summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
You don't necessarily need to run them at full strength the whole time, I vary the settings depending on how dark it is and how many other people there is around.
Two Front Headlights
- Thread starter Distorted Vision
- Start date
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I have a hatred for helmet lights when used on the roads. I regularly get blinded by people with a helmet light on my commute when they decide to look up at a cyclist travelling the opposite direction. I think they should be legal for off road use only.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Actually...as it's you...I shall place a rider on that comment.
Out of town, on a dark unlit road and especially on a group ride...granted, yes they are annoying.
In town, amongst traffic. They are not.
Although I did get shouted at in new cross the other night by two homeless people sat at the side of the road ...at the lights...who felt my lights were disturbing them. You can't please everyone.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I'm always really impressed with how guys on group night rides can "switch " their lights up to "full beam" and light up the entire road...From a bike light!
I do think it takes a while to get used to the way the constantly moving light throws the shadows in the hedges about a bit.
If I did more night rides I would definitely invest.
I'm with you on this. A huge bugbear of mine.
I also have a cyclist on my commute who uses one and it's just blinding.
ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
True, you do definitely have to be careful with where you're pointing them. I guess they're better suited to low traffic, unlit, minor country lanes than to urban/busy roads.
Me, I just memorise where the pot-holes are and hope - it certainly gets the adrenaline flowing!
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
3h from a bike light? Is it a tiny battery? My ten year old LED lamp with a standard road A-shaped beam, OK to see by but probably only 20 lux on the German scale, does eight hours.
But if you're hitting battery limits, go dynamo
But if you're hitting battery limits, go dynamo
Dark46
Veteran
- Location
- Quedgeley, Gloucester
I don't know about budget but I have recently bought a Hope R4 and found it to me amazing. It has come with 2 battery packs, I have been on 2 rides in the dark using the small pack and am very pleased. It has about 6 different settings including a flash of which at least 1 or 2 off the LEDs are constantly on.
Attachments
RichardB
Slightly retro
- Location
- West Wales
I have done just the one ride last week with a bar-mounted light and a light on the helmet, and it was great. By looking up I could see much further, and down I had an extra perspective on the potholes and gravel. But that was on a pitch black country road with very little traffic, and I made sure to look down whenever anyone came the other way. I can't imagine much advantage on a lit road or in proper traffic.
machew
Veteran
Due to a typo, I initially found a forum for serious Fleshlight enthusiasts, and it turns out their highest-end models are ALSO capable of setting trees on fire. They're impossible to use without severe burns, but some of them swear it's worth it.
http://xkcd.com/1603/
And if you think that it is fiction we are almost there
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
I have 2 front lights. A Cateye Volt 100 and another one that I got from Planet X when I bought my bike. The PX one is OK for urban riding but not good enough as soon as I run out of streetlights. I am going to get another Cateye, when I can afford one.
I see no reason for not having 2 front lights, after all, I bet you have more than one rear light.
I see no reason for not having 2 front lights, after all, I bet you have more than one rear light.
Two separate thoughts
Firstly a pair of lights enables rotation
I use a pair of Ixon IQ Premium On the way in to work one is on high beam and the other is on low beam, that way I have the guarantee f a working light at all times should one fail or not charge properly
Second these have a "filtered" beam so it avoids dazzle.
It should be more common in bike lights as the massive non focussed beam is what causes the issue not the brighness
Firstly a pair of lights enables rotation
I use a pair of Ixon IQ Premium On the way in to work one is on high beam and the other is on low beam, that way I have the guarantee f a working light at all times should one fail or not charge properly
Second these have a "filtered" beam so it avoids dazzle.
It should be more common in bike lights as the massive non focussed beam is what causes the issue not the brighness
Smurfy
Naturist Smurf
- Location
- Smurfette's Kitchen
If I go on unlit roads I have two fairly powerful lights. One of them is mainly a back up, so it stays off or on low power unless I'm going downhill. Total lumens available with both on full power is over 400, but I hardly ever need it.
Beam pattern is what matters, not brightness. Rotation symmetrical lights blind oncoming traffic, and destroy your night vision by putting too much light near you so you cannot see into the distance. So my preference is for lights from B&M or Schmidt. The latest generation is much better again. Philips briefly did some great lights too.