http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Seriously fed up en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:57:51 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-91071 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:09:37 +0000 Roibeard 91071@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Here's another thought about flashing lights - what happens if they're off during the driver's glance?</p> <p>The focused gaze can be quite short without extra care (<a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/">as taught to fighter pilots!</a>), so if flash frequency is sufficiently low, there's a pretty high chance of looking and seeing no light at all.</p> <p>Of course, the chances reduce further where a driver takes a second look, but how many do that?</p> <p>Robert</p> <p>Full disclosure - my last RTC as a driver was almost certainly due to the assumption the lane was clear. Fortunately it was a metal box I hit, rather than a squidgy person... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-91052 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:30:01 +0000 Uberuce 91052@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Le Bumpe.</p> <p>I don't like front blinkies unless they're so weak as to be inoffensive, but that puts them in the niche of a secondary light, typically mounted on rider or helmet so that drivers can see you out their back mirrors when your main light is obscured.</p> <p>I don't find blinky rear lights problematic for some reason. Maybe it's because any time I can see them I'm already going in much the same direction as them and therefore don't have to work out their vector as urgently. </p> <p>That said I still don't use the setting where all the LEDs are off any any given time. My eyes seem to consider that kind of blinky a solid unit for the purposes of vectoring, and on the assumption I'm not a really rubbish-powered member of the X-Men, that's good enough for me to save batteries. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-90191 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:51:17 +0000 Kenny 90191@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Since the clocks went back, I've really only had a problem with one cyclist's lights who cycles from Red Bridge to Fiveways around 5pm. Aside from having a blindingly strong light, he also has it flashing, to the point that if I see him again tomorrow, I'm going to stop in the middle of the path with my hand up blocking the light to make it crystal clear that he's causing problems.</p> <p>Soft blinking lights are ok. Ultra-strong lights I will put up with. Both together means you're a douchebag. Maybe he doesn't realise what a menace he is. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-90146 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:12:53 +0000 Uberuce 90146@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I walked along the canal yesterday for the first time in forever*, at around 5.20pm. On my way to collect the bike from the vet's, so I had the lights and shinies to make the return trip.</p> <p>I was wearing my new white windproof (although I kept my brickie's vest in the bag) but since my night vision never got a chance to get going because of all the cyclists, I fished my light out and set it to Walk mode so I could see the verge easier. I'm ever so slightly wary of the canal edge now. Oh, and the asterisk earlier is in reference to the actual last time I walked along the canal, but it doesn't count in this context since it was 4am, deserted and I can't really remember anything but wetness, blood, blurred vision and misery. I got into the habit of pointing the light at my feet, partly so I could be sure of where the edge was, partly so it was immediately obvious I was a pedestrian, and partly because even on Walk mode, my light was brighter than most of the cyclists heading into town, judging by how much of the path it illuminated. </p> <p>Aside from two arguable exceptions, every other pedestrian was dressed in photon-munching fabric weaved from the very threads of deepest ebon night. Even as a pedestrian, they jumped out the gloom from an unsettlingly close distance, and the joggers were worse still.</p> <p>The two exceptions were technically dressed darkly too, but one was a jogger with plenty of reflective trim, the other was carrying a white shopping bag. I saw them from far enough away that I'd have comfortable time to plan how to pass them on the bike. </p> <p>With regard to cyclist lighting I'd say it was pretty good except:</p> <p>- Two needed to point their lights down in power or angle or both<br /> - Three had those really slow blink patterns that make it hard to work out their speed and direction when riding places less smooth and straight.<br /> - One was entirely unlit.<br /> - One had no front and a red blinky I'd score at 25.<br /> - One had the weakest front light I'd ever seen and no reflectives on. I saw her from an okay distance, but I was making a conscious effort to observe lights.</p> <p>I think I was 300 metres along when I concluded there was no way I could be bothered using the canal to ride home. Just too many ninjas. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89982 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:39:59 +0000 Greenroofer 89982@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was surprised (and slightly horrified) by the first chap, who seemed to be cycling by Braille or echo-location (or perhaps he had image-intensifying goggles). The second one was just annoying.</p> <p>Best watched on Youtube in HD if you want any chance of making sense of what's happening.<br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juInQo7kDY0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juInQo7kDY0</a></p> <p>P.S. I'm interested and slightly concerned by the cone of illumination that my front light produces. There's definitely no cut-off at the top of the beam. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89957 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:55:12 +0000 recombodna 89957@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Remember the loud pipes save lives thing for motorbikes?? No?? </p> <p><a href="http://www.signsbypost.com/lg_images/LOUD-PIPES-SAVE-LIVES-9100.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.signsbypost.com/lg_images/LOUD-PIPES-SAVE-LIVES-9100.jpg</a></p> <p>Loud freehubs alert pedestrians..... No? </p> <p>I'll get my coat . </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89956 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:51:38 +0000 recombodna 89956@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Annoyed by freehubs ...... I've heard it all now. That's the best annoyance I've heard since my mum's next door neighbour complained about her microwave pinging too loud.. ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89952 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:20:08 +0000 PS 89952@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver Awww, I backed down too easily there. Which is a relief, or I'd have been stricken with self-doubt at my next pub quiz. </p> <p>Anyway, I'm going to have watch both of those films again to renew my familiarity... :D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89939 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:53:44 +0000 crowriver 89939@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@PS, actually you were right the first time, it <em>was</em> in 'The Longest Day', I just checked. Haven't seen it since maybe the 1980s so must have misremembered which film it was in.....definitely US airborne troops mind you. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89928 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:14:49 +0000 PS 89928@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver Ah, you are quite correct. Since I took up cycling, any bank holiday I take has involved going out for a ride rather than sitting at home watching WW2 films. It's been too long. ;o) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89923 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:42:20 +0000 crowriver 89923@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The old six speed freewheel on my 'audax' Raleigh is pretty much silent. The only noise the bike makes when freewheeling is the hum of the tyres, unless I have dynamo engaged, in which case there is a high pitched whine as the rubber wheel spins on the sidewall.</p> <p>You can't beat a nice bell as far as I'm concerned. A well timed 'ching-ching' (or two) helps avoid a lot of confusion and potential grief. A badly timed one can send dogs and their owners the wrong way, ie. into your path... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89921 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:38:02 +0000 crowriver 89921@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>It's like The Longest Day when I'm riding on the NEP... ;o)</em></p> <p>Surely more like 'A Bridge Too Far'?* That scene where the US paratroopers have little plastic 'clickers' to identify friend/foe. Alas the Germans cocking their rifles was mistaken for the 'click-click' sound.....click-click-BANG! You're dead.</p> <p>* - WW2 movies 'R' us. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Longest_Day_(film)" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Longest_Day_(film)</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89903 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:39:38 +0000 kaputnik 89903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@PS that's why I have a near-silent freehub ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=3#post-89893 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:20:50 +0000 PS 89893@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@K It's when you're on the front going full gas, on the rivet, etc and you can hear the freewheeling freehub of the guy sitting on your wheel taking it nice and easy that they're at their most "anti-social"... ;o) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89872 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:41:40 +0000 kaputnik 89872@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I find loud freehubs antisocial on group rides, if the rider is one of those annoying types who pedals for 10 strokes then freewheels for 2.</p> <p>The gentle "tick tick" of chdot's Moulton rear hub is quite good announcing the presence of cyclists on the canal towpath. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89870 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:37:18 +0000 steveo 89870@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hope hubs are brutal they sound like fishing reels; after a long weekend with my mate and his I could kill him when ever he stopped pedalling! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89868 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:35:08 +0000 chdot 89868@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"campag freehub FTW. I also flick my gear levers to make an nicely audible irregular clicking noise that almost always gets attention"</p> <p>So that's the brand of the extreme noise freewheeling. Could never live with that!!</p> <p>I have one bike with SRAM gripshift, slightly loud, but usually works as 'audible warning of approach'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89861 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:28:38 +0000 PS 89861@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Having removed the annoying always tinging bell from the bike I have resorted to other methods of making sure my approach is not inaudible (a Campag freehub on the commuter helps...)."</em> </p> <p>Yes - campag freehub FTW. I also flick my gear levers to make an nicely audible irregular clicking noise that almost always gets attention. It's like The Longest Day when I'm riding on the NEP... ;o)</p> <p>With these super-brite (TM) LEDs there's usually several less bright settings (say, 600, 400 or 300 lumens) that allow you to tone things down and save battery life. Not sure what settings everyone goes for, but there's no need to be full-on bright all the time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89843 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:39:45 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 89843@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>However I only did this for an easy life, not because I thought it really was too bright.</em>"</p> <p>Yes, but if someone else thinks it's too bright then... I'm not suggesting we bow down to the lowest common denominator, but as an alternative example there are differences of thought on whether a car has passed too closely or not, and personally I'd like a driver to bow down to me as lowest common denominator who thinks he was too close. He'd be adjusting his behaviour not because he thought he was too close, but for an easy life. Which is fine by me.</p> <p>"<em>... but took it off because I felt it was encouraging me to take less care</em>"</p> <p>Having recognised that could you not just adjust your behaviour back rather than losing the bell? (I say this as someone else who doesn't use a bell (see thread passim on constantly rining annoyance)).</p> <p>@fimm, I agree, if there's a one-off complaint there's a chance it's someone who has taken umbrage having had a bad day or whatever, but if it's a constant, regular complaint, then there might just be something in it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89841 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:34:38 +0000 Dave 89841@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dunno... I have a horizontal cut-off approved light and still get people shouting at me, a problem which I've solved by turning it off (previously had no switch). However I only did this for an easy life, not because I thought it really was too bright.