Flashing Lights for Daytime Visibilty
 

I only ride during the day. Currently I have Hypershot tail light. I am quite satisfied with it. I would like to have a front light with a strobe for visibility. I am thinking of a flashlight and using it on strobe. I think that they are built better and I can easily replace the battery when needed. Opinions would be appreciated.

I've had a small simple set of Bontrager ION flares for about 8 or more years that I use for daytime riding. They have different flash patterns. They will last for all of a century ride. Unless you are super slow. And being USB rechargeable, I don't have batteries to worry about recharging or disposing of. Though I know some people rather have batteries to worry about.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/e...lights/c/E430/

My only complaint is they still work. So I have no reason to buy one of the more nifty front and rear lights that I can pair with my Garmin device so I can control them from my device while riding. And easily change the flash pattern, brightness or whether to be steady or not.

I bought a couple of these on Amazon to swap among bikes. (The company sent me an extra bracket at no charge.)
The brightest strobe setting lasts over four hours. Saved my bacon many times.
I ride in daylight, only, as well, and use a very bright rear flasher.
Amazon.com : Victagen Super Bright Bike Lights 8000Lm for Night Riding, Super Bright 3 LED Lights for Bike/Bicycle Headlight with High Beam & Low Beam TypeC Rechargeable, Free Taillights : Sports & Outdoors

I’ve used a number of inexpensive white strobe lights, some AAA, some rechargeable. My current favorite is a Ravemen 300, has a nice light with different strobe modes, is not a glaring white light, is rechargeable but runs 24 hrs. or so in a charge. Also uses a Garmin quarter turn mount so easy to move between bikes. Ravemen makes the 160 and it runs about $30. Front white strobes definitely make a difference making motorist pay attention, especially those about to left hook you or pulling out of a driveway,

I have had the 1800 version of this NiteRider Lumina Dual 2000 for near on ten years. The flash mode is incredibly bright for daytime and it has been what saved me from death by motor vehicle twice on my daily commute. Yes - rechargeable - but mine still holds charge for 8 hour ride on flash mode. I have a helmet mount which I prefer but it comes with a bar mount. The helmet mount allows me to actually point it at driver's whom I'm not sure are paying attention. https://www.niterider.com/collection...ont-bike-light

My Niterider Swift 450 has HIGH/LOW and flashing. USB C Charging. Works well for me. Charges pretty fast too

Please if you are doing that make sure you point it directly and only at your eyes so it doesn't effect others. Otherwise be like every other road user beyond emergency vehicles in an actual emergency and use solid front lights.

When I see a flashing or strobing or however you want to classify the non-solid light I have to close one eye and look away which is quite dangerous. If anyone is saying riding with one eye not on the road ahead is safe, they are crazy. It is not safe to ride like that but I cannot look at your flashing light as it bothers my eyes and bothers a lot of other eyes. Some people stay quiet I don't. If you want a discotheque go to one if you want to ride just use a bright solid front light and if you are so incredibly desperate to turn the bike into a discotheque then do an amber/yellow light and point it more towards the ground and at least that is less damaging to people's eyes.

Gosh, what do you do when a ambulance or fire truck go by with flashing lights?

I'd bet like me you just give them way and then continue on your way. With no complaints from your eyes. Sheesh, most of these daytime flashers on bikes are only 100 lumens. And tiny.

So are you certain you really have physical issues with flashing lights. Or is it just a concept in your head?

And product safety guidelines that the designers probably consider will have the flash rates outside the range that typically cause photosensitive epilepsy

If a flashing white light is really only 100 lumen, not a big deal. But it is the people that want the stupid bright flashers that blind you that are the problem. I have had to jam on the brakes so that they could ride past before I could see again. Fire trucks, the red lights are different. The problem is that some of these flashers that morons are using are over a thousand lumens.

The constant on white lights I use are easily seen by car drivers. And they are not stupid blinding bright.

I was debating on getting one of those for my night time trail rides. I have an 800L Rockbro that has a slow flash for daytime and is usable at night, but still lacking. The main thing with the Rockbro is the 10000AH battery that I use to keep my computer going on longer rides. You seem happy with yours so that's a plus.

Ambulance and Firetrucks are going by at higher speeds generally and they are emergency vehicles and are rather large and not pointed at my eyes. Plus I know they are coming loud noise shows up quickly and usually I will look away to a degree but not quite as bad as people's flashlights blasting. I call them flashlights because American lights generally are flashlights and not the nice shaped beams that conform to STvZO standards or similar.

Unfortunately most of the flashers are not 100 lumens and pointed at the ground and this fantasy land you live in where that is. Regardless though it is still a problem. It is not a JUST IN MY HEAD. Sorry to disappoint but the light issue is real, I am thankfully not epileptic or have seizures but I do have some light sensitivity. I don't say it as a joke or anything like that. What I say is real. Even still it is just an A-hole move to flash a light at other people when you are not in an emergency and especially if you are on a shared path or going the wrong way.

Product designers don't give one single crap bout any of that otherwise that feature wouldn't exist. They are designing a product they can sell and make money on. If they did care then maybe these lights would be low 2 digit lumens or max 100 when they flash and would have some other features designed around safety and not just being annoying.

I get it though people get selfish when on a bike frequently, I deal with it all the time "what do you mean you cannot work on my bike right now", not at all understanding there are a lot of people ahead of them. They will also go the wrong way on a clearly marked bike path and act like you are in the wrong going the correct way and pointing out they are going the wrong way or the people who walk in off the street and go where is my discount without even being friendly and not asking just going this gets a discount, right....I can go on but I see it I understand it but we can do our best to stop it we don't need to be jerks. We can avoid it if we so desire.

