The best rear light position

[Deleted member 35268]

How about built in lights

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbrea...on-bicycles-smart-bike-gps-lights-kickstarter

 

[glasgowcyclist]

My dynamo setup includes a rear light built in to the rack. I've driven behind it and it's very effective.

 

[tommaguzzi]

First of all i would have to own a "trusty" helmet which i dont. I also believe body mounted lights arnt strictly legal anyway. If you turn your head they are nolonger visible.
Also ask Michael Schumacher if mounting hardware to your helmet is a good idea. The camera he had on his is what caused his brain damage after it pushed through his helmet and into his skull when his head hit the tree
My light is on the seat toolbag and now they are able to flash i don't think there is a visibility problem.

 

[Drago]

Also ask Michael Schumacher if mounting hardware to your helmet is a good idea...

Uh-oh, that's torn it!

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Also ask Michael Schumacher if mounting hardware to your helmet is a good idea. The camera he had on his is what caused his brain damage after it pushed through his helmet

I believe that's unsupported guessing and hasn't been established.

 

[Jody]

Seat post is poor. Too close to the centre of the bike, too high for ideal..

How is it too high for ideal when it is about on level with a cars rear lights?

 

[Smithbat]

Layzene strip light pro, the dogs b.................s, but equally important is your clothing, and a Proviz jacket is about as bright as they get.

I love these jackets, but sadly like most other cycle clothing manufacturers, they believe that us plus size cyclists do not exist, therefore are not worth providing the larger sizes.

I have mine on my rack at the back as I usually have a top bag on it so the seat post is obscured.

 

[mjr]

How is it too high for ideal when it is about on level with a cars rear lights?

As explained earlier:

As low as possible whilst still being visible will make you seem nearer to the motorist. Well worth doing as if you read studies motorists typically notice cyclists at 150m away or less so appearing nearer is a big advantage.

It's the Father Dougal thing, things near to the horizon seem further away to us easily tricked humans. If you want to see how powerful this is look at the moon next time it's near to the horizon, it seems huge compared to when it is in the sky even though of course it is always near enough the same size.

There is a legal minimum height but I think it's high enough that you'd have to do something daft like put it on the mudflap to fall foul on a full-size bike.

I feel car light height is irrelevant unless you're on a tricycle because you can't mimic the spacing. Motorcycle light height is part of why a large-lit-area light under the back of the rear rack is best.

 

[TheDoctor]

One on the rack, one on the seatpost / saddlebag / rear pannier / rear pocket for me.

 

[Jody]

@mjr Can't really change the position of mine but it makes sense I suppose.

 

[MontyVeda]

Seat post and saddle bag for me. Although i only tend to run both when it's raining or i'm on unlit roads.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

As well as my rack light, I have: a cob light on a saddle-mount, just above my Fly6; a magicshine rear fixed to the offside rear where the chain stay meets the seat stay, which I use in very poor visibility just like a fog light; and to give a better impression of width, I have a fibre-flare attached vertically to the outside of each of my panniers.

I don't use all of these at the same time but vary them as conditions dictate.

 

[RoubaixCube]

I love these jackets, but sadly like most other cycle clothing manufacturers, they believe that us plus size cyclists do not exist, therefore are not worth providing the larger sizes.

I have mine on my rack at the back as I usually have a top bag on it so the seat post is obscured.

I remember i tried some of their Jackets/Gilets when Proviz first started selling their products even though they had a very limited range, Even though the sizes were in the 'bigger' ranges, they still felt about two sizes too small and i sent them back. They charged me for returns despite a big flash banner saying "free UK returns" but after consulting their CC they refunded me postage via paypal.

Nice Jackets though, Just shame about the sizing/sizes

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Ive always tried to have a blinker on the back of my helmet (Blinker - not a blinder!) as It widens the range or angles at which i can be seen

Heres how I have my Kask helmet set up, pretty straight forward and easy

Its a Topeak Redlite Aero USB so its not the brightest but it gives 180' visibility so even if i turn my head to check whats coming up behind me, you can still see it. The light fit just perfectly as its the right length/girth to mount flush against the actual helmet and it uses the strap thing at the back of the helmet (pictured...)

To keep the light in line with the rest of the helmet. Theres supposed to be a small section at the back of the topeak like where you can slide a slab of rubber to help hold it in place so it doesnt wobble about when attaching to a seatpost but by not installing it, the back of the helmet is 'countersunk' into the back of the light.

On the days where i do finish work pretty late in the evening, seeing another cyclist with a blinker on the back of his or her helmet definitely makes them more noticeable in my eyes at least.

I measured the back of the helmet and looked around for ages for something that would just slot in and look as if it was part of the helmet. (you need a light thats 15cm, most similar lights are 16-17cm so the light doesnt sit flush with the rest of the helmet at leaves a small gap because of the angling of the helmet)

I would prefer it was a little more low profile as it sticks out just a little too much for my taste.

Sometimes i have big Tescos or Sainsburys lorries on their way to drop supplies off at their stores roll up behind me. I doubt the driver would of been able to see the light thats attached to my seatpost from up that high so its always peice of mind knowing they know im there.

 

[mjr]

@mjr Can't really change the position of mine but it makes sense I suppose.

Oh well - it's still better than nothing!

Sometimes i have big Tescos or Sainsburys lorries on their way to drop supplies off at their stores roll up behind me. I doubt the driver would of been able to see the light thats attached to my seatpost from up that high so its always peice of mind knowing they know im there.

The driver should be able to see you. If they're so close that they can't see a light on your seatpost, or if they can't see a light at all, they farking well shouldn't be driving, let alone holding a lorry licence.

 

[Jody]

All of you who advocate helmet or rucksack mounting, have you had someone else ride behind you and give feedback on how effective the placement is? I see people with a helmet mounted light obscured by a rucksack, or a rucksack mounted light pointing skywards.

What if you wear one on a helmet without a rucksack?