Night Cycling

circuitweed

Hehe, I just told my wife how much the HID systems cost, and she said not to put a price on safety. Woohoo!

Can anyone think of a downside to the HID systems besides the cost?

John Bertram

circuitweed

I just bought my NiteRoder BlowTorch HID headlight the other day, and have had a chance to use it on my evening commute. It's very nice. In fact, I wouldn't be happy with anything less.

A couple things really surprised me. Suddenly, cars are able to see you better than in the daylight--at least from the front. I had what would have been a near miss become a safe avoidance when a car turning off of a one-way street cut into my lane as I approached an intersection. The second he could see my light, he instantly swerved out of the way, leaving plenty of room between me and the car. I was impressed with how soon the car saw me.

Everyone has been wondering if there is a downside to the HID headlamp systems, and I think I have found one. You have to be careful where you point the thing. It is so bright that you could really annoy, or blind other traffic. When pulling up behind a car at a stop light, I had to turn my handlebars to the side to avoid blinding the car in front of me. I could see that he was visibly iritated with the intense light in his rear view mirror. It's not a big deal, but you do have to be cognisant of where you point the thing.

I did notice that pedestrians were well aware that a bicycle was approaching them from behind, and knew what side I was coming up on. Better than a bell, or yelling, "on your left". Inevitably they will move to their left when you yell that.

One more thing that I noticed about the white light that the HID systems emit. It makes anything reflective stand out like a neon sign. A jogger with a couple reflective stripes on his jacket looked like something from the movie TRON--from a hundred yards away! Road signs light up like you've never seen before.

Let me just say that if you're interested in safety, this is a must have. Consider it this way, the extra couple c-notes that you save on another system won't do you any good when you're dead. Funeral costs are much higher than the price of this light. Also, the time you spend out of work while your broken bones heal is going to cost you a lot more than this light.

If there's any way you can afford it, get one of these things! I don't care which brand you perfer, just get one!

ejdoo

Performance has a dual headlight system that I've been pretty happy with but if you look on other sites you can find mixed reviews on it. I have had mine for a year and it's been great.

I also go whacko with flashing LED reflectors, two in back, one on each panier facing to the left and right and a white LED flasher in front. I also have an illuminite jacket and ankle bands as well. And on top of that I have Michelin commuting tires with reflective sidewalls. I have been told I look like a UFO going down the road, but better a live, reflective geek than roadkill.

Ed

circuitweed

Yeah, I've been teased about the number of reflectors and blinkies on my bike. These would consist of two Vistalight Total Eclipses on the rear rack facing backwards both flashing, one night rider rear tail light running steady burn, and two cat-eye compact safety lights flanking the bag on my rack. Add to this the three LED blinkie on the front of the bike, the HID headlight, and yards of reflective tape. It must be quite a sight.

msrw

The problem with reflectors is that light has to hit them at a certain angle for them to work. Everyone I know who rides a lot at night uses lights. You probably don't need a super bright headlight for road riding, unless you go down long hills (need more light to allow longer reaction times), or ride in areas with no street lighting at all. But a very bright tail light isn't a bad idea. Niterider has the brightest one on the market--a touch pricey, but they last almost forever.

Another option for the headlight. A hub generator. The big advantage over battery powered lights: less hassle.

beckirk

I ride in the dark on my way to work year round (3:30am is when I have to be there) and use a HID. Extremely expensive but when your life could be on the line it is VERY worth it. I also wear a Illuminite jacket that is totally reflective. Check out Nashbar or Colorado Cyclist for them. I also have lots of reflectors and a nice bright rear blinkie. I don't know the statistics, but I would think you stand out more in the dark with all of the above than you do in daylight.

franklen

I give a big recognition to the winter solstice which just took place this past weekend, especially for those of us with fairly regular daytime work schedules. Salute to the sun. Now in only a little more than a months time, it will be daylight again when I leave work at 5 pm for my ride home. Being so, I only really had to put up with quite dark conditions on the way home for about 2 1/2 months of this year. Take the time to celebrate the return of the sun, by eating dinner by candlelight, or taking time to watch the sunrise on a crisp winter morning. Or burn a yule log at your holiday gatherings. Peace.

__________________
Frank Raymond
www.bicyclecommutingnow.blogspot.com

ksturch

Hi bioguy,

I set up a company to erradicate that exact fear.
At 'safe-and-seen.co.uk' we have utilised flatlite tape into an autonomous garment that can be worn by anyone. It can only increase your personal safety since, for once, the lights are on you. In the perpetual darkness of English winter days, we have had excellent feedback. Our customers include horseriders on dark country lanes to company contracts for road side maintenence.
Ideally you'd want to wear a lighthouse on your head to be sure your safe-and-seen but thats an impracticality since the battery would be quite heavy?
We believe we have reached a compromise with the lumin8er garment. Please feel free to send me an email to :

sales@safe-and-seen.co.uk

Kind regards

Keith Sturch

mrhawk166

I hear you on that one. I don't have anything fancy like the EL400 (I've got a cheapie Trek $10 two-C cell headlamp), but I really don't think it cuts it for frontward visibility. I live around a busy commercial district, and there's lots of driveways w/ cars making uncontrolled lefts into them, and uncontrolled rights out of them, w/ me, cycling right inbetween. I worry and wonder if any of those motorists see me - Possible, and possibly not. I need to get a white flasher on front!

But, have you ever tried getting around at night w/ no frontward lights at all? At stopsigns and such, it's like you're not even there! I was pleasantly surprised, after getting my cheapie Trek headlamp, that people would stop "cutting me off" at intersections.

circuitweed

Now imagine you have a HID headlight. People not only don't cut you off, they practically yield to your desires.

Brighter is better!

e_space23

Front and rear lights are necessary to comply with the law but, I find that lights will not keep motorists from doing what bright sunlight in the middle of the day will not keep them from doing.

__________________
DoEvents

mrhawk166

I'd love to get one, John, but... I only ride at night occassionally, and at that, can I really justify $400? (I must add that its a 5 minute commute) Maybe if my commute were longer, or I got serious about night riding. As for now, I think a $40 LED flasher will suit the job nicely.

gerinri

If you ride a lot (on the racing bike) in the dark, let's say a 500-1000 m/yr, I would suggest a SON (Schmidt). It got a low resistance while riding and provides a lot of energy. Enough for 2 frontlights going downhill at 40 m/hr.
I usually use one frontlight (a Lumotec) and keep the other (Bisy) in reserve.
For the back I use 2 LED's.
It's rather expensive, including a complete wheel, around $300.

If you don't ride that much in the dark a Shimano would be a good alternative.

monkey_magnus

I use a light&motion halogen light, backed up by a cateye el400 blinker on the front.
At the back I use a Visatlite eclipse blinker (brilliant), and a cheap no-brand blinker too.
i also wear a full fluoro jacket (endura commuter - waterproof and highly visible), and reflective strips on bag, helmet etc.
I find this setup perfect for me. I'm certainly very visible to other road users (i.e. cars), and have had no problems, even in severe rain. It's worth spending the money on better, more waterproof, lights. The last thing you want is to be stranded on a dark road in the rain with no illumination