http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Dim Your Lights (Please?) en Wed, 13 May 2026 02:28:26 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-205067 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:35:43 +0000 acsimpson 205067@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have two lights on my bike but more so that I'm not caught out by one set of batteries going flat. I keep the mounts loose enough that I can point further ahead if there is no-one coming. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-205064 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:19:45 +0000 wingpig 205064@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dippedness isn't about emitter-control levels-of-brightness as it's a lens/collimator beam-shape thing. Something like a Phillips Saferide would be offensively bright if it had a radially-symmetrical beamspread instead of its reasonably distinct horizontal cut-off, whereas with the cut off it's merely irritatingly bright. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-205061 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 13:58:13 +0000 holisticglint 205061@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Problem with "sensible" bike lights in the city is that they are drowned out by car lights. It is tricky to differentiate between a gap in traffic and a bike without mega bright lights when waiting in a car to pull out of a junction.</p> <p>I recently picked up a stupid number of lumens but still cheap light for the rural stretch of my commute and it does have 3 levels of brightness but none which I would described as dipped. Anyone come across lights capable of a wide range of brightnesses or is the solution to carry 2 ? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-205015 Thu, 19 Nov 2015 22:39:05 +0000 wingpig 205015@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>One ninja to at least twenty ultrabrights this evening.<br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7slOP5q2xg" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7slOP5q2xg</a></p> <p>Also one scooter just clockwise from the red bridge and one christmas tree not far from the Lindsay Road exit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-204746 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:24:04 +0000 kaputnik 204746@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> so I'm not convinced it has much to do with money and privilege</em></p> <p>Of course I was referring to general external appearance of rider, rather than a detailed financial appraisal of their bank balance; it's more than possible to look at a glance like you've got a £350 light by spending £10 on ebay - the dazzling intensity of the 1000 lumens makes it even harder to work out if it's something proper high end or a clever Chinese knock-off ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-204734 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:33:41 +0000 acsimpson 204734@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is a possibility that the wrong type of lights are used by the peculiar demographic who have spent more than they could afford on them and as such feel the need to use them at every possibly opportunity. Rather than maintaining a set of expensive off road lights for trail centre riding and then another appropriate set for places where you are likely to meet oncoming traffic. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-204691 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 12:01:45 +0000 Dave 204691@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I once bought a thousand lumen torch with helmet strap for about a tenner on eBay, so I'm not convinced it has much to do with money and privilege (although the "wrong type" of rider is more likely to just not have lights at all, I suspect?) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-204685 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 11:41:53 +0000 kaputnik 204685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As I waited to try and cross Balgreen Road from Balgreen Avenue to Saughton Crescent, another cyclist pulled alongside. As you do, I looked to my left to acknowledge their presence / check out their bike etc., and he looked to his right to do the same. Trouble was, he had not one but two helmet-mounted, downhill-mountainbiking-at-midnight-quality lights on his helmet, meaning all I got was an eyeful of photons and couldn't see a thing.</p> <p>Inevitably it's the time of year when all varieties of expensive, powerful and by-and-large inappropriate light sources come out to play, with many people seemingly keen to mount very bright, powerful and focused lights on the top of their heads for the purposes of cycling about lit city streets and suburban cyclepaths.</p> <p>Yes, it must be nice to be able to burn a hole through the rain to try and pick out potential hazards on the ground, but the price is searing the retinas of every oncoming cyclist passed meaning they are both dazzled and robbed of any acclimatised night-vision and that's nought but selfish. Bright lights on handlebars are bad enough when incorrectly mounted, but those mounted on helmets are always going to be at the eyeball height of oncoming cyclists, and will always be pointed directly into their faces every time they look in the general direction of oncoming cyclists (or drivers for that matter). It's a particular problem as helmet-mounted lights seem to favour a tightly focused, spotlight-pattern beam rather than a wider one.</p> <p>I'm aware that other posters use various types of head-mounted lights, and also that most of them are cycling unlit/rural sections where these things could actually be of some use, my beef with these things is on busy and fairly well lit roads and urban paths.</p> <p>Anecdotal evidence and unsubstantiated hearsay would suggest that such illuminants are favoured by a particular sort of cyclist who is usually younger, male and probably spends quite a bit of time and money on cycling and his bikes. Of course that may just be because by and large this demographic seemingly dominates my own particular commute route. </p> <p>Other opinions on head-mounted lights are available. