How many T6 LEDs is too many?

[KneesUp]

That auction site is awash with Cree T6 led lights, which I understand to be very bright. It seems you can get them with 1 led up to 5 leds.

I commute by road, so my question is, how many is too many and will just blind people?

 

[Ganymede]

I got a bit shouted down on this in the past, but I have found when driving that if they're too bright they are actually distracting. I was told by some that this was a good thing because it meant I'd seen the bike, but this was in the context of having no trouble seeing all the other cyclists on the road. I suspect they are of most use if you are cycling on dark lanes where you need the beam to see. I cycle on dark lanes (sometimes pitch black if there's no moon) and my little 3-led cateye on non-flashing mode makes me very visible - cars dip their headlights approaching me and I know the road surface and don't cycle terribly fast so it's adequate. I think if you are a fast cyclist you need to see further but you need to make sure you have the angle right and are not dazzling people.

 

[cyberknight]

I use 1 xml t6 on unlit back roads angled down so the spot is on the road with the edge of the beam just in front of the front wheel.
Bright enough on unlit country lanes and oncoming cars dip and i have had no complaints from them , on lit roads i just use a cree p4 torch as a see me light .
If you still think its an issue you can get diffuser lenses that alter the beam pattern cheap enough or i did experiment by sticking a bit of card over the top edge of the light to reduce the upper light spread but keep the spot .

 

[Hacienda71]

One or two is fine. If you get silly with lots of them you would need to have loads of batteries hanging of your bike to get any decent run time.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Point them down, you just blind other fellow road users, inc cyclists. As for how many , two is more than enough for road use and even then run them on medium. Last a hell of a lot longer as well with oodles of light.

 

[Ganymede]

I use 1 xml t6 on unlit back roads angled down so the spot is on the road with the edge of the beam just in front of the front wheel.
Bright enough on unlit country lanes and oncoming cars dip and i have had no complaints from them , on lit roads i just use a cree p4 torch as a see me light .
If you still think its an issue you can get diffuser lenses that alter the beam pattern cheap enough or i did experiment by sticking a bit of card over the top edge of the light to reduce the upper light spread but keep the spot .

I have a permanent addition to my cateye - a collar cut out of a plastic milk bottle (the curvy bit round the handle), covered in silver foil and stuck on with sellotape. I found that the upward spill from the light didn't bother me in lit streets but as soon as I got into the lanes it really interfered with my vision, so I use the collar to point it down. The foil needs replacing occasionally! It is slightly tight so it just slips on and stays in place.