http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Rear Lights, thoughts en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:41:51 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97959 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:23:39 +0000 gembo 97959@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thought</p> <p>we think we are the solution, others seem to think we are the problem </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97860 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:29:50 +0000 gkgk 97860@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a Smart Lunar R1 (1 watt led) but am tempted by the 2 watt Niterider Solas, charged via usb. The beam pattern is much better, more rectangular. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97851 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:59:04 +0000 559 97851@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver, thanks, good thoughts all </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97843 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:44:00 +0000 crowriver 97843@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reflectors can be seen from more than one angle, vis:</p> <p><img src="http://www.beezodogsplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/reflectors.jpg"></p> <p>(The '1979' is not a reflective, but apparently the date amber reflectors were made compulsory for Dutch cyclists' pedals).*</p> <p>Reflectors can be very bright too:</p> <p><img src="http://www.rivbike.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/visibility/31-460-triride.jpeg"></p> <p>Sometimes more effective than LED rear lights too. Can you spot the rear light on this bike?</p> <p><img src="http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4710/reflectivessm.jpg"></p> <p>* - apparently reflective tyre sidewalls or wheel rims have been compulsory since 1987! Oh, and flashing bike lights are illegal in NL. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97842 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:40:10 +0000 cb 97842@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ok, having read Cycle (Dec/Jan 2012/13 p67), I got it the wrong way round earlier.</p> <p>It's easy to buy a <em>legal</em> light, but to make your <em>bike</em> legal (in the dark) you need to fit an <em>approved</em> light.</p> <p>"A lamp is approved if it has a mark to say it conforms with BS6102 part 3, or the marking of another EC country, providing their approval system ensures a corresponding level of safety"</p> <p>That, apparently, pretty much means Germany, but... most of their approved lights are dynamo powered.</p> <p>Another complication is that hardly any flashing lights are approved because they usually have a steady mode, therefore are judged on that criterion. </p> <p>In summary, light manufacturers don't bother with BS approval because they can easily sell <em>legal</em> lights.</p> <p>So... probably 99% of cyclists are technically breaking the law at night. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97841 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:27:42 +0000 crowriver 97841@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Except that on a dark night, a motorist is thinking of overtaking on the narrow country road, then sees the unmistakable whirling amber lozenges of bike pedals on the other side of the road, closing at speed. But.....they're in mid-air! Is that a low flying UFO? The recumbenteer passes by into the gloom as the befuddled driver is still wondering whether to risk that overtake... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97840 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:06:04 +0000 fimm 97840@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given that a recumbent rider's feet are at the front, nothing reflective on them will be visible from the rear, which is where you mostly see pedal reflectors from. It is also a problem if you have panniers, or a trailer I assume. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97838 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:23:48 +0000 crowriver 97838@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As an aside, I note the title of the thread is "Rear lights, thoughts". That's two separate (albeit possibly related) topics. Have we crossed over into the "thoughts" topic yet? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97837 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:19:34 +0000 crowriver 97837@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah, but why not put reflectors on the <em>underside</em> of the recumbenteer pedals? Assuming they're SPDs or cage pedals with toeclips...</p> <p>Dave's innovation is another alternative, though presumably the reflective gets scratched and mucky off the bike? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325&page=2#post-97833 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:39:08 +0000 Dave 97833@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Helicopters and worms will enjoy recumbent pedal reflectors. Light from the front doesn't hit them, when you think about it.</p> <p>On my hard (soleless) shoes, I did fit 3M reflective tape between heel and cleat for maximum confusion power. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97829 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:07:43 +0000 cb 97829@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver</p> <p>More from the point of view that the reflectors tend to point skyward when recumbenting. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97827 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:46:57 +0000 crowriver 97827@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>And of course, pedal reflectors are pointless on a recumbent.</em></p> <p>Depends what height your pedals are, I suppose. Still visible from the front too, though that might well confuse the hell out of motorists. But then, recumbents generally do... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97823 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:34:00 +0000 amir 97823@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I got those reflector clip things with a pair of SPD pedals that I bought (some time ago now). They are functional but you do end up with 1 sided clip-ins. I'd prefer to use an ankle band. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97820 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:15:08 +0000 DaveC 97820@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Top Tip: I bought <a href="http://www.roseversand.com/article/shimano-pedals-spd-pd-m520/aid:368225">Shimano SPDs</a> from Rose Cycles in Germany and they came with <a href="http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=22313">free reflector clip in plastic inserts</a>. The same pedals from the UK are more expensive and the Pedal Reflectors are arround £10 extra. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97818 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:10:54 +0000 cb 97818@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And of course, pedal reflectors are pointless on a recumbent. