Lighting Question - Off Topic
 

I know this belongs in the electronic gadget forum, but you are the folks I really trust. The recent "incident" has me spooked and, while I think a 2 watt PB front LED should have been more than adequate with street lights and significant ambient light in a downtown setting, part of me wonders if something obnoxious would have helped. My wife thinks I'm being neurotic...she probably has a point. Is lighting really going to help when someone turns into the wrong lane with bad vision and while distracted (according to driver's words)?

Anyway - as far as rechargeable lighting, is it necessary in a downtown area with street lights? Do I go with something mid-range, or go with some of the crazy stuff like the cygolite trident 750? What lights do you recommend? Do I need to get that $700 Niterider? As far as rear lighting, I don't think I have an issue...the PB turbo super flash is seriously annoying and stands out. I did notice that Magicshine makes a 3 watt rear LED, but I've heard some bad things about Magicshine's durability and customer service.

I'm a big fan of the rechargeable 18650 battery powered flashlights. I'm currently using these XML lights on my wife's and my bikes, and they're typically the brightest lights on the local critical mass ride out of 100+ riders. Admittedly though, a sea of knog lights is no competition whatsoever :)

I use a bright flasher on city streets at night--front and rear. I can see fine without it, so my goal is to be seen. Is it necessary? I don't know, but I figure it doesn't hurt.

Edit: Sorry, didn't really answer the question. I use the Blackburn Flea. It's small and it isn't the brightest light ever, but it's attention getting, and I can see it lighting up street signs two blocks away. It's USB rechargeable, small, and pretty inexpensive, and I think it suits urban needs well.

Chris - how do you mount on bars? I LIKE THE PRICE!

Lost - thanks, I think what I'm using is a good bit stronger than that, so your post is reassuring. I guess I just want to believe that there's more I can do to prevent acts of God and/or stupidity.

I think the most important thing is that it flashes obnoxiously.

Good ****ing luck!

I commute every day, morning ride is in darkness. I have a flamethrower dual headlamp and a backup headlight on the MB-Zip full-boat commuter bike, versus just a front and rear single-LED blinky on the stripped-down PSVN. But I feel equally noticeable and safe on the PSVN, due to my helmet light.

A fairly-directional and not-too-powerful helmet light is a great thing, because it is mounted up high, you can waggle it to get attention, and you can shine it straight into a driver's face to really get attention. I can always get a driver's attention with the last bit. This applies mostly to when you're approaching cars at intersections, driveways, etc - obviously if they're going to ambush you from behind, the helmet light doesn't help, you'd need a tail gunner. I have a red single-LED blinky on the back of my helmet for good measure.

My helmet light is a kludge made from a Petzl mountaineering headlamp, but there are bicycle specific helmet lights too. AA battery power is enough, you don't need power cords draped down your body.

The other thing is reflective material, which is basically free light. I'm not willing to stick reflective tape on my bike frame, but I put bits of it on the helmet, jacket, pedals, etc.

I took a quick look around - something like the NiteRider MiNewt Mini 150 USB 150 is a bike specific headlamp that looks nice. Petzl headlamps at 150 lumens (same as the Niterider) are a bit cheaper and look a bit sleeker. I suspect there are no-name headlamps on eBay for real cheap too.

I agree with this when the objective is to be seen.

For taillights, I've got a flea on the roadbike, nightrider cherrybomb on the utility bike and a Blackburn Mars 3 on the tandem. I don't like the flea much, for reasons other than the on-bike operation, which is fine.

For headlights I have a cygolight 200 lumen and a Nightrider 150. Both have an obnoxious flash mode. I have a 150 lumen flashlight that I can put where needed, but it doesn't flash. I consider 150 lumens the minimum for seeing by. For "be seen" duty, lesser power is ok, but obnoxious flashing is a must.

I use these mounts and have them on most of my bikes (which reminds me, it's time to buy a few more for the ever-expanding fleet...) The price is pretty good, but you'd still need to add batteries and a charger, so figure on another $15 - $20. I've been running the same 4-pack of batteries that I bought a few years ago, and have upgraded lights a few times as the tech improved.

