Safe Speed Forums

Not aimed at you personally Ernest but it interesting that we have one thread complaining about the dazzle caused by modern car headlights juxtapositioned with a thread suggesting that cyclist should use even more powerful and dazzling lights. But then that is typical of the disregard with which all cyclists regard the law.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Oops - I should have put X21, not X7.

When you see it DCB you will understand that it would probably never end up on a cycle!
http://www.maplin.co.uk/led-lenser-x21-torch-228373?c=froogle&u=228373&t=module

Dimensions 395mm x 120mm Weight 1488 grams - so it could be used as a truncheon!

In unlit rural areas, a decent light set up is a must - and I do see some which are badly set up and dazzle - but there is no reason why this should be so - I use the spot setting of the P7 on the bars to light up ahead of the bike, and a 3 LED Cateye unit on my helmet to fill in wherever it is needed... including lifting my head at oncoming cars who have not felt the need to dip for a cyclist!

My view on that is that my safety trumps the law - I used flashing LED rear sets before they were legally approved!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Just looked up the X21 on the HALFRAUDS website.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_766115_langId_-1_categoryId_165497
They are quoting £299, and offer a pack of SIX D cells bundle for £309.43.

Now the X21 comes with the FOUR D cells required packed in the box - branded with the LENSER brand, so what use would you have for the other TWO D cells, and why are they charging £50 more than Maplin then trying to flog additional batteries that you don't need??

No wonder their offer is a Web Exclusive!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Ahhh but it is very different you crafty thing.

All that has happened, is happening, is that after the long history of cycling using lamps which were about as good as a firefly we have in recent years at last caught up with cars and motorbikes whereby we can now actually see where we are going on an unlit road.

Nice try, but no cigar Dave.

The nerve, thinking he could get that one past us.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

I know that's a little tongue in cheek, but just in case...

Car headlamps = 96W/110W
The ovekill P7 (I own one, ~700 lumens) = 10W (granted LEDs are much more efficient)

Cars go a bit quicker than pedal cycles, so the main beam lights are usually angled upwards more.

If/when HID lamps (3500 lumens) become the norm on pedal cycles, I suspect they will start falling under regulations or enforced restrictions.

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

A tongue in cheek detector,that would be useful.

My Lupine is quite a few years old now, and expensive. At the time I was really pleased with it, until about six months later when my mate got a super bright LED one.

It had the same spread but made my light look yellow by comparison.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

But, and this is my real complaint, cyclists with serious lights don't seem to have grasped the concept of dipping that light so as not to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. I can imagine a court case where a cyclist is injured by a motorist who claims to have been dazzled by the cyclists undipped super flash X7 pro. The defence summing up would go like this. "So, members of the Jury, the cyclist was using a lamp which is 16 times more powerful than the legally prescribed maximum. Image in that 16 time more powerful. Image that you are driving your car and you were confronted with an oncoming vehicle with not two headlamps, not four headlamps but with thirty-two headlamps all shining at you. ""


Never the less it is just as illegal to use such a light on your bike as it is to cycle on the pavement or to jump a red light.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

I've actually "been there" to be honest. Several times now, I've set off for work before light and have been dazzled by a cyclist's lights coming the other way. This is obviously a very keen cyclist as he takes the same route at the same time, rain or shine. The effect is made worse by the fact that when standing on the pedals, the bike weaves a lot and leans from side to side. OK, the effect is no worse than being dazzled by an oncoming car, but it's still mildly unpleasant. Without MOTs though, I don't see how they can check headlamp alignment on a bike.

Oh absolutely! I'm with you now; wasn't sure if you were trying to pull a fast one

The problem is made worse because, AFAIK, they are not made with a cut-off beam like a car headlamp on dip, so a result you have to raise the light to see ahead better which dazzles oncoming traffic?

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

If you use a narrow beam from the right angle, it will shine on the road some distance ahead of your cycle, and NOT at drivers on the other side of the road!
However, the surface just in front of the bike will be less well lit - which is why I employ additional lights which although not as powerful, serve to light the area closer in front of the wheel.

With more and more potholes and debris on our roads, good lights are more important than ever.
As usual the law is lagging behind the technology.
It is not the power of light alone which can present a problem - it is the colour and the angle at which it is presented.

Pinpoint LEDs can be more irritating even at lower levels.

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Whilst that is usually true I would argue that the reverse is the case in this instance. The technology is providing very bright light which is patently illegal when used on a bicycle. The technology should be providing a twin "filament" beam with a very well defined cut-off as it does for cars. Or perhaps a mechanism for tilting the beam downwards.

But I suspect that, as Tone suggests, cyclists have grown so used to being dazzled by motorists who don't dip for cyclists (or pedestrians) that they are enjoying getting their own back.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

i have a fenix tk11 for proper darkness.
pretty narrow beam does a great job, only had a handful of cars take issue with it.

only complaint is could do with a flood closer in to the bike for corners.

Well I wouldn't go that far, that but I bet it goes on.

I've just had a thought If you have taken a Motorbike across the channel you will know the thing with tape across the headlights.

It does feel like wasted light energy though so maybe Cateye will come up with the ultimate cycle light one day..

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

There IS such a mechanism.

Either rotate the bracket around the bars, lowering the beam, or if helmet mounted, lower your head!

Simples!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

'My view on that is that my safety trumps the law - I used flashing LED rear sets before they were legally approved!'

I usually agree with you Ernest, but the DICKHEAD that allowed flashing lights on push-bikes should be buried alive with the same t**t that invented drls! *%$!!!

I have a varied assortment of lights but the latest is cateye one's and a small spare emergency light on my keyfob (re-chargable) that can sit on the handlebars just in case one dies.
I detest rear flashing lights - it is not as if you can't see the bike so why does it need to flash.
I have a great twin set for head light and handlebars from the States from yrs back although I have 'lost' the battery pack (rechargeable), it is still packed somewhere ! I will find it but they are good except that they are now superseded by LED's and far better and smaller batteries !

So why not just re-buy the scooter ? You obviously liked it for the job, and hate the bike concept. I can also understand how being on your feet all day makes you weary and less enthusiastic toward cycling. If it is really only half a mile what about getting a Segway ?

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Which is why many cyclists ride on pavements, to the horror of so many of the motorists on these forums

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Perhaps because he is a law-abiding citizen? Segway's are not road-legal - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5271874.stm

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Segway...

You really would be a loser.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Misrepresentation.
A great many motorists (even regulars of this forum) are happy with pavement cycling in certain circumstances, not by default.

Cycling on pavements isn't automatically safe, people die through this act. Unfortunately, many cycle on pavements where possible, at above normal foot speeds.
I've watched many not check for other traffic when crossing junctions, that’s far from safe.
Some cyclists choose to ride on pavements because they have no lights - a false dichotomy in terms of safety.

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign