High Beams

stucey said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not dipping their
headlights for you at night time. I have started riding a bit at night,
and found alot of motorists to leave them on high beam......quite
annoying!😠

I use two headlights (Vistalite) during winter. One is wide angle lo
wattage adjusted for low beam. The second is stronger which I use a
high beam (I got a spotlight style globe rather than wide beam globe)
When motorist don't dim their light, I use my high beam

David against Goliath, I know. But I won't go down without a fight! :

-

"stucey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not
dipping their headlights for you at night time. I have started
riding a bit at night, and found alot of motorists to leave them
on high beam......quite annoying!😠

Build yourself a SLA light rig with some 50w
spots aimed at driver eye level...

Actually don't do that, it's just silly. But it is
getting darker and darker now. What are
people doing for their light setups? What
funky new products are out there that will
make me lighter, brighter and warmer?

A lot of cars have poorly adjusted lights, so
the drivers may not even be aware their lights
are too bright (i.e. not even on high beam).
Also, the fact that they don't dip their lights
could mean that you are not visible to them
front-on. Maybe you need to check your
front light?

hippy

Hippy said:

"stucey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:I5O1c.-
[email hidden]:[email hidden]-
ver.com...

Quoted message said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not dipping their
headlights for you at night time. I have started riding a bit at
night, and found alot of motorists to leave them on high
beam......quite annoying!😠

Build yourself a SLA light rig with some 50w spots aimed at driver
eye level...
Actually don't do that, it's just silly. But it is getting darker and
darker now. What are people doing for their light setups? What funky new
products are out there that will make me lighter, brighter and warmer?
A lot of cars have poorly adjusted lights, so the drivers may not even
be aware their lights are too bright (i.e. not even on high beam). Also,
the fact that they don't dip their lights could mean that you are not
visible to them front-on. Maybe you need to check your front light?
hippy

My winter light set up will come on soon. I have wired it incorporatin
a toggle switch. While I have two separate head units hooked up, onl
one is on at any moment. With the toggle switch which sits near my tumb
I toggle between low and high beams as necessary. The entire wiring i
strapped to the frame during winter, so I take only the battery of
every time for recharge. It's pretty neat and functional

Cheers

-

With the brightness of my headlight, many motorists probably don't know what
I am heading towards them, especially if I am moving slowly, otherwise they
might think I am a motorbike. I mount my light unit pointing forward, not
down; that way it lights up the road further ahead and lights up reflective
signs and lines on the road, and consequently also shines into peoples eyes.
Sometimes motorists put their lights from low beam to high beam as they
approach me. There is no brightness adjustability on this unit, and I can't
adjust the angle of mounting while riding. However, I like how bright it is
and how long it runs, so it makes it much more safe to ride in the dark. So
I don't worry about it shining in other peoples eyes, just so long as its
shining where I'm heading.

"stucey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not dipping their

headlights for you at night time. I have started riding a bit at night, and
found alot of motorists to leave them on high beam......quite annoying!😠

Quoted message said:

--

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"stucey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not
dipping their headlights for you at night time. I have started
riding a bit at night, and found alot of motorists to leave them
on high beam......quite annoying!😠

Build yourself a SLA light rig with some 50w
spots aimed at driver eye level...

Actually don't do that, it's just silly. But it is
getting darker and darker now. What are
people doing for their light setups? What
funky new products are out there that will
make me lighter, brighter and warmer?

I just use 2 * 10w on a 6v SLA. I find that that is sufficient even on the
unlit roads I ride although I suppose a 12v 40-50w total setup would be
nice.

I use 3 rear flashes (used to use a disco inferno but it broke twice so
stopped). I just use 3 rear flashers (cheap $10 jaycar type but bright -
5led each) and arrange one on back of saddle tool bag and one near each drop
out. This is a triangle pattern. All on flash and I keep the batteries
fresh (use rechargables recharged weekly). Even though LED's quote long
battery life there is nothing like fresh batteries to make them shine.

Keep them clean (goes with headlights too). I get a few sneers and snickers
from cars every now and then due to the moving disco but hey... I like it
when people do that. Means that I am very noticable.

I also wondered if wearing a multi coloured clown wig on my helmet would
help visibility. I think something different catches peoples eye. I am not
worried about what others think of me though so that maybe an advantage.

Pete

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hippy said:

"stucey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:I5O1c.-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden]:[email hidden]-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ver.com...

Quoted message said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not dipping their
headlights for you at night time. I have started riding a bit at
night, and found alot of motorists to leave them on high
beam......quite annoying!😠

Build yourself a SLA light rig with some 50w spots aimed at driver
eye level...
Actually don't do that, it's just silly. But it is getting darker and
darker now. What are people doing for their light setups? What funky

new

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

products are out there that will make me lighter, brighter and warmer?
A lot of cars have poorly adjusted lights, so the drivers may not even
be aware their lights are too bright (i.e. not even on high beam).

