Spec me a rear bike light (purdy plz)

Cuchulain

Cuchulain

Cuchulain

Soldato
Joined
28 Dec 2004
Posts
7,620
Location
Derry
Hi folks, I'm looking for a decent rear light for my bike, I've already got a decent set of Hopes for the front (Vision 2) and need something equally decent for the rear, I don't want ones with ridiculous indicators or 8 billion different flashing modes I just want something that's insanely bright as the roads I'm going to be training on are perilous at night.
 
I use a Blackburn Mars on constant and a Cateye LD610 flashing.

The Smart 1/2 Watt ones are supposed to be pretty good as well.

It's a good idea to have one flashing and one constant as it allows drivers to judge distance and speed better.
 
what allows drivers to judge speed and distance is the speed and distance and their judgement itself. no need for 2 rear lights.
 
Dogoid said:
what allows drivers to judge speed and distance is the speed and distance and their judgement itself. no need for 2 rear lights.
Click to expand...

It is true though. It's one of those things like drivers generally, when tested, think that smaller objects are travelling slower than they really are. That's why there are so many accidents with cars turning across motorcycles.
 
Dogoid said:
what allows drivers to judge speed and distance is the speed and distance and their judgement itself. no need for 2 rear lights.
Click to expand...

It is difficult to correctly gauge speed of a flashing light as is moving between the flashes! It is still possible but why make yourself harder to see by other road users?

EDIT: I use a set of CatEyes that cost about £30 for the pair but I don't have the model details at hand. They were from Wiggle.
 
Another vote for the Blackburn Mars. Great light which also has two amber side lights to help with idiot drivers who fail to see the outline of a bike at T-junctions.

Reminds me oif when I was cut up by a car at such a junction and went flying over his bonnet before picking up my bike dusting myself off. I asked how he could have possibly failed to see my front 30w light and the old duffer babbled 'I thought you where a street light'. Yep folks, moving street lights are the next big thing.
 
since when is the light on your bike the only thing a driver can see? surely it isn't completely pitch black , the rear light is an extra thing for the eye to initially catch. most streets/roads are lit anyhow.

if a driver cant share the road with a biker at night without feeling insecure if the biker isn't lit up like a Christmas tree, then i question their observational skills.

i question the study too that says we need 2 lights. wonder who the study was funded by? light companies maybe
 
Dogoid said:
since when is the light on your bike the only thing a driver can see? surely it isn't completely pitch black , the rear light is an extra thing for the eye to initially catch. most streets/roads are lit anyhow.

if a driver cant share the road with a biker at night without feeling insecure if the biker isn't lit up like a Christmas tree, then i question their observational skills.

i question the study too that says we need 2 lights. wonder who the study was funded by? light companies maybe
Click to expand...

The roads round the village I've just moved to are all single lane, back water tracks, no street lighting for miles with drivers who like to hoon up and down them as they think they're well out of the way of any cops, so anything I can do to make sure they know I'm there and I'm on a bike is all good.
 
Dogoid said:
i question the study too that says we need 2 lights. wonder who the study was funded by?
Click to expand...

I didn't say we needed two lights, I said it was better.

Riding in London and Surrey I am lit up like an Xmas tree:

- Two rear lights (one constant & one flashing)
- Four front lights (2 x 1w LEDs with one contant and one flashing and 2 x P4 LEDs for when there is no street lighting and I need to see the road well)
- Hump Pack Cover
- Hi viz gillet
- White Jersey
- Scotchbrite tape on shoes & helmet
- Reflectives on tights / shorts

I look like a mobile disco AND I still get the occasional 'Sorry mate, I didn't see you'.
 
Dogoid said:
if a driver cant share the road with a biker at night without feeling insecure if the biker isn't lit up like a Christmas tree, then i question their observational skills.
Click to expand...

Just because someone shouldn't be driving doesn't mean they won't be driving. IMO the more help we can give drivers the better for the both of us.
 
ok agreed on that, but i often see people lit up like they was on fire, and some riding on the pavement like this, i just think to myself, now what the hell is going in there.


i once saw a fella with literally, 5 flashing lights on each arm a hat that could be seen from Jupiter and hi vis and lights on both his legs at night RIDING ON THE SIDE PAVEMENT.


some people just over do it with the lights.
 
Dogoid said:
i once saw a fella with literally, 5 flashing lights on each arm a hat that could be seen from Jupiter and hi vis and lights on both his legs at night RIDING ON THE SIDE PAVEMENT.
Click to expand...

Well if he's riding on the pavement he's an idiot regardless of what he's wearing.
 
I only have one rear light at the minute but two upfront and both flashing just to be seen. I have a reflective bit on my saddle bag and thats it. I really should get more but I feel quite safe as it is. I tent to look and read the road quite well and have never had an issue as yet. Well just a van driver deciding to stick to my back wheel at 28mph......thats another story.
 
I ran 2 Cateye LD600 lights a few years ago. Good for a year in all weather riding before the seals gave out. Used to commute 50 miles a week.

PIC_0081.jpg


Never ridden in high vis. I have commuted in all black for years. All you need is insanely bright lights.
 
Went past an idiot this morning (in my car at 6.30am on an unlit 60mph single carriageway) who was completely dressed in black, cycling a black bike with no lights and he had even removed the rear reflector. I pulled in at the side of the road and stopped him -

'Do yourself a favour mate and get some lights, I barely saw you there'
'I don't need them'
'Don't be selfish, if you intend to cycle around on very dark mornings, you do need them'
'Don't lecture me, CAR DRIVER'
'Eh, that would be + CYCLIST too, I'm only offering some friendly advice pal'

He then pedaled off and within 50 feet, I couldn't see him in the darkness. Idiots who cycle on unlit roads, wearing black, without lights and having removed the last vestiges of safety (reflector) deserve no sympathy when the are inevitably hit with a car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom