Anyone Tried shining a light on the road to the side of you?

[Ridgeway]

I’m sure i saw somewhere a thing that suggested a light to shine on the rider themselves. My route is 90% on unlit 50mph roads and i do wonder if something like that would help drivers see me from much further away ?

 

[raleighnut]

at the cost of consuming more fuel.

Do Alternators take more power if they're outputting more current but you're recharging the battery from starting the engine so I'd think they're working at 'full chat' anyway. Then there's the Power Steering pump and Air Con pump consuming more power and fuel.
Best thing they ever did was take off the Fan on the crank, they used to take 12-15% of engine power most of the time for no purpose. Top tuning tip from the 70's was take the fan off and fit a Kenlowe electric fan

 

[DRM]

Isn't a blue light on a fork truck illegal unless it is a fire, police, ambulance, mountain rescue or coastguard fork truck?

No , unless it’s registered to go on the road, but it’s a non flashing blue light, that just puts a spot of blue light either behind, or in front of the truck, depending where it’s been fitted, most have them front and rear, with a red halo light, for the sides, that illuminates a red line at the sides

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Isn't a blue light on a fork truck illegal unless it is a fire, police, ambulance, mountain rescue or coastguard fork truck?

So long as it isn’t flashing it’s ok.

 

[grldtnr]

If you want more space you want drivers to go WTF when they first see you. They won't forget you are there the entire time it takes to pass, and they will give your WTF a wide berth.

I agree with you , especially if you are a recumbent cyclist,
I have noticed this when riding with my cycling club , they don't give much room to solo Upwrong ''s but they see my trike in the middle of the group ,and and extra wide pass, once past it's back to the minimal passing distance.
Now, if it's the said WTF moment or because be of the extra wide track of a trike, is unknown, but put loaded up panniers on a Upwrong bike and your track is almost as wide!
I think it's the perceived WTF moments of recumbents

 

[classic33]

Isn't a blue light on a fork truck illegal unless it is a fire, police, ambulance, mountain rescue or coastguard fork truck?

Clearly not an emergency service vehicle.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/varia-rear-light-worth-it.281230/post-6835723

 

[richardfm]

Clearly not an emergency service vehicle.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/varia-rear-light-worth-it.281230/post-6835723

What makes you think it is legal?

 

[classic33]

What makes you think it is legal?

Actually checked with the company who own the vehicle, and more of the same, shown in the picture.

 

[dicko]

My first bicycle, a 1959 German cycle with dynamo and lights as standard, had a rear red light and it had a lens which shon a light on the road to my left so when riding at night I could visually see my rear light was working.
The Germans they think of everything, all their cycles came with dynamo and lights as standard, great bunch of lads.

 

[mjr]

So long as it isn’t flashing it’s ok.

If it is visible to the rear, any colour that's not red is definitely not OK. RVLR 1989 reg 11(2).

 

[mikeIow]

I've found weaving a bit helps, if you're riding dead straight and quite close to the edge of the road (not in the gutter but close to) then the number of close passes is scary but ride a bit farther out and weave a bit and drivers tend to give you a wider berth

Agreed 👍
On a long run, with my Garmin radar telling my wahoo roam there are cars approaching, I will often weave out a bit….or a lot if approaching a blind summit or bend.

Seems to do the job.

Less useful in busy town/city areas, mind…

 

[mjr]

I think it's the perceived WTF moments of recumbents

Nah. They think they know exactly what you are and no driver wants to be in the newspaper for squishing a paralympian!

 

[classic33]

Nah. They think they know exactly what you are and no driver wants to be in the newspaper for squishing a paralympian!

A sweeping generalisation of paralympians and recumbent riders.

 

[cyberknight]

I agree with you , especially if you are a recumbent cyclist,
I have noticed this when riding with my cycling club , they don't give much room to solo Upwrong ''s but they see my trike in the middle of the group ,and and extra wide pass, once past it's back to the minimal passing distance.
Now, if it's the said WTF moment or because be of the extra wide track of a trike, is unknown, but put loaded up panniers on a Upwrong bike and your track is almost as wide!
I think it's the perceived WTF moments of recumbents

i have clip on lights on my pannier bags as well as a standard one on the seatpost , im sure the extra lights giving me a wider light signature helps with close passes .

 

[Drago]

If it is visible to the rear, any colour that's not red is definitely not OK. RVLR 1989 reg 11(2).

It is indeed an offence for a vehicle to "display other than a red light to the rear, reversing lights excepted."

Thre was a time I could have told you the offence code without having to look it up.