Head torch, anyone?

[nappadang]

My pleasant summer evening Route through the greenbelt has been plunged into darkness. Dark, unlit country lanes with oncoming cars dazzling me into the ditch (well almost).
My "be seen" lights would suffice at a push but I was hoping for a bit more in the old candle power dept. I have a fairly good quality and powerful head torch that would work wonders. I was wondering what people's views are on head torches and whether it is acceptable to use one on a dark road. If not, it's change my route or buy new lights.
I'd appreciate people's views on this.


Cheers,

Mick

 

[Octet]

I use a head torch for a number of reasons, the main one being that it follows me where I look which is useful.

If you do use one though, especially if it is a very bright one, angle it down towards the ground to prevent dazzling other road users.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I think to be legal you need to have a front light still fixed to the bike. Nothing wrong with a head torch as well, just try and not blind people with it. Last winter I rode with a moon light on my helmet, they help when you are about to make a turn.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Just dug the Moon out and clipped it to my helmet.

 

[Wolfy]

I use a Led Lenser head torch for the unlit cycle paths and roads around here and is a marvellous bit of kit. Just use a standard Cateye on the busy roads. Seems to work for me.

 

[ColinJ]

I use a head torch for a number of reasons, the main one being that it follows me where I look which is useful.

If you do use one though, especially if it is a very bright one, angle it down towards the ground to prevent dazzling other road users.

I found that I could get oncoming drivers who were dazzling me, to dip their lights by looking up and shining my head torch directly at them, then 'flicking' the beam down to my nearside. Every single driver took the hint within 2 or 3 flicks!

 

[TheDoctor]

Head torches are a great addition to your lights. Some have a red LED too, making it an excellent spare set of lights - you're never going to have both front and back lights go, surely?
One problem I have found with them is this :-
If your riding companion has one, and you get a visitation on the way to the pub, he will helpfully illuminate the area where you're working.
If the visitation is after the pub, he will spend 15 minutes arsing about pretending to be a Dalek.
DAMHIKT.

 

[Ern1e]

I also use a head torch fixed on my helmet it can be seen over the top of most of the dry stone walls around here (and also parked cars in town) thus letting on coming vehicles know I am here and as @ColinJ states you can look directly at drivers with it briefly and use this to force them into dipping thier lights/or move over etc.

 

[nappadang]

I was hoping for a positive response and so far, it's looking good.
My torch is a Petzl Tikka plus and will be were useful for reminding drivers that cyclists can be dazzled too, thanks for that tip ColinJ

 

[nappadang]

How do I do that @ColinJ thing?

 

[nappadang]

Sussed it!

 

[ColinJ]

Oh, and also useful for looking up at road signs, and reading a GPS without needing its backlight turning on.

All of this reminds me ... I haven't seen my head torch for a couple of years! Either it is at the back of a drawer, or I took it out on a ride and left it somewhere.

 

[ColinJ]

How do I do that @ColinJ thing?

Message received @nappadang !

 

[Octet]

The other advantage is that if you get a p***ture or some other problem, you don't need to try and grip your front light between your teeth whilst grasping your multi-tool.

 

[ColinJ]

The other advantage is that if you get a p***ture or some other problem, you don't need to try and grip your front light between your teeth whilst grasping your multi-tool.

Oh yes - I made use of that one a couple of times!