</p> <p>On bells, I don't like the ring and skelp past approach. I did briefly fit a bell in the festival but took it off because I felt it was encouraging me to take less care. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89837 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:55:44 +0000 fimm 89837@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bells, sigh, some people "read" a cyclist ringing their bells as saying "get out of my way", while others hear "hello cyclist approaching :) ". I've had an elderly couple compain that I should have rung my bell to warn them of my approach (I had, they obviously hadn't heard it, I'd then gone for a polite (but fairly loud, given that I hadn't been heard up to that point) "excuse me"). </p> <p>Speed's all relative - I slowed down to pass someone on the Sliverknowes path the other day, but in retrospect thought that I could have slowed down even more (if someone whizzes past you too close at 40, you're not going to take "well I slowed down from 70" for an answer).</p> <p>edd1e_h if someone complained repeatedly about my light, I think I would investigate and see if I could do something about it. It is possible that this person has a point, even if you don't like the way they are making it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89833 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:50:09 +0000 Uberuce 89833@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I put the studly winter tyres back on the bike, which I found to be the ideal solution. People turn to see what on earth is making that weird sound well before I'd normally be ringing a bell. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89832 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:46:29 +0000 gembo 89832@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Having a bell and ringing it to alert those ahead works for me. However, some folk are deaf, others get cross with you for ringing. do you think you own the place etc? With very old, deaf folk, I will be one of them soon, it is best to ring, smile, slow down, chat, be nice. even then, some of them still hate you just for being young?</p> <p>as this discussion always shows, whenever we have it, we all exist on a sliding scale of the amount of consideration we re willing/able to give to others. indeed, some days we are able to be more kind than others if we are not always rushing everywhere and are smelling the roses etc.</p> <p>no right or wrong answers but as Otis said Try a little tenderness </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89826 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:55:56 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 89826@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>With regard to the bell issue, if the pedestrian is on a steady, non meandering route which they all were, iam not going to ring my bell, however, I will if they are erratic.</em>"</p> <p>This was my way of doing things, then an old lady I passed pointed out to me (politely, I stopped and we chatted) that a cyclist suddenly appearing from behind with no warning gave people a start. So the bell wasn't to stop meanderers from meandering, but just to let people to know to expect a bike. Having removed the annoying always tinging bell from the bike I have resorted to other methods of making sure my approach is not inaudible (a Campag freehub on the commuter helps...). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89823 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:39:05 +0000 559 89823@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Its_Me_Knees<br /> For the record I was called a "grumpy old fart"<br /> My complaint was presented with no swearing, politely, their response was not.</p> <p>Not sure about the older gent tag, but anyway, didnt think i was going at pace. Also for the record front light was on and obvious.</p> <p>With regard to the bell issue, if the pedestrian is on a steady, non meandering route which they all were, iam not going to ring my bell, however, I will if they are erratic.</p> <p>Indeed none of us are perfect, but that does not preclude an opinion. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89790 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 19:22:23 +0000 gembo 89790@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Polarised specs.Yes. First came across them in earlyn1970 s. possiblynmillport pier. You could look down at the sea and see the fishes swimming beneath tHe waves and then the specs would fall off into the sea. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89736 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 19:32:32 +0000 chdot 89736@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> Well I thought that last year’s Seca 700 (700 lumens…get it?) was impressive, and I felt that I didn’t really need anything more from a light. Then L&amp;M come out with this, their Seca 900, with an eye bleeding 900 lumens of light…it’s like being on a film set. Boom…power extreme. This light is just phenomenal.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.madison.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?vertical=cycling&amp;tier1=Electronics+%26+Lighting&amp;tier2=Lights+-+Accessories+%26+Spares&amp;catref=EH8260277" rel="nofollow">http://www.madison.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?vertical=cycling&amp;tier1=Electronics+%26+Lighting&amp;tier2=Lights+-+Accessories+%26+Spares&amp;catref=EH8260277</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89732 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 19:23:58 +0000 rufus 89732@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As someone said there is a real danger when you get the combination of an oncoming laser and a darkly clad pedestrian.<br /> That said I did dazzle someone on the towpath last week. I was trying our a light on my helmet and hadn't got it quite right. Sorry to whoever it was (who did shout something at me, quite reasonably). It seems a bit tricky with helmet mounted lights - the thing which make them good (being able to look side to side) also make it a bit bad when you tip your head forward and back. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89728 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:48:48 +0000 wee folding bike 89728@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Land did suggest polarised headlights and windscreens to reduce glare. </p> <p>Windscreens and lights would be polarised at right angles to each other. Reflected light would have random polarisation. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8801&page=2#post-89726 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:36:15 +0000 crowriver 89726@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Maybe polarised specs are the answer? I understand some drivers wear them to stop headlight glare in the dark... </p>