Flashing light recommendation

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

Quoted message said:

Dear Group, i normally hate asking for peoples recommendations for
products cos everyone has their own personal favourites, but seeing as
you're such a knowledgable bunch i thought i'd give it a go!

I have a little halogen front light on my bike but i'd like to suppliment
it with a flashing LED lamp. This is just for commuting on reasonably
well lit streets.

Do you have any recommendations for something that will really make me
stand out and be noticed?

From what has been banded about recently, get a BS standard one. You can
then have this in addition with non-BS standard lights. I'm thinking about
getting one (as well as a new chain and rear cassette .. damn stretching) to
compliment my lumicycles.

Martin said:

Dear Group, i normally hate asking for peoples recommendations for
products cos everyone has their own personal favourites, but seeing as
you're such a knowledgable bunch i thought i'd give it a go!

I have a little halogen front light on my bike but i'd like to
suppliment it with a flashing LED lamp. This is just for commuting on
reasonably well lit streets.

Do you have any recommendations for something that will really make me
stand out and be noticed?

Thanks in advance

elyob makes a good point about BS flashers. Mine is not BS approved and
is a 4 LED jobby and is about the size of a small lemon. Its an Oxford
Magicube or something and cost me £15, most excellent and has a nice
offset handle bar mount so the lamp sits immediately infront of my stem
not on top of the bar.

Quoted message said:

Do you have any recommendations for something that will really make me
stand out and be noticed?

Cycling naked should do it, but if you really must go down the lighting
route then almost anything should do for the flashing. It doesn't need to
be so powerful cos it's not lighting up the road so think more about the
spread of the light - will cars waiting at junctions be able to see it etc.

Also look at lights that don't take up so much precious space on your
handlbars (unless you've a straight bar, in which case you'll have acres to
play with).

Think about getting ones that take the same batteries as your current light
(but as it's a halogen I'm guessing this won't be possible).

Anything with switches that can't come on by accident when off the bike are
good. I think the smart polaris II has a twiddly thing rather than a
button.

You'll notice I haven't suggested a particular model, so let me know what
you eventually choose :-)

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

Quoted message said:

I have a little halogen front light on my bike but i'd like to suppliment

it

Quoted message said:

with a flashing LED lamp. This is just for commuting on reasonably well

lit

Quoted message said:

streets.

Do you have any recommendations for something that will really make me

stand

Quoted message said:

out and be noticed?

Smart Polaris: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1389

Don't worry about the BS BS as just about all flashing lights will soon be
legal.

~PB

"Pete Biggs" <p@melonbiggs{remove fruit}.tc> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I have a little halogen front light on my bike but i'd like to suppliment

it

Quoted message said:

with a flashing LED lamp. This is just for commuting on reasonably well

lit

Quoted message said:

streets.

Do you have any recommendations for something that will really make me

stand

Quoted message said:

out and be noticed?

Smart Polaris: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1389

Don't worry about the BS BS as just about all flashing lights will soon be
legal.

Not according to what Iread in an earlier thread ...

\"CTC continues to campaign for a similar, simple legal approval of lamps
emitting steady light, and for a permitted alternative to pedal
reflectors in cases where these cannot be used or seen. Until then:
cyclists who sensibly light their way with one of those brilliant
rechargeable headlamps, that emit thousands of candle-power but are
non-the-less, non-BS, can most easily make themselves legal by also
fitting a little 4-candela flasher. "\"

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't worry about the BS BS as just about all flashing lights will soon

be

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

legal.

Not according to what Iread in an earlier thread ...

Quoted message said:

\"CTC continues to campaign for a similar, simple legal approval of lamps
emitting steady light, and for a permitted alternative to pedal
reflectors in cases where these cannot be used or seen. Until then:
cyclists who sensibly light their way with one of those brilliant
rechargeable headlamps, that emit thousands of candle-power but are
non-the-less, non-BS,

That's about *steady* lights.

Quoted message said:

can most easily make themselves legal by also
fitting a little 4-candela flasher. "\"

There you go, flasher = legal (soon will be).

~PB

"Pete Biggs" <p@melonbiggs{remove fruit}.tc> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There you go, flasher = legal (soon will be).

~PB

I have mixed feelings about this change. Change was certainly needed, but
I'm not sure if this is the correct change. In areas without streetlighting
a flashing light is certainly not enough light to see where you are going...
An opportunity missed? Hmmm.... not sure on this one.

