Those wonderful blinking headlights!!!
 

I soon will purchase a blinking headlight. So effective during the day as well as the night for visibility. I was wondering if this light would be as effective on the rear of the bicycle? Since I can spot a blinker say over 300 yards away, it would be vital to be seen by a car prior to passing me with some distance to spare. Certainly more difficult to mount. What are your thoughts?

I found this onehttp://cloud7.lbox.me/images/m/20100...9912882441.jpgfor cheap at http://www.lightinthebox.com/c/bike-lights_3093 for only $5.99

Course I like these as well: http://www.online-wholesale.net/img/...32-61259-1.jpg
These are a little bit easier for rear mountings. Added bonus: Two for the price of one @5.99

It sounds like your thinking about using a headlight for the rear? Even if you could figure out a way to mount it, I don't think it would be a good idea because it would give lots of drivers the impression from a distance that you are going the wrong way, against traffic. Sure most of the time people would figure it out when they get close enough but there's no reason to give them a false impression in the first place and the potential for confusion increases the likelihood of an accident. My two cents is to always use a white light in the front and a red light in the rear. I can't claim to speak for anybody else but I do think most others would agree. Be visible and be predictable.

I can understand the confusion aspect regarding a rear mounted clear blinking light. Perhaps I aught to add both a blinking red and one that is white to the back of my bike?!

Putting a white blinkie on the back will make you very popular when you are riding with other cyclists... just think about how much you enjoy riding into a white blinkie yourself.

I am pretty sure law in the US states White & amber in the front and red in the rear. White lights on the rear will cause you all kinds of problems.

Steady white light in front.

Steady or blinking red light in the back.

In many places ... that's the law.

OP, maybe I'm wrong but those don't look like they'll last
and their light output will be very weak. Better to spend a
bit more with brands that have a good reputation for reliability
and performance. If price is really an issue, try this:

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3035.html

Blinky Safety Set


Cute Little Light Set

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/planetbike/media/3035.jpg

• Super bright LEDs provide 220 degrees of visibility for up to 1 mile
• Flashing and steady mode
• Will clip to just about anything
• Ultra compact cases are weatherproof, light weight, and durable
• Handlebar bracket, seatpost and seatstay mounts included
• Up to 100 hours of run time on (1) CR2032 watch battery (included)
  
  SKU #3035
  
  $17.99

Those run on button type batteries like the red pair of lights on your post.
If you can just spend a bit more, I recommend these, runs on AA/AAA batteries:

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3032.html

Beamer 1 Light Set


Our Most Popular Light Set

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/planetbike/media/3032.jpg

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this is what i use and what i also recommend.

+1

Hey there, my friend!

Whenever night riding, I always feel secure when I'm a rolling X-mas tree!


That's what I feel like with these CatEye Products:

These things right here are small, but can either remain lit or can flash continually. They can be seen for over a mile away. Get two. One for each side of your Fredly handlebars!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=222789


This one can simply remain on, or blink (on/off), or...... it can vacillate left to <-> right, with the light flashing...(rear mounted)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=222790

- Slim :)

PS.

Get everything for less than $40.00

Personally, the only time a strobe head light should be used is pointed forward, during daylight hours, and in high cross traffic areas. They absolutely annoying when viewed straight on at night. I'd invest in some SOLAS reflective material and apply some to rear of your bike and wrap some around your crank arms, to some ankle wraps, or cycling shoe heels.

I agree asdie from being annoying it could be illeagal. personally I find the flashig red lights more than enough in the rear. if a driver can't see those or actually care about them, a white light is not going to do any better

German made lights are only steady , because of being required, there.

Indiana traffic laws for bikes require a white headlight and a red tail light or red reflector. No mention of flashing versus steady lights that I am aware of.

And they are bright.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...hts/IXONIQ.jpg

Those little lights probably aren't as bright as you think they are. Yeah, you can "see" them from a few hundred yards away - when you know they're there and you know where to look for them. You really want a light that's bright enough to hurt your eyes if you hold it and look at it while it's on - in daylight.

IME there are about three red tail lights that do this: Planet Bike Super Flash, Cateye TL-LD1100, and anything by Dinotte. There are probably others, but those are the ones I've seen that I think are bright enough.

I've seen way too many little red blinkies that I could barely see from 50 feet away, but that the cyclist using them thought were sufficient. I know the cyclist is there, I know the light is on, and I can barely see it. When there are no other distracting lights.

Since you list your location as being in Oregon, you should know that Oregon Revised Statute 815.280 requires a white light, visible to 500 feet in the front. And a RED rear reflector or light, visible from 600 feet behind the bicycle. Violation is a class D infraction and carries a $90.00 fine. :bang:

Magic Shine is my choice for headlight, on a steady beam. But on my helmet I have a CatEye that I turn on the strobe mode, so I can flash a car by looking.

Rear, a Planet Bike Blinky on the helmet, and at least one Superflash on the back with a steady red as well. Oh, yes, another blinky on my backpack.

Christmas tree, that's me!

A white light with a strobe mode in front is useful for oncoming traffic that has the high beams on. Going from steady to strobe has occasionally worked for me.

Hey there PomPilot!

I wouldn't bang my head over some law not being known. Most Americans are not aware of the contents of the constitution, state laws, and laws within their own municipalities.

Banging your head against the wall with regards to this miniscule matter seems to be just a bit over the top, to me...

- Slim :)

You are volunteering to pay his fines?

I agree this is the way to go - local/state law here specifies a steady white headlight visible from 500 ft, red rear reflector visible from 50-300ft (plus a blinky red if you want, but reflector is still required). One thing I was wondering is - can anyone think of any glaring problems with making a lower-powered headlight into a red rear blinky (with thin red tape/paint)? I just ordered a minewt 350 for the front since it's pretty dark in the mornings now, but I hate to get rid of my little voyager 2.0. I think it's only around 30 lumens, so that shouldn't be too bright, right? I already have a red blinky but figure a second one couldn't hurt - I'm always paranoid of people not being able to see me from behind.

The problem with putting red tape on light using LED emitter is not glare; rather the problem is that LEDs only output visible light on certain wavelengths unlike traditional tungsten filament light bulbs which output over a much broader spectrum. Placing a red cover on the front of the light will remove everything but red color from the output and the resulting light will be much dimmer.

Example of white LED output:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-White_LED.png
Image from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_LED.png

Red light is around 620-700 nm range and you can see in the chart above that the output is significantly lower in that example.

I only use flashing white lights during the day and steady white after dark.

+1 - I have a Planet Bike 1/2-watt in front and Super Flash in back, and I don't normally ride at night. I just added some reflective tape to my commuter for additional visibility - I got caught out late a couple of times, and figure it can't hurt, especially from the side.

I don't know for sure, but I started using the front lights after a car turned left in front of me in daylight. Since then, it seems that the cars notice me a lot more.