Bicycle lighting

[DanZac]

Most modern dynamo lights have some form of capacitor, or similar, so they stay illuminated for a couple of minutes when you stop.

Stops you getting rear ended or disappearing at traffic lights.

 

[Farside]

These are still available

Bike Cycling Dynamo Lights Set Safety No Batteries Needed Headlight Rear | eBay

This neat bike light combo will keep you safe with this dynamo lights set that can be seen from a far. The headlight and the read light is fitted to a dynamo which gives the lights all the power they need to work so no need for batteries.

www.ebay.co.uk

I picked up an old hub dyno in a 26" mtb wheel (odd combo, but I was glad to find it) with the idea of permanently powered lights and no battery worries. I'm absolutely sure a suitable LED setup matched to the output of the dynohub would be adequate.

 

[fixedfixer]

Don't forget there's no output from a dynamo when your stopped so fit an additional rear light if your powering both front and rear

Plenty that hold charge to keep them on when stopped. Rear light

 

[Rkweld]

Some of it is the fault of the clothing brands. They make the clothes in such stupid colours for the sake of fashion instead of function. I bought a thermal running top to wear under my orange jacket, it had some hi viz beading which has washed off but my only colour options were black or grey or dark green?!

Proviz is way out of my price range before anyone says!

 

[Gareth J]

I wonder if there's any practical sense in lighting up the rider as well as a forward facing light.

If the point of ultra bright/flashing forward facing lights is to be seen, that inevitability ends in a brightness arms race where everyone is dazzled. Maybe a smaller body facing light, plus high viz, is a better way. (And a light to see the way forward too, obviously!) After all, other road users just want to see what things are, where they are and how fast they're going so they can react accordingly. Car drivers are maybe more likely to be sympathetic if they see a soggy human plodding through the low winter light, than an anonymous flashing searchlight heading their way.

....I'm gonna test the idea on my partners bike.

 

[ajlelectronics]

got followed by a garda car one night for
five minutes, and they never bothered me.

If they are anything like UK Police, there is an official policy to turn a blind eye to cyclists, almost whatever they are up to.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Its an unofficial policy and they label it as discretion. It cannot be official as it opens the police up to claims of not dealing with criminal offences.

Au contraire. At least with Gloucestershire, it is policy. It is also very annoying, having had four cyclists collide with me on the footpath outside my shop door. I like cycling, but I dislike many cyclists' behaviour.