Comments on: Q&A : Bike Lights

By: Ronald Yniguez

Ronald Yniguez — Sat, 08 May 2010 07:48:46 +0000

Well I thought all statements were informative! How ever, I do have very bright lights on all my bikes.
If there is one thing I have learned while riding my bike in any condition.
It is I ride like they never see me!!!
It is as if I am invisible. I am always on the defense! I like to think I am? I have had a few close ones and even actual hit and runs, Does not feel good and always leaves me shaky! Whew…
So I say get the brightest lights you could afford, Our lives are more exspensive then a 2 or 3 hundred dollars light set, Wouldn’t agree?
Besides when you are lite up properly you enjoy your ride better.
Anyways I loved reading everyones input here.

HEy all ride to live , live to ride
Alias Anyguess

By: BluesCat

BluesCat — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:59:20 +0000

Last Friday (2/12/10) I purchased a New Headlight It's a NiteRider MiNewt Mini-USB rechargable, and it runs $100. As long as it meets my one reservation I talk about in the link to my blog, I think it is a pretty good value.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:52:14 +0000

I have two greens lights that attach to the spokes (Nitelites, bought at REI for about $20 ea). I keep one on my front tire, one on my rear tire. I can set them for either flash or steady mode, but I usually keep them on steady since the flash can really drive your eyes mad, especially on the darker roads. They can be seen for quite a distance either way.

In addition to those, I also use one bright steady white light and one flashing white light, on the front of the bike. On the rear, a flashing cat eye red light that has about 5 led bulbs so that I can be seen by rear drivers.

Other ideas: A reflective vest is a good idea as well, but because I’m a heavy set guy, they normally don’t fit me very well. So I avoid wearing them. I also thought about buying Pedalites, Pedals with lights (where the reflectors would normally be) that work off a generator that is built into the pedals themselves. But I can’t justify spending the cash on them ($60 ea, I beleive), even though they do look cool.

By: gear

gear — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:51:15 +0000

I don’t consider 270 lumens to be a particularly bright light for riding in the dark. I’d go for 600 at the least. Put 800 lumens on the front and no one will pull out in front of you.

Now for a tail light, I like a Dinotte pointed at the drivers face when the car is 1000 yards back.

BluesCat, human minds tend to be literal. So the scenario goes like this: The driver looks and asks himself “are there any cars coming?” Answer: “No” foot goes down on gas pedal, then “Oh but I saw a bicyclist.”
Drivers need to be taught to ask the correct question of themselves when determining if its safe to proceed. “Is there ANYTHING coming?”

By: Paul in Minneapolis

Paul in Minneapolis — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:23:50 +0000

Haveing lights mounted as low as possible is good, because there are much fewer background lights behind. Lights mounted at handlebar and up to helment are better seen over cars.
On rear I have 4 (7 total) refectors/blinkies mounted at axle level as headlights hit there first, and the blinkies aren’t competing with background lights.
When in question, I take the middle of the car lane. I’ll also use my airhorn, too (but mine doesn’t work in freezeing temps).
My helment light is bright and it very well may blind some motorist, but I do that for a reason.. They are cutting corners and are about to hit me…
During the summer, when I don’t have so much clothes slowing me down, I perfer to ride with a pack of cars, in the lane.
Still I try to leave a way out as I’ve too have motorists pull out in front of me, even when I’m doing the speed limit. So far, I have been lucky, very lucky… But I’d rather be on a bike than in a car as I have more controll of the situation.

By: MikeV

MikeV — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:32:57 +0000

All the lights in the world won’t matter a hoot to a “blind” driver. I treat every car that is in a driveway, on a cross street…as though they can’t see me and I ride with the thought and anticipation that they will pull out in front of me.

In a bike lane, get as far left as possible and maybe even into the traffic lane if safe. This gives you more room and an “out” in case the car pulls out.

It’s easy while you are riding to see cars at side streets, driveways… and anticipate what they will do next. Expect the unexpected. And a small blinky could help too.

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:31:28 +0000

I think the problem has more to do with the awareness of the motorist. Living in a college town (Tempe, AZ – ASU), I find that motorists that are around campus a lot are more aware of bicyclists. But, the farther away I get from campus, the less aware motorists are of a bicycle. It’s as if they’re not used to a moving vehicle so close to the curb.

All that said, and knowing that the average Joe can’t single handedly make the community more aware of bicycle traffic, a blinkng light is about the best thing I can think of. But even so, I ride VERY defensively!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:53:36 +0000

When I drive, blinking lights sure grab my attention.

By: RJ

RJ — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:14:22 +0000

To put a different opinion out there–

I actually prefer a high-powered steady light over a flashing light. I find that relying on flash alone disturbs the driver’s sense of where I actually am. A steady light shows exactly where I am. While you could argue that uncertainty is good.. I really don’t think it is.

That said, my ideal set-up includes a high-powered steady light coupled with a decent flasher (see: Planet Bike). This allows drivers’ attention to be caught, while still seeing where I am, and most importantly– it doesn’t make me as nauseous as riding with flash alone.

But if my primary light weren’t high-powered (such as a AA-battery powered light, and not a rechargeable).. yeah, I’d put it on flash. So long as it wasn’t one of those strobe patterns that make me nauseous! (again, see: Planet Bike). Ha ha.

By: Andres

Andres — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:01:16 +0000

That is all great advice. Just this past Tuesday, someone didn’t even bother stopping when pulling out of a side street, and came within inches of hitting me before we both skid to a stop I am definitely thinking of adding a flashing front light to my head beam light.