Riding in the Dark

[shewhobikes]

It's made by Lights & Motion and it's called the Commuter. More than I wanted to pay (around $100) but it WORKS---lights well, plenty far ahead of me. Make sure you get a light that will help you see, not just be seen, if you really will be riding past dark!

[newfsmith]

I'm of the "don't tell me you couldn't see me school" While my winter ride has a truck taillight (56 LED's) I also have a Cat-eye taillight attached to my helmet running in the flashing mode. From the side I have truck marker lights on the forks and a "beehive" amber light on top of the rear trunk, plus lots of reflective tape on wheels as well as spoke reflectors. On the front I have double front reflectors, a 10W equivalent LED headlight, plus a helmet headlight, also in the flashing mode. The helmet light is important because as you check the traffic at an intersection you are flashing light at the traffic approaching from either side, which will not be able to see your handle bar light. I routinely ride a poorly lit backroad in the dark both ways to work from December to late February, and also have to cross a 6-lane highway. I take "lighting up" very seriously in those months. I also wear lots of reflective material: a safety triangle, double leg band reflectors, and either Glo-gloves or leg reflectors wrapped around my mitts. Everyone laughs at the extremes I go to, but I get good clearance on the road.

[wabisabi]

Oooh, that snow in the dark looks cold!!
---California weenie

[Selkie]

MANY THANKS!!! I don't paying a bit for a good light more since safety is an issue. Luckily, I won't be on the road for more than a 1/2 mile to and from the trail (well lit w/streetlamps), but as I said, there are some dark patches on the trail where I have my "training loop." It's surrounded by nature---trees w/acorns/nuts that litter the path and a good bit of wildlife for the city---so I will be happy w/as much light as possible. Those darn acorns are unforgiving and can take you out if you hit them right!

[Selkie]

Oooh, that snow in the dark looks cold!!
---California weenie

wasi - quit yer braggin' girl!

[wabisabi]

Well, we get lots of rain. Yesterday on a charity ride we had cold misty fog, enough to make it almost impossible to see through cycling lenses, warm sun and clear skies on a big climb and through a farming area, then back down into cold and fog, big afternoon headwinds, and finished back in sun--at least 3 seasons, and definitely a layering challenge!

[nuthatch]

Speaking of rain - do any of these halogen 10 watt lights have a waterproof claim? Today was the first morning I rode with lights in a fairly heavy rain and I was wondering how long my lights could withstand the downpour. I'm seriously considering a halogen 10/15 watt but I need waterproof too.