Ordered my fall lighting setup

Gooserider said:

I am going to commute by bike all this fall and winter. I missed most of the
spring and summer prime daylight hours due to nagging injury and FEAR. I'm
ready to hit it full time again.

I live in Florida, so in the middle of winter it gets dark really early. My
commute is an hour each way, so I've got 30 minutes in darkness in the
morning and evening. Last year I did the ride with a DiNotte 5W Ultralight
and a couple of Planet Bike Superflash blinkies. It was an excellent setup,
but battery life with the 5W on high was close to tapped with each leg.
Nashbar was running a sale on the new DiNotte 600L in their last catalog AND
a 15% off coupon, so I managed to lock one in for $320 shipped. It's on
backorder, unfortunately. I contacted DiNotte to see if they could price
match on one in stock. They couldn't, but Rob at DiNotte made me an
excellent deal on a taillight and offered to trade me a new 200L(200 lumens
5W) for my old 5W headlight. So, my setup will be:

600L on bars

So, that 600L has 3 5W emitters? Wow. I use one, and think that that
is enough light.

Quoted message said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

Well, overkill is certainly better than underkill --- as the name
suggests. You will be the brightest thing in the night sky, unless
there is a full moon. But that's cool. Let us know the burn time on
those 600's.

--

David L. Johnson

Let's be straight here. If we find something we can't understand we
like to call it something you can't understand, or indeed even
pronounce.
-- Douglas Adams

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So, that 600L has 3 5W emitters? Wow. I use one, and think that that is
enough light.

It's not so much the light, at the burn time. I don't think I'll run the
600L on high very often, but it's low setting is brighter than the 5W's
high, and is supposed to offer 14 hours on low power.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

Well, overkill is certainly better than underkill --- as the name
suggests. You will be the brightest thing in the night sky, unless there
is a full moon. But that's cool. Let us know the burn time on those
600's.

I am amped to get the 600L, but the tail light is what really impresses me.
It should definitely get drivers' attention.

Gooserider said:

...Last year I did the ride with a DiNotte 5W Ultralight
and a couple of Planet Bike Superflash blinkies. It was an excellent setup,
but battery life with the 5W on high was close to tapped with each leg....
[this year:]
600L on bars
200L on helmet
Superflash on helmet blinkie strap
DiNotte taillight on seatpost
Superflash on seatbag
LED reflective vest
Road ID reflective ankle strap
Reflective tape on fenders and crankarms

....

Quoted message said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

Is this overkill? You shouldn't be asking us!

If you've got any concern (or even any curiosity) about how
conspicuous you are on the road, you should test your setup with a
friend! Have a friend drive by you and note what he sees, and when
(i.e. how far away) he sees it. Do this from various angles, such as
overtaking, approaching from a side street, etc. Do it in traffic and
on a deserted road.

Then reverse roles. You pass by in his car while he rides your bike
for you.

By the time you've done this, you should know what's overkill and
what's not.

Now, since you asked: Based on my experience, yes, you're indulging
in overkill. I've never had problems being conspicuous enough at
night, using far less hardware. In fact, I've gotten spontaneous
compliments, such as "Wow, I could see your lights from half a mile
back," and "What's that super-bright light down by your axle?" (It
was a reflector.)

But if overkill makes you feel better, that's fine.

- Frank Krygowski

Gooserider said:

I am going to commute by bike all this fall and winter. I missed most of the
spring and summer prime daylight hours due to nagging injury and FEAR. I'm
ready to hit it full time again.

I live in Florida, so in the middle of winter it gets dark really early. My
commute is an hour each way, so I've got 30 minutes in darkness in the
morning and evening. Last year I did the ride with a DiNotte 5W Ultralight
and a couple of Planet Bike Superflash blinkies. It was an excellent setup,
but battery life with the 5W on high was close to tapped with each leg.
Nashbar was running a sale on the new DiNotte 600L in their last catalog AND
a 15% off coupon, so I managed to lock one in for $320 shipped. It's on
backorder, unfortunately. I contacted DiNotte to see if they could price
match on one in stock. They couldn't, but Rob at DiNotte made me an
excellent deal on a taillight and offered to trade me a new 200L(200 lumens
5W) for my old 5W headlight. So, my setup will be:

600L on bars

Funny, I don't see the 600L on DiNotte's site. I presume you can use
one, two, or three, emitters as fits the need.

