I think I have had it with night time riding.

[steveindenmark]

Do you not get peeved when a car driver doesn't dip there lights, no shine lights in peoples eyes even by accident is not really the answer, be bright enough to be seen, take a good road position and be observant.

If your lights are set correctly you shouldnt be dazzling motorists. I wonder how many cyclists actually get off their bikes and check the setup.

By all means take the correct road positions but make sure you can actually be seen before you do it.

Roadkill. Are your overboots reflective?

 

[Racing roadkill]

They light up like a Christmas tree with lights on them. They are reflective and luminescent.

 

[S.Giles]

No, I mean dazzling and distracting.

But what is the motorist in question being distracted from? Re-tuning their radio? Lighting a cigarette? Talking on their hands-free? The angle of the cycle light is surely the important factor in not dazzling anyone, rather than continuity of the light-source.

In reference to drivers not dipping their lights for cyclists, this has been a 'soap box' subject of mine for years. It seems like an IQ thing. Do they not realise that cyclists also derive benefit from being able to see where they're going and not being dazzled? Many is the time I've had to stop until the errant vehicle has passed (I usually make a show when stopping of putting my hand up to my eyes to reduce the discomfort of the glare - who knows if the driver notices or not, though). There's also a geographical factor - this was a constant problem when I used to ride at night near Stainforth (Doncaster), but is not nearly such a problem near Market Weighton (also in Yorkshire). As our American cousins would say, 'go figure'.

Steve

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@S.Giles as you can till I sort of live between, not being rich I run a cree t6 with a wide angle lens set far enough to see and not blind, it could possible do with going up a touch, however almost every car dips their lights as they would if I was a car, and yes I can drive (HGV), so I know it works, it the less bright lights that car drivers seem to think its not worth it.

 

[S.Giles]

Hi Nigel. Yes, part of the problem is probably that motorists are conditioned to dipping their headlights when they see other headlights coming towards them. The sight of a comparatively dim cycle light just doesn't trigger the response in the same way (if at all). I've just ordered a Cree, and am looking forward to trying it for myself.

Steve

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@S.Giles this is a useful addition, it really does broaden the beam out pretty well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DQ5IG...UTF8&colid=AC0JJ381GBQJ&coliid=I2X3L8FHQA5REY

 

[S.Giles]

Thanks, that's an interesting item, but it wouldn't fit the light I'm getting (the one with two smaller lights side-by-side).

BTW, the light I just ordered was £14.39 delivered (IIRC), so I'm not expecting too much (especially of the battery). There are a lot of junk 18650 lithium batteries out there, apparently!

Steve

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Thanks, that's an interesting item, but it wouldn't fit the light I'm getting (the one with two smaller lights side-by-side).

BTW, the light I just ordered was £14.39 delivered (IIRC), so I'm not expecting too much (especially of the battery). There are a lot of junk 18650 lithium batteries out there, apparently!

Steve

It might measure the centre when you get it and see how it fits. I have had two Cree T6 lights in the last two years ( I goosed one testing it), however the battery packs have been fine, even if I have gone out twice with what i thought were reasonably charged batteries, one of the packs is now two years old and works fine, though its some time since I fully tested how long it remains on whilst out.

 

[steveindenmark]

S. Giles........its because Market Weighton is still using horse and carts and gas lamps. You are in the middle of nowhere. I know because I used to live there. But I escaped. :0)

 

[Drago]

Dazzling another road user impairs their ability to judge your speed, makes them more likely to make an error and wipe you out. Even the most thermonuclear of lights works best when pointed at the road surface ahead and not in oncoming drivers faces.

 

[steveindenmark]

That was a point I made earlier Drago. I wonder how many riders stand their bike upright and walk away and look to see what drivers can see. Not many I would expect. It only takes a few minutes to set lights up correctly, but most of us have a "That will do attitude" and are happy to blame someone else when something goes wrong.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

That was a point I made earlier Drago. I wonder how many riders stand their bike upright and walk away and look to see what drivers can see. Not many I would expect. It only takes a few minutes to set lights up correctly, but most of us have a "That will do attitude" and are happy to blame someone else when something goes wrong.

I always do this... with all my bikes and my OH's... and I make him do it as well. Had thought most cyclists did!