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Cycling in the pitch black night
Being a city dweller I was not aware how dark the countryside can get on a
moonless night. Despite cycling along the combination footpath/cycle path of a main road, A35 in Hampshire. Between Lyndhurst and Ashurst of the New Forest a depression between 2 slight ridges there is no extraneous light whatever for a few ten minute periods without any car headlights. Stopped to admire the heavens. But how to cycle safely in that situation? especially the chance of stray bramble branches at eye height, motor cycle goggles ? Another lamp on the handlebars pointing up to "illuminate" space 10 foot ahead of you and at eye-height? I thought the side spill of bicycle front lamps was for car drivers joining a road from the side have more of a chance of spotting you. But also this side spill illuminates the white line along the road edge and so you can keep that distance/angle constant as well as the path ahead illuminated. Croupier eye-shade type thing to reduce the glare of full-beam car headlights coming towards you? and of course flourescent and reflective-striped clothing as drivers will not dip their beams if they do not notice you (only about half dipped even then) |
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#2
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Cycling in the pitch black night
On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:26:08 -0000
"N_Cook" wrote: Being a city dweller I was not aware how dark the countryside can get on a moonless night. Despite cycling along the combination footpath/cycle path of a main road, A35 in Hampshire. Between Lyndhurst and Ashurst of the New Forest a depression between 2 slight ridges there is no extraneous light whatever for a few ten minute periods without any car headlights. Stopped to admire the heavens. But how to cycle safely in that situation? especially the chance of stray bramble branches at eye height, motor cycle goggles ? Another lamp on the handlebars pointing up to "illuminate" space 10 foot ahead of you and at eye-height? Ride on the road. I thought the side spill of bicycle front lamps was for car drivers joining a road from the side have more of a chance of spotting you. But also this side spill illuminates the white line along the road edge and so you can keep that distance/angle constant as well as the path ahead illuminated. Croupier eye-shade type thing to reduce the glare of full-beam car headlights coming towards you? A peaked cap. and of course flourescent and reflective-striped clothing as drivers will not dip their beams if they do not notice you (only about half dipped even then) Fit a front reflector or two. Ride on the road. I sometimes ride towards them in the middle of their lane if they fail to dip - they tend to notice that. |
#3
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Cycling in the pitch black night
Rob Morley wrote in message
news:20121116110611.7e7707f6@hyperion... On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:26:08 -0000 "N_Cook" wrote: Being a city dweller I was not aware how dark the countryside can get on a moonless night. Despite cycling along the combination footpath/cycle path of a main road, A35 in Hampshire. Between Lyndhurst and Ashurst of the New Forest a depression between 2 slight ridges there is no extraneous light whatever for a few ten minute periods without any car headlights. Stopped to admire the heavens. But how to cycle safely in that situation? especially the chance of stray bramble branches at eye height, motor cycle goggles ? Another lamp on the handlebars pointing up to "illuminate" space 10 foot ahead of you and at eye-height? Ride on the road. I thought the side spill of bicycle front lamps was for car drivers joining a road from the side have more of a chance of spotting you. But also this side spill illuminates the white line along the road edge and so you can keep that distance/angle constant as well as the path ahead illuminated. Croupier eye-shade type thing to reduce the glare of full-beam car headlights coming towards you? A peaked cap. and of course flourescent and reflective-striped clothing as drivers will not dip their beams if they do not notice you (only about half dipped even then) Fit a front reflector or two. Ride on the road. I sometimes ride towards them in the middle of their lane if they fail to dip - they tend to notice that. I knew Mark Brummel, killed in the New Forest this year http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9731...ter_car_crash/ and his death was in daylight, I keep off main roads (in any part of the lane) if there is an alternative |
#4
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Cycling in the pitch black night
"Rob Morley" wrote in message news:20121116110611.7e7707f6@hyperion... On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:26:08 -0000 "N_Cook" wrote: Being a city dweller I was not aware how dark the countryside can get on a moonless night. Despite cycling along the combination footpath/cycle path of a main road, A35 in Hampshire. Between Lyndhurst and Ashurst of the New Forest a depression between 2 slight ridges there is no extraneous light whatever for a few ten minute periods without any car headlights. Stopped to admire the heavens. But how to cycle safely in that situation? especially the chance of stray bramble branches at eye height, motor cycle goggles ? Another lamp on the handlebars pointing up to "illuminate" space 10 foot ahead of you and at eye-height? Ride on the road. I thought the side spill of bicycle front lamps was for car drivers joining a road from the side have more of a chance of spotting you. But also this side spill illuminates the white line along the road edge and so you can keep that distance/angle constant as well as the path ahead illuminated. Croupier eye-shade type thing to reduce the glare of full-beam car headlights coming towards you? A peaked cap. and of course flourescent and reflective-striped clothing as drivers will not dip their beams if they do not notice you (only about half dipped even then) Fit a front reflector or two. Ride on the road. I sometimes ride towards them in the middle of their lane if they fail to dip - they tend to notice that. Very sensible advice I must say. When they *don't* notice that and hit you and kill you, it will appear that it's just another mad cyclist riding on the wrong side of the road, getting exactly what he was looking for. |
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Cycling in the pitch black night
On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:48:14 -0000
"N_Cook" wrote: I knew Mark Brummel, killed in the New Forest this year http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9731...ter_car_crash/ and his death was in daylight, I keep off main roads (in any part of the lane) if there is an alternative Statistically you're unlikely to be killed when cycling. The more cyclists there are on the roads, the more likely that motorists will expect them to be there. |
#6
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Cycling in the pitch black night
"Rob Morley" wrote in message
news:20121116122151.170a85bd@hyperion... On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:48:14 -0000 "N_Cook" wrote: I knew Mark Brummel, killed in the New Forest this year http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9731...ter_car_crash/ and his death was in daylight, I keep off main roads (in any part of the lane) if there is an alternative Statistically you're unlikely to be killed when cycling. Hmmm.. The more cyclists there are on the roads, the more likely that motorists will expect them to be there. That's a fanciful theory rather than a fact. |
#7
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Cycling in the pitch black night
Rob Morley wrote:
On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:48:14 -0000 "N_Cook" wrote: I knew Mark Brummel, killed in the New Forest this year http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9731...ter_car_crash/ and his death was in daylight, I keep off main roads (in any part of the lane) if there is an alternative Statistically you're unlikely to be killed when cycling. The more cyclists there are on the roads, the more likely that motorists will expect them to be there. cycling goes up a percent or two and KSI leaped by 15 percent. How does safety in numbers work? |
#8
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Cycling in the pitch black night
On Friday, November 16, 2012 2:09:02 PM UTC, Mrcheerful wrote:
cycling goes up a percent or two and KSI leaped by 15 percent. How does safety in numbers work? Usually when somebody just posts a KSI figure here, it means that the Killed data doesn't show the trend they are claiming too. How about a reference for that data, Cheerless, so that we can check for ourselves. |
#9
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Cycling in the pitch black night
On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:21:51 +0000, Rob Morley wrote:
snip Statistically you're unlikely to be killed when cycling. Wicked. One of the best ever. |
#10
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Cycling in the pitch black night
On Friday, November 16, 2012 2:56:08 PM UTC, Judith wrote:
Statistically you're unlikely to be killed when cycling. Wicked. One of the best ever. But still true. It is so unlikely, regular cyclists, on average, live longer than non-cyclists. Another reason to join us, Dave. |
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