Running front/rear lights during the day?
01-23-17, 03:57 PM
#76
Jedi Master
Perhaps as you get more experience with riding around others you'll be able to comprehend the benefits of being more visible. Especially when having to wait half way across 5 lanes of traffic that's moving at around 40 mph. Or after you encounter anyone so absorbed by their phone/iPod they are oblivious to their surroundings. Perhaps after you get more experience you'll be able to appreciate the benefits of increased visibility, all it takes is one close call for most of us to see why the experienced riders want to be more visible.
Occasionally I'll ride through a group of chaps playing cricket on the bike path. They serious enough to wear uniforms and have some sort of league, and often are pretty involved in their game as I approach. Yet they usually notice me coming due to my lights and move out the way so I can safely pass allowing us all to share the path peacefully. Please explain how making myself less visible to them would be beneficial in this situation.
01-23-17, 04:55 PM
#77
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All right, we get the idea.
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01-23-17, 04:58 PM
#78
Jedi Master
Sorry, Tom. I had forgotten about this thread until someone quoted me. I'll stop now.
01-23-17, 07:02 PM
#79
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I totally disagree with Kingston's points, but I really appreciate the focused discussion. Thumbs up.
01-23-17, 09:08 PM
#80
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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01-24-17, 08:42 AM
#81
Senior Member
How do lights help keep you safer in either of those situations? Are you not able to slow down to avoid cross traffic or pedestrians? Even young children are able to cross the street safely and avoid pedestrians in daylight on the bike path without the assistance of headlights.
We've had a bit of a warm streak here in Chicagoland, so I've seen a lot more people out riding their bikes than I normally would this time of year. Curiously, it seems like fewer people as a percentage were using headlights during the daytime this past weekend than I normally see in the warmer months. It also struck me that most of the people I saw out over this past weekend were fast, which I guess makes sense that mostly serious cyclists are going to get out when it’s 40° in January. This recent observation has led me to believe that there might be an inverse relationship between speed and propensity to use headlights during the day. Just a theory. I have no data to back it up other than my casual observations riding on the north shore of Chicago. Seems like whenever I see a group of fast guys go by during the day there are no lights, and whenever I see a headlight during the day, the rider using it is usually not fast. Occasionally I’ll see a fast guy with a headlight during the day, but that seems to be the exception, and of course not all slow riders use headlights. There also seems to be a positive correlation between age and propensity to use lights during the daytime, but age is also inversely correlated with speed so that could just be a confounding factor. I’m not sure.
We've had a bit of a warm streak here in Chicagoland, so I've seen a lot more people out riding their bikes than I normally would this time of year. Curiously, it seems like fewer people as a percentage were using headlights during the daytime this past weekend than I normally see in the warmer months. It also struck me that most of the people I saw out over this past weekend were fast, which I guess makes sense that mostly serious cyclists are going to get out when it’s 40° in January. This recent observation has led me to believe that there might be an inverse relationship between speed and propensity to use headlights during the day. Just a theory. I have no data to back it up other than my casual observations riding on the north shore of Chicago. Seems like whenever I see a group of fast guys go by during the day there are no lights, and whenever I see a headlight during the day, the rider using it is usually not fast. Occasionally I’ll see a fast guy with a headlight during the day, but that seems to be the exception, and of course not all slow riders use headlights. There also seems to be a positive correlation between age and propensity to use lights during the daytime, but age is also inversely correlated with speed so that could just be a confounding factor. I’m not sure.
01-24-17, 08:52 AM
#82
Senior Member
Lack of experience is the opposite of why I don’t understand the need for a headlight on a bike path during the day. Unless by experience you mean age. There’s always a possibility that I’ll get older and lose my ability to assess risk.
The problem is that your lights are constantly annoying to everyone else on the bike path who is not endangering your safety by playing cricket on the bike path. Everyone encounters other people on the bike path. It’s not that big of a deal. Not crashing into people does not require a headlight on a bike path during the day.
The problem is that your lights are constantly annoying to everyone else on the bike path who is not endangering your safety by playing cricket on the bike path. Everyone encounters other people on the bike path. It’s not that big of a deal. Not crashing into people does not require a headlight on a bike path during the day.
01-24-17, 08:54 AM
#83
Jedi Master
01-24-17, 10:36 AM
#84
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I turn off my front light on bike paths (during the day of course), because that crap is annoying. Seriously, when I see other people riding towards me with a flashing light I'm like "damn turn that thing off!" Then when I leave the bike path and get back out on the road, I switch the light back on to the "Day Flash" mode.
