Comments on: When It Comes to Bicycle Lights, Go Big, Go Bright http://www.bikesd.org/2009/12/when-it-comes-to-bicycle-lights-go-big-go-bright/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:18:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: aj http://www.bikesd.org/2009/12/when-it-comes-to-bicycle-lights-go-big-go-bright/comment-page-1/#comment-610 aj Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:15:53 +0000 http://www.bikesd.org/?p=973#comment-610 I, personally, think that good lights are the most undervalued piece of equipment on bicycles. I am still nursing a broken wrist I suffered in a fall because I hit an impediment in the roadway that I should have seen, and would have seen if I had been using my good headlight. But that would have required stopping by the house to grab it, so I set off in the dark with only my blinky front light. Since I've been driving a lot more the last several weeks, I am amazed and frightened by how inadequate most cyclists' lighting devices are. One or two small LEDs are not visible to drivers! If you are riding your bike after sunset or before sunrise you really, really need to "grow up" and invest in a real lighting system. I'll never ride at night without mine again. I, personally, think that good lights are the most undervalued piece of equipment on bicycles. I am still nursing a broken wrist I suffered in a fall because I hit an impediment in the roadway that I should have seen, and would have seen if I had been using my good headlight. But that would have required stopping by the house to grab it, so I set off in the dark with only my blinky front light.
Since I’ve been driving a lot more the last several weeks, I am amazed and frightened by how inadequate most cyclists’ lighting devices are. One or two small LEDs are not visible to drivers!
If you are riding your bike after sunset or before sunrise you really, really need to “grow up” and invest in a real lighting system. I’ll never ride at night without mine again.

]]> By: Mari Lynch http://www.bikesd.org/2009/12/when-it-comes-to-bicycle-lights-go-big-go-bright/comment-page-1/#comment-606 Mari Lynch Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:45:36 +0000 http://www.bikesd.org/?p=973#comment-606 After reading this post, I started wondering whether my 2008 Light & Motion Stella 120 lumen was adequate (in the "be seen" category). I followed your suggestion and checked Ecovelo's site, though got tired searching for light info (did see other cool posts in the process). Eventually found a post on lights that was helpful to me:: Ecovelo's suggestion that you combine lights as needed. Felt a little silly using my old helmet light too, with the Stella, until I read the Ecovelo post (and first yours). Thanks for helping one more cyclist be a little safer riding at night! :) As I mention in "Night Ride Home" on my blog, I do love riding in the dark when I won't endanger others, but falls have made me think a little differently. After too many injuries the past few years, I have a new appreciation for bike lights for my own safety too! After reading this post, I started wondering whether my 2008 Light & Motion Stella 120 lumen was adequate (in the “be seen” category). I followed your suggestion and checked Ecovelo’s site, though got tired searching for light info (did see other cool posts in the process). Eventually found a post on lights that was helpful to me:: Ecovelo’s suggestion that you combine lights as needed. Felt a little silly using my old helmet light too, with the Stella, until I read the Ecovelo post (and first yours).
Thanks for helping one more cyclist be a little safer riding at night! :)

As I mention in “Night Ride Home” on my blog, I do love riding in the dark when I won’t endanger others, but falls have made me think a little differently. After too many injuries the past few years, I have a new appreciation for bike lights for my own safety too!

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