@spit/spytfire I've never been spotted either.......and I never will mwah ha ha ha ha !
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Spotted
(14531 posts)- Started 14 years ago by recombodna
- Latest reply from jdanielp
- This topic is
sticky - This topic is
resolved
-
Posted 14 years ago #
-
I thought we maxed the thread, but then i made the post, and here is page 10! woop.
Posted 14 years ago # -
recombodna - that's 'cause everyone thinks you drive a white van. how much is it worth to keep me from spilling the beans?
to be fair, I did spotcha after you mentioned your trailer/driver rage incident...just the thread didn't exist yet, so I politely used a PM
Posted 14 years ago # -
I've yet to be spotted. Sigh.
Posted 14 years ago # -
@recombodna - hah - you have been spotted, I am eenveenceebal!
Posted 14 years ago # -
@SRD .....erm yes I suppose you're right. I'll pay you your hush money later ok?
Damn unt blast! Now to hunt a spitfyre with my blunderbus!!!Posted 14 years ago # -
as long as it's a blunderbus and not a blundertram
Posted 14 years ago # -
I am spotless as well :-/
Though in such exalted company my 1 watt front light and 1/2 watt cherrybomb probably count as stealth mode :-oPosted 14 years ago # -
@spitfire
In view of other threads about people with 'too bright' lights on cyclepaths, it's interesting that your link says "A twin light off road lighting system".
Posted 14 years ago # -
The linked light would make an excellent donor to make a really good led system... hmmm. No must resist.
5w would be fine for a shared use path at normal speeds in normal conditions the extra 10w would really only be necessary on a steep decent on road or for "proper" mountain biking.
Posted 14 years ago # -
This happens every year...
When the clocks went back in 2009, there were no lights on the Roseburn path *at all* for some time. You can imagine under the trees and bridges it gets pretty dingy. Nevertheless, people still grumbled at me for having a "to see by" light aimed down at the verge below the left of my bars!
In fact, there are more than a few on the Roseburn path who will flatly tell you that it is never appropriate to have a "see by" light on a bike, as "they are for cars" (sic).
It would be entertaining in a vaguely sadistic way to watch the streams of commuters returning from Fife with £2.50 green blinkie front light to see by...
Posted 14 years ago # -
I've never had another cyclist complain about the strength of my front light (Hope Vision 1 - 240 lumens on highest setting).
However, I HAVE noticed cars coming the other way slowing at conflict points like road narrowings, and I'm completely certain it's because they think a light that strong can't be on a bike, so I must be a motorbike, or small car with one headlight not working.
I generally have it on level 2 of 4 settings, but sometimes turning it all the way up to 11 (oh, ok, 4) gives that little bit more security.
Posted 14 years ago # -
In a retro vein, perhaps we could have an I-Spy version of "spotted" (http://www.ispymichelin.com/kids.htm), with points related to how difficult it is to spot someone.
I personally have not knowingly spotted any of you or been spotted by you.
Posted 14 years ago # -
My Ay-Ups only have one setting, so they are on full all the time (probably about 200 lumen). Hence essential that they are pointed downward or they really are antisocial.
I think it's more the principal than any actual blinding. Every time I set my lights up I do an actual check by approaching them from the front at night, to make sure I'd be happy to ride past myself. The problem is, what I consider to be acceptable is obviously not universal.
To be fair, it's not like I would have a problem with every other rider. More like once a week somebody would shout and moan at me (always, without exception, riding a bike I'd feel unsafe on a night-time road situation, with terrible little imitation LEDs).
I stopped for one chap who was upset because it hurt to stare into the light. I had a good look (in case it had slipped) but it seemed fine to me, so in the end I was like, don't stare at it then...
Bah! If you want a hard time from oncoming lights, try putting your face down where everybody has thoughtfully aimed. Do I complain? ;-)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Hehe they'll love my 5w 350 lumen's then...
Not actually tried to use it on a fully dark path yet i've yet to be stuck in the office late enough and generally can't be bothered going back out when its dark.