You might prefer to go with one of the bike-specific lights, which is only a few bucks more and has longer runtime, but I like the convenience of being able to pop the light out of the bracket easily when I lock up the bike, or to transfer it to a different bike.

Was it in flash mode or steady? That light on flash mode should have been enough to make you visible. However, people have been known to run into police cars parked on the side of the road that have all their emergency lights on so nothing will be completely idiot-proof.

I agree on the PBSF Turbo as a good, annoying tail light. I was running a pair of PB Blaze headlights (1W in flash to be seen, 2W steady when needed to see) on my commuter but recently switched to a pair of these: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-wate...t-82510?item=6 . Been very happy with them so far. I do use Cree LED flashlights (2 AA size) for my MTB and road bikes on the rare occasion I ride either of them at night.

Thanks all - Chris, LOVE your solution! I might try that out.

I was running it in 2w steady...I felt like a front pulsing pattern would annoy others, but maybe that's the idea.

Yes, that's exactly the idea! :)

:thumb:

I'm with Chris. The 18650 flashlights are a great value compared to bike-specific lights. I use one of these and this charger. I use a Twofish block on the handlebar. A wrap of cloth tape underneath helps keep it from slipping in the rain.

Due route - I like that strap setup...it's simple and elegant.

I've been happy with it. It's a pretty solid attachment - no rattling around, etc. It's also very easy to swap between bikes.

Yeah, but do they flash? If not, it's a no-go.

http://www.menorah.com/catalog2/shopexd.asp?id=4226 sorry, couldn't resist that joke :)

But on a more serious note, every once in a while this issue crops up here in Holland about how strong your lights should be. The law says 25 meters visibility is the bare minimum, but even the smallest light (assuming it functions well) easily passes that mark. Research indicates that it's neither the strength nor the flashing that is of much issue - just a small light is enough for the attentive driver. And here we reach the core of the problem: tirednes, texting, make - up, cell phones as well as speeding, neglect for bicyclists and other general asshattery is the main source of accidents.

Plus, a strong forward facing beam only helps YOU seeing thing better (which is nice)it's burning into the eyes of the oncomi g driver it's probably too late already.

Get well soon!

This particular unit doesn't flash; it's more of a 'see the road' beam. It is bright enough not to be ignored. I do have a PB headlight that flashes. Sometimes I'll run them both if I'm feeling especially risk-averse.

fwiw, I believe in some European countries it's illegal to use flashing lights, even on the back.

Second Chris-in-Miami--I have this flashlight and this mount (both from ShiningBeam) and I commute in the dark all of standard time. The light is bright, and I can both see and be seen. The whole setup cost me about $70--light, 2 batteries, charger, 2 mounts.

The mounts work well until they break, but they only last about 3 months for me.

The more I've thought about what happened, the more I'm sure that better lighting wouldn't have mattered. The 2w PB is bright...very bright. You can see it blocks away. There was plenty of light on the street - I was directly under a street lamp. She hit me because she was negligent. I think I'm going to get a few more lights anyway...just to feel better...but given where I was, my lighting wasn't the issue.

I'm using a Niterider MiNewt Cordless 300. It's been very reliable, and I like the USB charging. Plenty bright enough for my needs. I've done the flashlight with a twofish thing too, and I like it, but the Niterider is the better all-around package IMHO.

Just from experience in the NE, a "Bright Light" won't get you noticed, add the blinkies and it will help. A single or even double non flashing light just blends in. I saw a commuter last night with what looked to be small strap on blinkies, on her forks, handlebars, stays and downtube, maybe 6 or 8 all together, she was noticable!

Aaron,

I hope you are feeling better!

As far as lights go, I use a Niterider Pro 750 on the front and two PB Super Flashs on the back of my Hollands.

I ended up buying a Nitto rack and I mounted the 750 directly on it.

I ordered a Black Rose bag for the front to carry the battery pack among other goodies.

I may add another 750 for distance rides. Sometimes I get caught out after my bed time.