Do you always operate tail lights?
-
- Posts: 14416
- Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 4:40 pm
- Location: Bendigo
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby warthog1 » Tue Sep 18, 2012 2:01 pm
-
- Posts: 12225
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:40 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby jasonc » Tue Sep 18, 2012 2:50 pm
-
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:35 pm
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby silverine » Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:55 pm
- Howzat
- Posts: 850
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:08 pm
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby Howzat » Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:30 am
+1 on the front lights. Drivers often check with fraction-of-a-second glances to see if something is coming down the road. That glance is long enough, mostly, for the brain to visually register the presence of car-size objects.MattyK wrote:I run flashing lights front & rear & have noticed a small number of people suddenly stop when they were about to cut across the intersection in front of me.
A hundred-odd lumens announcing your presence might help avoid a dreaded SMIDSY incident.
Give 'em all the help you can.
-
- Posts: 745
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:42 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby duncanm » Fri Sep 21, 2012 4:22 pm
Agree completely..Howzat wrote:+1 on the front lights. Drivers often check with fraction-of-a-second glances to see if something is coming down the road. That glance is long enough, mostly, for the brain to visually register the presence of car-size objects.MattyK wrote:I run flashing lights front & rear & have noticed a small number of people suddenly stop when they were about to cut across the intersection in front of me.
A hundred-odd lumens announcing your presence might help avoid a dreaded SMIDSY incident.
Give 'em all the help you can.
I've found my SMIDSY's have almost dropped to zero since I've been running a front flasher during daylight hours... and I believe the rear has also lowered the incidence of 'near passes' on multi-lane roads, as traffic can see me from far back enough that they have time to think about changing lanes before coming up behind me.
- MREJ
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:58 pm
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby MREJ » Fri Sep 21, 2012 5:48 pm
- KonaCommuter
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:28 pm
- Location: Brisbane Northside
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby KonaCommuter » Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:14 pm
On my Gazelle E-Bike I do not have flashers at all. I've only been rolling on the Gazelle for about 5 weeks now (commute to work 7 days a week... It's an awesome life working 7 days ). Anyways when I'm commuting I'm in my work clothes high vis shirt and I"m sitting upright. I don't have anything to back this up but I feel that perhaps motorists recognise me as a human being. Also the speed I commute at on the Gazelle is less than what I'm capable of on my road bike so maybe that's got something to do with it?
-
- Posts: 820
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:36 pm
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby Chris249 » Thu Sep 27, 2012 12:19 pm
Obviously perceptions differ!
Como Vivente road 2009
Principia track track 2014
Cervelo P2K TT 2003
Merida CX4 2010
Concaeio road
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:40 pm
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby podoco » Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:15 pm
Me, only one when on the road but seriously considering getting another - I'm paranoid that my tail light may not be working (or as recently experienced, fallen off!)
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:47 pm
Four on the commuter: Niteflux Redzone4 ghettomount on the seatpost, Radbot 1000 on the RH stay, Radbot 500 on the LH stay and a Kathmandu 2led blinkie on the back of the lid. The roadie and the MTB each have a single PB Superflash on the post.podoco wrote:So the next question is HOW MANY tail lights do you operate?
Me, only one when on the road but seriously considering getting another - I'm paranoid that my tail light may not be working (or as recently experienced, fallen off!)
London Boy 29/12/2011
-
- Posts: 1711
- Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:28 pm
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby thecaptn » Sat Sep 29, 2012 10:59 am
The two Cateye Cherrybombs I use are the 1 watt variety, although they suck the AAA's dry fairly quick I'm overall very satisfied with them. They conveniently clip neatly and securely straight on to the back of my Cannondale brand rear rack.podoco wrote:So the next question is HOW MANY tail lights do you operate?
Me, only one when on the road but seriously considering getting another - I'm paranoid that my tail light may not be working (or as recently experienced, fallen off!)
I also have an old PB super Flash on my seat bag, she's been following me around for a long time now and it wouldn't seem fair to leave her home after the years of dedicated service she's provided me.
