RMMJ

I purchased the Radbot 1000 taillight for use during the day so I'm more visible to cars approaching from the rear. But what about using a headlight during the day? Do you use one? If so is it a beam or a strobe?

10 Wheels

I use this one in front. Dinnotte 140L in back.

mechBgon

Yeah, I do too. If I want something small, light and removeable, I use a TwoFish CycloBlock and put a decent LED flashlight into it. I'll bust out the NiteRider Pro 1200 for fall commuting, but it's not something I want to leave on the bike while I'm shopping

A guy just recently hooked me up with a Shimano Alfine dynohub, so I'm trying this next on my Soma Smoothie ES road-commuter:



https://www.supernova-lights.com/en/products/e3pro.html

ItsJustMe

Nope, but that's because my commute is nearly 100% rural. Front end collisions, left crosses, etc, are simply not a concern. There's just no place on my commute where they could happen.

I *do* run my Dinotte 140L whenever I'm rolling. I know for sure it makes a difference. I just ordered a MagicShine taillight because I'm sick of charging up the AA cells on the Dinotte, and the MS will run off the same battery as my MS headlight (I'll be putting my Dinotte up on the for sale board cheap assuming the MagicShine works out).

colleen c

I used to run my MS light on strobe. Not anymore after I found a nice 3M super bright class 2 yellow color safety vest works better for my area. My biggest probelms was small car backing out of driveway on the more busy street where there are cars park alone the sidewalk and those cars block their view of me. On top of that, with some taller SUV parked on the street, I don't see them backing out until I have cleared those SUV. The light did help but it gets blended in with the surrounding too well. The vest was more noticable and I notice much less close call after using the vest. It does take some time to get used to wearing one when I felt I was the only one wearing it and I was looking like a construction lady who just got off of work, but the good outweigh the looks and I now wear it even when I make a quick stop shopping inside the grocery store.

Cyclist0383

I use a flashlight with a XP-G dropin on strobe. I've found that it greatly increases my visibility to cars, peds. and drunken tourists.

mwatkins

I don't run a front light all the time but do on gloomy days (weather, not me) or when I'm heading into really tough traffic areas. I don't always have my Planet Bike Blaze 2W headlight mounted or in my underseat bag, but I always have my "EDC" or every day carry flashlight with me, even on 2 hour training rides. My EDC light is a small but incredibly powerful LED flashlight, a single AA powered Fenix LD10. That plus the TwoFish Bikeblock another has mentioned up thread make a great system.

On strobe I'm plenty visible - it is by far more visible in this mode than a Planet Blaze 2W on strobe (which is also a good choice too). It might even be too visible/annoying.

Some that go this non-bike specific flashlight route like the 2 x AA format better - you get slightly more output and roughly double the runtime - but for my purposes I find the shorter single AA format works best. Less overhang on the bars and it is roughly the same length as my PB light. Weighs only 50 grams (without batteries). My extra "runtime" is simply extra cells stored in the underseat bag rather than in the flashlight.

One nice thing about the flashlight/twofish combo (another reseller has a 3 pack cheaper) is that you'll have another tool in your arsenal for purposes other than biking alone. These small powerful lights amazingly useful.

PS: If you do go this route you'll want to invest in a decent charger and good cells. It'll pay for itself quickly.

Torgrot

I always have the headlight on. During the day its on strobe. The only problem is that it attracts kids. If I am on a MUP they will ride right to it like a moth to a flame.

Richard Cranium

I agree with the idea of using a strobe on the front during the day. And if I'm going out for a long time I'll run it until I can't see so as to save battery life for real darkeness.

RMMJ

Thanks for the help. Is a P7 on strobe too distracting to approaching cars? Being visible is great, but I don't want to cause any accidents!

mwatkins

During the day, no. At night, probably!

ps: I just got back from riding with my wife to her office, and then taking the *very* long way back. I ran my LD10 on strobe the entire trip; had to change to a new AA cell about an hour and a half into the ride. I generally spend the entire time in the saddle save intersections so I don't mind a quick time out to swap a cell and stretch, but some might find having to stop and swap annoying.

One thing I'll say about the Planet Bike Blaze 2W (or the older Beamers) is that it will continue to work on strobe or "high" through my usual 2 - 3 hour loop rides. If one doesn't like swapping cells during a ride, it might be a good choice. About $34 locally.

rumrunn6

I use a front strobe just about everywhere

rawhite1969

yes, on strobe.

Doohickie

Sometimes. If I do, I use it on flash mode.

BarracksSi

I always have my lights switched on when I ride my dynohub-equipped city bike. It seems to be good insurance when I have plenty of distractions along the street, tree-shaded sections, and parallel-parked cars in my neighborhood.

tarwheel 

I use a front light while commuting during daylight. I find that cars trying to pull out of side streets and parking lots seem to notice me a lot more.

Adrius

For me, it really depends on the weather. If it's gloomy out and most cars are running headlights, i'll run both my headlight and taillight. Most of the time, I don't. I haven't really had too much of a problem not running it, but I only have a few hundred miles on the road so far.

noisebeam

I use Fenix L2D on strobe during morning, late afternoon and on overcast or worse days. Mid day when clear and sunny I don't.

jungovox

if it's cloudy at all I kick on at least the tail light - if it's darker - I kick on the magick shine - strobe mode

IronMac

Supernova E3 is on all the time and I use the both the handlebar and helmet mounted 400Ls on strobe mode. They're there so why not?

no motor?

Usually, and then it's on strobe.

trx1

HELL NO! no reason to where i live.

socalrider

If I ride in Foggy conditions or anytime near sundown, always use a flashing light.. The fenix strobe is much too fast and at dusk give the appearance of emergency vehicles approaching an intersection..

This is one I use now, The Romisen RC-C8 II has a fully adjustable beam from tight focus to wide flood, I use a single 18650 and 4+ hour runtime on high mode if needed.. Also works with other battery types: 17670, 2 x CR123A, 3 x AAA's, comes with aaa holder..

The flashing mode is a more reasonable 120 pulses minute..

https://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...8-II-Q5/Detail

rfomenko

Fenix L2D in blinking mode on my helmet or Planet Bike 2W on handlebars plus Radbot or Superflash or Serfas covering the rear. Makes riding much more fun!