[PLEASE APPLY] Visibility On The Road

[Duane_Bosch]

Question - what front light do you recommend for road rides ?

 

I don't normally punt something just because I have one so take this from whence it comes.

 

For the front my other half and I both have a have a Giant Recon HL500. Super duper happy with it. It also clips to a gopro mount so in the winter time we run with them clipped to a gopro chesty. They cost around R500. A rand a lumen. I'm told a car headlight is about 750. I don't know how long it lasts but it's more than enough for our 80km round the point rides. I'd guess around 4 hours. The mount is so unobtrusive that they just live on the bikes.

 

For the rear i have a cheap as chips Ryder. But don't be fooled it's bright as feck. My lady has the Giant TL100. It's neat coz you can get a clip that clips it directly to your chair. But then you can't run a saddlebag.

 

I struggle to understand how someone can spend BIG THOUSANDS on a bike but then doesn't buy even a little Ryder rear light that weighs 10 grams for R150

Edited April 7, 2021 by Duane_Bosch

[The Ouzo]

For the front my other half and I both have a have a Giant Recon HL500. Super duper happy with it. It also clips to a gopro mount so in the winter time we run with them clipped to a gopro chesty. They cost around R500. A rand a lumen. I'm told a car headlight is about 750. I don't know how long it lasts but it's more than enough for our 80km round the point rides. I'd guess around 4 hours. The mount is so unobtrusive that they just live on the bikes.

 

For the rear i have a cheap as chips Ryder. But don't be fooled it's bright as feck. My lady has the Giant TL100. It's neat coz you can get a clip that clips it directly to your chair. But then you can't run a saddlebag.

 

I struggle to understand how someone can spend BIG THOUSANDS on a bike but then doesn't buy even a little Ryder rear light that weighs 10 grams for R150

The bold bit is important, seen so many people with rear lights that are just about impossible to see until you are right behind them.

[ChrisF]

Thanks for the tips, will have a look at both front lights. 

 

 

Jip Duane, I also prefer to ensure I am visible.  A thousand arguments for drivers being absent minded, etc etc ....  ALL true.  But I can only do my bit, and that is to be visible

 

 

PS - I do have a very nice Bontrager light on the rear 

[The Ouzo]

Thanks for the tips, will have a look at both front lights. 

 

 

Jip Duane, I also prefer to ensure I am visible.  A thousand arguments for drivers being absent minded, etc etc ....  ALL true.  But I can only do my bit, and that is to be visible

 

 

PS - I do have a very nice Bontrager light on the rear 

What I really like about the combo I have is a) by turning on the front light it turns on the rear at the same time. But you already have a rear so maybe not that important to you

b) you can configure what the lights do when you push the button.

i.e. Its got 4 modes that you can cycle through, so you could have mode 1 front light flashes and rear light flashes, then mode 2 have front light on constant on and rear light do what ever you want. 

The front light has 8 different modes you can set and the rear light has 5, so you can set it up with any combination of these.

[splat]

Question - what front light do you recommend for road rides ?

 

It would need to have a solid beam for commuting during early mornings. Also a strobe function for sunlit rides.

 

A small compact unit, with at least 5 hours capacity.

 

 

USB rechargable.

 

 

 

Very happy with the ultra small Ryder I have, but the battery does not last through longer rides ...

 

 

PS . I did search, the recent threads concentrate on lights for night time MTB riding ...

 

I have the Bontrager Ion Pro - Solid when its dark and strobe as it gets light.

On the rear, I have a Giant Recon TL100 under my saddle with a old cheapo Ryder on the back of my helmet.

My wife has a Ryder Concept 900 on the front (solid or disco mode), with the same TL100 under her saddle and a newer brighter Ryder on the back of her helmet.

 

The front lights are go-pro mounted under the Garmin, so compact and neat and there is never an excuse to not have them on.

Despite that, we both had cars turning in front of us last year. I went over the bonnet and was reasonably unscathed. She hit the side of the car and is still dealing with her injuries.

Cars are looking for cars in the traffic, not bikes .

 

So, when people say: 'Be careful out there!'. There is only so much we can do. The rest is up to everyone else.

Edited April 7, 2021 by splat

[The Ouzo]

I have the Bontrager Ion Pro - Solid when its dark and strobe as it gets light.