Posted 14 years ago # -
The problem is, I think it's totally reasonable to say to someone pointing a laser in your eyes, point it down. Presumably there are people out there who get sick of it to the point where they just decide to have a go at anyone who's got something more than a blinkie. It just breeds bad feeling.
If they stuck to the real problem, there'd be a lot more sympathy.
I think the other point is that some genuinely don't realise what it's like to ride without a real light. It's not only impractical to try and ride around with a blinkie away from well lit areas, it's downright dangerous. Anyone who doubts this can try riding between the golf courses towards Crammond (see, you don't even have to be leaving the city limits) and when you ride off the surface and into a tree, you'll feel more sympathy... ;-)
Posted 14 years ago # -
"a laser"
Coooooool! lazer sights + rangefinder + mist = AWESOME!!!!!
Posted 14 years ago # -
hey dave - maybe the idea of a light with settings is a good one? Bright for darker areas, less bright for lighter areas? Could catch on. My cat eye rechargeable has bright, dim, constant and flashing so ends up with 4 settings. Also has a clever warning with about 15 mins left of charging to let you get home to charge it The actual charging process is a bit dickie. Wee flashing light on the charger and if it goes constant within 10 mins, you have to start again, I find that annoying.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I generally only cycle down the main roads, in town at night and find I don't need much more than front and rear flashers "to be seen". There's plenty of light around for me too see with (too much, in fact).
However I used to commute up to and beyond Ratho down the back lanes with no street lights and iffy road surfaces and can 100% appreciate the need for a good, strong beam to "see with". It's just not needed going down MMW, it's not going to help the rider see much better and it just dazzles riders coming in the other direction...
Posted 14 years ago # -
Thanks SRD! I've been spotted! Yes I would've been taking my little lad for his cycling 101 at Bristo Sq. He absolutely adores his balance bike.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Bristo Square? It he learning to grind and jump steps already!? :)
@gembo/kaputnik - This year I'm going to have my lights wired via a switch on the bars, then have one of these oh-so-vogue green blinkies too. Then on the Roseburn I can just turn my lights off, and imitate the moaners :)
Posted 14 years ago # -
After nearly hitting a brick on the Roseburn path in the dark doing 21mph I feel the twin spots necessary, Once tested I might not run them both and may modify the wiring to attach one to the old lid
I'll be easier to spot but I don't think anybody here goes along that way muchPosted 14 years ago # -
As a teenager I had one of those front lamps that resembled the candle holders you got on the front of carriages. It gave out about as much light as you would expect a candle on the front of a carriage to as well. It completely failed to light the road at all (streetlight free countryside) but did cast terrifying shadows in the whins as I rode past. I just used to switch it off and only turn it on if a car came. So just got used to riding in the dark. Those were the days..
Not really going anywhere with this anecdote. Just thought I'd share.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I used live in a villlage at the top of a hill with mists (and streetlights) so I used to 'experiment' with 'foglights'.
Lower down meant less light reflected back so I mounted one on the front axle.
Maybe we need an 'anecdotes' thread.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Two of us arrived on Barra after dark with the aim of finding a suitable roadside camping spot somewhere. Battery problems and fitting problems meant only one front light and one back light between us. No problem - just cycle close, one behind the other (in the right order of course).
I was using those horrible EverReady 2xD cell lights. Even in 1997 (it was Diana's funeral that day, irrelevantly) they were horribly out of date.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Maybe we need an 'anecdotes' thread.
The "when ah were a lad it were all fields" or alternative "kids these days don't know they're born" threads?
Posted 14 years ago # -
"kids these days don't know they're born"
Not to mention the equally popular - it's all the fault of the parents....
Posted 14 years ago # -
"it's all the fault of the parents"
True
Posted 14 years ago # -
Or - Nostalgia Ain't What It Used To Be
"Maybe we need an 'anecdotes' thread. "
Isn't that all of them, eventually? ;-)
Posted 14 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
