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does such a thing exist? My cargo bike has a nice B&M dynamo front light that I just leave on the whole time, I'd like something at the rear that'd work likewise, simply flashing whenever I'm peddling along (I'd supplement it with another light when its dark, but I think a flashy light works better in daytime). My google-fu might be lacking, but nothing is coming up for me at the moment..
You might have a problem - most dynamo lights are German (or designed/built to German standards) and flashing lights are not permitted under StVZO.
I run the dynamo light on steady and just have a USB rechargeable light that's on flash mode.
Reelight? https://www.reelight.com/
Not really that bright, but could be used along with another (dynamo) light. And its always there, it just flashes whenever you ride along.
I did see the reelight thing - its a simple solution, but doesn't give you anything when you stop (ie standlight) - that's not essential, but it seems like a bit of a faff to have that alongside another dynamo on the front.
I think the 'not in germany' thing seems likely - it just seems odd there isn't a market for a single flashy light given that's the major modes of every battery light sold 🙂
I had a quick search and came across this piece http://bikeshed.johnhoogstrate.nl/bicycle/light/blinking/ summarising Dutch research which concludes flashing lights on bikes aren't of benefit. The UK law was changed as flashing lights had come to identify a bike/biker rather them being safer per se.
Yeah, I'm not aware of any and the StVZO means they'd be uneconomic to sell.
However, it's not a bad justification for having some redundancy: I often have a separate LED rear light on flashing mode (either a Flare R, which will flash for 24 hours on a charge, or the Fly 6). Two power sources, two lighting modes; you've got pretty much every base covered there.
I've just bought one of these, it fairly bright but not fitted it yet.
I use a flashing light on the rear of my helmet & on all the time on my seatpost when commuting.
https://www.ebay.it/itm/162483556064?ViewItem=&item=162483556064
you'd think in a market where it's viable to release the 432nd flashing battery rear light to market, there might be enough room for a single dynamo powered one?
I've read the article about flashing vs constant before, and I'd agree it applies in low-light conditions, but when it's bright I personally think a blinking light is better. The boris bike equivilents in NYC have blinking dynamo lights (and there's fudges available converting into/out of USB) so it must be possible..
you’d think in a market where it’s viable to release the 432nd flashing battery rear light to market, there might be enough room for a single dynamo powered one?
Haven't you just answered your own question?
Some versions of the Reelights have a standlight.
There's a reelight variant that has a small charge capacity meaning it will continue working for a short while when stationary.
Has anyone tried those magnet (non battery) lights?
Where can you get them from?
reelight on the wifes old commuter has a standlight.
works well and is robust - did 6 years of abuse without being so much as looked at.
absolutely a suplimentary light.
my commuter and our cargo bike both have B+M brake plus's on the back and its the way we will be going with the wifes new commuter.
Not sure why flashing is needed - just makes it hard to judge how far away the target sorry i mean cyclist is.
Not sure why flashing is needed
peripheral vision is not good at picking out what appears to be stationary objects. its very good at detecting change. a flashing light is thus better for being noticed in daylight, when you can easily judge distance (once the target has been acquired) anyway. A dynamo flasher wouldn't be super bright anyway, so I don't think it'd be too distracting.
For night time, flash + main light is my preferred option
I like to use a very bright flashing light this time of year as well, especially if a ride goes under the dappled tree cover in bright sunlight.
However, such a dynamo light doesn't seem to exist.
I'm not sure why, B&M already have bright daytime running lights on their front lights, so presumably it would be possible to add a sensor to a rear too.
I guess you could just get a USB charging one and run it off a dynamo powered usb charger. Bit of a faff though.
As suggested above, just fit a decent LED flasher alongside your steady dynamo rear light. Covers all the bases and you have redundancy with independent power sources.