Lights on bikes

[AndreZA]

Okay, here is part two of my article.

 

 

 

The most important safety tip on a bicycle is visibility. You can improve this with lights, bright clothing and neon/reflective bibs and vests.

 

 

 

I know that these riders with their sub7kg R50 000 plastic bicycles will not be caught dead riding in anything other then their favourite team colours never mind a ghastly yellow bib. But it's only for training and commuting that you need to take such extreme measures and it's dark anyway so no one will see that you kit does not match your bike.

 

 

 

Another pet hate is with the same above mentioned riders is that they are so adamant not to add any weight to their bicycles so they use the lightest and smallest light available. These, like the tiny single LED Barbieri/Ryder lights don't work. They are not very bright and have a very limited spread. You could always add about 10 of them and point them in 10 different direction but that defies the point of saving money and weight. You get quite decent front and rear flashing lights that are not too heavy and does a really decent job.

 

 

 

Having lights are just the beginning of the fight, pointing them in the right direction is the second part. Remember we are talking about 50 lumens flashing lights here and not 500+ lumens enduro lights, so they are used to be seen and not to see with. If you want to see where you are going, get another brighter/stronger light.

 

 

 

The first thing is height. Point them to shine driver height. Not 4x4 drivers but normal cars. This is easy and means that the light must basically be horizontal on the bars or seat post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondly the direction. As you as expected to ride on the left of the road/lane, it is pointless to point the lights straight ahead or to the back of you. There are no cars directly ahead or behind you. They are always to your right. So twist the lights so that they point more to the right. You will not be "wasting" the beam on the sidewalk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

[Captain Slow]

 

Great article Mampara!!

 

BTW, this morning at 6am as I was on my way to the office, saw 2 guys of which one is a prominent hubber riding without lights as it was still fairly dark as there was cloud cover.

 

It is simple, lighting is NOT only there for you to see, but there for you TO BE SEEN!!!

 

Captain Slow2009-03-03 10:27:56