It’s dark = lights

[Harry Meatmotor]

@AFHokie 97391 wrote:

I believe what you seek is a bicycle version of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. I don’t think bikes need anything quite as in depth or specific, but some sort of baseline standardization would be nice. Unfortunately creating one would make herding cats on catnip look easy.

completely unrelated aside: I did all the technical illustrations for FMVSS108! Yay for graphic designers!

edit: actually, not all of them – only those after page 511 or so.

[PotomacCyclist]

Alexandria LocalMotion announcement:

“In an effort to help make sure bicyclists are safely visible to motorist and others as we get closer to daylight savings [sic], Local Motion, in partnership with VéloCity will be providing and installing bike lights at its annual Lights for Bikes event. VéloCity will also being doing general bike checkups. The event will be held at the Braddock Rd. Metro Station from 4:30 to 6 pm on Wednesday, October 22. In order to get a light you need to bring your bike and of course not already have a light. All bikes can get the free checkup.”

[PotomacCyclist]

@PotomacCyclist 97439 wrote:

Alexandria LocalMotion announcement:

“In an effort to help make sure bicyclists are safely visible to motorist and others as we get closer to daylight savings [sic], Local Motion, in partnership with VéloCity will be providing and installing bike lights at its annual Lights for Bikes event. VéloCity will also being doing general bike checkups. The event will be held at the Braddock Rd. Metro Station from 4:30 to 6 pm on Wednesday, October 22. In order to get a light you need to bring your bike and of course not already have a light. All bikes can get the free checkup.”

Update from LocalMotion:

Due to inclement weather the City is cancelling its Lights for Bikes event today and rescheduling it for Tuesday, 10/28 from 4:30 to 6 pm at the Braddock Rd. Metro Station.

Remember, in order to get a light you have to bring your bike and currently not own a bike light. Velocity will be doing free bike safety checks for everyone that shows up.

For questions and more information click HERE or contact Gabe Ortiz at 703.746.4083 or at gabriel.ortiz@alexandriava.gov

http://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=80867

[Starduster]

Found it! English language explanation of StVZO: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/verlichting/stvzo/index_en.html

[Terpfan]

@PotomacCyclist 97679 wrote:

Update from LocalMotion:

Due to inclement weather the City is cancelling its Lights for Bikes event today and rescheduling it for Tuesday, 10/28 from 4:30 to 6 pm at the Braddock Rd. Metro Station.

Remember, in order to get a light you have to bring your bike and currently not own a bike light. Velocity will be doing free bike safety checks for everyone that shows up.

For questions and more information click HERE or contact Gabe Ortiz at 703.746.4083 or at gabriel.ortiz@alexandriava.gov

http://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=80867

I guess no one went since I saw a couple ninja cyclists this morning. Although there was another cyclist who’s super high-powered death ray made up for all the missing lights.

[rcannon100]

[video=youtube_share;9ZRXlrJ3Mi0]http://youtu.be/9ZRXlrJ3Mi0[/video]

This is a pretty interesting video about the effectiveness of different lights and clothes.

But what I find particularly clueful is that during the video, the participants dont dare shine the highbeam into each others face for fear of blinding the other.

If you are not going to listen to these guys…. oh never mind. I know the schmucks who highbeam oncoming traffic are just never going to listen

[Powerful Pete]

Ok guys, so how about a recommendations for a helmet mounted light? No need for a billion lumen or anything silly – I have a nice set of bar mounted front lights, but am interested in something that I could “aim” in the dark on the Custis or the last bit in my very dark neighborhood on the ride home. And preferably not more than $150.

[Not certain whether it makes sense to continue this thread here or the equipment section…]

[cyclingfool]

@Powerful Pete 101515 wrote:

Ok guys, so how about a recommendations for a helmet mounted light? No need for a billion lumen or anything silly – I have a nice set of bar mounted front lights, but am interested in something that I could “aim” in the dark on the Custis or the last bit in my very dark neighborhood on the ride home. And preferably not more than $150.

[Not certain whether it makes sense to continue this thread here or the equipment section…]

WAY under your budget, but you might want to consider just getting a cheap Cree LED driven flashlight that runs on AA batteries. You could then mount it to helmet using 2fish lockblock, zip ties, old inner tube, or get creative and come up with something else. If you get one with an easily accessible switch, like a push button switch on the back that you could easily turn on and off when riding as needed. There seems to be a wide selection of said lights on Amazon and eBay for $20 and under.

[Riley Casey]

Adding a vote for the low end solutions here. I ride with four lights as a rule and no single light cost more than $30. I have to consider lights to be semi-expendable and buy accordingly but I also consider them absolutely vital to safe urban riding. My current helmet light is a cheap Planet Bike bar light held on with a velcro strap as it’s ‘quick release’. My real bar light is another planet bike set for strobe. I also have an eight LED red rear light that has a very disturbing flash pattern – just perfect for making people look twice. Last but not least I have a Costco cheap Chinese flashlight set for strobe and dangling from my saddle to illuminate my bike frame. I also keep a spare LED flashlight in the pannier. I just can’t compete with a windshield full of car headlights and store windows on candlepower so looking visually jarring is my fallback position.

@Powerful Pete 101515 wrote:

Ok guys, so how about a recommendations for a helmet mounted light?

[worktheweb]

I use this flashlight and secure it to my helmet with velcro cable ties. It lasts for a very long time on the lower modes, but it does require 18650 batteries and a charger (so added expense). It tops out at 1100 lumens, but I almost never run it anywhere near that bright. Most of the time I run it at 70 lumens, and I’ll boost it up to 670 when I’m in the tree tunnels South of Alexandria on the MVT where I never see anyone else in the evenings.

At the higher levels I can see everything around me like a car running high-beams, at the lower levels, it is good for getting drivers attention and seeing around a curve. I got this light as my primary flashlight, and for that purpose it lasts months between charges. I charge it up 1-2x a week when I use it as a bike light. It fails gracefully, so if you’re using it as a light cannon, it will step down to a lower brightness level instead of just leaving you in the dark. It supplements my Supernova dynamo light, which is my primary source of illumination. I think they also make a version of this with a headband, but I have no idea how well that would fit over a helmet, but that also limits its usefulness as a standalone flashlight. The velcro cable tie hack works surprisingly well.

[rcannon100]

@Powerful Pete 101515 wrote:

Ok guys, so how about a recommendations for a helmet mounted light?

Per Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute recommendations, my recommendation would be dont attach anything to your helmet. It is there to protect your nut. Let its do its job. Things protruding from your helmet (lights, cameras, air fins) are not conducive for your head going bonk against the ground.

[jabberwocky]

@Powerful Pete 101515 wrote:

Ok guys, so how about a recommendations for a helmet mounted light?

I’d recommend leaving the helmet lights for off road riding and just putting what you need on your bars.

[trailrunner]

@Powerful Pete 101515 wrote:

Ok guys, so how about a recommendations for a helmet mounted light? No need for a billion lumen or anything silly – I have a nice set of bar mounted front lights, but am interested in something that I could “aim” in the dark on the Custis or the last bit in my very dark neighborhood on the ride home. And preferably not more than $150.

I use a Light & Motion 200 for my daily commute but I’m not sure if it’s available any more. Before that, I used a Dinotte. I’ve been happy with both of those.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hozn]

Light and Motion 360 is a great supplemental (and be-seen, esp. side viz) helmet setup.

[mstone]

@jabberwocky 101527 wrote:

I’d recommend leaving the helmet lights for off road riding and just putting what you need on your bars.

I like a second light on the helmet for all the reasons he listed. Bar lights suck when you want to aim the beam at something.

[Author]

Posts