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I use off road lights for the on road section of my commute. I use the Exposure flash mode most of the time, unless it is very bright sunshine. I feel this is essential because of the large number of cars around now with LED daytime running lights and HID headlights. Most of these are so bright they make conventional bike lights insignificant, and therefore the roads are becoming a whole lot more dangerous for cyclists. Dusk and dawn are the worst times.
Unfortunately I don't see any solution to this problem other than making yourself stand out even more than the cars. For the same reason I'm contemplating getting some Cree running lights for the motorbike. Sad, but it seems to me that the likes of Audi and Mercedes, with the backing of the EU, have started an arms (lumens) race, and if you don't keep up it could cost you your life. At least I have a switch and so the option to turn off or dim my lights as I see fit.
I do like the idea of a shield to stop upwards glare. Maybe I'll make a prototype this evening.
[i]So if you use your lights more considerately, you'll die? Don't be so melodramatic. [/i]
Real life experience, it appears to be far more likely if I'm more considerate. Obviously if someone had killed me by now I'd not have the option.
And lets face it, my minor inconsiderateness (which as I keep pointing out, hasn't appeared to rankle anyone particularly so far), is nothing compared to the constant severely dangerous driving that cyclists have to endure every single day. You know, where they get run over and killed. Oops, there I go again.
This is my setup: [url] http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/bflex-driver-in-lumicycle-halogen-more-light-diy [/url]. One pointed well down and another mounted horizontal which I can switch between full power and pretty dim.
The problem is that you need to bright LED lights a really long way down to stop them being offensive. What's really needed are lights with car-style beam patterns with a really sharp cut-off. There's a few around for the German market, but not a lot of choice.
reflective stuff is very effective especially on the pedals.
They proper wind me up. Usually just MTB'ers on the road linking bit of trail.
I just use a Joystick on the road.
But three of you full beam bars and lids Why TF did you thank me when I had to stop and turn away
AH's of the very highest order.
I use a P7 on the bars and a cree headtorch
80% of my commute is unlit B roads,had previously used
a cheap bike light set from Halfords which was no use at all ...
I always dim the lights if i encounter any traffic
lucky if i see half a dozen cars on the 13 mile commute
though
I always used to use lumicycle halogens, helmet mounted, pointing quite sharply down, when I commuted in London.
It was brilliant when you spotted someone about to pull out into you from a side road despite all the other lights / reflectives I had on, you could just aim the light at them straight on, and suddenly they slammed on the brakes and stopped. Worked 100% of the time. I was pretty careful not to dazzle oncoming drivers / riders, or point it straight into people's rear view mirrors or whatever, but it was very very useful for cycling in a busy city.
Nowadays my commute is much more straight country roads, with few side junctions, so I don't bother with a helmet light for it, but I can see why people do in cities.