Quoted message said:

200L on helmet
Superflash on helmet blinkie strap
DiNotte taillight on seatpost
Superflash on seatbag
LED reflective vest
Road ID reflective ankle strap
Reflective tape on fenders and crankarms

I'm not sure about the helmet light. I've never used one, and my commute is
100% pavement. I think it will be useful for getting the attention of
drivers, and more light won't hurt.

The helmet light is overkill with such a good headlight. Helmet lights
may be good for off-road, but for on-road riding they're unnecessary if
you have a good headlight, as you do.

I don't think such a bright tail light is necessary. I would have gotten
one of the several available LED flashers that have 180 degree
visibility, such as the Trek Disco Inferno, Cat Eye LD1000, and
Blackburn Mars 2.0 or 3.0.

Quoted message said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

I think the headlamp is overkill, and that you could have done with a
less expensive tail light.

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

Quoted message said:

I am going to commute by bike all this fall and winter. I missed most of
the spring and summer prime daylight hours due to nagging injury and FEAR.
I'm ready to hit it full time again.

I live in Florida, so in the middle of winter it gets dark really early.
My commute is an hour each way, so I've got 30 minutes in darkness in the
morning and evening. Last year I did the ride with a DiNotte 5W Ultralight
and a couple of Planet Bike Superflash blinkies. It was an excellent
setup, but battery life with the 5W on high was close to tapped with each
leg. Nashbar was running a sale on the new DiNotte 600L in their last
catalog AND a 15% off coupon, so I managed to lock one in for $320
shipped. It's on backorder, unfortunately. I contacted DiNotte to see if
they could price match on one in stock. They couldn't, but Rob at DiNotte
made me an excellent deal on a taillight and offered to trade me a new
200L(200 lumens 5W) for my old 5W headlight. So, my setup will be:

600L on bars
200L on helmet
Superflash on helmet blinkie strap
DiNotte taillight on seatpost
Superflash on seatbag
LED reflective vest
Road ID reflective ankle strap
Reflective tape on fenders and crankarms

I'm not sure about the helmet light. I've never used one, and my commute
is 100% pavement. I think it will be useful for getting the attention of
drivers, and more light won't hurt.

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

Mike

I don't think there is such thing as overkill when it comes to safety. And
riding at night is just about the most dangerous acticity you can do on a
bike. I say brighter the better.

Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - Global Warming Edition ® said:

I don't think there is such thing as overkill when it comes to safety.

Sure there is.

Quoted message said:

And
riding at night is just about the most dangerous acticity you can do on a
bike. I say brighter the better.

I can think of many other more dangerous activities on a bike then
riding at night with a good lighting system.

In fact, with good lights, the night bicyclist is more visible to
vehicles than in the daytime.

As long as you equip your bicycle with a good lighting system, it's not
all that dangerous.

Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - Global Warming Edition ® said:

I don't think there is such thing as overkill when it comes to safety. And
riding at night is just about the most dangerous acticity you can do on a
bike. I say brighter the better.

If you think night riding with lights is the most dangerous activity (or
did you mean 'atrocity'?) one can do on a bike, well...umm...no.

\\paul

Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - Global Warming Edition ® said:

I don't think there is such thing as overkill when it comes to safety.

Really?

How much padding are you wearing now, as you read this at your
computer? ;-)

Quoted message said:

And
riding at night is just about the most dangerous acticity you can do on a
bike.

Why do you say that?

- Frank Krygowski

Gooserider said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

You didn't choose the equipment I'd have chosen which would be a
generator system, either a B&M bottle or a Dynohub, and Lumotec lights
but you've got
plenty of light. A number of posters upthread have disagreed with
your helmet system. They are wrong. If you need to fix a flat or make
any adjustment what-so-ever to cables, drive train, etc... you will
appreciate having the helmet light.

