Recommendations for Front Flashing Light for Daylight Use
#26
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My wife asked for a front-facing flashing light for daylight use for her birthday.
I suggested that that wouldn't be so useful since we rarely ride in urban situations (98% open roads), but she still wants one.
1. How useful do you think these are?
2. Whats a recommendation for a simple, small light (as simple as the PB superflash turbo rear blinkie -- considering this)?
I suggested that that wouldn't be so useful since we rarely ride in urban situations (98% open roads), but she still wants one.
1. How useful do you think these are?
2. Whats a recommendation for a simple, small light (as simple as the PB superflash turbo rear blinkie -- considering this)?
The front blinky makes you more visible. Your wife understands that very well. That is why over your advise of "don't need it" she still insisted.. Again, you are very, very blessed..
BTW, others will surely give you a zillion recomendations on lights.. I just want to comment on how lucky you are..
#27
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I wouldn't have thought a front flasher was that useful in rural areas, but I had this happen to me twice in 2 weeks this year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOwv_IXZdIk
I'm now running my front light in strobe mode. It's about 800 lumens and strobes about 8 times a second. It's highly irritating, but so is being hit head-on at 60 MPH. Nobody has pulled that on me since I started running that light - someone TRIED it just last night, but they pulled halfway out, saw me and dropped back in line.
If I wanted a light JUST for front flashing, I'd probably go for a 200ish lumen flashlight with a good strobe mode. It would be ideal to get a Dinotte amber front light but they're kind of expensive compared to a $20 flashlight (and honestly probably not significantly move visible). It'd be nice if other companies made amber blinkies, but they are super rare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOwv_IXZdIk
I'm now running my front light in strobe mode. It's about 800 lumens and strobes about 8 times a second. It's highly irritating, but so is being hit head-on at 60 MPH. Nobody has pulled that on me since I started running that light - someone TRIED it just last night, but they pulled halfway out, saw me and dropped back in line.
If I wanted a light JUST for front flashing, I'd probably go for a 200ish lumen flashlight with a good strobe mode. It would be ideal to get a Dinotte amber front light but they're kind of expensive compared to a $20 flashlight (and honestly probably not significantly move visible). It'd be nice if other companies made amber blinkies, but they are super rare.
Lately, I have been using just one blinky up front, and when I hit the trail, I take it off. IMO, the blinky is for the streets, in traffic, and to make sure people see you. On trails, and MUPs, different story, some might run the blinky there too. I don't use trails and MUPs that much, so I cannot comment. I know when I am on a trail, I have my light in my bag..
#28
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My wife asked for a front-facing flashing light for daylight use for her birthday.
I suggested that that wouldn't be so useful since we rarely ride in urban situations (98% open roads), but she still wants one.
1. How useful do you think these are?
2. Whats a recommendation for a simple, small light (as simple as the PB superflash turbo rear blinkie -- considering this)?
I suggested that that wouldn't be so useful since we rarely ride in urban situations (98% open roads), but she still wants one.
1. How useful do you think these are?
2. Whats a recommendation for a simple, small light (as simple as the PB superflash turbo rear blinkie -- considering this)?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#29
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My only reason for thinking it wouldn't be that useful is that 99% of our riding is on rural roads, with very few intersections, so most of the cars that will see that light will be on the other side of the road.
It came in the mail, and looks good, but we can't try it out until her birthday in October.
#30
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TromboneAl, how many people here do you think got my joke?
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#31
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I got it!
TromboneAl,
You might consider the new Cygolite Streak 280. It's in the $50 range, and it flashes at 500 lumens. The high beam is only 280, but seemed bright enough for urban night rides. The downside is that in flashing mode, the runtime is only 5-hours (earlier Cygolite Metros had 25-hour flash run times).
I returned the Streak 280 for a (much more expensive) Light & Motion Urban 550 so that I could get more than a one or two day rides between charges (18 hrs flashing at 140 lumens). But the Streak seemed like a quality light for a decent price. Some nice features: it starts up in the last mode used, and the"Steady Pulse" mode seems valuable for dark urban commutes.
TromboneAl,
You might consider the new Cygolite Streak 280. It's in the $50 range, and it flashes at 500 lumens. The high beam is only 280, but seemed bright enough for urban night rides. The downside is that in flashing mode, the runtime is only 5-hours (earlier Cygolite Metros had 25-hour flash run times).
I returned the Streak 280 for a (much more expensive) Light & Motion Urban 550 so that I could get more than a one or two day rides between charges (18 hrs flashing at 140 lumens). But the Streak seemed like a quality light for a decent price. Some nice features: it starts up in the last mode used, and the"Steady Pulse" mode seems valuable for dark urban commutes.