Cheers, helen s

wafflycat said:

In areas without
streetlighting a flashing light is certainly not enough light to see
where you are going...

An understatement. I tried riding in the dark with a flashing light and
its near impossible and much worse (for seeing) than no lights IMO.

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon

"Pete Biggs" <p@melonbiggs{remove fruit}.tc> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't worry about the BS BS as just about all flashing lights will soon

be

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

legal.

Not according to what Iread in an earlier thread ...

Quoted message said:

\"CTC continues to campaign for a similar, simple legal approval of lamps
emitting steady light, and for a permitted alternative to pedal
reflectors in cases where these cannot be used or seen. Until then:
cyclists who sensibly light their way with one of those brilliant
rechargeable headlamps, that emit thousands of candle-power but are
non-the-less, non-BS,

That's about *steady* lights.

Quoted message said:

can most easily make themselves legal by also
fitting a little 4-candela flasher. "\"

There you go, flasher = legal (soon will be).

My point is that if you are using a high powered non-BS light, then getting
a BS flasher brings you into legal. i.e. I have lumicycles and this law
change is good for me.

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

Quoted message said:

wafflycat said:

In areas without streetlighting a flashing light is certainly not enough
light to see where you are going...

An understatement. I tried riding in the dark with a flashing light and
its near impossible and much worse (for seeing) than no lights IMO.

I've had to do it once down a towpath. I mainly used the river for main
co-ordination and occasionally the flasher (on steady) did show things up.
But not much. However, that's not their purpose. Personally, if someone
wants to cycle into the wilds with just flashing lights, that's fine by me.
They are putting themselves at huge risk, but at least passing traffic will
see them first.

I've cycled down the towpath a few times and picked up 'passengers'. People
using my front lights to help them on their way home. Did they really
imagine that they were going to enjoy cycling back without any lights?

Quoted message said:

Do you have any recommendations for something that will really make me
stand out and be noticed?

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=21042
I have seen this light but not used it. Any users out there?

elyob said:

My point is that if you are using a high powered non-BS light, then
getting a BS flasher brings you into legal.

I see what you mean. Nearly all flashing lights will be legal, though.

Quoted message said:

i.e. I have lumicycles and this law change is good for me.

Me too.

~PB

wafflycat said:

Quoted message said:

There you go, flasher = legal (soon will be).

I have mixed feelings about this change. Change was certainly needed,
but I'm not sure if this is the correct change. In areas without
streetlighting a flashing light is certainly not enough light to see
where you are going... An opportunity missed? Hmmm.... not sure on
this one.

It's surprising change all right -- a pleasant surprise for me, though.

I agree that a flashing light is no good for lighting up the road. Most/all
of them have a steady mode but still many of the lights are too dim for
seeing where you're going, except at low speed or if you nibble on carrots
as you ride.

It seems the law will be more concerned about the cyclist being seen and
left to their own devices when it comes to seeing. I don't mind that.

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

wafflycat said:

Quoted message said:

There you go, flasher = legal (soon will be).

I have mixed feelings about this change. Change was certainly needed,
but I'm not sure if this is the correct change. In areas without
streetlighting a flashing light is certainly not enough light to see
where you are going... An opportunity missed? Hmmm.... not sure on
this one.

It's surprising change all right -- a pleasant surprise for me, though.

I agree that a flashing light is no good for lighting up the road. Most/all
of them have a steady mode but still many of the lights are too dim for
seeing where you're going, except at low speed or if you nibble on carrots
as you ride.

It seems the law will be more concerned about the cyclist being seen and
left to their own devices when it comes to seeing. I don't mind that.

Well, the law is only there for the convenience of motorists, so they
can drive faster without having to pay as much attention to making sure
the road is actually clear.

After all, if the blame falls on the victim for failing to announce
that they were lawfully on the road, then motorists don't need to worry
about paying attention to anything that doesn't specifically tell them
it is there.

Personally I think all road users should have a legally defined duty to
avoid collision, with severe penalties, drop the requirement for
lighting except to signal intentions, and have a maximum intensity
allowed for vehicle lighting on road.

The other thing that would greatly help is to remove road furniture
such as bend warning signs and cats eyes., as these just encourage
faster driving and poorer observation.

...d

Martin Dann said:

My reading of the act implies that a flasher will still need to be BS
complient in constant mode, if it has a constant mode.
(see Flashing is legal thread).

