Running front/rear lights during the day?
#1
Warehouse Monkey
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,604
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 305 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
2 Posts
Running front/rear lights during the day?
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?
__________________
'10 Specialized Hardrock
'10 Specialized Hardrock
#3
Senior Member
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.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 1,050
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 69 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
With the dyno hub bike, the lights run on steady all the time.
With the bike that uses USB lights, I run the back on blink all the time. I run the headlight on steady if it is dusky, dark, or very overcast. I run the headlight on blink if I am in heavy traffic.
With the bike that uses USB lights, I run the back on blink all the time. I run the headlight on steady if it is dusky, dark, or very overcast. I run the headlight on blink if I am in heavy traffic.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,329
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
With a dynamo setup, it's no problem running lights all the time. Cars can see me BUT this is holiday season and drivers only see other cars, not cyclists or pedestrians. Often I end up riding at night and with a battery light setup, I have to bring spare batteries just in case or to get max brightness from the light(s). Wear an orange safety vest with reflective strips if you want to be seen in most lighting conditions.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: In The Middle Of "Out There" / Downtown "Lost Angels"
Posts: 259
Bikes: 2001 Trek 520 - Hvy Hauler, Epic Adventure Bike / 2011 Fuji Newest 1.0 - Sporty Quick Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If bike is moving, lights are on!
Basic survival, here in the "Hit and Run Capital of America".
Basic survival, here in the "Hit and Run Capital of America".
#8
Passista
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,597
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 866 Post(s)
Liked 721 Times
in
396 Posts
In theory lights should make you more visible, but in practice I doubt they are really noticeable by day, especially in bright sunlight (common bike lights, not high power strobes).
#9
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 5,998
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1955 Post(s)
Liked 3,661 Times
in
1,679 Posts
I run a dynamo as well and I get comments all the time about how visible I am. I wouldn't go without the dynamo now.
#10
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
Posts: 263
Bikes: 1984 Cannodale full touring bike, Giant full carbon dura ace, Belinsky frame Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I adopted this philosophy in South Florida in "bike death capital of America". What I also think helps more in bright daylight is bright fluorescent clothing. I use a neon orange reflective vest (like road workers) day and night. Have bright strobes on front and bright red (night zone 8, very bright for day) on rear of helmet. Also run the dynamo front and rear all the time the bike is moving. Only turn off the battery ones day or night on multi path trails (not many of those in South Florida).
#11
Senior Member
I run the front and rear on flash...
#12
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Santo Domingo
Posts: 34
Bikes: Retrospec Spec SS folder, Cannondale SR 500, Lemond Tourmalet, Cannondale R900, Bianchi Sport SX, Mercier Nano Mini Velo, 1978 Univega TriStar fixie/SS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Daytime I keep blinky rear on all the time unless it is brilliant sun and really no shadows or I am in dedicated bike lanes. Daytime blinky front on if I am in stop and go traffic so I might be more noticeable in side view mirrors of cars
#13
Full Member
If I'm riding in traffic (as opposed to separated bike lanes/paths) I keep my rear light in "pulsating" mode but only turn on my front light in "flash" mode if it's early morning/evening.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 95
Bikes: Old Nishiki, rockhopper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
road /parking lots to not use both rear & front lights during the day. It can & has for me made a difference.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
around the holidays the commuters get worse at keeping their line. when I bike commuted I stopped during peak crazy times. when road riding I run bright strobes front & rear regardless of the sunlight or weather. in bright sunlight we disappear in the deep shade of trees especially when cagers are wearing sunglasses. I even added one to my left drop bar as a reminder to a passing car that it's still not clear to move right. this has reduced the close calls noticeably. nothing will stop everyone, but yeah, go for it. the pool noodle might be better tho! ;-)
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,972
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,677 Times
in
827 Posts
Brilliant! I will run my lights in blink mode in the daytime if it is overcast. I also wear a 180 rear blinkie ion my helmet, and a non-blinking medium power LED light on the front of my helmet. I don't know what kind of close calls the OP is talking about, but with my take-a-look glasses-mount mirror I can see cars coming up behind me and use my left arm to "wave them around" or pat downward a few times as if to say "slow down, stay back" This works reasonable well, but not always. From the front I have the AirZound Airhorn which usually gets their attention, even with their windows rolled up.
#17
Senior Member
#18
Senior Member
Criteria? On the bike, blinky lights are on.
#19
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
Posts: 263
Bikes: 1984 Cannodale full touring bike, Giant full carbon dura ace, Belinsky frame Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
but with my take-a-look glasses-mount mirror I can see cars coming up behind me and use my left arm to "wave them around" or pat downward a few times as if to say "slow down, stay back" This works reasonable well, but not always. From the front I have the AirZound Airhorn which usually gets their attention, even with their windows rolled up.
#20
Senior Member
The latest generation of B&M Senso headlights, made for dyno input, have two beams. During the day the light is focused up at a level approximate to driver's eyes, at night it switches to a beam directed at the pavement ahead. The light has a photo cell which automatically switches between the two beams depending upon darkness. I don't know if I'm alive because of the light, but I feel better having them and they are very visible in the daylight.
Marc
Marc
#21
Banned
Note the LED light array of day run car lights, B&M has that feature on some of their dynamo powered lights.
My tiny Eyc senso T has 2 day run , be seen diodes, + the reflector focused high power see by LED, which turns off in day time.
...
My tiny Eyc senso T has 2 day run , be seen diodes, + the reflector focused high power see by LED, which turns off in day time.
...
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,901
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,928 Times
in
1,210 Posts
Call me a doubter on daytime lights. Lose the stylish black top first, put on brighter colors. Doesn't have to be blaze orange or high-vis yellow-green, but skip the dark colors. IME that's where you get the daytime visibility, until you get to "tornado's coming!" visibility. Flashing lights make you feel good because you can DO something, but they don't make you more visible in the daylight.
#23
Senior Member
Call me a doubter on daytime lights. Lose the stylish black top first, put on brighter colors. Doesn't have to be blaze orange or high-vis yellow-green, but skip the dark colors. IME that's where you get the daytime visibility, until you get to "tornado's coming!" visibility. Flashing lights make you feel good because you can DO something, but they don't make you more visible in the daylight.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NW Montana
Posts: 81
Bikes: '02 Kona Lava Dome, '15 Origami Crane8... the rest are top secret :)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm on holiday..and we've been walking a bit. There's a resort up the road with courtesy bikes for guests. They have an led strobe strip across the bottom of the front basket. It's quite noticeable, and has me reconsidering my "rear flash, front is for dark" paradygm.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 4,347
Bikes: Felt TK2, Felt Z5
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 943 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
20 Posts
I have noticed that drivers have been giving me a bit more room now that I am running very visible blinkers day and night regardless of what I am wearing. I never run the rear on solid, always on a blink pattern of some sort. Started doing the same with the front until I get to the back neighborhood streets where I need to see the streets. My commute home is late at night so once the main streetlights end, the light goes solid. I need to be seen more than I need to see for most of the commute. Also well noted that battery run times on my lights are much longer on blink which can have serious implications on some of the much colder commutes home. Last week my ride home had me at 57 minutes in 18°F temps with a windchill that had it at about 3°F. This was due to varying road conditions and a poor plowing job by the city along with a few inches of snow that we got.