log in
register

Visibility when cycling at night

  • Creator
    Topic
  • June 11, 2020 at 9:01 am #30817
    JaredP91

    As I have a young child, I tend to do a lot of my riding at night in low visibility conditions. While this is ok on well lit roads, I am conscious that on roads without adequate street lighting I may not be visible to drivers.

    I have front and rear lights on my bike, as well as wearing clothing with reflective sections. However, I wondered if anyone can recommend any good performance fit clothing that is hi-viz/reflective whilst still maintaining a close fit for fast riding? For example, I came across the Proviz jackets/gilets which offer fantastic reflectiveness, but they look to be very loose fitness.

    Or, indeed, if there is anything else I could do to increase my visibility during low light rides?

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 38 total)
1 2 3
  • Author
    Replies
  • June 16, 2020 at 11:37 am #960541
    0
    Shades

    My view is, whilst they’re

    My view is, whilst they’re good, don’t shell out on top quality lights and then just wear black clothing; all the driver sees is a super-bright light and nothing behind.  Hence anywhere you can add reflectives draws attention to you (eg clothes, reflective tyre wall, things on the spokes, tape, stickers etc).  Halfords have cheap reflective stuff.  Proviz stuff looks great at night but they’re a bit ‘dull’ for day riding and are loose fit.  Combo of a solid light and a flashing one (or main light with a steady beam + pulse) works well in busy traffic where you need to draw attention to yourself.  

    June 16, 2020 at 10:58 am #960539
    0
    RMurphy195

    Small bits of reflective on

    Small bits of reflective on the wheel rims, maybe 3 or 4 spaced around each rim. Madison used to make them (called Hi Light or some such). I had silver ones on silver rims on m old bike, so hardly visible during the day. Other riders when in a group commented on how visible they were from behind, a friend in his car agreed (we did some testing!).

    Gives an effect of spinning lights when viewed from behind, as opposed to reflective sidewalls which are more visible from the side.

    At present I have reflective tape attached to my pedals, silver to the front and red to the rear (They are Shimano single-sided SDP’s so are always the same way around). And a bit of red reflective on the rear mudflap. (BTW I also have this on car door edges and around the boot lid, visible when its open).

    You can get black reflective tape which wouldn’t show up on black wheelrims in the day, you ‘d have to get some and see how reflective it really is.

    Plus bits of this stuff on your helmet if you wear one might be useful if you have an off!

    The best thing about reflectives is that you don’t have to worry about batteries going flat!

     

    June 14, 2020 at 4:30 pm #960537
    0
    Anonymous

    All black clothing, no lights

    All black clothing, no lights, but eat more carrots. Supposedly they help you see in the dark!

    June 12, 2020 at 7:26 pm #960535
    0
    Hirsute

    Front Lamp
    Front Lamp
    One is required, showing a white light, positioned centrally or offside, up to 1500mm from the ground, aligned towards and visible from the front. If capable of emitting a steady light it must be marked as conforming to BS6102/3 or an equivalent EC standard. If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candela.

    Rear Lamp
    One is required, to show a red light, positioned centrally or offside, between 350mm and 1500mm from the ground, at or near the rear, aligned towards and visible from behind. If capable of emitting a steady light it must be marked as conforming to BS3648, or BS6102/3, or an equivalent EC standard. If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candela.

    You also need a rear reflector and four pedal reflectors to fully comply with the RVLR

    No need for lights to be on the bike, but practically speaking they will be.

    June 12, 2020 at 6:35 pm #960533
    0
    ktache

    I think you can, the same as

    I think you can, the same as wheel reflectors.

    I think my spoke “straws” are really quite good.  I have had reflective sidewalls on my getting to work bike, but rim braked so was coverered in dissolved rim whenever the going got damp.

    I like the little round cateye reflectors, and I don’t think they look too bad, so both front and rear are fitted and replaced when they get damaged.  Quite happy to pay for them too.  On my Getting to Work bike (retired) and Ultimate Commuter.  Both have bolt type pedal reflectors too, easy to get since the internet shopping came a thing.  The pop in plastic attachment ones rattle and fall out too easily, the metal bolt ones need to get very messed up before the reflector actually falls out.

    On my good XC bike, just the spoke straws, no room on the seatpost for a reflector there and no holes in the newer DMR V12 for pedal reflectors.  But she is not really meant for getting to work, when I do most of my in traffic riding.

    Each to their own.

    June 12, 2020 at 5:35 pm #960531
    0
    Awavey

    probably what I was thinking

    probably what I was thinking of as mine does both roles for sure, but Ive never bothered taking the rear reflector off anyway.

    but one thing no-one has mentioned, and I cant find it in any recent guides to lights is the front white reflector, are we allowed to drop those now ?