-
- Posts: 12225
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:40 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby jasonc » Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:13 am
just upgraded to 2.podoco wrote:So the next question is HOW MANY tail lights do you operate?
my main is a radbot 1000
my second is a dealextreme $5 cheapy
if one fails, I still have one (plus the radbot also has the integrated reflector)
- familyguy
- Posts: 8392
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:30 pm
- Location: Willoughby, NSW
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby familyguy » Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:39 am
I reckon you only need the one. They are very intense, in a good way. I run the Knog, plus a couple of little single-LED blinkies on seat stay and helmet, which gives me fail-safes (albeit lesser intensity) and offset patterns of flashing, which aids in visibility. I might just use the Knog plus a helmet blinkie for height awareness.
Jim
- rdp_au
- Posts: 563
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:45 pm
- Location: Hornsby, Sydney, NSW
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby rdp_au » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:23 am
I have a very similar setup - Radbot 1000 on rear rack and a cheapy (although it cost me a whole $7 from Torpedo) on the back of my helmet. When it's dark, I have them both on, during daylight hours I just have the Radbot on. Use rechargeable batteries in both.jasonc wrote:just upgraded to 2.podoco wrote:So the next question is HOW MANY tail lights do you operate?
my main is a radbot 1000
my second is a dealextreme $5 cheapy
if one fails, I still have one (plus the radbot also has the integrated reflector)
-
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:13 am
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby pacra » Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:46 pm
In daylight an electron rechargeable and in duller conditions an additional Smart (8 years old believe it or not)
On the front a white electron in the am and dull conditions and a Smart Citylight in rain and murk.
I'm convinced that most cars give you comfortable clearance with lights blinking (on major and arterials anyway)
-
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:29 am
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby dude18 » Sat Oct 27, 2012 10:27 pm
Cherrybomb 1W strapped to my helmet, blinking for more visibility.
- InTheWoods
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:34 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby InTheWoods » Mon Oct 29, 2012 1:43 pm
Radbot 1000 also on seat post. It *pales* in comparison to the zebralight (at night the zebralight can light up my entire back yard in red).
At night, things change. H51r goes onto 1/8th power or gets aimed straight up at some reflective foil under my seat so that I have a nice red glow all over the rear of the bike and my legs, and I add a 2nd radbot 1000.
Cannot have too much power during the day IME, I'm more scared of not being seen during the day than at night. However the zebralight does help rearward visibility a lot during the day (as does fluoro shirt), and from watching rear facing videos, it helps drivers recognise a bike ahead a lot earlier, which gives them a lot more time to plan a lane change or whatever. Except for the psycho ones...
Obviously I have coverage to the front as well - 500 lumens handlebar + 200 lumens helmet of daytime blinkiness... The 200 lumens helmet mount is actually useful at night because I usually have the most incidents with cars approaching me from the side at intersections, which is not covered well by forward facing lights when you are travelling fast.
- Aushiker
- Posts: 22400
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:55 pm
- Location: Walyalup land
- Contact:
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby Aushiker » Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:21 pm
Is this what you are referring to?InTheWoods wrote:Zebralight H51r on seat post (this is as bright or brighter than even the dinoittes mentioned on here)
Andrew
Aushiker.com
- InTheWoods
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:34 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby InTheWoods » Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:27 pm
Yep. Well, there's lots of different models that all look identical until you turn them on, but it looks like that. H51r is red. H51Fr is floody red. H51 is cool white. H51w is warm white. SC51 is same as H51 except the light comes out the end like a torch instead of the side like a headlamp.Aushiker wrote:Is this what you are referring to?InTheWoods wrote:Zebralight H51r on seat post (this is as bright or brighter than even the dinoittes mentioned on here)
Andrew
I mount it either using its clip straight onto my radbot mount, or in a twofish lockblock when its under the saddle.
Waterproof to 2 meters.
-
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 12:06 am
Re: Do you always operate tail lights?
Postby Walst » Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:05 pm
I feel the same way with regards to your last point. In the perfect world all riders would be treated the same but something like a light on during the day is still a good visual reminder to drivers that we care about our safety.clackers wrote:Yep, it's not going to impress the fashionistas.
However, I might be imagining this, but with lights on while commuting I seem to seize the lane with less complaints from motorists, as if I'm wearing a "You'll have to forgive me, because I'm a safety obsessed tool" T-shirt.
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.