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#1
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Flashing front light in daytime.
I was stuck in traffic in my car at about 8.30 this morning looking down
at the radio to change channel. Out of my peripheral vision I became aware of a flashing light from outside. It turned out to be a bike filtering up the inside, some way back. I have never thought of using a front light in daylight but was very impressed by the result. It wasn't the brightest day this morning but it wasn't really overcast or anything. I wonder what type of light you need to get these results. Maybe a new super LED. I couldn't really see what he was using, just a black cylindrical looking thing. Maybe I'll be able to ask him another morning. None of you were on Brownhill road going from Hither Green To Catford at about 8.30 this morning were you? |
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#2
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Flashing front light in daytime.
On Fri, 23 May 2008 13:03:27 +0100
Nick wrote: I was stuck in traffic in my car at about 8.30 this morning looking down at the radio to change channel. Out of my peripheral vision I became aware of a flashing light from outside. It turned out to be a bike filtering up the inside, some way back. I have never thought of using a front light in daylight but was very impressed by the result. It wasn't the brightest day this morning but it wasn't really overcast or anything. Funny you should mention this - I also saw a cyclist with a flashing front light earlier today. I've never before noticed one in daylight. |
#3
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Flashing front light in daytime.
On May 23, 2:21*pm, Rob Morley wrote:
On Fri, 23 May 2008 13:03:27 +0100 Nick wrote: I was stuck in traffic in my car at about 8.30 this morning looking down at the radio to change channel. Out of my peripheral vision I became aware of a flashing light from outside. It turned out to be a bike filtering up the inside, some way back. I have never thought of using a front light in daylight but was very impressed by the result. It wasn't the brightest day this morning but it wasn't really overcast or anything. Funny you should mention this - I also saw a cyclist with a flashing front light earlier today. *I've never before noticed one in daylight. |
#4
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Flashing front light in daytime.
On May 23, 2:21*pm, Rob Morley wrote:
On Fri, 23 May 2008 13:03:27 +0100 Nick wrote: I was stuck in traffic in my car at about 8.30 this morning looking down at the radio to change channel. Out of my peripheral vision I became aware of a flashing light from outside. It turned out to be a bike filtering up the inside, some way back. I have never thought of using a front light in daylight but was very impressed by the result. It wasn't the brightest day this morning but it wasn't really overcast or anything. Funny you should mention this - I also saw a cyclist with a flashing front light earlier today. *I've never before noticed one in daylight. I regularly see cyclists with flashing rear lights in poor light (well I did through the winter). They were wasting their batteries as without exception I could see they were there before I could tell the light was on. Whatever light you saw must have been pretty bright to catch your attention in your mirror. OT: Posting via Google Groups now requires you to type in a verification word shown in distorted characters - presumably an attempt to reduce the spam. Rob |
#5
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Flashing front light in daytime.
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#6
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Flashing front light in daytime.
On 23 May, 16:43, Nick wrote:
wrote: On May 23, 2:21 pm, Rob Morley wrote: On Fri, 23 May 2008 13:03:27 +0100 Nick wrote: I was stuck in traffic in my car at about 8.30 this morning looking down at the radio to change channel. Out of my peripheral vision I became aware of a flashing light from outside. It turned out to be a bike filtering up the inside, some way back. I have never thought of using a front light in daylight but was very impressed by the result. It wasn't the brightest day this morning but it wasn't really overcast or anything. Funny you should mention this - I also saw a cyclist with a flashing front light earlier today. *I've never before noticed one in daylight.. I regularly see cyclists with flashing rear lights in poor light (well I did through the winter). They were wasting their batteries as without exception I could see they were there before I could tell the light was on. Whatever light you saw must have been pretty bright to catch your attention in your mirror. It wasn't in my mirror. I was looking down at my radio, the whole inside of my car was flashing not brightly but just enough to pick up on. That is why I was impressed. I really wasn't paying attention to anything but it still got through to me. To be honest my first vague impression was that there was an emergency vehicle somewhere around. I want one!- Hide quoted text - I think that with LEDs you can turn up the brightness of the flash a lot as long as the duration is reduced accordingly to maintain an acceptable average power level. i.e. not melt it. Could have been a Xenon strobe I suppose. I think that research carried out for the aviation industry years ago demonstrated that for a GIVEN POWER CONSUMPTION flashing lights were easier to see. Hence they now use flashers on planes. Power on planes is expensive. Of course the average bicycle flasher is designed not to increase its visibility when flashing but to save power. I certainly seem to find the average bicycle flasher harder to spot than a non flasher and when cycling I have ever used flash mode on any light that I have had. |
#8
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Flashing front light in daytime.
Bod43 writtificated
for a GIVEN POWER CONSUMPTION flashing lights were easier to see. Of course the average bicycle flasher is designed not to increase its visibility when flashing but to save power. I certainly seem to find the average bicycle flasher harder to spot than a non flasher and when cycling I have [n]ever used flash mode on any light that I have had. Assuming the flashes are at the same brightness as the steady, wouldn't having the light at the flashing provide both longer battery life AND better visibility? |
#9
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Flashing front light in daytime.
On Fri, 23 May 2008 07:12:26 -0700 (PDT),
wrote: I regularly see cyclists with flashing rear lights in poor light (well I did through the winter). They were wasting their batteries as without exception I could see they were there before I could tell the light was on. Whatever light you saw must have been pretty bright to catch your attention in your mirror. They might not have had batteries - might be Reelights... http://tinyurl.com/3pmmxg (Wiggle page about Reelights) Admittedly in daylight Reelights would possibly not attract the attention of someone not already looking in that general direction -- John |
#10
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Flashing front light in daytime.
On 24 May, 10:58, Mark T
pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_ reply*.com.invalid wrote: Bod43 writtificated for a GIVEN POWER CONSUMPTION flashing lights were easier to see. Of course the average bicycle flasher is designed not to increase its visibility when flashing but to save power. I certainly seem to *find the average bicycle flasher harder to spot than a non flasher and when cycling I have [n]ever used flash mode on any light that I have had. Assuming the flashes are at the same brightness as the steady, wouldn't having the light at the flashing provide both longer battery life AND better visibility? I have no idea. I am pretty certain about the aviation research. Well, certain that I read it somewhere and not in the Sun. My own experience leads me to believe that your suggestion is mistaken but I know that I can't really tell without doing measurements and I have not. |
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