On the rear, I have a Giant Recon TL100 under my saddle with a old cheapo Ryder on the back of my helmet.

My wife has a Ryder Concept 900 on the front (solid or disco mode), with the same TL100 under her saddle and a newer brighter Ryder on the back of her helmet.

 

The front lights are go-pro mounted under the Garmin, so compact and neat and there is never an excuse to not have them on.

Despite that, we both had cars turning in front of us last year. I went over the bonnet and was reasonably unscathed. She hit the side of the car and is still dealing with her injuries.

Cars are looking for cars in the traffic, not bikes .

 

So, when people say: 'Be careful out there!'. There is only so much we can do. The rest is up to everyone else.

Its better than not having anything.

 

But as with a car, you still get people that "dont see you", so always ride defensively.

Golden rule "Always expect the other vehicle to do something stupid". Has save my bacon many times, both on the bike and in the car. 

[JuddMan]

This seems like an appropriate place to ask a question without derailing the thread  

 

As someone who is relatively new to road cycling, I have actually been declining invitations to group rides over the last 2 weeks due to it being dark. I know they have lights, but don't want to be 'that guy' who rocks up with no lights.

 

With that being said, would something like the following be alright to use? It's 500 lumens up front, 30 at the back

https://www.cyclelab.com/product/lezyne-hecto-drive-stick-drive-light-combo

 

Appreciate any pointers.

[The Ouzo]

This seems like an appropriate place to ask a question without derailing the thread

 

As someone who is relatively new to road cycling, I have actually been declining invitations to group rides over the last 2 weeks due to it being dark. I know they have lights, but don't want to be 'that guy' who rocks up with no lights.

 

With that being said, would something like the following be alright to use? It's 500 lumens up front, 30 at the back

https://www.cyclelab.com/product/lezyne-hecto-drive-stick-drive-light-combo

 

Appreciate any pointers.

As a to be seen light 500 lumens is more than adequate. The 30lm rear I'll wait for someone else to comment, I feel it might be a little under powered but I'm not sure.

 

Lezyne is a great product, I'm just surprised at that pricing, but then I havent kept up to date with pricing since I bought last year.

[JuddMan]

As a to be seen light 500 lumens is more than adequate. The 30lm rear I'll wait for someone else to comment, I feel it might be a little under powered but I'm not sure.

 

Lezyne is a great product, I'm just surprised at that pricing, but then I havent kept up to date with pricing since I bought last year.

 

Thanks for that.

 

I am no light specialist hence my asking. As far as pricing is confirmed, I do find it a bit hectic, especially since the bike I got is a 2013 Cannondale Synapse and to justify buying lights that cost a large fraction of the price itself, is a difficult task.

 

But I suppose the saying of 'you can't put a price on safety' is what I will be told.

[splat]

This seems like an appropriate place to ask a question without derailing the thread

 

As someone who is relatively new to road cycling, I have actually been declining invitations to group rides over the last 2 weeks due to it being dark. I know they have lights, but don't want to be 'that guy' who rocks up with no lights.

 

With that being said, would something like the following be alright to use? It's 500 lumens up front, 30 at the back

https://www.cyclelab.com/product/lezyne-hecto-drive-stick-drive-light-combo

 

Appreciate any pointers.

 

I reckon that's a good combo for group rides, but probably not adequate for riding on your own in the dark.

 

(I say that without ever seeing either in action)

[The Ouzo]

Thanks for that.

 

I am no light specialist hence my asking. As far as pricing is confirmed, I do find it a bit hectic, especially since the bike I got is a 2013 Cannondale Synapse and to justify buying lights that cost a large fraction of the price itself, is a difficult task.

 

But I suppose the saying of 'you can't put a price on safety' is what I will be told.

I never saw the need for lights during my normal riding, when I started commuting during winter last year I bought a set of lights as I would be riding home in the dark.

It changed everything for me.

I now never leave home without my lights on, sunshine or not.

It has also opened up riding windows early morning where I would normally have had to wait for the sun to come up before going out.

 

I've also found that having the rear light on even during bright daylight has motorists giving me extra space when they pass.

 

 

But, shop around, that is pretty close to the price I paid for my Lezyne combo, 1000lm up front and 75lm rear.

[TNT1]

What is the correct etiquette when someone on the group ride tells you your rear light is too bright?

