rekmeyata

That is probably true, however in my 40 years of riding a bike and driving a car at night it is the person with two or more tail lights, even if the two or more are dimmer than one brighter one, the two or more system is more readily seen and it gives the bike a larger profile appearance. What I use to do when I had 3 tail lights was put one on each stay and one on the helmet which gave it sort of a triangle look, but now that I'm using just two I put one on the helmet and one on the seat tube. I think by having one up a bit higher by putting it on the helmet it gets your light a bit higher off the ground, kind of like those third tail lights cars have, which motorists tend to see a bit better. I think there is a reason cars have two and three tail lights, instead of just one in the center of the rear of the car, and I think it's a reason that would be wisely heeded by cyclists.

As far as a steady vs flashing light, I don't know, I do know that a European study showed that steady light was better than a flashing light because it enabled a motorist to better ascertain their distance from the bicycle, BUT, a USA/Canadian study showed a flashing light was better because it attracted the attention of the motorist. So my response to those two studies was to have both, one flashing and one steady. But please note, I've been riding for over 40 years and few of those years all I had was a reflector then when lights came out I had a really dim tail light that I don't think anyone could see! then I went to a xenon flasher about 20 years ago which I still use! Except I converted it to a amber flasher and put it on the front of my touring bike in place of a stock white reflector that was on the bike. When that xenon flasher had the red lens on it it still wasn't very bright but I used it for many years on the rear till I got my first LED tail light. In all of those years from nothing but a reflector to now having a 70 lumen tail light I've never even had a close call of someone hitting me from the rear, so I kind of think getting hit from behind by a car is rare, and I bet most of the time when a motorist does do that it's because they're drunk or stoned.

Dunbar

The steady/pulse and steady/strobe mode on my Dinotte 300R are probably my favorite feature. The pulse/strobe draws the driver's eyes to you and the steady light allows them to quickly 'find' you and track your movement.

My anecdotal observation is that during the day in direct sunlight a bright flashing rear light stands out much more than a steady light. At night the combination of a good light on steady and a cheap flasher works best. At night I think reflective gear is as important as lighting. Especially reflective ankle bands moving up/down as you pedal which make it easy for drivers to identify that you're a cyclist. I do like those wheel lights but don't run them on my e-bike for fear of theft.

Quite frankly, using any halfway decent tail light puts you ahead of 80% of the cyclists I see on the road (who run little to no lighting.)

American Euchre

I pretty much find that any functional light at night is better than nothing. Much better. I've nearly run over several cyclists who insist on riding at night with no lights, no reflectors and black or dark clothing.

I'm a little disappointed with this latest/greatest cygo150. I thought it would be a quantum leap ahead in all regards. And while it is true that on axis lighting is clearly superior to a 30 lumens solas, this 5X advantage in lighting actually generates inferior results from the side!

This seems like a design failure, considering the disparity in lumens. Perhaps it speaks to the quality of niterider, but I was surely expecting a superior product all around.

vol

In my case I usually use 2 or 3 taillights at night. The increased visibility of multiple taillights is not only due to the number of LEDs, but also the distance between the lights.

rekmeyata

The studies I read were all nighttime studies, which I know those studies were done before the advent of high powered LED lights, it would be interesting if those studies were repeated what the outcome would be because in some places in Europe flashing lights are prohibited because of those studies yet in the daytime with newer brighter lights a flashing light would be effective but those countries riders won't be able to use them in flash mode. I do use my brightest tail light in the daytime on pulse mode (it doesn't have a flash mode) only when I have to ride on a busy street, if I'm on a path or a country road I don't bother using it.

Garfield Cat

Wait till the CREE XHP series comes out by the light manufacturers. I think existing products are 3 volt and the new CREE XHP is made for 6 volt. This will take time.

DrIsotope

Just mounted my Cygolite 150 (replacing an older Hotshot) and I have to say... wow. It is an uncomfortable level of brightness. On steady mode, it could almost be used as a headlight. Mine will be used 95% of the time during daylight hours, but man... I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this bright. I don't think off-axis will be an issue. You could see this from the horizon.

American Euchre

I guess I should just keep my cygo150 instead of nitpicking it then?

rekmeyata

What people don't realize is that 150 lumens is more lumens than most headlights had just 20 years ago!

Garfield Cat

I found this web site Extreme Tactical Dynamics. It manufactures lights for vehicles and may not be ready-made for bicycles. It shows what's out there as far as rear lighting. Also some information on watts and lumens conversions

Hornet 6 TIR LED Grille and Surface Mount

https://www.extremetacticaldynamics.c...FUFrfgodeucDGg

So?.What?s a LUMEN?

deepakvrao

I just got ours delivered to my daughter. Can't wait to try them out.

Are the micro or mini USB?

DrIsotope

Thankfully, the 150 is micro USB, so I can finally oust that last hold-out Mini-USB off of my 5-port charger block.

deepakvrao

Just got the Cygolite 80 last month, and those are mini USB. I got the 150s as a second light for us. I might just sell the 80's and go 150 all the way if they are all micro USB.

American Euchre

I went for a ride with the cygo150. I'm very happy with the light. Cars gave me a very wide berth. Totally worth the money.

Staypuft1652

👍👍

HvPnyrs

^^^ above post ^^^

Maybe just me? I keep getting an error code (400) when clicking the '1nterceptor' provided u-tube link.

Staypuft1652

I just quoted their post. The link is:


I hope this is ok with 1nterceptor.

HvPnyrs

Thanks, for the prompt response.
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Staypuft1652

Just bought a Niterider sentinel 150. Dont know how it compares to others, its bright. As noted everywhere, mount is questionable, but better than expected. Nothing that cant easily be remedied.

*edit: And the rubber usb plug doesent seem like its the most likely to stay seated in its receptacle, although I could be wrong.

ItsJustMe

I haven't been following this thread, but I'd really suggest including the $19 Blitzu Cyborg 168T. I have a lot of taillights, and once I got that, I made it one of my daily use lights, mounted on the back of my helmet.

The combination of a lot of light, a very wide dispersion pattern and a large lit area make it very conspicuous without being a painful point source of light.

I think it's definitely the taillight to recommend if someone wants a light for < $50.

My only concern is that I have not had it in heavy rain yet. It's seen some water and survived OK.

American Euchre

How many hours of use do you get out of the blitzu? Flash or steady?

ItsJustMe

I run it on flash. I haven't run it flat yet. My commute is about 95 minutes and on high flash it's still running when I get there.

In the morning I run it on low flash which is supposed to last 3 hours.

I'll see if I can do some runtime tests, and maybe a side by side with a few other lights, sometime this week.

I have the white front one too but it's too bright to use at night even on low flash. Also it has such a wide spread on the light that it's in your eyes unless you use some tape to cover it up or something.

American Euchre

Bike Bicycle 2 LED Tail Light Safety Back Rear Lamp-2.99 Online Shopping| GearBest.com

What a piece of crap. Crapped out on me in less than a dozen uses.

znomit

Shoulda got it from REI.

rekmeyata

Well you only paid $3 for it, what the heck did you expect?