Also,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the fact that they don't dip their lights could mean that you are not
visible to them front-on. Maybe you need to check your front light?
hippy

My winter light set up will come on soon. I have wired it incorporating
a toggle switch. While I have two separate head units hooked up, only
one is on at any moment. With the toggle switch which sits near my tumb,
I toggle between low and high beams as necessary. The entire wiring is
strapped to the frame during winter, so I take only the battery off
every time for recharge. It's pretty neat and functional.

Cheers,

I always wanted to rig it so I didnt have to remove my battery. However I
found that my commute being 21km's each way is a big drain that needs a
solid recharge. A good 12 hours of charging. So therefore I ended up with
3 batteries. One kept at work on charge, one for the ride and one at home
on charge. That way it was a rotational thing with some long charge times
for each battery.

"amirm" wrote

Quoted message said:

When motorist don't dim their light, I use my high beam.

That's a brilliant idea. Try to blind the operator of an oncoming one
and a half tonne lump of metal.

Theo

"Laurence Dodd" wrote

Quoted message said:

I don't worry about it shining in other peoples eyes, just so long

as its

Quoted message said:

shining where I'm heading.

I hope you don't complain about cars with lights aimed at your eyes
then.

Theo

I have a halogen Cateye front lamp, can't remember the particulat type, but
it takes 4xAA batteries. These days there are 2100mA/hour rechargeable
batteries which give it more burn time.....about 4 hours from memory.

I find the cateye is bright enough to see where your going, & if the road is
already bright enough then I leave it pointing straight into oncoming
drivers anyways.
I'd had a few instances on a long overnight ride on unlit roads where
oncoming cars did not dip their lights, I pivoted up the bar-mounted cateye
into their eyes, & they soon responded with dipping their lights....thought
it was pretty good set up. The lamp is designed to pivot to the right &
left, & I could also pivot it up & down if it wasn't hand adjust too tightly
on the bars.

There is/was a "water bottle" rechargeable battery pack for this cateye
which was expensive, but I found that a lamp battery (which is also avail as
rechargeable tho I've only seen NiCad ...no NiMh) fits in the bottle
cage.....secured in with an old pedal strap it works out fine.
Some wire taped to the frame & croc clips to the battery. Using the
terminals extending already outside the lamp (for the over-the-counter
recharge pack) some connector tabs could be modified to fit in place without
hacking the the thing to bits.

Rear lamps are 2 flashing lamps.

I like to wear reflective bands, too.

cheers

Rob

"John Doe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Hippy said:

"stucey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:I5O1c.-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden]:[email hidden]-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ver.com...
> Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not dipping

their

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> headlights for you at night time. I have started riding a bit at
> night, and found alot of motorists to leave them on high
> beam......quite annoying!😠
Build yourself a SLA light rig with some 50w spots aimed at driver
eye level...
Actually don't do that, it's just silly. But it is getting darker

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

darker now. What are people doing for their light setups? What funky

new

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

products are out there that will make me lighter, brighter and

warmer?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A lot of cars have poorly adjusted lights, so the drivers may not

even

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

be aware their lights are too bright (i.e. not even on high beam).

Also,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the fact that they don't dip their lights could mean that you are

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

visible to them front-on. Maybe you need to check your front light?
hippy

My winter light set up will come on soon. I have wired it incorporating
a toggle switch. While I have two separate head units hooked up, only
one is on at any moment. With the toggle switch which sits near my tumb,
I toggle between low and high beams as necessary. The entire wiring is
strapped to the frame during winter, so I take only the battery off
every time for recharge. It's pretty neat and functional.

Cheers,

I always wanted to rig it so I didnt have to remove my battery. However I
found that my commute being 21km's each way is a big drain that needs a
solid recharge. A good 12 hours of charging. So therefore I ended up

with

Quoted message said:

3 batteries. One kept at work on charge, one for the ride and one at home
on charge. That way it was a rotational thing with some long charge times
for each battery.

Theo Bekkers said:

"amirm" wrote

Quoted message said:

When motorist don't dim their light, I use my high beam.

That's a brilliant idea. Try to blind the operator of an oncoming one
and a half tonne lump of metal.
Theo

Theo:

Don't be bashful. 🙂 The follow up sentence said that my lights won't b
as strong, so it's only a matter of gesture

Amir

-

John Doe said:

I always wanted to rig it so I didnt have to remove my battery. However
I found that my commute being 21km's each way is a big drain that needs
a solid recharge. A good 12 hours of charging. So therefore I ended up
with 3 batteries. One kept at work on charge, one for the ride and one
at home on charge. That way it was a rotational thing with some long
charge times for each battery.