 

In a similar vein, what is the correct way to speak to someone who complains about your headlight flashing? (I was riding towards the bunch and then U-Turned after they passed to join)

[The Ouzo]

What is the correct etiquette when someone on the group ride tells you your rear light is too bright?

Please stop staring at my a$$

 

In a similar vein, what is the correct way to speak to someone who complains about your headlight flashing? (I was riding towards the bunch and then U-Turned after they passed to join)

I just tell them "Great, it means people can see me, so its doing its job"

[ChrisF]

What is the correct etiquette when someone on the group ride tells you your rear light is too bright?

 

In a similar vein, what is the correct way to speak to someone who complains about your headlight flashing? (I was riding towards the bunch and then U-Turned after they passed to join)

 

The perceptions of "too light" differs drastically as the sun rises.

 

30 before sunrise it is properly DARK, and even "low Lumens" may be considered "too bright".  As the sun rises you suddenly need significantly more light to be visible.

 

 

Then there is the "flashing" vs "solid beam" factor.  Before sunrise a flashing light really hurts the eyes !!

 

Most modern lights have multiple power settings, to provide light when you need it, and to save the battery when you dont need all the light.

 

With the light "on", I ensure it is aimed at the tar 5 to 10m in front of me.  It is visible enough to alert drivers, without being an irritation.

 

As soon as the sun rises I use the flash mode, both for visibility and battery life.

 

 

Rear ... uhm .... not sure.  Day time I do go for an "eratic strobe" on the back, but this is very irritating in the dark.  So early mornings I go for a slow strobe at the back.  Never checked if it is possible to get a lower lux level at the back .....

[ChrisF]

..... snip ....

 

But I suppose the saying of 'you can't put a price on safety' is what I will be told.

 

WOW !!!

 

First time in 2 maybe 3 years that I am looking at lights.  OUCH !!!  Prices have gone insane.

 

 

 

Looking past the price, here are some of the specifications that google shows :

Giant Recon HL500 (R705)

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/za/recon-hl500-2019

Runtime: High (500LM) 2hrs, Middle 4hrs (300LM), Low 10hrs (100LM),

Flash 100hrs, SOS: 100hrs

 

 

Lezynne Smart Drive 1000XL

https://ride.lezyne.com/products/connect-smart-pair

https://olympiccycles.co.za/product/light-lezyne-connect-pro-1000xl-s-drive/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_1LjDgKsSkdWah0QUtf56qmmCNQal3zxIvlZ44JhPff4-V0jbMRtTgaAo0DEALw_wcB

Seems the "Smart" is replaced with the "Connect Pro" ... but Google is all over the show on this one ....

Roughly R2 600  .... But the single button controlling both lights DO seem like a VERY handy function. (hope this is available on the new unit)

Seems the pattern repeats ...

90 minutes on "full blast"

3 hours at 500 Lumens (which is more than enough for a commute)

Depending on the flash mode, the battery could last up to 19 hours.

 

 

 

Lunch time I walked over to Specialized Tygerberg.  Specialized seems to have a couple of interesting options, at a range of price points (more options on the shelves than I see on their website) -

R300 for a 35 to 95 Lumen light 

And again the 80 minutes to 13 hour battery range depending on use .... 

https://www.specialized.com/za/en/stix-sport-headlight/p/156313?color=229872-156313&searchText=49117-1300

uhm .... do you get the mounting bracket with the light ?  Or is that a separate purchase ...

 

 

Need to go back to look at the other options ....

 

 

 

The sports with these smaller lights is that an early start with about an hour of dark riding sees you with a low battery level for the rest of the ride .....

 

 

So consider the "larger lights" :

 

At R 1 800 this baby sure more than enough light ....

https://www.specialized.com/za/en/flux-expert-headlight/p/117230?color=211148-117230&searchText=49115-1012

 

BUT, if you USE these high light levels you are back to the same usage times ....  Granted a "low level" for this light (with longer usage times), should still give a lot more light than the smaller units .....

[ChrisF]

The bold bit is important, seen so many people with rear lights that are just about impossible to see until you are right behind them.

During my road ride on Sunday it was "strange" seeing so many bikes with barely visible rear lights .... lights are there, it is flashing .... but either the batteries are flat, or the lumen setting is useless in full sunlight ....

 

At the next stop I actually took a few steps back to check my Bontrager rear light .... VERY visible