Lights are going to be used either to make ones self visible to others or to illuminate ones way. If used for the former, low intensity random pattern strobes draw the greatest to oneself without endangering others with direct light in eyes. If the latter, a downward beam illuminating the road directly ahead is sufficient. For myself, I find no need for illuminating the way, especially in an urban setting. Ambient light is usually sufficient...I have little use for bozos with ultra lights wrecking my night vision (rapid light induced pupil contraction) and making my ride difficult for several minutes. Seriously, at 15 MPG on a somewhat lit trail or street, how many lumens does one really need?
On Thu, Aug 27, 2015 at 6:50 AM, Dave Minden <[email protected]> wrote: > Folks, another important aspect of headlights is the 'cutoff'. Best lights > have car-like reflectors that focus the light, with *no light above *a > line of light pointing ahead to the ground. We hate it when cars have their > highbeams on, we need to be more car-like. See almost all lights sold by > Peter White Cycles and almost no others (I have no connection to this shop, > but have bought 4 of the lights for self and family). > > Dave > > > > On Wednesday, August 26, 2015 9:16 PM, India Viola <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > John, > > Thanks, I think this is a great discussion to start. > I consider myself as pro bike light as you can get, to the point where I > think that all bikes (yes, all bikes) should come with lights already > installed. I mean who would think of purchasing a car or other vehicle > that didn't have headlights/tail lights?!? > At the same time I agree that some bicycle/helmet mount lights are too > bright or inappropriately placed and it becomes uncomfortable and even > unsafe for oncoming traffic, especially fellow cyclists and pedestrians. > When we are driving an auto there is an etiquette to using the high beam > headlights. The same should stand for bike lights. If you need a super > bright light to illuminate your dark passage to and fro by all means you > should use one, but it should be turned down to accommodate oncoming > traffic. > > What do others think? Is there a way to create a best practice for bike > lights that can become the standard? > > -India > > WeAreAllMechanics.com <http://weareallmechanics.com/> > [email protected] > > Stay connected- Follow WAAM on Facebook > <http://www.facebook.com/We.Are.All.Mechanics> > > *"How can we learn from our mistakes if we don't first acknowledge them?" * > > On Wed, Aug 26, 2015 at 5:27 PM, john wagnitz <[email protected]> wrote: > > I'm wondering if people on this list are experiencing this problem and if > there is anything we can do about it. > > while I think it's great that more people are using headlights and > taillights, I'm noticing brighter headlights, strobe headlights and > headlights inappropriately mounted (on helmets and handlebars) that shine > directly into the eyes of oncoming cyclists at very close range. > > I've tried to point this out to offenders as they ride by me, but there is > generally not much time to have a conversation on the problem. > > it seems that only Germany and Denmark have a "maximum brightness" law > but I'm not sure if it applies solely to users or to manufacturers. > > I would like to know what others are experiencing out there and if there's > anything we can do to educate people on this. as it starts to get darker > earlier, I'm sure this problem is going to get worse. > > John > > > here's a good discussion on this topic. it looks like this is a problem > in other cities where bicycling is popular. > > > http://bikeportland.org/2010/12/01/ask-bikeportland-can-a-front-bike-light-be-too-bright-43743 > > > > > [image: Bike Light Parade] > <http://bikeportland.org/photos/photo/311205200/bike-light-parade.html> > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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