Scare and Suggested Front Flasher?
 

Yesterday a group of friends were out riding and an oncoming driver made a left turn directly into them. One rider was hurt, lost teeth and Ti Lynskey bent badly. Could have been worse. The lady driver said she did not see the cyclists.

It got me thinking, I always have my rear blinky on (Planet Bike Superflash), but might be a good idea to have a daylight white blinky on the front.

Any suggestions for a small, lightweight but effective and durable front blinky?

Cycliq Fly12. Light and camera in one.

I've been happy with the Cygolite Dice. Cheap, small, lightweight, and does the job for daytime riding.

Thanks but don’t really want camera. Yet. Will keep in mind.

This one looks promising. Thanks!

Not a single rider but a group so I say "This is BS on her part"! Obviously occupied with something more important that watching the road while driving. I don't think your choice of light,whether blinkey or flood light would have mattered. It's a shame, glad it wasn't worse.

It’s possible. But lights and high viz jersey may help.

When we heard the story we figured she was texting but driver was older, she was very apologetic and stayed on the scene. Still sucks, of course. You can’t prevent every incident/accident/crash, but we try our best.

I like the Cyglolight, small and visible. I also like the Axiom Superspark 150. I had a cyclist tell me he could see it flashing from almost 2 miles away. Recharges quickly also.

This is not as small as the dice, but is small enough, cheap and when used in flashing mode, it runs about a month between charges. When mounted upside down on the handle bar, it also stays very nicely out of the way.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also, if you’re using an out flush mount, you can use the helmet mount it comes with to mount it under the computer as well.

I have a Rando 500. Not a blinky but plenty bright, even on low setting. I see drivers changing their decision to pull out and pass when they see that light. Refreshing.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f3812859bc.jpg

https://www.performancebike.com/cygo...50-usb/p523488


I suggest a bright strobe for the front. I have one similar to the one above (mine's discontinued). Mine used to go 4+ hours on a charge in strobe mode, don't know how long it will go these days.

I've noticed drivers tend to give me a bit more room when I'm lit up. I have a random pattern day flasher in back as well as the strobe, which is very bright. I've encountered walkers and other riders coming towards me, shielding their eyes and making faces, sometimes saying something to me. Perfect. I want to be seen.

I believe it. I have had several close calls with very sweet and apologetic elderly folks whose visual processing had to have been significantly impaired.

Blackburn 2-fer. Small. Cheap. Irritatingly bright. Lasts about five hours in blinky mode, USB recharge.

This is the typical car/motorcycle accident and the "I didn't see him" refrain is like a mantra. Many years ago I fitted a headlight to my motorcycle that had a flashing mode. Others did too. The State of CT banned them.

Cygolite 360 Metro for me. Put a 300 on the wife's bike after reading that the human eye can't see the difference up to 30 percent(?) on the lumens.... Paid a lot less for hers....

Here's a fleabay example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cygolite-Da...AAAOSwxzdZ661S

I use these small inexpensive blinkers (~$16 red + white pair from Amazon - NFI). They attach to the bars with a rubber band, but also contain a clip for hooking onto a jersey pocket. I stuck a GoPro mount on the back because reasons. USB rechargeable, multiple blink modes, weatherproof. I run the white front when I'm coming back through town (too many distracted drivers cruising for parking spaces), at low light or in the rain. They're good for 8-10 hours on a charge.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cfd880eb24.jpg

I've been running a Serfas 250 lumen lamp for many years, on a knob about halfway down my front fork. That won't work on every fork of course. 4 levels of steady, plus one bright flasher setting. Works for starting off early and all day. USB. Really bright like this is necessary IMO. They have to see it a long way off in bright daylight. 350 lumen Dinotte in the back, same idea. I've gotten compliments from drivers on my daytime lighting. Bikes totally disappear in shade on a bright day, the drivers wearing sunglasses.

A Superflash isn't bright enough. They need to see you a mile ahead in bright sunlight. They need time to make decisions, must not come upon you suddenly.

People are so numb to their senses even a blinky light will only get their attention for the first few times they see it. All it does is add one more thing for motorists to learn to tune out.

Cygolite Metro 500 for me. I’ve used on roads with no street lights on moonless nights, and I use it during the day in strobe mode.

Cygolite makes more powerful models now, but the 500 works for me.

Cygolite Metro 500

The reason why I bought my Cateye Volt 1600, was to be able to use it's daytime flash of 1600 lumens, mixed in with a 200 lumen steady state.

Ditto, the Blackburn 2'Fer. Everyone should have at least one. It's the most versatile lightweight and compact bike light I've found. It does four modes: steady and blinking white or red. Buy a pair and use red rear, white front. I mount mine on my helmet. The built in clip is really well designed and will grip the strap of a backpack or shoulder bag, a belt, collar, whatever you have.

Even more attention getting/annoying is the Blackburn Click. The white strobe is almost seizure inducing. I'm not prone to seizures but the strobing is damned irritating at night, and I'm wearing it. So it's a good attention getter. Also as compact as the 2'Fer, but, alas, with a less versatile mounting system. I snagged one for $6 on blowout at REI and use it on the front of one helmet. The light itself has little hooks and a rubber band mount to secure it. Works well enough for a handlebar, head tube, stem or helmet.

If you're not too weight/bulk conscious, pretty much any headlight for the US market will have a strobe or pulse mode that's bright enough to be seen in daylight. The Light & Motion Urban series are the least bulky. I like the L&M Urban pulse mode, but some folks prefer the strobe. I don't know whether L&M finally added a strobing mode to their current lineup.

I also have NiteRider and Serfas headlights but those are all heavier and bulkier than the Light & Motion. Those go on my hybrids. I prefer the L&M Urbans for my road bikes. The L&M rubber band strap is a weak spot and may last only a year or so. I replaced my original strap with a Two-Fish mount. Works great, just a dual rubber block with Velcro straps. Better than the original L&M mount.

I kinda wish Cygolite made a white version of their Hotshot taillights. Those suckers are stupid bright for being so small, lightweight and inexpensive. Imagine how irritating we could be with white front mounted Hotshots.

I use bontrager cubes front and rear. I get good feedback about being seen. Bright small and rechargeable.

Cygolite 800 for me

BTW -- does anyone else with a similar Cygolite front light find that the mount tends to come loose when riding? I find that the thumb screw that keeps the mount on the bike loosens over the course of a ride, especially when roads are bumpy. I am planning to add a lock washer and see if that helps.

This is the reason I run a front flashing light when in traffic. You can argue the usefulness, the irritability factor to other cyclists etc. But it's stories like these that re-affirm my choice.

Get a great helmet AND a front/back blinky!!!
Safe-tec Helmets

I have the same cheap lights and they continue to work. I run the front all the time.
Have had the same experience as the OP. Left cross in front of me... or several times on 40 mph downhill... clear road.... no other cars except the one coming toward me.......and it decides to make a U-turn right in front of me! Either they don't look, or they can't tell how fast you are going, or they just don't give a shiit.