Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Clyde nearly creams bambi!! -- how fast / lumen?

Riding tonight on a MUP in the dark with my Mini Newt on high.

On the return trip -- moderate downhill and a tailwind, I was spinning along at something I would guess to be about 23 mph (based on gear and cadence since I can't see my computer thingy in the dark), when a deer darts out in the beam and freezes.

I froze too!! Last thing I saw before closing my eyes and bracing for impact were his hooves. Somehow he jumped about straight up and or around me and we missed creating a clyde-beef / venison salad.

The mini newt on high is supposed to be 150 lumens. Are there any rules of thumb on how much light should be used to go a given speed on a dark path?

20 lumens / mph might be a good benchmark.

A friend of mine hit a deer that did the same thing, only difference it was the middle of the day..

If you spook them, it's a dice roll which way they are going to run.. If you see one, make some noise so they get out of your way before you meet them head on..

People ask me all the time how much light they should have, I always say the most you can afford.. For me I use a Trinewt on the Bars + a Cree Q5 on the helmet, about 700+ lumens total..

lumens won't help the deer situation

lumens won't help the deer situation

Time to weld a bike mount for that autocannon.

Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30, 6000 rounds per minute:
http://www.kbptula.ru/eng/str/cannons/images/gsh630.jpg

Thanks for the replies.

I agree deer are generally stupid and likely to do the same thing in daylight. I just feel like I'm probably out running my light a bit.

Can't really afford more Lumens right now so may just slow down a bit ..... but, probably not.

Tip for deer detection: use a helmet light. Deer eyes are reflective, and a helmet light will make them show strongly, because the light beam is very close to your eyes. A Fenix L2D Q5 would be suitable for this purpose.

My area has lots of deer. If I had no other use for a helmet light, it would still be worth taking just for this purpose. Granted, I'm out on the highway, not an MUP, so in most areas they cannot just jump out from cover at point-blank range.

Get a animal whistle and ride like the wind.

www.deerwhistle.com
http://www.austhobi.com/

Tip for deer detection: use a helmet light. Deer eyes are reflective, and a helmet light will make them show strongly, because the light beam is very close to your eyes. A Fenix L2D Q5 would be suitable for this purpose.

My area has lots of deer. If I had no other use for a helmet light, it would still be worth taking just for this purpose. Granted, I'm out on the highway, not an MUP, so in most areas they cannot just jump out from cover at point-blank range.

Tell that to the thousands of people per year who hit one on the highways;)

I agree on the helmet light. I can pick up eye reflections from a long way away. It's just one more tool.

Thanks for the replies.

I agree deer are generally stupid and likely to do the same thing in daylight. I just feel like I'm probably out running my light a bit.

Can't really afford more Lumens right now so may just slow down a bit ..... but, probably not.

Go DIY. Cheapest way to get way more lumens. Lots of examples around here.

I can't afford an accident. Lights I can afford.

Tip for deer detection: use a helmet light. Deer eyes are reflective, and a helmet light will make them show strongly, because the light beam is very close to your eyes. A Fenix L2D Q5 would be suitable for this purpose.

My area has lots of deer. If I had no other use for a helmet light, it would still be worth taking just for this purpose. Granted, I'm out on the highway, not an MUP, so in most areas they cannot just jump out from cover at point-blank range.

I see deer or 8 -every single night- I ride. have never seen deer eyes at night, only the 'blended into the background and almost impossible to see' brown deer fur. they are so used to mtb'ers they don't even move off the trail.

I smell them before I can see them. and they stank

I can't afford an accident. Lights I can afford.

+1
While you may not end up in a nasty crash there is a good chance you will wreck a wheel. Pretty much kills any cost issue.

I see deer or 8 -every single night- I ride. have never seen deer eyes at night, only the 'blended into the background and almost impossible to see' brown deer fur. they are so used to mtb'ers they don't even move off the trail.

I smell them before I can see them. and they stank

Are you using a helmet light? I can pick out the eye reflections of deer lounging in the fields and on the hillsides from 1/4 mile with my helmet light.

Are you using a helmet light? I can pick out the eye reflections of deer lounging in the fields and on the hillsides from 1/4 mile with my helmet light.

Same here...but mine's more like 1/2 mile:D I've been riding next to some lakes lately and the Canada geese butts glow brightly in my headlights. Looks like little marshmallows floating on the lake:)

I can't afford an accident. Lights I can afford.

This is why I've stopped cycling now it's started snowing and icing. A dollar a day on gas is much, much cheaper than a broken leg or some other injury that wouldn't have occurred if I'd been in a car instead of on a bike. I wish I could ride, but it's no longer worth the risk.

maybe you need these :lol:

http://www.sevendeals.com/images/PRODUCT/medium/3407.jpg

Recumbent trike if you really want to ride with minimum accident occurence in dodgy conditions only drawback $.
I maybe biased though. :)

Thanks for all the replies on this.

I'm going to have a go at building a DiY light with some linky's cyccommute sent. Won't stop stupid Bambi moves but I may see them coming sooner.

It may end up costing me a bunch and if like many of my projects will require many iterations, but it appeals to my inner redneck.

<snip> I just feel like I'm probably out running my light a bit.

Can't really afford more Lumens right now so may just slow down a bit ..... but, probably not.</snip>

This is the part that no one has seemed to have addressed. Sure, get more light, but just make sure that whatever you do, you can still anticipate and safely respond to sudden obstacles. More light is better, but better awareness is best. Also, for things like wildlife (and cars, etc.), be sure to have plenty of side spill. Animals like to hide off to the side, then suddenly jump right in front of you. It's some sort of stupid instinctual survival thing. People do this all the time as well.

+1 on the helmet light. I'm finding that I'm detecting wildlife far more easily at night by scanning side-to-side with my light, which allows me to find things like stealth bunnies hiding in brush, or deer hiding way in the trees. Not to say bad stuff still couldn't happen, but it's a lot less likely. I'd say I'm less likely to plow a critter at night than I am during the day, when the suicide suirrels are all over the place. Don't want to tempt the karma gods, but I haven't had any close calls at night, certainly not like I have during the day.

For what it's worth, my current setup isn't much, just a helmet-mounted Dinotte 200L and a Cateye EL530 on the bars. I'm looking to supplement that with some new goodies after Christmas.

[QUOTE=Mr. Underbridge;7992821]....when the suicide suirrels are all over the place.....QUOTE]


Ah yes, the kamikaze's of the WO&D (they seemed especially thick there this year). I think their tactic is to suprise oncoming traffic and lodge themselves between the fork and front spokes.

It could be worse -- hope they don't learn this.

Kamikaze Squirrel (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/24/kamikaze_squirrel/)

yup, it's winter, I'm bored and posting.