I pull over and stop.

If you have some light sensitivity i would think wearing a shaded lens that will compensate for that would be advisable.
Reading your opinions about people who you seem to think do things just to upset you seems concerning. Have you considered talking to a professional about that?

Just to be fair, I have noted that some authorities are now saying that the front white light should be steady. Perhaps just a knee-jerk response by them from some commenting about Germany's restriction on flashing lights. And not really addressing the real reasons of brightness, lux and lumens that maybe should be considered for restriction. As well as where the lights are aimed. It use to be when we took our cars into the shop for a annual safety inspection that the aiming of the headlights were also checked. But that went away in the late 60's and early 70's. As did eventually even taking a car in for a annual safety inspection. Shops could no longer afford to inspect a car for $5.00 and do the required stuff. As well, assume any liability.

However in all cases they say the rear lights should be red. And many still say that should be flashing. The Natchez Trace Parkway, which is Federal jurisdiction is one of those that made a recent change to their lighting policy. Though now they characterize it more as suggestion.

Also, while it's nice to be seen a half mile or more down the road. It's really just the last few seconds or so that a person needs to be seen. And that distance will change depending what the overtaking speed is.

Still, the more prudent first step should be learn what your state laws say about bicycle lighting required. And realize that some places in your state might not be subject completely just by state laws. Of which the Natchez Trace Parkway is one of them that does have some minor conflicts. But since now they call them suggestions, who knows what a jury will decide if it ever comes to that.

I bought a different Victagen model back in 2021. It's big and heavy, but alright, except the battery life dropped pretty quickly. I stopped using it around when the light died with an indicated 40% battery left.
https://web.archive.org/web/20220617.../dp/B086PVBJD5

It is not a shaded lens issue and also what if that is the only thing that is bright and it is dark out now my vision is worse because of some jerk who couldn't use a light like normal road users?
I think you were misreading on that. However I think probably most people could use a professional, if you believe that I should have to be always ready for someone who feels the need to flash at other people for themselves than maybe it is you that needs more professional help. If I go walking should A. I bring an extra pair of shoes in case I step in someone's else's dog doo or B. should it be on the person walking the dog to clean up that doo? If your answer is A. then that is a problem if your answer is B. then that is a normal response.

We share spaces we should act like it and assuming that the trail is my own personal discotheque with flashing lights is wrong it is a shared path and it would be one thing if I was in an emergency situation and I needed to get someone's attention to help me but just to ride amongst other people it is completely and utterly unnecessary and rather rude. You are not the only person on the trail or on the road.

I think when it’s dark out most will have their light on steady.

dog poo? You’re right - most people can use professional help.

Happy Easter Veganbikes!

In bright sun, a really bright flashing light does not bother people much. It is in overcast conditions or an hour or two before sunset on cloudy days that is the problem. In those conditions, people will still be running flashing lights because it is not yet dark enough to need constant on to see where they are going. And in those lower light conditions, everybody's eyes are more dilated, thus the brilliant strobe lights can be too blinding. I used to commute on highways with a motorcycle that had a headlight with an H4 bulb, those are about 1200 to 1500 lumens. If I could drive at highway speeds at night with only that many lumens, you can't convince me that you need a light on a bicycle at much slower speed that is as bright or even brighter than that, especially when the people that are in flash mode have the light aimed up high intentionally where it shines in peoples eyes.

Often in those overcast or near sunset cloudy conditions, I am wearing yellow tinted glasses instead of sun glasses. The last thing I need then is some super strobe coming straight towards me, intentionally aimed at eye height, that is as bright or brighter than a car or motorcycle high beam.

If you really have that much trouble with cars seeing you, perhaps you should wear some high vis clothing or clothing with bright colors.

Well I know that, unfortunately that is not always the case. Thoughts are great but actual being out there and seeing what happens is a lot better.

Yes people leave their dog doo and do not clean it up. That is quite common I guess you didn't get the metaphor about selfishness. Sorry I tried to help but I guess your thoughts take you elsewhere to a lovely dream world where everyone is perfect. I wish I could live in your perfect world, I think it is lovely.

Happy Easter or if you chose to celebrate other holidays or none at all have a great Sunday!

I’m pretty sure we live in the same world. We just chose to look at it differently.

No way, that you are in the same world but keep trying to deny people use flashing lights at all times during the day and night and that people don't leave their dogs fecal matter without picking it up. That is not the same world.

One of you looks at the world through shades and the other squints through one eye.

I never made any of those statements.
Be better.

You did make statements along those lines, otherwise I wouldn't have said what I said.
Having been out there riding and seen the lights flashing I have real world data not thoughts not feelings. I know what goes on. Flashing white light is has and always will be dangerous to human eyes, it is illegal for motorcycles to do it so why do we think suddenly it is OK for bikes?

Being better means not flashing white lights at people anywhere unless you are an emergency vehicle on the way to an emergency and even then they use a multitude of different colored lights and it is still annoying but they are hopefully going to save lives and are rather fast moving vehicles vs a very slow moving bicycle. But even still it is not good for people's eyes and it is not always done during the day or just on really sunny days where someone would wear shades (including myself)

I will explain it to you since you apparently don't comprehend.

I was questioning why you brought up dog poo on a discussion of flashing lights for DAYTIME visibility…really weird metaphor but you seem to do that often.

Again, you stated that I keep trying to deny people use flashing lights at all times during the day and night. I said “I think when it’s dark out most will have their light on steady”

You ride a bike, I ride a bike. We both speak from our experiences.

My statements were not “along those lines” - they were exactly as I stated them.

you will have a rebuttal and that is fine. You can have the last word.