[email hidden] wrote:
:: On Sep 25, 12:01 am, "Gooserider" <[email hidden]>
:: wrote:
::: ...Last year I did the ride with a DiNotte 5W Ultralight
::: and a couple of Planet Bike Superflash blinkies. It was an
::: excellent setup, but battery life with the 5W on high was close to
::: tapped with each leg.... [this year:]
::: 600L on bars
::: 200L on helmet
::: Superflash on helmet blinkie strap
::: DiNotte taillight on seatpost
::: Superflash on seatbag
::: LED reflective vest
::: Road ID reflective ankle strap
::: Reflective tape on fenders and crankarms
:: ...
:::
::: Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG
::: stretches with no street lighting whatsoever.
::
:: Is this overkill? You shouldn't be asking us!
::
:: If you've got any concern (or even any curiosity) about how
:: conspicuous you are on the road, you should test your setup with a
:: friend! Have a friend drive by you and note what he sees, and when
:: (i.e. how far away) he sees it. Do this from various angles, such as
:: overtaking, approaching from a side street, etc. Do it in traffic
:: and on a deserted road.
::

Sunday morning I was driving to the place where I like to start my rides.
It was before daylight, but only by about 10 or 15 minutes. I was driving
along a narrow two-lane road and saw something in the darkness as the road
was curved at that point so my headlights didn't really get it. Well, it
turned out to be a guy on a bike. Looked to be dressed full kit, too. Except
this kit appeared to be mostly black! And, dude didn't even had a tail
light and no reflectors or rear lights. He was really hard to see. In
front, he did have a headlight which made him more visible, but I had my
doubts if he could really see.

So, Gooserider, I think your setup is infinitely better than dudes'. The
reflective wear should help a lot, I think. I do have concerns about the
helmet light, as you may be blinding some drivers. If you can be turned
on/off easily, though, it would be really useful for looking off ot the side
into those dark places from where noise comes.

Frank's advice is really the only way to be sure in your own mind, though,
which seems to be the most important thing.

:: Then reverse roles. You pass by in his car while he rides your bike
:: for you.
::
:: By the time you've done this, you should know what's overkill and
:: what's not.
::
:: Now, since you asked: Based on my experience, yes, you're indulging
:: in overkill. I've never had problems being conspicuous enough at
:: night, using far less hardware. In fact, I've gotten spontaneous
:: compliments, such as "Wow, I could see your lights from half a mile
:: back," and "What's that super-bright light down by your axle?" (It
:: was a reflector.)
::
:: But if overkill makes you feel better, that's fine.
::
:: - Frank Krygowski

Will said:

Gooserider said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

You didn't choose the equipment I'd have chosen which would be a
generator system, either a B&M bottle or a Dynohub, and Lumotec lights
but you've got
plenty of light. A number of posters upthread have disagreed with
your helmet system. They are wrong. If you need to fix a flat or make
any adjustment what-so-ever to cables, drive train, etc... you will
appreciate having the helmet light.

I carry one of those coin-sized pocket LED flashlights for those
occurrences. Weighs a couple grams, costs a couple bucks.

Or at least, I think I carry one. It's been so long since I've needed
to use it, I can't be sure it hasn't fallen out of my bag! If I were
leaving on a tour, I'd double check.

- Frank Krygowski

Roger Zoul wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Frank's advice is really the only way to be sure in your own mind, though,
which seems to be the most important thing.

There is an inherent problem with asking someone who knows that you are
there and is looking for you, whether or not they can see you.

It's as incongruous as the "Did you ever not see a legally lit cyclist?"
Well gee, how would you know if you didn't see him (or her). I've often
barely seen a legally lit cyclist, but at least at the last minute I did
see them, though not because of their lights because of my car's
headlights.

SMS wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::
:: <snip>
::
::: Frank's advice is really the only way to be sure in your own mind,
::: though, which seems to be the most important thing.
::
:: There is an inherent problem with asking someone who knows that you
:: are there and is looking for you, whether or not they can see you.