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97815 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:41:26 +0000 EddieD 97815@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>(and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85)</p> <p>Would I get away with "but officer, I don't have pedals..." I've always wondered about the legal status of SPuDs and similar </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97812 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:44:42 +0000 kaputnik 97812@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Red lights do not affect night vision per say</em></p> <p>what I was meaning was (as Crowriver said) if you're at the back of a line of hyper-flashing Cherrybombs then all you can see is a line of hyper-flashing Cherrybombs, and anything else is rather negligible. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97810 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:27:17 +0000 steveo 97810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Red lights do not affect night vision per say, the chemicals in your eye that build up to create night vision are washed away by any light in the blue green band of white light, the chemicals are not sensitive to red. </p> <p>Not saying they're not annoying and they may cause your pupils to contract reducing the apparent amount light but they don't effect your night vision.</p> <p>Good fishing and camping (head) torches will come with a weak red emitter to preserve both your batteries and your night vision. Since you can see much better by red light at night than by white the amount of power required is reduced. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97809 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:18:11 +0000 chdot 97809@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85</p> <p>"</p> <p>So that's my '86 Evans a year older. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97808 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:16:58 +0000 cb 97808@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think that if a light is <strong>approved</strong> then it's legal to fix it to your bike, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it will make your bike meet the legal requirements for cycling at night.</p> <p>The latest CTC magazine had an item on this which seemed to suggest that there are hardly any lights which are 'legal' even though almost all are 'approved'.</p> <p>Must look it up again... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97807 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:04:45 +0000 crowriver 97807@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>with car headlights and street lights all around you want to talk about night vision?</em></p> <p>More like on shared use paths or rural roads without any street lighting... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97806 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:02:17 +0000 spytfyre 97806@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't ride in a group and would obviously turn off flashing mode if I was - that's plain common sense.<br /> As to the night vision - really? with car headlights and street lights all around you want to talk about night vision? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97804 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:56:36 +0000 crowriver 97804@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Many (most?) bikes don't have a rack, for starters, </em></p> <p>I meant the bit about the steady light, but it seems that's no longer a requirement for the rear, only the front...(even then that's only 'recommended'). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97803 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:54:12 +0000 crowriver 97803@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Highway Code has been updated to reflect reality it seems:</p> <p><em>60</p> <p>At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.<br /> Law RVLR regs 13, 18 &amp; 24</em></p> <p>Note well the bit about the red rear reflector! Also how many folk using SPD pedals have amber reflectors fitted? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97802 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:51:38 +0000 Dave 97802@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>(statutory requirement) steady rear light fixed to the rear carrier</em></p> <p>I'm pretty sure this isn't true... is it?</p> <p>Many (most?) bikes don't have a rack, for starters, while the flashing lights issue has long since been put to bed (<a href="http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations">i.e. CTC</a>)</p> <p>For my money I think the most important thing (besides a big front light, OT) is a reflective ankle band. With my driver's hat on, I find these particularly attention-grabbing.</p> <p>Ultimately a good sense of perspective is helpful. The roads are full of extremely badly lit people (in cars as well as on bikes) and the proportion of them coming to harm is evidently very small. </p> <p>Not a reason to take off your lights, you understand, but certainly one to guide how much we should worry about them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97801 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:50:56 +0000 crowriver 97801@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Imagine riding in a bunch, in darkness, along country roads, for hours. The guys at the front have cherry bombs blasting away on epilepsy mode searing the back of your eye sockets at close range...</p> <p>I'd say it's polite to have a steady light. Oh and some mudguards too... ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97800 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:50:08 +0000 kaputnik 97800@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>blinkies are very antisocial and annoy the riders behind you!</em></p> <p>and complete destroy night vision. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97798 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:20:35 +0000 Baldcyclist 97798@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"...and annoy the riders behind you"</p> <p>They must be easily annoyed, and therefore probably best suited to long solo rides? ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97797 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:14:57 +0000 crowriver 97797@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A lot depends upon what kind of riding you're doing. If it's mostly urban cycling on busy streets with good lighting, then blinkies make a lot of sense. I still think having a (statutory requirement) steady rear light fixed to the rear carrier is essential though, preferably with a big reflector to show up in vehicle headlight beams.</p> <p>The steady rear light is incredibly important if you are riding on unlit rural roads, and if you are riding in a group of cyclists over any distance: blinkies are very antisocial and annoy the riders behind you! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9325#post-97795 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:07:16 +0000 wingpig 97795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Solid-on dynarearlight (attached to the back of the mudguard) is all well and good and bright and integrally-reflectored but is also quite low down and four minutes' standlighting can easily be used up after a few red lights in a row, so a 2010-model (0.5W?) Cherry Bomb is attached to the light-loop on my saddlebag and an i-shaped Smart thing (described as "too bright so sit behind" by the Light &amp; Motion Vis180-owning Instography) to the rear of the helmet, both on sparkle-flicker mode. I originally had them the other way round but the position of the button on the bottom of the Smart meant that it occasionally thwacked itself off against the top of the rack. </p>