Originally Posted by
Bekologist
Interesting. Planet bike superflashes are quite bright for taillight purposes. Getting rear ended may have had little to do with your choice of taillight, Chris.
While it was the middle of the day, back in May, when I was rear-ended, I had PBSF on my back, on top of a bright yellow windbreaker long-sleeve jacket. In addition to a brightly lit taillight and the guy still claimed he didn't see me. After that accident, I went back to using my second of two
http://www.hudsontrail.com/viewItem/10/515/13134/ taillights that are like this one. I have one on the seatpost that is the required one by law. I have the second one on my back.
Originally Posted by
Bekologist
I do not think super lights by some will compromise the safety of those running basic safety lights with fresh batteries. A bicyclist running even a 30 dollar cateye light set will be remarkably visible in traffic if the lights
a) have fresh batteries;
b) are aimed correctly; and
c) are set to flash.
The batteries were relatively new, the day that I was rear-ended. I always make sure, that my seat is in line with the top tube, and that my light on my seatpost is absolutely perpendicular to the direction of the seat and top tube. I always set my rear lights to flash.
Originally Posted by
Bekologist
I've sold literally thousands of bike lights to people over five years working at one of the busiest independent bike shops in the country; being very concerned about other riders' safety, i took it upon myself to really check out other riders' light arrays and setups to see what constituted adequate levels of visibility.
A rider that has spent 30 bucks on a Cateye light setup or 50 bucks on a PB front and rear light, has fresh batteries, has them aimed correctly and on flash will suffer no inordinate handicap riding amidst riders with 300 lumen headlights.
button cell lights, however, i'd recommend riders steer well clear of.
I agree on steering clear of button-cell lights, for the rear. Not in front. I have had a number of battery-operated lights in the front, that all ended up, being absolute junk. That is why I went online, and bought a 600 lumen headlight. So I could see, if I got stuck coming back in the dark.