I don't think I ever blinded somebody with my P7.

But hey, if the OP pays, I always wanted to upgrade to the Busch&Müller Big Bang!

I agree it's annoying on really dark MUPs, but on the road, isn't a really bright light good? When I'm riding in the city, I'm not as concerned about seeing the road's surface as being seen by other drivers. I'm ok with annoying a driver if they see me and don't hit me. They're lights are way brighter than mine anyway, even with the cut-off on top. And they pretty much only sell lights for bikes that don't have the top cut-off you all are talking about, so, meh.

Ok, construct your own cutoff and go do some real-world observations in darkness, like I did. Report your own findings. I think you'll see the same thing I did: a given amount of light coming from a small aperture makes it effectively intense. I don't see easy ways around that without using very large lenses and reflectors, which isn't going to go over well on bicycles. You know what they say about theory versus practice

It's always possible where I live. I consider our own MUP to be very poor in design anyway. It's also technically off-limits after dark. The last time I rode it, I was clocking 20-24mph (first leg of a nighttime century) with a 700-lumen light at full power, and really wouldn't want much less than that, since it's narrow, with cutesy-pie twists and turns, and an unmarked edge that drops 3 inches into loose gravel in most places. Once I got off the stupid MUP onto nice normal roads with fog lines, yeah, I could drop it to 175 lumens in relative safety.

If I had no option but to ride the MUP, with fair amounts of oncoming riders and unlit pedestrians, there would really be no option but to throttle back my riding speed. Maybe then I could scrape by with a feeble light, aim it down 20 feet in front of the bike, and try to stay away from the edge. On an average day, how many oncoming cyclists are you guys encountering, anyway?

This touches on another problem with using an MUP in darkness. Some of the trail users are in full night-vision mode, and someone with a small be-seen bike light is pretty close to that. Even the OP's small 3W light will ruin the night vision of a pedestrian with no lights at all. What are we supposed to do, all ride ninja? You have to draw the line somewhere. I could dim my light system to 25% power, aim it down and swing it sideways, and SOMEONE would still probably gripe.

Exposure to relatively bright lights is an inevitable part of using public roads and paths. At the last turn on my homeward commute, I face two lanes of cars with their low-beams aimed right at my face (humped intersection). That's not their fault.

somehow I have a hard time taking anyone who uses silly monkeys in their avatar seriously

If you can't find old Union dyno headlamps used for less than $10 you're not trying hard enough. The old Union lamps have excellent aimed beam patterns and you can buy replacement halogen bulbs inexpensively from reflectalite.com, depending on the lamp you probably want either the 2.4W GH90 or GH93, or the 3W GH103 or GH106 bulbs

https://www.reflectalite.com/halogenpage.html

If you had a headlight, I would see you coming and put my hand over the top of mine. If you are pedaling or walking in the street or MUP ninja style, I am going to blow you up with my light on purpose.

I have a hard time taking anyone seriously.
You on the other hand need to practice what you preach.

Doesn't prove a damn thing without shots from the other direction (What we'd see riding towards it). Looks purty, though.

sorry, have I blinded you with my bike lights recently? or have you just mistaken me for someone else?

Nah. You are just dense.

I set up my headlight mount just loose enough so I can adjust the light height based on where I am.

I set my light slightly higher, on steady light when I'm on an open road. When I'm in my neighborhood, I aim it to about eye-height for someone in a car and set it to blink. I've been hit by a car twice in broad daylight, so I'm not going to let a driver not notice me. I'd rather they be uncomfortable for a second, and notice that I'm coming, than go easy on their eyes and let them ignore my existence.

When it comes to other cyclists/runners, I always aim my light down as to not blind them.

I dont use lights I just slow it down at night....You have to aware of your surroundings...I am invincible to everyone around me and ride like it too.

Hell, years ago I was taken out by a left turning car driver while on my BMW on a bright sunny day. I had a flasher on my headlight and it was on! Same excuse to the officer you noted. If they are not looking for a bike, powered or not, sometimes it does not register on the brain.

You would need to drill a hole for the wiring from the dyno and make sure that it was properly waterproofed in addition to adding the bridge rectifier and other electronics for a standlight. As the Superflash folks already do a dynamo version of their 1 watt headlight it should not be hard for them to do a dynamo version of the new 2 watt one.

I already have a B&M IQ CYO Senso Plus but am considering adding dynamos to more of my fleet and like good German dynamo lights, just do not like the prices they get for them.

I am sorry

I have my headlight mounted so it shines on the road straight in front of me. My helmet light shines where I am looking. I only deliberately light up other people with my helmet light under certain situations:
a) bike ninjas
b) drivers who look like they might be about to pull out in front of me
c) oncoming drivers who can't find their dimmer switch with both hands

These are for me to see and be seen. If someone else wants to see and/or be seen then they need to get better lights. Not my problem.

I wish bike ninjas would be ticketed for at least the cost of a decent set of lights.

This is the best suggestion on this thread.

Speaking of deliberately annoying:
You already have noticed the ninjas, they know they don't have lights; what do either you or the ninjas gain by your nasty behavior of attempting to temporarily blind them?

Does it make you feel better about yourself to sic the police on other bicyclists?

I aim my lights toward the road, so that I can see.

The mode with steady low with strobing high is perfect for night riding on busy streets. The slow strobe is screaming bright but I think that's probably more disorienting than a pulsating light. Those Dinottes really are great lights, as mentioned by another poster you can tilt the beam off to the side while riding. I wish the 400 series had a similar mounting system

How often does this happen to you? What is the point of bringing it up here? You should be talking to the person who has the light in your eyes.

Well, if I light up a ninja, it's going to be where the beam picks them up, you know, couldn't see them any further because they're dark? At that point, damage is done and it's their fault.Better about myself? Feel fine thanks. If it means they might get a clue, then yes, I'll drop the dime.

I have discussions about this with co-workers, they complement me on the way I'm lit up in the mornings, and rant about the ninjas who pop up out of nowhere, these guys do the rest of the cycling community a disservice.

Did you see my post earlier about the two ninjas who ran into each other at speed? Both thought they were safe because, "Hey, I can see the other riders fine, they're all lit up!"

silly monkey is full of inane chatter

maybe you should consider concentrating on posting on-topic, or just stfu

my mistake for starting this thread, I guess most of you folks ride in places where you never encounter other cyclists

Don't be sad. Maybe your next thread will be better received!

Buck up, kiddo!

my mistake for not understanding that the people who populate the commuter forum are a bunch of thin-skinned emo foosters who have no consideration for other cyclists