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172758 Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:16:53 +0000 skotl 172758@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Last night was bad on the NEPN, heading West at around 1845.<br /> A number of high-intensity lights, some flashers, and some with both - nice.</p> <p>I have both but turn off the flasher when not on the road, and press the "dim" button on my B&amp;M when I'm on the path.</p> <p>You'd think that the people traversing the path would see the same in reverse and think "oh - I really should turn me lights down", but apparently not :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172678 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:21:18 +0000 Baldcyclist 172678@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Chap overtook me just before the two golf courses at Barnton, and then slowed right down going through the unlit section.</p> <p>I didn't overtake as he was faster on section before, as we exited onto the road again, he slowed and said "Thank you for the light".</p> <p>I was quite surprised as, as I've commented my dynamo isn't particularly bright, but seemed to be better than what he had. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172667 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:15:10 +0000 Kenny 172667@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I also crossed a guy cycling in the dark with sun shades on</em></p> <p>That could have been me, but I am now wearing clear lenses in my Oakley frames, hence they may appear to be sunglasses, but are in fact not. Honest. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172660 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:35:54 +0000 gowgowuk 172660@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well, so far I was reading this thread with no real opinion, but today, I fell "victim" of one of these bright lights on the Roseburn Path. After being briefly blinded, I rode into a pothole/irregular verge without seeing it. Thankfully, I manage not to fall completely and there was no damage, except for my b**ls on the middle bar! But I am now definitely on the "complainers" side. Btw, I also crossed a guy cycling in the dark with sun shades on! Maybe he was making a statement :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172135 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:24:18 +0000 Kenny 172135@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@acsimpson - yeah, good point. I don't plan on deploying said light on the NEPN at all - I'll just use my secondary light when on the path. I'll use the bright one on the roads. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172104 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:45:49 +0000 acsimpson 172104@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Kenny, I suspect that when lights are that bright the reflective nature of tarmac comes into play and can still dazzle oncoming riders even when direct light is blocked. If said tarmac is wet it would only be worse. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172072 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 12:26:54 +0000 I were right about that saddle 172072@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Chap on the canal this morning was running something so bright it was dazzling at 09h00. That's <em>daylight</em>. It was brighter than full beam HIDs on an Audi.</p> <p>If I meet him tonight and he still has a bucket of sunshine on his bars my factor shall call on his factor. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172069 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 12:10:42 +0000 gowgowuk 172069@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Am I the only one having problems with securing lights firmly on "conical" handlebar? No matter how tightly I screw the mount, and despite a piece of rubber on the bar, it always seem to slip down and become loose. Any tips? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=4#post-172031 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 10:47:22 +0000 wingpig 172031@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A man on the NEPN with an overbright/too-upward light actually <em>reached down to possibly adjust it, or at least pretend to</em> this morning, making him the first potentially positive response this season. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-172010 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:45:02 +0000 Kenny 172010@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So my Blaze light has given up, and is fit for the bucket. Therefore, for the past few days, I have been investigating a replacement light, which I shall get for my birthday. And it arrived, courtesy of Amazon, today. It's a <a href="http://www.moon-sport.com/product-detail.php?id=7">Moon XP500</a>, with (you guessed it) 500 lumens.</p> <p>Now, my current working light has 220 candlepower, and I thought it was reasonably bright. The new light arrived at work and I put it on (purely for testing purposes, clearly - my birthday is still many weeks away) in the kitchen to see how bright it was. Seemed fairly bright, but nothing spectacular.</p> <p>However, this evening, I tried it out in the dark. And holy crap, I now understand the warnings about not running this thing on a street (or, even worse, on a cyclepath) pointed upwards in any way - this thing is ridiculously dazzling. I had it pointed right at the ground and stood some way away from it and yet it was still unbelievable.</p> <p>My plan had been to run it on the lowest setting (120 lumens, I think), mainly because I figured that would be bright enough on the roads and it would mean that it would run all week without needing a re-charge. That's totally what I will be doing too, having seen how bright it is!