Poll:- What are lights for...........
04-06-13 | 04:35 PM
#1
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From: Australia
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Poll:- What are lights for...........
I'm interested in people's views as to the purpose of lights on a bicycle.
(a) To illuminate the path ahead.
(b) To be seen by other vehicles.
(c) To blind drivers & pedestrians so they cannot see you.
(a) To illuminate the path ahead.
(b) To be seen by other vehicles.
(c) To blind drivers & pedestrians so they cannot see you.
04-06-13 | 05:43 PM
#4
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Yes... D, all of the above.
Amazon has some 1000 lumens... here ya go! Amazon.com: ATC CREE XML T6 LED 1000 Lumen Bike Light / Bike Bicycle Light HeadLight headLamp with improved battery and charger: Sports & Outdoors
Amazon has some 1000 lumens... here ya go! Amazon.com: ATC CREE XML T6 LED 1000 Lumen Bike Light / Bike Bicycle Light HeadLight headLamp with improved battery and charger: Sports & Outdoors
04-06-13 | 06:33 PM
#5
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From: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
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If this is a poll why didn't you make it a poll?
Tough one. Best guess would be (a) or (b) or (c).
Tough one. Best guess would be (a) or (b) or (c).
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
Last edited by RonH; 04-06-13 at 06:37 PM.
04-06-13 | 10:35 PM
#9
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Front light does (A); lets me see
to achieve this I am willing to let it also do (C) as a side effect.
if it happens to make me visisble (B) thats fine, but is not the primary purpose.
Tail light does (B).
and is augmented by retroreflectors, as reflected car headlight is much brighter than typical bike tail light.
Note, with this in mind, blinking front lights are pointless.
to achieve this I am willing to let it also do (C) as a side effect.
if it happens to make me visisble (B) thats fine, but is not the primary purpose.
Tail light does (B).
and is augmented by retroreflectors, as reflected car headlight is much brighter than typical bike tail light.
Note, with this in mind, blinking front lights are pointless.
Last edited by xenologer; 04-06-13 at 10:39 PM.
04-07-13 | 07:50 AM
#15
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04-07-13 | 11:19 AM
#19
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These regulations date from the era of dim incandescent lights driven by tire-dragging generators or a couple of flashlight batteries.
Today, there are lots of lights on the market that do (a) quite well, and in doing (a) they're usually pretty good at doing (b), but many of them also do (c).
Bicycle headlights are far brighter today than car headlights were when automotive beam patterns were regulated for safety, because of the glare hazard to oncoming traffic. Car headlights were still sealed beam incandescents in the 5-600 lumen range when the danger of headlight glare was regulated.
These days, you can get 1,200 lumens for under $50, but most bicycle headlights have terrible beam patterns that throw far too much of the light above horizontal. They'd be illegal on any other class of vehicle, but legislators haven't caught up with bicycle lighting yet.
Likewise, strobing headlights are illegal on bicycles in a few states, such as Washington, but many other states ban flashing headlights on all other vehicles, but not on bicycles.
When a bicycle headlight was dimmer than the parking lights of a car, who cared whether it was well-aimed or flashing? Now that bicycle lights are as bright as car headlights, and the average motorist is getting older with more vision issues, expect legislative attention to (c).
04-07-13 | 11:45 AM
#20
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From: Metro Indy, IN
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Legally, at least in the U.S., it's (b), to be seen by other vehicles. The primary regulation for bicycle headlights usually specifies the minimum distance at which the light can be seen by others, and doesn't require any particular distance at which the light illuminates the ground.
These regulations date from the era of dim incandescent lights driven by tire-dragging generators or a couple of flashlight batteries.
Today, there are lots of lights on the market that do (a) quite well, and in doing (a) they're usually pretty good at doing (b), but many of them also do (c).
Bicycle headlights are far brighter today than car headlights were when automotive beam patterns were regulated for safety, because of the glare hazard to oncoming traffic. Car headlights were still sealed beam incandescents in the 5-600 lumen range when the danger of headlight glare was regulated.
These days, you can get 1,200 lumens for under $50, but most bicycle headlights have terrible beam patterns that throw far too much of the light above horizontal. They'd be illegal on any other class of vehicle, but legislators haven't caught up with bicycle lighting yet.
Likewise, strobing headlights are illegal on bicycles in a few states, such as Washington, but many other states ban flashing headlights on all other vehicles, but not on bicycles.