01-24-17, 12:02 PM
#85
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I turn off my front light on bike paths (during the day of course), because that crap is annoying. Seriously, when I see other people riding towards me with a flashing light I'm like "damn turn that thing off!" Then when I leave the bike path and get back out on the road, I switch the light back on to the "Day Flash" mode.
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
01-24-17, 12:02 PM
#86
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I turn off my front light on bike paths (during the day of course), because that crap is annoying. Seriously, when I see other people riding towards me with a flashing light I'm like "damn turn that thing off!" Then when I leave the bike path and get back out on the road, I switch the light back on to the "Day Flash" mode.
01-24-17, 12:17 PM
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Ironically he rode into a group of pedestrians on a bike path once. They were on both sides of the path and too oblivious of anything beyond their phones to notice him approaching, and he felt he didn't need to change anything as they were on his side of the path. He wasn't using any lights because they hurt his eyes, and the pedestrians didn't see him until after he ran into them. A brighter light and stopping for the oblivious would have helped him there, but he was 0 for 2.
Last edited by no motor?; 01-24-17 at 04:10 PM.
01-24-17, 03:51 PM
#88
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I usually run lights on the lowest setting on the MUP in dim daylight, near dusk, overcast days, etc. I always aim my light downward. When the beam lights up my front tire and the main pool of light is immediately in front of the tire I know the angle is about right to be seen without blinding anyone.
When I see another cyclist approaching with lights that are way too bright and aimed straight ahead, I'll tip my light up toward them, then back down again. Kinda like cars flashing their high/low beams as reminders to approaching cars on narrow two-lane roads. Sometimes it works and the approaching cyclist will dim or adjust their lights.
But in any kind of day light, even dusk or twilight, hi-vis yellow, green, orange, etc., works as well as anything. I really underestimated how effective it is until I began noticing how far away I could see other cyclists and joggers wearing hi-vis clothing, helmets, even just gloves or shoes. And it was easier to estimate their distance, speed and direction than with to-be-seen lights.
So I began wearing more hi-vis stuff. I still use lights though.
When I see another cyclist approaching with lights that are way too bright and aimed straight ahead, I'll tip my light up toward them, then back down again. Kinda like cars flashing their high/low beams as reminders to approaching cars on narrow two-lane roads. Sometimes it works and the approaching cyclist will dim or adjust their lights.
But in any kind of day light, even dusk or twilight, hi-vis yellow, green, orange, etc., works as well as anything. I really underestimated how effective it is until I began noticing how far away I could see other cyclists and joggers wearing hi-vis clothing, helmets, even just gloves or shoes. And it was easier to estimate their distance, speed and direction than with to-be-seen lights.
So I began wearing more hi-vis stuff. I still use lights though.
01-24-17, 09:35 PM
#89
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My bike has a hub dynamo, so there is no penalty for having the headlight and taillight on all day. I can't prove anything, but my impression is that drivers started to notice me a lot more when I switched to always on. It's been a while since anyone violated my right of way. There is no strobe setting (German bike) so they are steady.
01-25-17, 10:44 AM
#90
Junior Member
I run lights and camera surveillance day or night riding my bicycle or driving my car anytime I am traveling on public roads or anywhere around motor vehicle traffic. On MUPs, I switch off surveillance and lights during the day as they are unneeded. I run headlight(s) at night on MUPs at sufficient intensity for me to see and be seen as circumstances warrant.
I would recommend you go back to Amazon and read the reviews. I am certain you may find answers there. You may also post questions directly on the listing page, and/or read the Q & A section above the consumer product reviews.
Emphasis added.
Amazon has this listed as a best seller and it has a lot of reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Blitzu-Rechar...ike+tail+light
Can anyone attest to it's quality? How long does the battery last? How bright is it dduring the day, etc.
Can anyone attest to it's quality? How long does the battery last? How bright is it dduring the day, etc.
Emphasis added.
Last edited by dragoonO1; 01-25-17 at 10:50 AM. Reason: Notation and topical discussion
02-01-17, 09:55 PM
#91
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Donno folks.... even in broad daylight, I'm having too many close calls. I'm seeing more and more roadies running a rear blinker full time during the day. I'm strongly considering the same. Last year I started running my headlamp in strobe mode, rear on steady, if the skies are just overcast.
And you? What's you criteria for running headlights and rear flashers during the day?
And you? What's you criteria for running headlights and rear flashers during the day?
