon yellow/green windbreaker on all rides. I rarely ride at night. Cars just dont see us quite often. A couple of days ago i came upon a SUV stopped at a stop sign to my left. I had the right of way with no stop sign. The SUV made a left right in front of me. I braked hard but I anticipated it would happen. One of my best buds in college died in that same scenario in 1980 in Colorado-he wasn't wearing a helmet...
JedidiahStolzfus
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Lancaster, PA
I just remembered something: In the video I posted above, segments 2 and 3 are, as you can see, a very busy road without much of a shoulder. It's known as Willow Street Pike, and it's a little wider than it was in the 1970's. We moved here in 1978, and made friends with a family down the street. They had a boy that was the same age as my sister that used to deliver papers, and his route was down Willow Street Pike. One day, he didn't come home. A box truck with the wide mirrors was too close to the shoulder, didn't see him, and the bars of the mirror struck him on the back of his neck, killing him instantly.
His mother was never the same after that happened, and she fought to get helmet laws in place for bikes, even though, wearing a helmet wouldn't have saved his life, or spared him from injury.
His mother was never the same after that happened, and she fought to get helmet laws in place for bikes, even though, wearing a helmet wouldn't have saved his life, or spared him from injury.
JedidiahStolzfus
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Lancaster, PA
I do that too. My turn signals have a blink mode where they can flash red, or amber as "hazards". In low light I let them flash red, but my built in tail light which is on all the time, I keep it set to steady so it stands out when I hit the brakes. If I select a turn signal, it's an amber light, but the red light still flashes so it's clear what my intentions are.
Flashing lights in daytime is a lot easier on other people's eyes than the blinding strobes, which, imo, should not even be put on bike lights. The flash mode is just as easy to see and doesn't hurt the eyes to look at. I use 3 Cygoltes in front and two red Cygoltes in the rear. In daytime only one in front is used in flash mode. The rear are in Daylighting mode which is super bright. Visible for 1/2 mile. At night, front lights all on solid and rear is set to slow flash, not Daylighting, which would be too blinding. I also use an amber 2 sided Brightside light on flash mode on the front of the seatpost for side visibility at intersections, which is where the majority of bikers get nailed.
The Cygolites on flash mode last a really long time on a charge. I only use one of the front lights in the daytime, on flash. On solid mode, during night rides, which I only do a couple times a month, in summertime, I charge the front lights after every ride. All front lights are on super bright solid mode for the pitch dark bike trails through the woods.The Brightside amber light, on flash mode, also lasts a real long time on a charge. Many bike rides before charging. I use multiple cables to charge 3 or 4 things at the same time. I have a rear camera monitor and a small SanDisk mp3 player to keep charged as well as the bike itself. Camera and bike after every long ride.
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Taylor57
Well-Known Member
What lights besides Cygolites are people using on their bikes for casual night riding on bikepaths, sidewalks and paved roads? Best value? I'm noticing the cheap ones I bought a couple of years ago are runnin out of juice pretty rapidly and when on are not that illuminating. I think they are about 400 Lumens...
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
What I've been using for the last five years:
Rear: Bontrager Flare RT .
Front (really helmet-mounted): Light and Motion Trail 1000 FC. Sadly discontinued but the Light and Motion Vis 1000 Trooper is a good substitute. Use a GoPro adapter to mount it to your helmet.
I use both all the time and they are still going strong.
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tomjasz
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Minnesnowta
I have a few cheap Aliexpress usb lights. Cheap, reliable, and simple. But my favorite are multiple voltage lights like Roxim. I do have a pair of rechargeable lights that I be been using for 6 years. Spendy but reliable. Sadly I space out and forget to charge making wired in systems more attractive.
Jeremy McCreary
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Walking the dog tonight at 9 pm, came across 6 kids milling around in the dark street on their bikes with zero lights on. Ages 5 to 10 roughly. They were with a young woman, guessing a nanny, whose bike had only a single spoke light on.
So I stopped. I like to ride at night, too, I said. But if you guys have bike lights, you really ought to turn them on. None thought they had bike lights. So I politely explained the risk they were taking in our very dark neighborhood full of old people with poor night vision. Asked them to promise me they'd tell their parents to get them bike lights.
To my surprise, they seemed to take it seriously and promised they would ask. Then the nanny said, "Oh yes, we must get lights!" And off they went down the street, all invisible, even the nanny.
The dog and I resumed our walk. On the way home, found the same 6 kids and nanny, right back in the street on bikes, same spot. Only this time, every bike had a light on! Two of the kids even thanked me!! So did the nanny.
Don't even know where to start.
So I stopped. I like to ride at night, too, I said. But if you guys have bike lights, you really ought to turn them on. None thought they had bike lights. So I politely explained the risk they were taking in our very dark neighborhood full of old people with poor night vision. Asked them to promise me they'd tell their parents to get them bike lights.
To my surprise, they seemed to take it seriously and promised they would ask. Then the nanny said, "Oh yes, we must get lights!" And off they went down the street, all invisible, even the nanny.
The dog and I resumed our walk. On the way home, found the same 6 kids and nanny, right back in the street on bikes, same spot. Only this time, every bike had a light on! Two of the kids even thanked me!! So did the nanny.
Don't even know where to start.
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If you can see them in dark or black clothing and no lights or reflectors at night you must have the eyesight of an Owl.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
city lights. but its not easy.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
Lights or no lights, riding at night on busy and unfamiliar roads is pretty damned dangerous.
It can be a little dangerous but I find a lot less cars on the city streets late at night. We only use bike lanes. Just depends where you live. For night rides my gf and I have lots of lights on. She has spoke lights plus double front and rear lights. I use 3 in front, 2 red on each side of rear frame, 1 red at rear, and 2 amber flashing side lights. We only do long night rides 3 or 4 times a year, but it feels so good to cruise the bike trails through the woods on a warm night.
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