Front Lights are The New Black

Dusk on the LPF if incredibly fucking dangerous.  Hail all those with front lights, mostly we have the helmet thing down and many rear lights, the new black is front lights.

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Permalink Reply by Josh L. on October 1, 2013 at 5:36pm

I notice all the Divvy lights at night on the LFP.  Very distinctive.

Permalink Reply by Dovah Cat on October 2, 2013 at 9:20am

Lights are super important, but don't forget to think of oncoming cyclists and pedestrians when you're riding so closely with opposite traffic - some of those super blinky situations render me blind. Point it down, tone it down, your visibility can make you invisible if I can't see you or anything else. 

Permalink Reply by S on October 2, 2013 at 9:45am

I kind of wish that the shaped lenses like those on car headlights were more prevalent.  There are few lights with those lens which have a much better light pattern with a sharp horizontal cut off above a certain height so that lights don't shine in people's faces.  E.g. see this, apparently European countries have laws that dictate that lights have this type of beam pattern which sounds great.

Dovah Cat said:

Lights are super important, but don't forget to think of oncoming cyclists and pedestrians when you're riding so closely with opposite traffic - some of those super blinky situations render me blind. Point it down, tone it down, your visibility can make you invisible if I can't see you or anything else. 

Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on October 2, 2013 at 10:45am

Re the european requirements: look at Chicargobike's article. You can get the German lights in Chicago at Boulevard, JC Lind, and many others. They work with any generator, even an old one. Generator lights that don't blind oncoming traffic are required in Germany and most of Europe rather than battery blinkies because the rules address bikes as a vehicle for use on public ways, not as a piece of sports equipment, and lighting is therefore as important for bikes as for cars or motorcycles.

Hong Kong has lots of neon but it doesn't blink to prevent airplanes from crashing (supposedly) due to disoriented pilots. Same applies to blinking bike lights, I think.

Front lights are the new black, maybe, since they are explicitly required by Chicago law, unlike back lights?

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on October 2, 2013 at 10:58am

Hear Hear, Haddon!

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on October 2, 2013 at 3:25pm

Totally agree front lights are super important. Totally agree they need to be pointed at the trail and not up in people's eyes. Also, if your rear light has a calmer flashing mode, go with that. There's no need for crazy techno lights on the trail.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on October 3, 2013 at 12:50am

That Phillips light is on super-sale right now on amazon. $113 off msrp for the battery powered version.  Good time to buy a light!

S said:

I kind of wish that the shaped lenses like those on car headlights were more prevalent.  There are few lights with those lens which have a much better light pattern with a sharp horizontal cut off above a certain height so that lights don't shine in people's faces.  E.g. see this, apparently European countries have laws that dictate that lights have this type of beam pattern which sounds great.

Dovah Cat said:

Lights are super important, but don't forget to think of oncoming cyclists and pedestrians when you're riding so closely with opposite traffic - some of those super blinky situations render me blind. Point it down, tone it down, your visibility can make you invisible if I can't see you or anything else. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 3, 2013 at 2:33am

Yes, more headlights please!

Permalink Reply by Julia 3.5/7.5 mi on October 3, 2013 at 9:02am

Isn't Knog having an event this weekend too? Are there chances of scoring some free or reduced cost lights? I love my blinder lights - and the different blinky settings for different times of day or places.

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on October 3, 2013 at 9:24am

Yep, tomorrow night at Heritage:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/knog-pop-up-shop-heritage-...



Julia 3.5/7.5 mi said:

Isn't Knog having an event this weekend too? Are there chances of scoring some free or reduced cost lights? I love my blinder lights - and the different blinky settings for different times of day or places.

Permalink Reply by Eli on October 3, 2013 at 9:50am

That Phillips light is on super-sale right now on amazon. $113 off msrp for the battery powered version.  Good time to buy a light!

Which Phillips light is that?

In general, can anyone recommend a headlight with a shaped beam that is battery-powered (and preferably USB-rechargeable)? I do worry about blinding people with my otherwise-great Cygolite headlight. Dynamos are not really feasible for me right now.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on October 3, 2013 at 9:59am
The Phillips SafeRide

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