Helmet light..

cyclebuddy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 2, 2016
1,639
770
Beds & Norfolk
I'm all in favour of anything that helps a cyclist be clearly seen on the road... but:

1) If you've got your head down (a drop-bar road bike or pedalling hard), no one sees the lights at the back. You need to maintain a sit-up position.
2) A car driver is looking for clear hand signals, not flashing lights on the back of your head! And if you're turning your head to look sideways or back?
3) As their second rider picture shows, the rear lights are largely obscured by the guys own back-pack!
4) Another widget to try and squeeze onto my already full handlebars.
5) Yet two more batteries to keep charged... how many batteries does a cyclist need? Oh, and yet another obligatory App, this one pinging battery use notifications after every ride?

Mmm. And £160 for this? Not for me.
 
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soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
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Gubbins

Esteemed Pedelecer
I agree. Not for me either but as he was riding toward me all the white leds (about 10 or so) on the front looked very visible and when he passed all I could see as he rode away was the red triangle on the back. He didn't deploy braking or turn lights so don't know about those but the triangle of leds was much brighter than my small single rear red led and was clearly visible for quite a distance.
 
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Kinninvie

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 5, 2013
907
415
Teesdale,England
I have a Lidl bike helmet with rear light built in.
I use a seatpost light mainly but its handy as a spare in case the main one goes flat ,just remember to keep looking forward!
 

grldtnr

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
627
288
south east Essex
I saw one of these the other night. Not for my taste but certainly looked impressive and noticeable..
https://uk.lumoshelmet.co
There is the legality angle of this , non BS standard lights are only legally allowed if they are fixed to the bike, a helmet with lights may be very visible, but would fall foul of the highway code.

Unless things have changed since I last looked.
 

greyfox69

Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2015
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ST8 North Staffs
I have had a red tail light and a white flashing "pencil type" headlight cable tied to my helmet for Years, (along with handle bar and seat post lights) it works brilliantly at a fraction of the cost.
Now it's got me wondering about the brake light and indicators?????o_O
 
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Gubbins

Esteemed Pedelecer
There is the legality angle of this , non BS standard lights are only legally allowed if they are fixed to the bike, a helmet with lights may be very visible, but would fall foul of the highway code.

Unless things have changed since I last looked.
An interesting point!
Does that mean that these super bright LED lights are legal if mounted on the bike? If so then whats the point in having a BS Standard me thinks..
 

greyfox69

Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2015
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ST8 North Staffs
I don't give a monkeys about the highway code if it keeps me safer, i remember when you were told it was illegal to have flashing lights on a bike i ignored that as well, and I am still here, alive and kicking. :)
 

grldtnr

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
627
288
south east Essex
I guess it's a bit like if you have a legal motor on your bike, just by looking at it you could not obviously tell if it surpassed 250 w, but if your wearing a helmet with illegal lights on it, this is a more visible transgression, one which Plod might be more aggreived with.
 

Gubbins

Esteemed Pedelecer
I guess it's a bit like if you have a legal motor on your bike, just by looking at it you could not obviously tell if it surpassed 250 w, but if your wearing a helmet with illegal lights on it, this is a more visible transgression, one which Plod might be more aggreived with.
Not only plod I would think. The problem with an over bright helmet light is that it's pointing wherever you are looking.. Ok in the woods but on the road if you look at a car you dazzle the driver..
 

craiggor

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 9, 2015
498
171
There is the legality angle of this , non BS standard lights are only legally allowed if they are fixed to the bike, a helmet with lights may be very visible, but would fall foul of the highway code.

Unless things have changed since I last looked.
Isn't that the other way round ? BS or equivalent must be on the bike but you can have other none BS-approved lights including high power as long as they don't dazzle oncoming traffic wherever you like.On you or the bike as long as the approved lights are fitted to the bike ?

Sent from my T1005 using Tapatalk
 

grldtnr

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
627
288
south east Essex
Isn't that the other way round ? BS or equivalent must be on the bike but you can have other none BS-approved lights including high power as long as they don't dazzle oncoming traffic wherever you like.On you or the bike as long as the approved lights are fitted to the bike ?

Sent from my T1005 using Tapatalk
It maybe the other way round, the important thing is the Dazzle aspect, many bike lights these days are very bright, also there is the misinterpretation of lights fitted to a helmet, any proficient cyclist is going to keep a good lookout on his / her surroundings, so if you are looking every which way, there is scope for confused drivers.
 

craiggor

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 9, 2015
498
171
Yea plenty of confused drivers on the roads never mind them having to look out for mobile discos on the road.

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greyfox69

Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2015
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ST8 North Staffs
My front white light is tilted down towards the road about 2 metres in front of my wheel, if it dazzles a motorist he will be that close to me he will be knocking me off the bike. I have been doing it for over ten years no problems so far
 
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Gubbins

Esteemed Pedelecer
My front white light is tilted down towards the road about 2 metres in front of my wheel, if it dazzles a motorist he will be that close to me he will be knocking me off the bike. I have been doing it for over ten years no problems so far
Not everyone is so considerate. I passed one tonight going in the opposite direction and all I could see was a flashing light that was so bright I had to look away as I drove past it.
 

greyfox69

Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2015
144
151
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ST8 North Staffs
The reason i tilt my front light downwards is, that I too, have been dazzled by a bike light and it nearly caused me to hit him, so I really do take it seriously, anyway good or bad we all have to share the road, and try to get along without confrontation, sometimes this is difficult i know and i have had my "moments"