Ok, I've looked around and now want to ask people what they think. Front lights aren't a problem for me, as I rarely, if ever cycle off road and/or on unlight roads at night (I do have one and I am happy with it). However my daily comute takes in some quite busy roads where I am constantly being overtaken. Despite having reflective strips strategically placed and a rear led light bought some years ago, I think I need another light just to make sure that the cagers don't hit me.
The Cateye LD600 seems to be the brightest around (and bright is waht I want) but people seem to complain about the fitting bracket and also the restricted visibility (if you're not looking 'at it', you don't see it). So is it any good, or are there any other recommendations?
Originally posted by Bryan The Cateye LD600 seems to be the brightest around (and bright is waht I want) but people seem to complain about the fitting bracket and also the restricted visibility
I quite like mine. It is very bright with new batteries. The beam pattern is wider in the same axis as the led layout so two mounted at right-angles might be even better. The bracket is nasty but mine hasn't broken in two years.
The cateye bs6102/3 light (AU100 or something similar) has good wide-angle visiblility. I haven't used one but have thought it looked bright on other peoples' bikes. The B&M 4 LED mud guard mounted tail light I bought my mum is nice too. It is a dynamo powered one but ISTR B&M do batter versions. This is similar to the AU100 and the key seems to be several high power leds mounted to point in different directions.
No doubt you are aware of the problems that some people percieve with depth perception and flashing lights. I use a mixture of fixed and flashing to help people get a fix on me but it seems that the LD600 chasing mode delivers some of the advantages of flashing (stands out, says "bike"😉 whilst causeing less of the perception problems of a blinking light
Ok, I've looked around and now want to ask people what they think. Front lights aren't a problem for me, as I rarely, if ever cycle off road and/or on unlight roads at night (I do have one and I am happy with it). However my daily comute takes in some quite busy roads where I am constantly being overtaken. Despite having reflective strips strategically placed and a rear led light bought some years ago, I think I need another light just to make sure that the cagers don't hit me.
The Cateye LD600 seems to be the brightest around (and bright is waht I want) but people seem to complain about the fitting bracket and also the restricted visibility (if you're not looking 'at it', you don't see it). So is it any good, or are there any other recommendations?
A lot of people swear by the "Smart" 7 led rear lights we do, they boast 220 degree visibility, stocked by a lot of shops.
Ok, I've looked around and now want to ask people what they think. Front lights aren't a problem for me, as I rarely, if ever cycle off road and/or on unlight roads at night
A front light is as important as a rear light in traffic, perhaps more so. They're not just for lighting the way. Consider how important a front light is at junctions or where you're moving towards traffic on narrow roads or overtaking jams.
BTW, I recommend at least one steady rear light, and a flashing LED.
The Cateye LD600 seems to be the brightest around (and bright is waht I want) but people seem to complain about the fitting bracket and also the restricted visibility (if you're not looking 'at it', you don't see it). So is it any good, or are there any other recommendations?
I use an LD-600 as a second light on my Brommie, the main light is a Basta jobbie fixed to the rack. As the rack is very low down I mount the LD-600 high on the seat post and leave it there. I have a third light on my rucksack just to make sure, that's a three LED Smart which has seen better days but its switch is more resilient than some other clip on lights---a Vistalite I have can turn itself off too easily.
The complaints about the bracket I have seen are from people who don't know how to use it. I've read a couple of letters which complained that it was impossible to tighten using the 'zip-tie'. Well, yes it is but that isn't how you tighten it. The zip-tie is just used to set the approximate circumference and avoids the need for plastic sleeves to be added for narrower tubes. It is tightened by the screw just like other clamps.
"Simonb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Bryan said:
Ok, I've looked around and now want to ask people what they think. Front lights aren't a problem for me, as I rarely, if ever cycle off road and/or on unlight roads at night
A front light is as important as a rear light in traffic, perhaps more so. They're not just for lighting the way. Consider how important a front
light
Quoted message said:
is at junctions or where you're moving towards traffic on narrow roads or overtaking jams.
BTW, I recommend at least one steady rear light, and a flashing LED.
Seconded. I turn on my lumi's during the day sometimes. Especially when in heavy traffic. The highway code changed temporarily to allow flashing rear light on a cycle, if there was a steady one also. This is the best way IMO. I'm not keen on flashing front lights, as I believe that cagers can find it difficult to judge your distance and speed.
No doubt you are aware of the problems that some people percieve with depth perception and flashing lights. I use a mixture of fixed and flashing to help people get a fix on me but it seems that the LD600 chasing mode delivers some of the advantages of flashing (stands out, says "bike"😉 whilst causeing less of the perception problems of a blinking light
Apologies for a dumb-ass question but which is the chasing mode?