When a bicycle headlight was dimmer than the parking lights of a car, who cared whether it was well-aimed or flashing? Now that bicycle lights are as bright as car headlights, and the average motorist is getting older with more vision issues, expect legislative attention to (c).
These regulations date from the era of dim incandescent lights driven by tire-dragging generators or a couple of flashlight batteries.
Today, there are lots of lights on the market that do (a) quite well, and in doing (a) they're usually pretty good at doing (b), but many of them also do (c).
Bicycle headlights are far brighter today than car headlights were when automotive beam patterns were regulated for safety, because of the glare hazard to oncoming traffic. Car headlights were still sealed beam incandescents in the 5-600 lumen range when the danger of headlight glare was regulated.
These days, you can get 1,200 lumens for under $50, but most bicycle headlights have terrible beam patterns that throw far too much of the light above horizontal. They'd be illegal on any other class of vehicle, but legislators haven't caught up with bicycle lighting yet.
Likewise, strobing headlights are illegal on bicycles in a few states, such as Washington, but many other states ban flashing headlights on all other vehicles, but not on bicycles.
When a bicycle headlight was dimmer than the parking lights of a car, who cared whether it was well-aimed or flashing? Now that bicycle lights are as bright as car headlights, and the average motorist is getting older with more vision issues, expect legislative attention to (c).
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04-07-13 | 05:19 PM
#21
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04-07-13 | 06:56 PM
#22
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From: On the road-USA
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Legally, at least in the U.S., it's (b), to be seen by other vehicles. The primary regulation for bicycle headlights usually specifies the minimum distance at which the light can be seen by others, and doesn't require any particular distance at which the light illuminates the ground.
These regulations date from the era of dim incandescent lights driven by tire-dragging generators or a couple of flashlight batteries.
Today, there are lots of lights on the market that do (a) quite well, and in doing (a) they're usually pretty good at doing (b), but many of them also do (c).
Bicycle headlights are far brighter today than car headlights were when automotive beam patterns were regulated for safety, because of the glare hazard to oncoming traffic. Car headlights were still sealed beam incandescents in the 5-600 lumen range when the danger of headlight glare was regulated.
These days, you can get 1,200 lumens for under $50, but most bicycle headlights have terrible beam patterns that throw far too much of the light above horizontal. They'd be illegal on any other class of vehicle, but legislators haven't caught up with bicycle lighting yet.
Likewise, strobing headlights are illegal on bicycles in a few states, such as Washington, but many other states ban flashing headlights on all other vehicles, but not on bicycles.
When a bicycle headlight was dimmer than the parking lights of a car, who cared whether it was well-aimed or flashing? Now that bicycle lights are as bright as car headlights, and the average motorist is getting older with more vision issues, expect legislative attention to (c).
These regulations date from the era of dim incandescent lights driven by tire-dragging generators or a couple of flashlight batteries.
Today, there are lots of lights on the market that do (a) quite well, and in doing (a) they're usually pretty good at doing (b), but many of them also do (c).
Bicycle headlights are far brighter today than car headlights were when automotive beam patterns were regulated for safety, because of the glare hazard to oncoming traffic. Car headlights were still sealed beam incandescents in the 5-600 lumen range when the danger of headlight glare was regulated.
These days, you can get 1,200 lumens for under $50, but most bicycle headlights have terrible beam patterns that throw far too much of the light above horizontal. They'd be illegal on any other class of vehicle, but legislators haven't caught up with bicycle lighting yet.
Likewise, strobing headlights are illegal on bicycles in a few states, such as Washington, but many other states ban flashing headlights on all other vehicles, but not on bicycles.
When a bicycle headlight was dimmer than the parking lights of a car, who cared whether it was well-aimed or flashing? Now that bicycle lights are as bright as car headlights, and the average motorist is getting older with more vision issues, expect legislative attention to (c).
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
04-07-13 | 07:19 PM
#23
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Montreal, Quebec
Your poll's broken! I CLICKED on a choice several times! Nothing happened!
Now I'm frustrated and totally obsessed with world domination! Eventually millions of cute little life forms will be snuffed out all over the universe and .... its ALL YOUR FAULT!
OK - I changed my mind - I'll have a donut instead....
Now I'm frustrated and totally obsessed with world domination! Eventually millions of cute little life forms will be snuffed out all over the universe and .... its ALL YOUR FAULT!
OK - I changed my mind - I'll have a donut instead....