Originally Posted by
TruthBomb
Well, the OP has now had three months to work it out so hopefully they have made progress with Mum.
Older thread, and I think somewhere earlier notes indicated that the OP had made peace with her mother.
Nonetheless, some of the thoughts and ideas still are pertinent to others who may be reading this (or skimming the last page).
Originally Posted by
Randombiker9
I've always had both my lights on flashing and i've hardly ever seen any cyclist in my area with a steady front light it's always flashing and rear i always have it on flashing. i turn my lights on when it's raining as well and i know some countries don't allow flashing lights like in the Netherlands. Also i remember once when i put my lights on in daytime as it was supposed to rain later.
yeah i know what you mean when you have to ride in the sunset. That can be annoying as it blinds you.
With the lights a van driver said your lights are too bright once to me. I personally prefer not to say anything when some driver says something as i didn't want to get in an argument/hold up traffic There not that bright there not as bright as dipped headlights. So i didn't really get why he said that. Was he just being annoying because he was waiting behind me because i was waiting for a mini roundabout to clear.?
Good reflective gear should not be underestimated when they have lights shined at them. Of course, there may be instances such as cross traffic when the reflective strips aren't lit up, or perhaps they are only brightest when it is darkest out, and not as much under the city lights.
I find daytime strobes on front rather annoying as a rider, so I may strobe a little at dusk, but then it goes on steady. I did manage to pick up a light that has a dim/dimmer/dim/dimmer function which is less annoying, but I still would rather get a steady front light. Perhaps some kind of good side visibility lights should also be added.
As far as brightness. My current headlight is on a rubber band style flexible mount, so it can easily be aimed downward when approaching traffic.
Comparing brightness of LED lights to incandescent lights is apparently somewhat complex. One can compare the brightness of a spot on the pavement. But car headlights and bicycle headlights are very difference. One of the reasons LED lights are so annoying is the directed point source of the light. So, with a reflected car headlight, at least a 6" or 8" reflector is perceived by the viewer, while it is a single point for the bike headlight which makes it appear brighter when looking directly at it.
Since the 1920s, there has been an effort to make directed beam headlights on cars. So, low beam points more at the ground, and to the side of the road than straight ahead.
On the other hand, few bicycle lights have directed beams, and those that do are extremely expensive. Again, an issue with LEDs. So, if one points one's bike light ahead at the horizon, then half the light goes up into people's eyes, and half down at the pavement.
Anyway, have enough light to see, and be seen, but also be conscientious about others around you including other bicycles, pedestrians, and drivers.