Perhaps...but there is little question as to "comfort zone" when riding your
bike at night.
After all, you can never guarantee that anyone will see you. One can be
"too afraid" for one's own good.

::
:: It's as incongruous as the "Did you ever not see a legally lit
:: cyclist?" Well gee, how would you know if you didn't see him (or
:: her). I've often barely seen a legally lit cyclist, but at least at
:: the last minute I did see them, though not because of their lights
:: because of my car's headlights.

🙂

Quoted message said:

Is this overkill? :-)

Yer lights CAN NOT EVER be too bright (no matter how much you bolt,
strap, or duct tape on), 'cause the motorists that you share the roads
with ain't.
You should seriously consider adding blinking Christmas tree lights
wrapped around your rear rack, not only do they throw light but they
add a festive atmosphere to the season of darkness, hohoho.

Quoted message said:

In fact, with good lights, the night bicyclist is more visible to
vehicles than in the daytime.

Yeah, I generally get a wider berth at night than I do in the day...
but my lights don't all come from the bike catalogs and they don't
really scream "soft fleshy thing that will bounce off your hummer
without so much as scratching the fender" as much as they tend to
invoke more a "what the #$!* is that" reaction. Being mistaken for a
tractor is not necessarily a bad thing, hang your lights high and
wide, don't use one tail light when you could very well get three or
four matching lights.

Will said:

Gooserider said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

You didn't choose the equipment I'd have chosen which would be a
generator system, either a B&M bottle or a Dynohub, and Lumotec lights
but you've got
plenty of light. A number of posters upthread have disagreed with
your helmet system. They are wrong. If you need to fix a flat or make
any adjustment what-so-ever to cables, drive train, etc... you will
appreciate having the helmet light.

I've considered tucking one in my bag for just that sort of eventuality
I must admit. A hands free light can be a mighty fine thing at night.
Mostly mine lives on my workbench and gets used when I'm working on my
bike or running network cable.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"I'll carry your books, I'll carry a tune, I'll carry on, carry over,
carry forward, Cary Grant, cash & carry, Carry Me Back To Old Virginia,
I'll even Hara Kari if you show me how, but I will *not* carry a gun."
-- Hawkeye, M*A*S*H

DennisTheBald said:

Quoted message said:

Is this overkill? :-)

Yer lights CAN NOT EVER be too bright (no matter how much you bolt,
strap, or duct tape on), 'cause the motorists that you share the roads
with ain't.

Not always true. A large part of my commute (by necessity) is on a MUT.
People with megawatt lights often blinded me in the past, and now that I
have a brighter light I will have to be careful not to blind others
myself.

Quoted message said:

You should seriously consider adding blinking Christmas tree lights
wrapped around your rear rack, not only do they throw light but they
add a festive atmosphere to the season of darkness, hohoho.

I believe I have a half dozen or so of those, I'm saving them for a
Critical Mass ride though.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"They don't hardly make `em like him any more - but just to be on the
safe side, he should be castrated anyway." - Hunter S. Thompson

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

Quoted message said:

Gooserider said:

Is this overkill? :-) My commute is semi-rural, and I have LONG stretches
with no street lighting whatsoever.

You didn't choose the equipment I'd have chosen which would be a
generator system, either a B&M bottle or a Dynohub, and Lumotec lights
but you've got
plenty of light. A number of posters upthread have disagreed with
your helmet system. They are wrong. If you need to fix a flat or make
any adjustment what-so-ever to cables, drive train, etc... you will
appreciate having the helmet light.

I've thought about a dynohub system for years. If I ever set up a bike for
touring, I will definitely spec a Schmidt SON and dual Lumotecs. But the
DiNotte should be magnitudes brighter.

Gooserider said:

I've thought about a dynohub system for years. If I ever set up a bike for
touring, I will definitely spec a Schmidt SON and dual Lumotecs. But the
DiNotte should be magnitudes brighter.

Think about the difference between "magnitudes brighter" and "enables
you to see much better." They are not the same thing!

- Frank Krygowski