I don't see the point

[REKIBorter]

I see Hope have launched a rear bike light with a claimed output of 700 lumens. They are not the only company to make rear lights that are incredibly bright. What is the point? To dazzle those behind you?

And before you ask I do a lot of night riding on road.

 

[jamabikes]

would be usefull for country road riding i suppose, also for following the rider in front on the trail?


for me it would be usefull for backing my bike into the unlit shed at the end of the garden


oh and crocodile hunting?

 

[REKIBorter]

The country road I ride at night are literaly pitch-black. I use a bar mounted Ay-Up on the front and that is enough to make cars dip their beam half a mile away. Following a ride wearing any reflective gear the reflection of my front light dazzles the rider behind. A rear light pumping out that much light would be dangerous.

Did anyone else see an article on dazzle camoflage theory and cyclist street awareness in the CTC mag a while back? Aparently the more a cyclist looks like a person on a bike the quicker a motorist can identify them. If you are dressed in patterned clothing your outline is broken up whereas if you are dressed in solid colours your outline is easily identified. This also works for reflective elements of bike clothing. If the refelctive detail follows your limbs and body to highlight your outline it works better.

Dazzle ship Wiki for those that may want to know what I am going on about. Dazzle ship camo became obsolete after the invention of radar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage

 

[cornholio's RC200]

Doesn't seem to matter how much light I'm buzzing out the front. Within the last week I've nearly been taken out twice head on. One berk just pulled across to park on the wrong side of the road in front of me and one decided not to give way at a chicane (full of potholes and a speed bump that needs to be negotiated) and I managed to just clip her with a pedal taking evasive action. She said that she didn't see me. That's until I turned the handlebars sideways towards her through the window. She saw the 2 LEDs then.

From what I can see you're always going to get problems no matter what you are wearing or reflecting out. If people aren't concentrating they are going to cause problems somewhere along the way. Usually at the end of a working day.

As for big rear lights, I've got a pretty big red LED (Blackburn Mars 4) on the back but nothing like the Hope thing. Must only be for following a mate offroad.

 

[mikee]

i hate following folk with bright rear lights OFF ROAD
usually ask them to turn them off

 

[legrandefromage]

As a night driver - please - just use as many back lights as possible.

Anything red catches your attention and identifies as another road user.

Pedal/shoe reflectors are also useful

 

[Stick Legs]

Pedal reflectors are the best, so easy to identify as a bike at night.

 

[IDB1]

As a night driver - please - just use as many back lights as possible.

Anything red catches your attention and identifies as another road user.

Pedal/shoe reflectors are also useful

More in number I can see the worth of but ridiculously bright too??

As a motorist, (ex)biker and infrequent cyclist, super-bright rear lights (much like rear fog lights in clear conditions) are, imo, a hazard.. .. ..

 

[legrandefromage]

the amount of over bright rear lights is heavily out numbered by those who insist on riding without any lights whatsoever or rely on very poor or badly placed rear lights.

 

[IDB1]

the amount of over bright rear lights is heavily out numbered by those who insist on riding without any lights whatsoever or rely on very poor or badly placed rear lights.

Indeed.... the amount of kids on BMX's/BSO's riding the (unlit) lanes around where we used to live with no lights or reflectors at all was scary..