Lights Save Lives

[Robspace1]

I am curious to know what this Cygolite "DayLightning Flash" looks like. Are they flashing a 'normal' non-colored LED, or does the emanating light still appear red, or what? YT videos make it hard to tell; they point the light at the camera instead of showing the light reflecting off a white wall or something.

I have two Cygolites for the rear. One on each side of the rear fork. At night I turn it to slow flash which is plenty bright. For daytime I have them on day- lightning medium flash. Never use that mode at night. Way too much light. Could blind drivers. You can easily see these tail lights a 1/4 mile away or more on the sunniest days. Very bright light! The only color is red with several different modes and speeds which you can control. Have used these for two years and love em. They stay charged a long time on flash mode. Maybe 6 or 7, 3 hr rides. Just a great light. Probably the brightest tail lights on the market. I also have 2 Cygolites up front. I use 1 on slow flash mode during days. These are well made waterproof lights, made in the US. Well worth the money.

 

[Rexlion]

I have two Cygolites for the rear. One on each side of the rear fork. At night I turn it to slow flash which is plenty bright. For daytime I have them on day- lightning medium flash. Never use that mode at night. Way too much light. Could blind drivers. You can easily see these tail lights a 1/4 mile away or more on the sunniest days. Very bright light! The only color is red with several different modes and speeds which you can control. Have used these for two years and love em. They stay charged a long time on flash mode. Maybe 6 or 7, 3 hr rides. Just a great light. Probably the brightest tail lights on the market. I also have 2 Cygolites up front. I use 1 on slow flash mode during days. These are well made waterproof lights, made in the US. Well worth the money.

Ok, thanks for that. I just want to say regarding 'waterproof' that when I look at Amazon reviews for the Cygolites I do see some complaints about water getting in them and eventually ruining them. They simply aren't IPX rated, and Cygolite only claims they are 'water resistant', a far cry from 'waterproof.' Personally I only ride in nice weather and I do like the features of these lights so I might try one out someday, but if I knew I'd have to ride in rain and through puddles with any frequency I'd definitely pass on the Cygolites.

 

[Rexlion]

the First from trek is really good its hard to see in this pic but its all horizontal lights both sides of a bike path the the second pic is a night rider 1000 lumen light. so its not all in the drivers eyes.

Yes, I can see what you mean there. The light doesn't have spill above the corona. But you know what, I just experimented and found that I can achieve the same effect (I can kill the spill that would hit a driver's eyes) with a bit of masking tape over the topmost portion of the flashlight lens. Yet I'll still have spill to the sides and down low. Thanks for giving me the idea!

 

[Robspace1]

I carry a plastic bag to cover my electronics on the front handlebars in case I get caught in the rain. I just throw a rubber band and plastic bag over them. I have a small mp3 player as well as a rear view camera monitor and the control monitor that need to stay dry. You could do the same with the light or just seal around the light with silicone. I also don't ride in the rain so it's really not a problem. Like I said, 2 years now and no problems with any of the 4 Cygolites at all. The stay bright and are built good.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I see plenty of people that have dark or black clothing and no lights and often no reflectors at nigh. sometimes regular cyclists who should know better.

Tell me about it. My neighborhood's not well lit, and I generally prefer it that way. Problem is, the streets are full of these stealth pedestrians after dark -- and they often walk right down the middle of the street. Nearly hit 2 of them last night, cuz the bike's OEM headlight just isn't bright enough.

Now I'm looking for a handlebar mount for my 2,000 lumen flashlight. I clearly need to see these folks as far ahead as possible.

 

[tomjasz]

Now I'm looking for a handlebar mount for my 2,000 lumen flashlight.

Why not a good STVZO headlight and not hit any oncoming traffic with a bright light in their view?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Why not a good STVZO headlight and not hit any oncoming traffic with a bright light in their view?

Thanks for making me aware of the STVZO standard. It's clearly the right thing to do with a high-power headlight. What goes around comes around. Best that we all look out for EVERYONE's safety -- bikers, drivers, pedestrians, animals, too.

So bottom line: Is 2,000 lumens enough for nighttime street riding in a dark neighborhood full of oblivious night-strollers dressed like ninjas? With no sidewalks.

I have decent brakes.

 

[Foxhound68]

I was lit up light a Christmas tree and still got hit by a drunk driver , now I'll be lit up like I'm fucking on fire , 2k lumen on the front , 1k lumen on the helmet , and a Garmin Varia with light on the seat post!

 

[Barkfire]

I was lit up light a Christmas tree and still got hit by a drunk driver , now I'll be lit up like I'm fucking on fire , 2k lumen on the front , 1k lumen on the helmet , and a Garmin Varia with light on the seat post!

That may have an adverse effect, drunk or impaired drivers are often times attracted to lights, in fact like moths to a flame people may drift towards bright or flashing lights. This is called the moth effect. I still feel lights are the safest way to be seen but stay aware and watch your mirrors.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Thanks for making me aware of the STVZO standard. It's clearly the right thing to do with a high-power headlight. What goes around comes around. Best that we all look out for EVERYONE's safety -- bikers, drivers, pedestrians, animals, too.

So bottom line: Is 2,000 lumens enough for nighttime street riding in a dark neighborhood full of oblivious night-strollers dressed like ninjas? With no sidewalks.

I have decent brakes.

your don't need that much on the streets. not sure how much I have 600 maybe 800
it depends on how your light puts out its beam that makes a huge difference. if I had a more standard beam I would need at least 1200 lumens. I can do 18mph on an unlit bike path wit this.

 

[Robspace1]

your don't need that much on the streets. not sure how much I have 600 maybe 800
it depends on how your light puts out its beam that makes a huge difference. if I had a more standard beam I would need at least 1200 lumens. I can do 18mph on an unlit bike path wit this.
View attachment 142009

I like a lot of lights for summer night rides on busy streets and on bike trails through pitch dark woods. I have 3 Cygolites up front, a red one on the back of my helmet, an amber flashing Brightside light for cross streets on the seatpost, and 2 super bright Cygolte tail lights on each side of the frame. I also use a rear camera with night vision to see what's coming up behind me.

 

[Foxhound68]

That may have an adverse effect, drunk or impaired drivers are often times attracted to lights, in fact like moths to a flame people may drift towards bright or flashing lights. This is called the moth effect. I still feel lights are the safest way to be seen but stay aware and watch your mirrors.

When I say lit up like a Christmas light I'm exaggerating , I had front and rear lights was stopped at a stop light and got hit

 

[fooferdoggie]

When I say lit up like a Christmas light I'm exaggerating , I had front and rear lights was stopped at a stop light and got hit

first lesson don't make a easy target keep moving

 

[Mr. Coffee]

My own recommendation is to have a helmet-mounted light and a bike-mounted flood light. You can get mountain bike flood lights rated to 5000 lumens or more, which is about as bright as an aircraft landing light. Note that many such lights are remarkably expensive.

Best mountain bike lights 2022 | 20 top-rated options for night riding

Seek out new trails at night with the best MTB lights

www.bikeradar.com

 

[Robspace1]

The cost of these lights is such a great deal for surviving all the distracted drivers out there. In my state, weed is legal. So, there is alot of stoned drivers texting while driving. Riding a bike in a bike lane should not be such a life and death risk but it can be. The best we can do to survive the fun ride is make ourselves light up and be seen, day and night. The lights now are made good, recharge, and shine a long way. Great survival tool imo. My bike can be seen 1/2 a mile away using Cygolites. I didn't spend all that money to be a target out there.

 

[Jason Knight]

Safer bet is to stay off the roads whenever possible.....and that would include roads where "bike lanes" are separated from traffic by a painted line.

In other words people who live places like I do should never ride bikes in the first place unless they can load it up on the back of a car/pickup to take it where you're going to ride? Oh yeah, that's a great huffing answer.

 

[Foxhound68]

first lesson don't make a easy target keep moving

So blow a red light at a busy intersection ?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

So blow a red light at a busy intersection ?

Choose a route where you don't need to stop at a light at a busy intersection. Or choose a route where you are somehow less vulnerable when you do so.

Urban Survival Riding is an actual skill. It involves planning, navigation, riding skill, and big brass balls. If you have to ask how much it costs you can't afford it.

 

[Foxhound68]

Choose a route where you don't need to stop at a light at a busy intersection. Or choose a route where you are somehow less vulnerable when you do so.

Urban Survival Riding is an actual skill. It involves planning, navigation, riding skill, and big brass balls. If you have to ask how much it costs you can't afford it.

You can't honestly be blaming the rider for a drunk driver hitting them , that's insane. You do realize people commute on there ebikes right ?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

You can't honestly be blaming the rider for a drunk driver hitting them , that's insane. You do realize people commute on there ebikes right ?

Of course not.

But riding in urban traffic is a high-risk activity at best. And doing so at night it far more dangerous.

I commuted by bicycle for about five years in the Seattle area and was hit multiple times by motor vehicles who "did not see me."

I agree it shouldn't be this way in a sane and rational world. Last I checked, we do not live in a sane and rational world.