My understanding is that the two changes are:

A flashing red or white light oriented appropriately can now be fixed
to a cycle.

A[1] BS compliant steady light or a flashing LED light with an output
over 4 candela flashing... etc. are sufficient to meet the requirements
for lighting on a cycle at night.

It is still legal to attach any other steady lights as auxilliary that
could be attached before.

...d

[1] of the right colour mounted 30-120cm above the ground and oriented
in the right direction, and of course at least one red and one white.

I submit that on or about 2 Oct 2005 06:10:45 -0700, the person known
to the court as "David Martin" <[email hidden]> made a
statement (<[email hidden]> in
Your Honour's bundle) to the following effect:

Quoted message said:

A[1] BS compliant steady light or a flashing LED light with an output
over 4 candela flashing... etc. are sufficient to meet the requirements
for lighting on a cycle at night.

Yes. Specifically, if it does *not* flash it need sot be kitemarked,
if it *does* flash, it need not be. A typical dog's breakfast, in
other words.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken

Just zis Guy said:

I submit that on or about 2 Oct 2005 06:10:45 -0700, the person known
to the court as "David Martin" <[email hidden]> made a
statement (<[email hidden]> in
Your Honour's bundle) to the following effect:

Quoted message said:

A[1] BS compliant steady light or a flashing LED light with an output
over 4 candela flashing... etc. are sufficient to meet the requirements
for lighting on a cycle at night.

Yes. Specifically, if it does *not* flash it need sot be kitemarked,

But only if it is your sole light of that colour, and the kitemark
needs to be BS6102/2.

Quoted message said:

if it *does* flash, it need not be. A typical dog's breakfast, in
other words.

Speaking to my tame plod, he was unaware that it a) was now legal to
fit flashing bike lights and b) that it had ever been illegal and c)
was not about to quibble with anyone who was showing any lights,
irrespective of the letter of the law.

...d

I submit that on or about 2 Oct 2005 09:07:03 -0700, the person known
to the court as "David Martin" <[email hidden]> made a
statement (<[email hidden]> in
Your Honour's bundle) to the following effect:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A[1] BS compliant steady light or a flashing LED light with an output
over 4 candela flashing... etc. are sufficient to meet the requirements
for lighting on a cycle at night.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yes. Specifically, if it does *not* flash it need sot be kitemarked,

Quoted message said:

But only if it is your sole light of that colour, and the kitemark
needs to be BS6102/2.

This was a question about the legal light requirements under the new
proposed regs, was it not? Not about additional lights, which have
been covered elsewhere. Trust me, I do know the requirements
reasonably well, following my researches for this:
<url:http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/web/public.nsf/Documents/rvlr>

As to 6102/2, here is the chapter and verse:
<url:http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_6.htm#nschiobligatorylampreflectorrearmarkingdevice>
(Table III) and
<url:http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_7.htm#nsch2>
(Para 13). The requirement is, as I read it, BS 6102 Part 3, 1986
(sometimes abbreviated to BS6102/3) - it is the date, not the
schedule, which is the problem. The Cateye TL-AU100, for example, is
kitemarked to BS6102/3, but was not approved to the 1986 revision.

I don't have a copy of the standards any more, so I can't say this for
certain, but I believe one part of the revision in 1989(?) was to
allow LEDs as a light source rather than incandescent lamps. This
could be Complete Bollocks, though.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if it *does* flash, it need not be. A typical dog's breakfast, in
other words.

Quoted message said:

Speaking to my tame plod, he was unaware that it a) was now legal to
fit flashing bike lights

It isn't yet AFAIK (note to self: check with Roger & Chris).

Quoted message said:

and b) that it had ever been illegal

Not surprised - ignorance on that one is widespread. And on the fact
that some kitemarked lamps are only legit if fitted with an optional
rigid bracket (and not even then, of course, due to the wrong year of
BS). In practice it is going to be *much* easier to fit a front and
rear blinkie and then carry on as before!

Quoted message said:

and c)
was not about to quibble with anyone who was showing any lights,
irrespective of the letter of the law.

Which is also normal - but as the Pete Longbottom case shows, it's not
always what Plod says that matters.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Speaking to my tame plod, he was unaware that it a) was now legal to
fit flashing bike lights

It isn't yet AFAIK (note to self: check with Roger & Chris).

21st October

--
There will never be true sexual equality until women accept that the
default position of a toilet seat is UP