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Leesy
Joined: 25 May 2004
Posts: 61
Location: United Kingdom
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 Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 8:23 pm |
What's the general opinion on front and rear lights and whether to have them flashing or normal beam? My own opinion is that while I ride in heavy traffic on well lit roads that flashing is better as it's all about being seen rather than using the lights to see.
Any other considered opinion?
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farmerschoice
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 11
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 8:24 pm |
Both...have a nice bright static light on the bike, flasher on the bag and flasher on the helmet.
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PARIS75
Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 85
Location: Just got back
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El Diego
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 103
Location: Manchester
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 8:47 pm |
Apparently a solid light is easier for motorists to judge distance so I would go with flashing just to make it a bit harder for them to mow you down.
Let's have a minute's silence for all those who are currently sitting in traffic on the way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle |
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the_village_idiot
Joined: 07 Oct 2009
Posts: 108
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 8:50 pm |
i prefer to flash
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Sicknote
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 749
Location: North London
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:04 pm |
| the_village_idiot wrote: | | i prefer to flash |
 far to much info 
As I drive as well and you can get back lights this cheap, it is worth getting two and putting one on flash and the other on normal plus if one runs out of batteries you also have a backup too.
Also this for both front and back.
Also have a look on ebay as some good deals can be had on these lights.
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howie3472
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 5
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:05 pm |
I go for both static on the bike and a flasher on my bag for the rearlight. I ride down country lanes and the flasher on the front is a bit disco but it seems to work. ive only had one close call with a artic in the last couple of weeks, and only then because he thought both him, me and the lorry coming the other way could all fit on the road together.
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pastryboy
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 258
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:13 pm |
You're supposed to have a reflector as well (which I do at the rear) so that should cover static. I always go for flashing just because I think it draws more attention.
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Asprilla
Joined: 27 Feb 2009
Posts: 105
Location: RP & The Big E
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:23 pm |
One flashing and one solid, on both the front and the rear. Lights really aren't that expensive.
FCN - 5 and now handing out free scalps. |
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iPete
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 33
Location: London Heathrow
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:26 pm |
Lunar smart on the frame, solid, it's probably going to blind a driver flashing. Then stick a flashing light in my hump back cover.
Winter ready Allez Sport '09
FCN: 5 - Hairy legged roadie in baggies. |
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yesiamtom
Joined: 05 Sep 2009
Posts: 10
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:39 pm |
Im fairly sure you have to have atleast one fixed light facing forwards that is white, and a red one facing backwards. You also require a rear red reflector and amber pedal reflectors (these can be on shoes in the case of clipless.)
Also it would seem any lights under £20 a set arent actually road legal on their own.
Check the packaging...if you still have it.
Personally i have a fixed rear red light and a fixed front white light. I dont have pedal reflectors as my pedals dont accept them and the frame is pre 1985 meaning i dont need them. I make up for the loss of that reflection with a valve light on my rear wheel and a reflective bag. I wouldnt mind smaller flashing lights too though, atleast a rear red one on my bag/helmet.
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shouldbeinbed
Joined: 16 Sep 2009
Posts: 285
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 11:20 pm |
both.
I do have a smart lunar flashing on my helmet. mega bright and directable to give the hard stare to potential SMIDSYs edging out of a side road
FCN 7 & 9 |
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Hrun
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 19
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The Beginner
Joined: 30 Apr 2009
Posts: 474
Location: Leamington Spa
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:18 am |
| yesiamtom wrote: |
Also it would seem any lights under £20 a set arent actually road legal on their own.
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??? most the triple LED ones like the RAC ones are perfectly road legal, mine cost £3.99
Flashing is legal but not as the only light, rear reflectors are also required as are amber pedal reflectors it is claimed (although having checked the vehilce lighting statute I can see them specified but not that they are required!)
Simon
FCN9 using a home built hybrid (believed to be a Carrera touring frame) also building an MTB from a Kraken frame. |
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snellgrove
Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 116
Location: Poole
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:49 am |
For me:
front light - steady & bright (you're competing to be seen by the car in front, with other items in their mirrors, i.e. dipped-beam car headlights) so no low-power lighting, something reasonably bright.
Cars are stupid and they think if you're a cyclist behind them, they can forget about you as there's obviously no chance you'll be sneaking past them either on the right or the left  So, bright lights - I want them to know I'm there, and that if there's a bit of traffic, I'll be coming past them!!
Rear: flashing. Only cyclists have flashing (rear or otherwise) lights, so this instantly tells drivers that there's a bike, somewhere up ahead and to get ready to move out / give a bit of space.
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DanielCoffey
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 80
Location: Edinburgh, UK
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:57 am |
| The Beginner wrote: | | Flashing is legal but not as the only light, rear reflectors are also required as are amber pedal reflectors it is claimed (although having checked the vehilce lighting statute I can see them specified but not that they are required!) |
You need to read this Simon... flashers alone are legal though steady is recommended in unlit areas.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069837
| Quote: | 60
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. |
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essex-commuter
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
Posts: 24
Location: Essex
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 8:02 am |
Dealextreme constant mounted on the bike at the front, Cateye and a Blackburn Mars constant mounted on the bike at the rear. Cateye flashing on the rear of my crash helmet and a Fenix LD20 strobing on the front (although the strobe is too much on unlit roads so in those circumstances I turn it down to 1/3rd power constant).
The quicker reply would have been "both".
Heart of Gold, Nerves of Steel, Nob of Butter |
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Matt.K
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 33
Location: Near(ish) York
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 9:56 am |
Easiest solution as other have said is to have both.
I'm currently running:
Front
Reelight SL120 at axle level -flashing
Hope vision 1on bars - constant
Petzl Tikka XP on helmet - constant
Rear
Reelight SL120 at axle level - flashing
Smart Kidney Bean thing on back of rack bag - constant
Built in LED light in helmet - flashing
Also, as snellgrove said, bikes are the only vehicles with flashing red or white lights, so it marks you out to a motorist in the distance that they're going to be closing on you at a fair speed on a country lane.
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/exercise/wZ9CWOr/]
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injuredbymotorist
Joined: 05 Nov 2009
Posts: 1
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:14 am |
I use both - solid and flashing lights front and rear, along with high viz jacket with reflective stripes from head to toe.
This didnt stop an 85 year old motorist ploughing into me from behind on a well lit 40mph road.
Needless to say the driver was ok and the cyclist is now an ex cylist.
Until ALL roads have cycle paths I, nor my children, will use roads to cycle on again!
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don_don
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Posts: 936
Location: Cheltenham
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