High Beams

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! 😄

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by stucey
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!😠

"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

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,

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Hippy
"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

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

Theo:

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

Amir.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Theo Bekkers
"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

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.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by John Doe

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. [/B]

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by amirm
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 guy complain cos he couldnt see
(As he drove on the wrong side of the road!!!)
when I pointed out to him that his hi-beams were on, he shutup

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]

Size matters, definitely.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Nick Payne

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

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by stucey
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 city and built up areas? From heresay, I was always lead to believe it was a minor traffic offence.

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

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 news:JrP1c.87284$Wa.82651@news-
server.bigpond.net.au...

Quoted message said:

"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...
> 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.

Me, too. But what difference does it make?? Same old, same old. There are minor and major offences that are committed over an over, out of lack of knowledge, lack of care, lack of respect, etc. etc.

The bottomline is that they happen. Who's to police/correct them? sigh 🙁

Cheers,
Amir.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cfsmtb
[B]Back to topic. What's the legalities of cars using high beam in the city and built up areas? From heresay, I was always lead to believe it was a minor traffic offence.

(snip)

[/QUOTE]

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

Quoted message said:

John Doe 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.