</p> <p>But in the context of this thread, it now explains to me what occasional cyclists have on their bikes that blinds us. Even with this thing pointed <em>at my front wheel</em>, it was still dazzling when on the full 500 setting! Therefore, I can only guess that some people assume that the light pointed down will mean it doesn't dazzle people, but the brief testing I did with this light shows that such lights can still be a menace if left on such a power, irrespective of where it is pointed.</p> <p>(YMMV, of course, depending on your light and its cut-off settings. You'll see from Moon's web site that it has different "spot" and total angles, which I could tell when shining the light in the pitch dark; there is a definite brighter centre, with a much less aggressively lit wider area of light. Goodness only knows what it would be like if I was looking at it while standing in the "spot" angle...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171447 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 23:22:55 +0000 wingpig 171447@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>NEPN wasn't too bad on the way home, apart from the two ultrashiny turnips at the end:<br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spWOpzY0gSU" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spWOpzY0gSU</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171436 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 20:53:53 +0000 Kenny 171436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It does. He was extremely easy to spot, but the light was gentle on the eyes. I do wonder how distracting it is for him, though? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171433 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 19:52:34 +0000 chdot 171433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Makes sense!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171432 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 19:45:57 +0000 Kenny 171432@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> Lots of points to the clever chap I observed passing Haymarket yesterday evening, who had mounted a small, white Low-power LED light on his handlebars, facing back towards himself, thereby lighting up his hi-viz jacket like an enormous cycling glow worm</em></p> <p>Yes! I saw him (or someone with the same idea) today:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH_wv31pxVY" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH_wv31pxVY</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171395 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:35:48 +0000 condor2378 171395@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to have a Red LED pointed at my back from the handle of the trailer when using it. Worked well with the Hi-Viz from what my wife said. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171393 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:30:39 +0000 gembo 171393@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>just reminded me to stick the back one on charge. Merci beaucoup</p> <p>Managed a great BLINDER today</p> <p>both going slowly on Towpath at Harrison Park neaar the barge cafe. I was able to put my hand up as a shield to his shining orb for good couple of seco0nds then shout in jolly way BLINDER as he passed.Will also change battery on one on my helmet. Have wee Skully in desk drawer for even further emergencies. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171383 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:41:06 +0000 I were right about that saddle 171383@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@kaputnik</p> <p>Clever. I think I'll try that - need to get an emergency front light anyway. Had to turn back this morning as I'd left the low orbit photon canon on the charger. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171382 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:37:19 +0000 chdot 171382@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"lighting up his hi-viz jacket like an enormous cycling glow worm"</p> <p>Sounds good. </p> <p>There has been previous discussions about red and white light on front and/or rear. </p> <p>I noticed on MMW the other day bikes with 'front facing red lights'. Except that it turned out to be normally positioned rear lights with a lot of spill. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171380 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:30:57 +0000 neddie 171380@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@kappers</p> <p>I like that idea, a bit like the lights on a plane that light up the tail. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171376 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:23:41 +0000 kaputnik 171376@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lots of points to the clever chap I observed passing Haymarket yesterday evening, who had mounted a small, white Low-power LED light on his handlebars, facing back towards himself, thereby lighting up his hi-viz jacket like an enormous cycling glow worm. Maximum visibility, minimum hazard to other people needing to use their eyes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171364 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:47:39 +0000 Dave 171364@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Seriously, you should get a cap. Planet X will sell you one for a couple of quid.</p> <p>I just look down a tiny bit so that an oncoming rider's lights are above the rim of my cap, and if anything, it's easier to see where I'm going than before because their own light adds to mine on the ground.</p> <p>Especially on the canal, I find this great because you're literally riding straight towards each other but no matter how bright the light, you can happily see where you're riding. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13796&page=3#post-171350 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:13:48 +0000 threefromleith 171350@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Finally had my first couple of absolute blinders on the NEPN around Craigleith on Wednesday between 16:45 and 16:50. Couldn't see anything at all once they got about a few car-lengths away from me - just a total visual white-out.</p> <p>It was rather frightening and not something I want to experience again now that the nights have drawn in. </p>