Red Blinky in Back – Required or Retired

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  • October 13, 2011 at 2:23 pm #910479
    pfunkallstar
    Participant

    Thought I would throw this question out to the masses. Should you be running the ultra-bright red blinkers on the trails? This morning was a difficult enough ride, which was made all that more difficult by the apparently quantum-flux powered rear light of the guy I caught up with on the Custis trail. I understand the need for the gigawatt red light on streets, but it doesn’t seem all that necessary for trail riding, especially when your fellow bikers are dealing with stealth ninja runners, torrential rain, and the occasional bike spray from fenderless front wheels.

    What say ye? My own 2 cents: I don’t run a red tail light on the trails and then switch on a medium powered light on my bag when I get into DC.

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  • October 13, 2011 at 2:33 pm #930975
    jabberwocky
    Participant

    When I commuted on the W&OD, I would leave the light on but set it to constant. Far less annoying to stare at.

    October 13, 2011 at 2:47 pm #930977
    americancyclo
    Participant

    @pfunkallstar 9074 wrote:

    quantum-flux powered rear light of the guy I caught up with on the Custis trail

    Sounds like you were behind Dirt?

    October 13, 2011 at 2:53 pm #930978
    CCrew
    Participant

    @americancyclo 9079 wrote:

    Sounds like you were behind Dirt?

    Or me. I run my Dinotte on flash from the moment I get on the bike until I get off. If it annoys you you’re more than welcome to pass?

    October 13, 2011 at 3:08 pm #930980
    americancyclo
    Participant

    I do appreciate seeing the red light on the trail, helps me gauge whether or not its safe to pass, and often I’m still surprised by how quickly I catch up with folks.

    October 13, 2011 at 3:14 pm #930981
    Dirt
    Participant

    Might have been me, though I think that my light was not flashing this morning. It is still fritzing a bit and I think it was either off, or in non-blinky mode.

    This is a good topic. I probably should turn my rear light off when I hit the trail and turn it back on when I get back to the streets. I always dim my headlight when I hit the trail.

    October 13, 2011 at 3:28 pm #930982
    cephas
    Participant

    I always leave mine on blinky. I’m way too apt to forget to turn it on otherwise when I get back on the streets. I don’t mind too much when I see it on others, and it sure beats running up on a ghostrider.

    October 13, 2011 at 4:15 pm #930984
    Dirt
    Participant

    Changing the lights is actually part of my routine. I change over to flashie mode up front before entering the Rosslyn Death Zone. I just need to swing my leg off the bike and switch the flashie back on.

    October 13, 2011 at 4:19 pm #930985
    GreyBear
    Participant

    Just don’t put the red blinkie on the front–I see this way too often. I usually tell such people that the red light belongs on the back, but nobody listens to me.

    October 13, 2011 at 4:21 pm #930986
    pfunkallstar
    Participant

    I did end up passing Captain Retina Burn this morning, not only because of the stroboscope but also because of the waterfall coming off of his wheel. I make it a point to dim my mega-light when I hit the trail and cover up when I meet someone coming the other way on uphills and downhills. What really stews my prunes is when helmet-mount dudes give me the 10 feet or less stare down – totally unnecessary. On the upside, I saw a jogger this morning who was rocking no fewer than THREE blinky lights, maybe he is doing some freelance motion capture or something?

    October 13, 2011 at 4:35 pm #930987
    DaveK
    Participant

    I put mine on solid but I don’t turn it off. I dim my front light if the trail is lit but going through NPS land I’ve got no choice but to go full supernova.

    October 13, 2011 at 4:45 pm #930988
    Greenbelt
    Participant

    This is a helpful discussion. I used to turn my blinkies off for trail sections to save battery. But now with the rechargable, I just leave it on. We don’t have lots of full dark trail traffic in my direction though, so hopefully I’m not offending anyone. Besides, I’m not going fast in full dark because of all the critters on or near the trail. Easy to pass me if somebody wants.

    Maybe it’s for safety, but my new helmet light system doesn’t have a separate switch for the rear, and it’s surprisingly hard to turn the whole thing on and off while riding, especially with full finger gloves. The switch is sort of tucked down and hard to feel with gloves on or without stopping and taking the helmet off. I do try to cover my headlight when someone approaches the opposite way, but sometimes I forget. It’s not that bright though — not full retina burn. Medium burn only.

    October 13, 2011 at 5:38 pm #930993
    MCL1981
    Participant

    When I’m on the CCT or Rock Creek, I always use some “old school” dimmer LED flashers on the front and back. I do this so I stand out to those not paying much attention. I save the quantum flux devices for the road because I don’t want to annoy people on the train.

    October 13, 2011 at 6:57 pm #930997
    CCrew
    Participant

    @pfunkallstar 9088 wrote:

    What really stews my prunes is when helmet-mount dudes give me the 10 feet or less stare down – totally unnecessary.

    Oh, I’ll agree. In the rare case I do see an oncoming rider I palm my handlebar light and look right and down at the trail edge so my helmet doesn’t nail them. I’m usually headed home in the afternoon, so it’s the 2:30am ride that I go all supernova for.

    Ninja’s are fair game though… I light em up!

    October 14, 2011 at 12:31 pm #931015
    pfunkallstar
    Participant

    I concur on the megawatt blasting of ninjas – they are fair game.

    On that note, the best place to spot real, I mean damn near invisible ninjas, is on the wooden connector bridge right past TR Island. Usually they are Georgetown students who must be studying chameleon DNA or something – that or training for jungle warfare.

    October 20, 2011 at 6:57 pm #931224
    rcannon100
    Participant

    First, yes, the brilliant strobes are horrible. If you have a death-strobe, it would be nice to tame them on the trail.

    I just have regular LEDs. They are on blinky. While blinky is unnecessary on the Custis, I go: Lee Hwy, to Custis, Crossing Scott, in the Rosslyn Death zone, through the Roosevelt parking lot, along the GW, around the Jefferson, and then to my office in SW. The point is that I am on and off of roads, and crossing roads, the whole way. I can certainly understand why its easier to set a light and leave it.

    But those brilliant strobes are simply blinding and a danger on the trails.

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