From what I remember, the switch on the LD600 cycles through 4 settings.
First press = flashing on/off Second press = LED's going up/down Third press = all LED's on Fourth press = Off.
Is it therefore switched on by the second press of the switch?
Ok, I've looked around and now want to ask people what they think. Front lights aren't a problem for me, as I rarely, if ever cycle off road and/or on unlight roads at night (I do have one and I am happy with it). However my daily comute takes in some quite busy roads where I am constantly being overtaken. Despite having reflective strips strategically placed and a rear led light bought some years ago, I think I need another light just to make sure that the cagers don't hit me.
The Cateye LD600 seems to be the brightest around (and bright is waht I want) but people seem to complain about the fitting bracket and also the restricted visibility (if you're not looking 'at it', you don't see it). So is it any good, or are there any other recommendations?
I like the Cateye BS-standard one. In an accident you're less likely to have your claim reduced because some lawyer claims you weren't legally lit. It's quite bright as well.
The Cateye LD600 seems to be the brightest around (and bright is waht I want) but people seem to complain about the fitting bracket and also the restricted visibility (if you're not looking 'at it', you don't see it). So is it any good, or are there any other recommendations?
As others have said, make sure you have at least one rear lamp which is kitemarked or stamped to the equivalent (stricter) DIN standard. Flashing lights fixed to the bike are technically illegal, but you'll not likely be pulled up unless you have no steady rear light.
I have a Busch + Muller 4D Toplight as the main steady rear light - very bright, meets the standards and has a full-size reflector. I also use at least one Cateye TL AU 100 (kitemarked). And on my bike bag, which of course is not part of the bike, I hang a RealLITE 18 LED flasher which can be seen from space.
"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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I like the Cateye BS-standard one. In an accident you're less likely to have your claim reduced because some lawyer claims you weren't legally lit. It's quite bright as well.
And it takes sensible sized batteries (see rant a couple of weeks ago).
I like the Cateye BS-standard one. In an accident you're less likely to have your claim reduced because some lawyer claims you weren't legally lit. It's quite bright as well.
I agree. It's got a fairly big reflector on it too FWIW. It's a Cateye TL-AU100.
And on my bike bag, which of course is not part of the bike, I hang a RealLITE 18 LED flasher which can be seen from space.
Do you know for sure that a bike bag or pannier is not part of the bike in this respect? As I cycled home tonight with a flasher on my pannier I wondered if this defence would fly.
Do you know for sure that a bike bag or pannier is not part of the bike in this respect? As I cycled home tonight with a flasher on my pannier I wondered if this defence would fly.
Hmmmm. It is not fixed to the bike, so technically it doesn't infringe the regs, or so I am told because IANAL. This advice has been repeated by the CTC, IIRC, which would suggest that they have checked it out.
It is certainly legal to have flashing lights attached to your person, and the regs only mention lights fixed to the vehicle, so probably we fall into the same grey area as those who put red reflective triangles on the backs of their panniers even though they are not trailers.
Ok, I've looked around and now want to ask people what they think. Front lights aren't a problem for me, as I rarely, if ever cycle off road and/or on unlight roads at night (I do have one and I am happy with it). However my daily comute takes in some quite busy roads where I am constantly being overtaken. Despite having reflective strips strategically placed and a rear led light bought some years ago, I think I need another light just to make sure that the cagers don't hit me.
The Cateye LD600 seems to be the brightest around (and bright is waht I want) but people seem to complain about the fitting bracket and also the restricted visibility (if you're not looking 'at it', you don't see it). So is it any good, or are there any other recommendations?
I've got two of these on the bike and (when I use it) two on the trailer. Not only does this make me somewhat conspicuous (and illegal as I have them all set to various flash modes) but it also gives a high degree of multiple redundancy.
I now feel very exposed when I revert to other types of light (when I was trying a fore & aft dynamo set up)
I agree. It's got a fairly big reflector on it too FWIW. It's a Cateye TL-AU100.
I suppose I should add the caveat that BS6102/3 isn't technically legal because the pedal cycle construction and use regs have never been updated to include it, but they're more legal than other LEDs ;-)
I agree. It's got a fairly big reflector on it too FWIW. It's a Cateye TL-AU100.
I suppose I should add the caveat that BS6102/3 isn't technically legal because the pedal cycle construction and use regs have never been updated to include it, but they're more legal than other LEDs ;-)
And that it doesn't meet the BS if you fit it with teh bracket it comes with - you need the optional bracket to achieve BS compliance.
