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Lights ON in the Summer?

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Old 05-09-10 | 08:20 AM
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Lights ON in the Summer?

Do you run your lights year round? Both front and rear or just rear in the Summer? I am running both at the moment (flashing mode).

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Old 05-09-10 | 08:33 AM
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Yep!

If I am on the road my lights are on. I figure anything I can do to make myself more noticeable the better. I aim my head light wind shield level when on flash during the day.
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Old 05-09-10 | 08:38 AM
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I have a generator hub and wired LED headlight/taillight. The drag is minimal with the lights on, so I leave them on all the time.
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Old 05-09-10 | 10:07 AM
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Lights on only at night.
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Old 05-09-10 | 10:26 AM
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Have a Sigma, Triled that uses three AA batteries, I run it when ever I'm on the road
Figure it can't hurt. People look a you funny, but at least they see me.
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Old 05-09-10 | 12:03 PM
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Rear lights on day/night 4 seasons. Front lights on in the dark (to see by) or in town or in adverse conditions (rain/fog/snow) in the daytime. I don't run front lights in the daytime on most of my ride because it's long, 50 MPH 2 lane rural road with little traffic and only a few intersections, so the front light really does nothing there.
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Old 05-09-10 | 12:23 PM
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I'll turn them on if it's dark, no matter what the season. Likewise, if it is overcast I sometimes run flashing lights during the day, no matter what the season.
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Old 05-09-10 | 12:28 PM
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I run my lights only when it's dark, which includes when it's very overcast or raining.
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Old 05-09-10 | 12:59 PM
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Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?

I leave my dynohub bike's lights switched on all the time. Free visibility. The other bikes -- eh, usually I turn them on during the day if the traffic's heavy.
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Old 05-09-10 | 01:08 PM
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I run the rear all the time and the front all the time too (solid on when dark and blinking during the day) since anything that helps drivers and pedestrians see me makes a crash a little less likely.
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Old 05-09-10 | 02:37 PM
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I run my lights in the dark mostly, sometimes I will put the lights on flashing mode if daylight visibility is low
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Old 05-09-10 | 02:39 PM
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Always at night but I only use them during the day if it's rainy, fogy, or darkly overcast. If I use them for the rainy, foggy, dark overcast days then the lights are set to flash, primarily to be noticed on the roads.
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Old 05-09-10 | 02:56 PM
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Always on. No deep reason or theory, just habit.
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Old 05-09-10 | 03:27 PM
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Always on. I have seen many times it probably saved my hide. God Bless Wing Nut
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Old 05-09-10 | 04:30 PM
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I run them day and night. Flashing during the day. When I forget to run the headlight during the day I'm immediately reminded when cars start turning in front of me and pulling out in front of me. Turn the light back on, and they stop and wait for me to pass. It's truly amazing.
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Old 05-09-10 | 04:38 PM
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my rule is, if cars have lights on, I have lights on (night, dusk/dawn, rainy or cloudy/dark days etc)
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Old 05-09-10 | 05:09 PM
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Generally I only keep them on at night.
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Old 05-09-10 | 07:49 PM
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Bikes: Soma Stanyan, RRB frame running fixed (RIP), Fuji Royale frame running 1x6(RIP), Nishiki fixed

Lights on ALL the time no matter what on the street, even for short rides to a buddy's house. On the bike path I turn on the front at night, and during the day at crowded sections of the path. For me the rear light seems like a waste of battery on the path as I usually only get passed by kited up racers/commuters and closing speeds are nowhere near what you get on the street with cars. (Always on flash unless otherwise needed for my own visibility, but with the streets I ride being seen is the higher priority as they are well lit enough for me to see where I am going most of the time)

Last edited by ebrake; 05-09-10 at 07:53 PM.
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Old 05-09-10 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by JanMM
I'll turn them on if it's dark, no matter what the season. Likewise, if it is overcast I sometimes run flashing lights during the day, no matter what the season.
Same here.
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Old 05-09-10 | 11:37 PM
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My bike lawyer says if you get struck while you're lights are running, you are likely to get a fairer shake come settlement time.
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Old 05-10-10 | 01:06 AM
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I always run my lights. I asked my friend once if he could see them during the day and he said yes, so that was enough for me. If turning on my lights makes me more visible, I've got rechargeable batteries, so why not?
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Old 05-10-10 | 08:20 AM
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I almost always turn on my rear blinkie, day or night, even if my ride is almost entirely on the MUP. I usually switch on the front light (flashing mode) when I'm on street. My LED-flashlight-headlight sees a LOT less action this time of year, though. I still use it when riding home late at night, though, like if I've been pedicabbing or volunteering at the co-op.
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Old 05-10-10 | 08:35 AM
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Yes all the time. 2 rear blinkies, one white light on the handlebar. In addition to rain, fog, gray days, you need to be visible under bridges and and overpasses. I pass under 5 or 6.
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Old 05-10-10 | 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by CliftonGK1
I have a generator hub and wired LED headlight/taillight. The drag is minimal with the lights on, so I leave them on all the time.
+1
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Old 05-10-10 | 10:21 AM
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With the exception of direct bright sunlight I always have my lights on. Actually, that goes for when I am in my car too.
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