[Slartibartfast]

Anyone else noticed this year there’s an increasing number of overly bright front (and rear) lights, or is it just me? My commute has an extended part over an unlit moor but mostly lit cycle paths and I’d say people have their lights on the wrong setting or pointing at eye level approx 50% of the time.
Maybe my eyes have just got more sensitive but I’m finding myself having to ask people to please turn their daytime strobe off as I can’t see where I’m going.

Topic

[wtjs]

they have a hard upper cut

they have a hard upper cut-off so they don’t dazzle

The latest Aldi headlight has this and also the bar mount provides click stop movement left and right of the straight ahead position which is very handy for me

[belugabob]

matthewn5 wrote:

matthewn5 wrote:

I’ve got dynamos running B&M StVZO compliant lights. They are bright, but they have a hard upper cut-off so they don’t dazzle. They light up the road brilliantly too.

I have a B&M Ixon IQ on my commuter – it’s is also STVZO compliant and very effective. If I stand at the end of my hallway and point it at the mirror, down the end, there is no dazzle whatsoever.

As usual, the UK are slow at adopting things from other countries,which just work.

[andystow]

I have a couple of lights

I have a couple of lights without well-shaped beams. I just use one hand to shade the top until I’m past the oncoming cyclist or pedestrian.

Unless they’re pointing a bright beam at my face.

[mdavidford]

Nighttrain123 wrote:

Nighttrain123 wrote:

On my bike, I use the very high tech solution of manually rotating my light fwd and down on the handlebar.

With most lights, though, this approach will quickly lead to your light flapping loosely while pointing mostly at your front wheel.

[Nighttrain123]

It doesn’t help that most of
It doesn’t help that most of these e-bikes are actually classed as motor vehicles and are ridden illegally in UK.

[Nighttrain123]

Get night vision goggles.
Get night vision goggles.

[Nighttrain123]

lesterama wrote:

lesterama wrote:

Not just the lumens, but also the legislation. Bike lights that aren’t dipped are a menace.

We need to be like Germany, and only allow lights with beam control on sale. Otherwise we’re just giving bike-haters another stick to beat us with.

I’ve been using Ravemen front lights for years. I won’t ever use a strong non-dipped light again.

I wonder if shrouded lights would help? A narrowed beam?

[Nighttrain123]

Some of the new e-bikes
Some of the new e-bikes (heavy pedelec types, undoubtedly ridden illegally) I see on the TPT have lights as bright as a train. I’m literally dazzled +100 m away and have to stop.

[Nighttrain123]

Most runners and walkers on
Most runners and walkers on the pitch black TPT near me do their best to wear matt clothing exclusively.

Even with a bright light, it’s hard to see them against the dark background.

They then moan about being dazzled.

[Nighttrain123]

The brightness isn’t the main
The brightness isn’t the main problem. Dazzling oncoming riders can be solved simply by dipping the angle of the beam. On my bike, I use the very high tech solution of manually rotating my light fwd and down on the handlebar. Such consideration seems below 90% of other riders, sadly.

[S.E.]

I’m not doing single track

I’m not doing single track (no suspensions, only 30, 35 mm tyres) so 800 lumen is enough for me, on gravel type of trails at maybe max 20-30 km/h, less if needed.

I’m kinda minimalist… or maybe just cheap…

[mdavidford]

To be fair, they do have

To be fair, they do have their beam comparer tool, which helps you understand where the light will go. It does rely on the purchaser bothering to read the guidance, though, rather than just going “this one’s brighter – it must be better”.

[schneil]

I’m glad it’s not just me
I’m glad it’s not just me that finds inconsiderate use of bike lights an issue. The main problem is how lights are sold. Most UK sold lights are on the lumens they chuck out, and cyclists are having the message of “be safe be seen” drummed into them. This means many cheap bright lights are sold that have very little beam control optics and just chuck their lumens everywhere. It also doesn’t help that many light reviews (I’m looking at you road.cc) don’t look at anti dazzle aspects of their lights. So at least once a week, I get dazzled by an inappropriate light 🙁

[brooksby]

Mine has a hinge along the

Mine has a hinge along the bottom edge for the same purpose. But so few dog walkers seem to either have that or can’t work out how to use it…

[Hirsute]

I have a couple of head

I have a couple of head torches, but they look like this

Nicely angled down so you can see where you are treading.

[Author]

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