Unless it wasn't dark out and the guy was just being silly, you're missing the picture. When there's a bright, unshielded light in a dark environment, - in the direction you want to go, aimed at you and not just the ground - you CAN'T see your path, you can only see the light.

It's one thing to have a bright light in the daytime or twilight, but in the dark, it just makes it harder to see anything else, and that's more dangerous, not safer. If you're ever out when there's no light but half a moon, or low and diffuse ambient light from distant and scattered sources, you'll notice you can see a lot, and far away, but when someone shows up with a bright light in front of you, you'll notice how everything except what's right in front of you is just so much blackness.

BS.

*IF* that were true *THEN* cars would be flying off the road left and right on dark two lane winding rural roads.

But they aren't. Because it's not.

I've had a couple of people who have told me my left knee goes out on the pedal stroke. I think they are only trying to be helpful, and I accept the information as friendly. (I ride by myself and have a social life that rivaled the unibomber, so I am not exactly predisposed to this kind of interaction.)

Unless it is meant as a put-down or something, just take it for what it is -- information and opinion. My bike is custom fit and my frame builder mentioned one of my legs was slightly longer -- I can't remember which, or even if I had this issue before I broke my ankle. It is just life.

The reason cars aren't flying off the road on dark two lane winding rural roads whenever another car comes their way is not because they can see much of what's around, it's because they don't panic - they have enough information to keep going - a handful of reflections, the path that the headlights followed, memory, etc.. They don't have to worry about little ruts, potholes, debris, little animals, etc., and when they do veer into the gravel or even a soft shoulder, it's no big deal.

As I thought I wrote (at least somewhere), a woman I had never seen before basically told me my ass crack was showing through my worn shorts. That was correct a appreciated. I have been cycling for sport, transportation and travel since 1986. I am sure it's happened plenty of other times.

We here sometimes warn each other in passing of hazards up ahead, but as far as advice on riding, technique, equipment or safety I cannot recall ever hearing good unsolicited advice from a random cyclist. I've heard bad advice from time to time, which disinclines me to offer it when I see something that I think I could help with.

One guy did warn me, rather urgently, that I had a shoelace "about to come untied". I think he was just trying to slow me down though.

I wouldn't mind getting advice from someone, personally. Though I'd prefer they didn't yell it at me while passing lol. I am still pretty new to riding, and I always ride alone. It would be nice to get some feedback on my fit and everything. I don't really feel comfortable asking other cyclists for advice or their thoughts while they're out trying to ride.

The solution here is just post photos or videos of you on a trainer on Bikeforums, so the armchair fit experts can criticize you from afar.

;)