Hi Pete:

I guess I'm lucky that ~8 hour charge is enough for me. I commute i
mornings after sunrise, so I need the light only during the ride bac
home. I hook the battery on charger every morning as I arrive, so it'
ready to roll in the evening

Amir

-

amirm said:

I use two headlights (Vistalite) during winter. One is wide angle low
wattage adjusted for low beam. The second is stronger which I use as
high beam (I got a spotlight style globe rather than wide beam globe).
When motorist don't dim their light, I use my high beam.
David against Goliath, I know. But I won't go down without a fight! 😄

Same setup here for the last 6-7 years Same hi-beam antics. got one gu
complain cos he couldnt see (As he drove on the wrong side of th
road!!!) when I pointed out to him that his hi-beams were on, he shutu

-

I find that if I'm using a Cateye stadium light then most cars dip their
lights. If I've got a Cateye LED headlight then they don't.

I also find that they're much less likely to turn right in front of me
when I'm using the stadium light...they probably think there's something
more substantial than a bicycle behind the light.

Nick

stucey said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not dipping their headlights for you at night time. I have started riding a bit at night, and found alot of motorists to leave them on high beam......quite annoying!😠

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 23:56:38 GMT, "John Doe" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I also wondered if wearing a multi coloured clown wig on my helmet would
help visibility. I think something different catches peoples eye. I am not
worried about what others think of me though so that maybe an advantage.

You'd think that being different, you'd stand out, wouldn't you? Not
so, apparently.

Don't forget that experiment where people were asked to watch other
people going past them, and where then asked to recall what they'd seen.
None, apparently, noticed the man in the gorilla suit.

---
Cheers

PeterC

[Rushing headlong: out of control - and there ain't no stopping]
[and there's nothing you can do about it at all]

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 00:55:15 GMT, "Theo Bekkers" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Laurence Dodd" wrote

Quoted message said:

I don't worry about it shining in other peoples eyes, just so long

as its

Quoted message said:

shining where I'm heading.

I hope you don't complain about cars with lights aimed at your eyes
then.

Yeah. I was reading that bit and wondering at double standards.

Or maybe he meant he didn't aim it at people's eyes, but aimed it for
light up where he was heading? The first is intentional, the second
incidental.

---
Cheers

PeterC

[Rushing headlong: out of control - and there ain't no stopping]
[and there's nothing you can do about it at all]

"Peter Cremasco" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 23:56:38 GMT, "John Doe" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I also wondered if wearing a multi coloured clown wig on my helmet would
help visibility. I think something different catches peoples eye. I am

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worried about what others think of me though so that maybe an advantage.

You'd think that being different, you'd stand out, wouldn't you? Not
so, apparently.

Don't forget that experiment where people were asked to watch other
people going past them, and where then asked to recall what they'd seen.
None, apparently, noticed the man in the gorilla suit.

Wow. Thats funny.

Nick Payne said:

I find that if I'm using a Cateye stadium light then most cars dip their
lights. If I've got a Cateye LED headlight then they don't.
I also find that they're much less likely to turn right in front of me
when I'm using the stadium light...they probably think there's something
more substantial than a bicycle behind the light.
Nick

Size matters, definitely

-

stucey said:

Do many of you cyclists have problems with traffic not dipping their
headlights for you at night time. I have started riding a bit at night,
and found alot of motorists to leave them on high beam......quite
annoying!😠

Back to topic. What's the legalities of cars using high beam in the cit
and built up areas? From heresay, I was always lead to believe it was
minor traffic offence

Being temporarily blinded at night by high beams from an oncoming car i
bloody dangerous. Four years ago I almost slammed into a parked ut
while doing an estimated 40-45k down Albion St in West Brunswick, due t
being momentarily blinded by a car lights. Luckily I swerved out wit
just 1-2m to spare before hitting the tray. The offending drive
travelling towards Brunswick probably didn't even notice

-

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John Doe said:

I always wanted to rig it so I didnt have to remove my battery.

However

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I found that my commute being 21km's each way is a big drain that

needs

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a solid recharge. A good 12 hours of charging. So therefore I ended up
with 3 batteries. One kept at work on charge, one for the ride and one
at home on charge. That way it was a rotational thing with some long
charge times for each battery.

Hi Pete:

I guess I'm lucky that ~8 hour charge is enough for me. I commute in
mornings after sunrise, so I need the light only during the ride back
home. I hook the battery on charger every morning as I arrive, so it's
ready to roll in the evening.

Amir.

Hi Amir,

Problem is I leave at 5am. Ride 21k's to the station. Catch the train for 1
hour (or more usually) and then go to work. On the way home I get back to
the station at 6:30. So once again I am in the dark . (this is winter only
though). If I only need the light one way then 8 hours is enough. I just
found that using in both directions towards the end of the ride it would
start dying.

Pete