Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - scary moments on the bike in the dark.

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vsopking
10-12-09, 12:36 PM
I like to ride in the dark - carry good lights and so on - but on my route I have a path that runs along a secondary road, with a lot of car traffic coming towards me. It happens regularly that they almost blind me and make the path nearly invisible/black. Blinding them does not really help; had some moments that felt like riding into a black hole, kinda scary; not hit anything yet though... Oh and because it seems to rain always when riding in the evening, carrying my spectacles, necessary because of my contact lenses, can turn the whole ride in real dangerous sort of adventure... Any tips?
ItsJustMe
10-12-09, 12:47 PM
More lights. Especially in the rain, you need enough lights so that even if your glasses are wet and the oncoming traffic's lights are causing glare in the wet glasses, you can still see the road.
mikewille
10-12-09, 12:58 PM
I wear a baseball cap when riding at night to shade my eyes from
oncoming car headlights
vsopking
10-12-09, 01:03 PM
Ok, will get some more lights:) May try the cap idea - Already look like an alien in the area when riding.:p
mechBgon
10-12-09, 02:18 PM
It may also help to add a helmet light in particular, because if you're disoriented you can aim it right down in front of your bike to determine your position. Because the light comes from a source very close to your eyes, it will also show reflectors (such as on the rear of parked cars) more strongly than a handlebar light does. That can be a lifesaver if your glasses are foggy or covered with raindrops.
If you have rechargeable NiMH AAs to use, then one of these relatively-cheap flashlights can be rubber-banded to the helmet, they're not very heavy: http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-164/**NEW**-Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-WW/Detail
vsopking
10-12-09, 02:36 PM
Thanx MechBgon; interesting site!.
Not the Slowest
10-12-09, 02:56 PM
A cycling cap with brim is a major plus to keep rain out of your eyes. I would use a baseball cap which has a larger brim to help keep your glasses a bit less of a target.
How about a helmet with a visor? Only when it rains really hard, my glasses will get wet after awhile.
A light and steady rain is no problem for a helmet with a visor
intheways
10-12-09, 04:37 PM
I like this hat: http://www.swobo.com/catalog/product_info_a.php?cPath=1252&products_id=714. It keeps my glasses clean and my ears warm.
aeiadart
10-12-09, 06:04 PM
Ok, will get some more lights:) May try the cap idea - Already look like an alien in the area when riding.:p
Helmet with light on top is awesome.
vsopking
10-13-09, 10:38 AM
Cap/visor seems a a good idea, might try that tonight - and hey it's not raining!!! I have a Sigma powerled on the handlebar - which does a nice job. Thinking about another powerled on the helmet -
any weaker will not do the trick I think...
aeiadart
10-17-09, 12:13 AM
More lights. Especially in the rain, you need enough lights so that even if your glasses are wet and the oncoming traffic's lights are causing glare in the wet glasses, you can still see the road.
Great point, ive had some scary times because the glare of oncoming car lights made the road almost impossible to see. Im deffinently gunna get a better light.
thanks