Thread: Into the sun
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Old 10-04-06, 10:50 AM
  #16  
noisebeam
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Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex

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Riding into the sun is certainly problematic as same direction drivers will find it (sometime much) harder to see you. They, as khuon pointed out, see silhouette. Drivers not wearing good eyewear (such as polarized sunglasses) and with dirty windshields, significantly compound the problem due to glare from road and windshield.
The point about the silhouette is very important though. For a silhouette to be created one needs to be against the bright background. The only way this is possible is if you are in the line of sight from driver to bright sky/sun. Riding to the far right on (a perfect east/west road at solstice) ensures that you are near invisible as you eliminate the silhoutte. Drivers can't see you against the dark shadowy roadside trees, buildings, etc. Combined with dirty glare inducing windshields a cyclist to the far right creating no silhouette will certainly be invisible.
This does not mean one must practice dynamic lane positioning to increase safety riding against sun, the other option is to use a xenon flasher and ride to the right, as in this case the flasher is not washed out against the bright sky/sun, but is constrasted against the darker peripheral view.
Al
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