    June 12, 2020 at 4:32 pm #960529
    0
    brooksby
    mdavidford wrote:
    brooksby wrote:
    hirsute wrote:
    The regs state a maximum height for lights, so a single head mounted light would not be legal.

    I think the regulations also state that one front and one rear light must be actually fitted to the bike (rather than to a bag or to the rider).

    What if you’re clipped in? Wouldn’t they then be attached to the bike, with you as a mount?

    Hey, I’m not a lawyer… 😉

    June 12, 2020 at 3:08 pm #960527
    0
    Pilot Pete

    But if they don’t see you

    But if they don’t see you early enough your safety is compromised…

    June 12, 2020 at 3:05 pm #960525
    0
    quiff

    Haven’t done it myself, but I

    Haven’t done it myself, but I have seen someone use a standard rear light strapped to the chainstay and pointing at the ground to similar effect – it produced a surprisingly effective and conspicuous red pool of light around his bike, even in a built up streetlit area. Also not done personally, but I’ve often thought a rear light on the offside bar end could help following drivers judge width and therefore passing space better.  

    Agree with comments that an additional front helmet light can help because you can gently direct it at drivers you suspect may not have seen you at junctions etc.

    One other perhaps slightly counter-intuitive suggestion is not using your light on full power by default. I have an Exposure Flash rear light and had been guilty of accidentally / unthinkingly leaving it on the daybright setting at night, until a following rider complained it was too bright. Having since followed others who appear to have done the same, I’d agree the glare is probably unhelpful to those behind.         

    June 12, 2020 at 3:02 pm #960523
    0
    Sriracha

    Pedal reflectors have the
    Pedal reflectors have the advantage over ankle bands in that, once fitted, they go with you every time without fail. Can’t see any reason not to fit them; they needn’t stop you benefitting from the advantages of ankle bands as well, when you remember and have them with you.

    June 12, 2020 at 2:34 pm #960521
    0
    mdavidford
    brooksby wrote:
    hirsute wrote:
    The regs state a maximum height for lights, so a single head mounted light would not be legal.

    I think the regulations also state that one front and one rear light must be actually fitted to the bike (rather than to a bag or to the rider).

    What if you’re clipped in? Wouldn’t they then be attached to the bike, with you as a mount?

    June 12, 2020 at 2:18 pm #960519
    0
    brooksby

    hirsute wrote:

    hirsute wrote:
    The regs state a maximum height for lights, so a single head mounted light would not be legal.

    I think the regulations also state that one front and one rear light must be actually fitted to the bike (rather than to a bag or to the rider).

    June 12, 2020 at 1:49 pm #960517
    0
    Hirsute

    The regs state a maximum
    The regs state a maximum height for lights, so a single head mounted light would not be legal.

    June 12, 2020 at 12:37 pm #960515
    0
    fenix

    I guess it depends how you

    I guess it depends how you have the lights – I’ve seen dual units – so front and rear in one light. Front inevitably pointing down and rear up into the sky so visibility isnt great. 

    If its in addition to the other lights then yes – but I’ve seen people riding just with head torches and at first glance they look like a bike further away – you’d not expect a light at that height and I think it’s against the lighting regs ?

     

    Definitely agree on the duplicate lights though. 

    June 12, 2020 at 12:09 pm #960513
    0
    Daveyraveygravey
    fenix wrote:
    …

    I’m not keen on helmet mounted lights – they are too high for motorists to be able to recognise as a bike close up, plus we all move our heads too much.  Great if you’re off roading mind you. 

    I disagree with this.  I have recently put a flashing red light on my helmet; in the day time I now have two flashing red rear lights.  It’s only subjective, but it seems to me like I get less close passes since I have started doing this.  Maybe the combination of the two is more eye catching and makes me look more like a person than an object; maybe the helmet light is above most driver’s seated position so perhaps it stands out more, maybe my moving head helps.

    Another benefit of a front helmet light is you can direct it where you like, I have sometimes looked into the eyes of cars at junctions just to reinforce the fact that I am there.  A lot of drivers don’t take the care to look properly at junctions; subconsciously some of them are only looking for two big bright car headlights, so they may not register a bike light.

    OP, always have two rear lights on, and always carry two fronts even if you don’t have both working.  You never know when they are going to run out of charge or battery.  Plus if you have an unexpected stop, you may need both front lights to see what you are doing and then last for the extended time of your trip.

    The good news is usually riding at night makes drivers more careful and more patient; they aren’t certain where the edges of the road are or how far the corner/dip is away, so they tend to hang back more and overtake with more room.

     

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 38 total)
1 2 3
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.