#32
Senior Member
Very useful. Running bright lights in the daytime significantly reduces accidents*. The brighter the light, the better. Planet Bike lights are not bright enough for daytime (or even night time, really) use. Look into a light with a minimum of 300 lumens (Cygolite, Nite Rider, etc) with 700+ being ideal.
*Madsen, J. C., Andersen, T., & Lahrmann, H. S. (January 01, 2013). Safety effects of permanent running lights for bicycles: A controlled experiment. Accident; Analysis and Prevention, 50, 820-9.
*Madsen, J. C., Andersen, T., & Lahrmann, H. S. (January 01, 2013). Safety effects of permanent running lights for bicycles: A controlled experiment. Accident; Analysis and Prevention, 50, 820-9.
During the day ( when the sun is high in the sky ) and I ride the two lane roads busy with fast traffic I will use my higher powered "See Me" flashers. For me that is the Gloworm X2 on "Beacon mode" ( ~1200 lumen )
and an XP-E amber flasher ( ~ 140 lumen ) on the rear. I only use the Gloworm when needed though. If it's a two lane road that allows cars to pass...yes, I'll use the Gloworm just to be on the safe side.
Otherwise when the sun is setting or at full dusk I'm happy just to run my flashing 70 lumen Axiom up until the point it is dark enough to turn on my steady lamp. When that happens I take the Axiom off my bar, switch it to "flicker mode" and mount it to my fork leg. With the GWorm on the bars and the Axiom on the fork I have two divergent points of reference for people viewing me from the front. On "flicker mode" there is little reflective feedback to interfere with what I am seeing when I ride down the road. This works for me.
#33
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When the sun gets lower in the sky I need even MORE brightness - because I'm riding out of the sun.
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#34
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Since a lot of people have brought up the PB Blaze 2 Watt, I have a question: Has anyone else found the bar clamp to be impossible to mount on 31.8mm drop bars? The mount just doesn't adjust far enough to fit around the bars near the stem clamp area. I glanced at the Amazon reviews and also saw many complaints about the mount (either too tight or too loose, comes loose after a while, etc.). Right now I'm just using mine as a flashlight in my workshop.
#35
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I have two Blaze lights and 3 mounts which fit fine on 31.8 mm bars. The mount is adjustable and may not be set right in your case. On the base of the clamp under where the light mounts, there is a tab that engages notches in the band. You can push the band inward to make the strap shorter for smaller diameter bars, but you need to use a tool to lift the tab to be able to extend the band back out to fit 31.8mm bars. If you just yank the band out, you can strip the tab and it won't engage adequately anymore. Use a small screwdriver to lift the tab and pull the band forward/out until the tab can engage the last notch in the band. See tab engaged in last notch in pic below.
Also, position the movable friction pad on the band toward the front of the bars rather than underneath it. The toggle should be unscrewed most of the way to get it to engage in the slot of the band. Once engaged, it can be screwed in a bit before clamping if need be to reach the desired tension. Below is a pic with it as set after just removing it from 31.8mm bars.
Also, position the movable friction pad on the band toward the front of the bars rather than underneath it. The toggle should be unscrewed most of the way to get it to engage in the slot of the band. Once engaged, it can be screwed in a bit before clamping if need be to reach the desired tension. Below is a pic with it as set after just removing it from 31.8mm bars.
Last edited by Looigi; 09-29-13 at 08:25 AM.
#36
Senior Member
Thanks. I fiddled around with it a bit, in the ways you suggested, and was able to get it on with a bit of effort. I guess I just wasn't trying hard enough .
By the way, I have the "MicroBlaze 2W" which appears to be very similar, just in a smaller body (same Cree 2W LED, 2 AA batteries, same mount, etc.). It's rated for 139 vs 146 lumens for the full-sized one, but has longer runtimes in the flashing mode, and is $20 cheaper. The full-sized blaze has some aluminum in the body section, so might be a little more durable though.
By the way, I have the "MicroBlaze 2W" which appears to be very similar, just in a smaller body (same Cree 2W LED, 2 AA batteries, same mount, etc.). It's rated for 139 vs 146 lumens for the full-sized one, but has longer runtimes in the flashing mode, and is $20 cheaper. The full-sized blaze has some aluminum in the body section, so might be a little more durable though.
#37
Banned
Cat Eye has a removable front reflector / white LED same format as the red rear ... rectangular
wide dispersion angle of view
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=2214
Super flash headlight have a flashing mode , + a steady one .. spot angle
Hub Dynamo , There is a wired Super flash.. No Battery life concerns.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=3679
wide dispersion angle of view
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=2214
Super flash headlight have a flashing mode , + a steady one .. spot angle
Hub Dynamo , There is a wired Super flash.. No Battery life concerns.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=3679
Last edited by fietsbob; 09-29-13 at 12:04 PM.
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