Originally Posted by cyccommute

Agreed.



I can't agree here, however. Road and urban riding require more light, not less. Your lights are competing with hundreds of different light sources per block. You may not need as much light to see the road but you need far more light to be seen. The worst thing to happen to you is to become invisible in a sea of light.

I blaze as much light as I can when on the road. I want the drivers to be confused at to what I am and, more importantly, to as how much of a threat I am to them. If they think that I'm a train off the tracks or a giant truck or a cyclops bus, it makes them think for a moment before they pull out in front of me. I don't want cause them any harm, just confuse them as to what I really am. A little "be seen" light in an ocean of other lights is just too hard to miss and the next thing you know your third dimension is voided.

You don't want your third dimension voided.

On the other hand, on an unlighted cycle path...which I don't usually ride at night because it's rude to do so...you generally need a little less light. You only need to see where you are going but you don't really need the light to serve as a warning. For the tiny amount if cycle path riding I do on a commute, I will power down one or two lights. I generally leave my helmet light on but turn it away from pedestrians as soon as I see them.