Yes, that old subject again. The mega-bright,front-light brigade are still out in force.On the canal tow-path at Meggetland around 530 tonight there was a convoy of three of them intent on burning out the retinas of all oncoming fellow humans. There are still some using the Roseburn to Leith path too. I've taken to heading directly to the light and stopping in front of them.
I really do look forward to the lighter mornngs and nights when those idiots turn their spotlights off!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Uber -bright front lights
(16 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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With these cheap bright Chinese lights it would be great if they were made idiot proof. The fitting tht connects the light to the handlebars could be shaped with a slope so that the light will point down and left regardless?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Was wondering tonight if the Brompton light has had a knock making it point a bit skyward, but decided it was still not bad 99% of the time due to the hard cut on the beam shape.
I've got one of the cheap searchlights en route to me, but it will be reserved for unlit tracks (with no oncoming traffic) and motorists who can afford superbright lights but cannot find the dipswitch (or indeed those who neither know or care about the difference between driving lamps and foglamps and illegally misuse both grrr)Posted 11 years ago # -
Just when I thought things were getting better, I was blinded on the Innocent a couple of nights ago. First there was a group with extra lights mounted as outriggers, so I couldn't tell how many people were approaching until they got closer. Then there was a really insidious light that started off steady and then suddenly switched to rapid bright strobing just as I passed.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I think the problem with a lot of these lights (mine included) is the rubber band which holds it to the handlebar. My bike is parked outside, so the light comes off the bike every day. As a result the light now tilts up every time I hit a bump. I'm continually pushing it down when I approach other riders coming towards me. There is also no mechanism to point the light to the left.
My plan is to buy an ebc bracket which will allow me to position light correctly, and be able to remove / instal easily.
All that said, I also meet cyclists who are using high powered lights wrongly mounted coming towards me, and the simple workaround is just not to look at the light. I find it quite effective. Maybe not so easy on the narrow canal path, as it is on the wide cycle paths and roads I frequent it has to be said,
Posted 11 years ago # -
I may be naive, but I'd guess the badger-slaying actinic photon cannons have pretty good mounts, not just because they're heavier, but by dint of being in the expensive toy price range so there's more sales to be had by a good bracket than a cheap one.
My expensive toy has a reassuringly burly mount with a left/right swivel. I rescued a much cheaper cousin from the bargain bin at TBC and it uses the same clip design so they're interchangeable, but I don't trust the bargain one's mount to hold the Death Star. It's all plastic and only kept on by friction. Well, they both are, but the clamping force on the expensive one is good old fashioned steel deformation, not just plastic.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I think the problem is the cheap Chinese sold ones have all the corners possible cut. They're medieval drivers coupled to the most powerful LED Cree makes. This is all bundled up into a package that can barely cool the emitter which is then held on to the bars by a flimsy bit of rubber.
The "better" branded ones have more thoughtfully designed bodies, general better drivers and a clamp that once tightened can be used to lift Uberuces Iron Horse.
Posted 11 years ago # -
All that said, I also meet cyclists who are using high powered lights wrongly mounted coming towards me, and the simple workaround is just not to look at the light. I find it quite effective.
I can't help wondering if that is the problem in some cases as I see a lot of people on the Innocent with very bright lights (as you would expect) but have never been blinded or found it a problem. I actually like it as it adds extra light to the path to aid the potentially dodgy moment of passing the other cyclist. Mind you, they might just all have proper lights. I should try riding on the canal after work sometime so I can see the problem for myself.
Posted 11 years ago # -
If I make it to PY tomorrow I must try to get someone to ride my bike up and down so I can assess the lighting(!)
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'll be in for the 7.30 start, so sign me up as your modal(actress, whatever), Smudge.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Cool thanks :-)
I shall endeavour to drag my lazy carcass out of bed in time then!Posted 11 years ago # -
I think most of your replies are correct. It's not so much how bright the lights are but rather how they are angled- unfortunately angled upwards to oncoming eyes instead of more horizontally and lighting up the road ahead.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Effectively full-beam and not dipped!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Some of thos lights are fierce. I was DRIVING through Holyrood Park last week, at night and was dazzled by an oncoming cyclist! Is was easilly as bright as a full beam car headlight, mental!
Posted 11 years ago # -
What Min and Baldie said ^^^
This morning was actually the closest I've come to being blinded with some pulse-rifle light coming the other way. I did consider saying they should dip the light, but looked the other way instead (was easy on a wide road as well, as others have said, narrow canal path may make this more of an issue - I'm another who uses the Innocent in the dark so see a LOT of uber bright lights coming the other way).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Tonight, as an experiment, I mounted my badgerkilling bar light on my helmet and my helmet light on the bars before going along the canal.
I'm relatively sure I didn't cause more offence than usual, since Smudge was kind enough to demonstrate how uncomfortable a wanton head movement is when that thing's on your heid and I was therefore careful with my cranial orientation.
It didn't actually take much effort, since I've usually got my head going the same way all the time anyway, but I was struck by the difference in retroreflective trim on oncoming joggers and cyclists; they Tronned the bejesus out of me.
That in itself is one of the reasons I wanted to have a hatlight on - the minority of 3M-coated persons are hilariously obvious when your light source is so close to your eyes. The difference between £16 bargain-bin rescue and [even with the CCE-discount]£100+ testosterone vanity purchase is pretty marked, though.
Eat kale.
Posted 11 years ago #
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