Using Strobes on the Trail
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Wow, long thread. Southwest Bike Trail here in Madison does have that flasher problem once in a while but it's not that bad. Trail gets a lot of commuters through inner town. My problem is the group rides of a dozen or more bikes. I stop and get off the trail to let them pass coming or going.
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There's no good reason for strobes on a MUP, users of such fall into the following categories:
1. Was riding on the road and forgot to turn off when they got on the MUP
2. Use strobes 24/7 as a magic talisman to ward off any and all bad things that can happen to cyclists
3. "Look at me" pea-cocking
Users who should have strobes on the MUP:
1. Small children
2. Dogs
3. Pedestrians practicing drunkard's walk interpretive locomotion
1. Was riding on the road and forgot to turn off when they got on the MUP
2. Use strobes 24/7 as a magic talisman to ward off any and all bad things that can happen to cyclists
3. "Look at me" pea-cocking
Users who should have strobes on the MUP:
1. Small children
2. Dogs
3. Pedestrians practicing drunkard's walk interpretive locomotion
At 55 and effectively blind in one eye, I had to concede his point. Similarly, he conceded that there is a point, like everything else in life, where it becomes overkill.
Everyone wants to turn everything into a binary argument, intrinsic evil vs the beatific vision. I think there is room to compromise, even if the compromise isn't exactly as we would have it.
FWIW, I got on the trail last Saturday and forgot to turn off my L&M Urban 900 which was set on low/pulse. I rode several miles with some of the MACC guys until one asked me what kind of light it was - probably a polite way to suggest that I turn it off. Doh!
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 06-25-19 at 11:36 AM.
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It was pointed out to me by someone elsewhere that a small strobe or light helps him see riders rider approaching in the shade while he is in the sun. He is an older guy, probably more that 60 and wears glasses.
At 55 and effectively blind in one eye, I had to concede his point. Similarly, he conceded that there is a point, like everything else in life, where it becomes overkill.
Everyone wants to turn everything into a binary argument, intrinsic evil vs the beatific vision. I think there is room to compromise, even if the compromise isn't exactly as we would have it.
FWIW, I got on the trail last Saturday and forgot to turn off my L&M Urban 900 which was set on low/pulse. I rode several miles with some of the MACC guys until one asked me what kind of light it was - probably a polite way to suggest that I turn it off. Doh!
-Tim-
At 55 and effectively blind in one eye, I had to concede his point. Similarly, he conceded that there is a point, like everything else in life, where it becomes overkill.
Everyone wants to turn everything into a binary argument, intrinsic evil vs the beatific vision. I think there is room to compromise, even if the compromise isn't exactly as we would have it.
FWIW, I got on the trail last Saturday and forgot to turn off my L&M Urban 900 which was set on low/pulse. I rode several miles with some of the MACC guys until one asked me what kind of light it was - probably a polite way to suggest that I turn it off. Doh!
-Tim-
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I encountered a path moron today. Not one but two high intensity strobes. This under sunny skies and on an open path. The lights didn't appear too bad at first, but when I got into the focal area of his left light, it left me seeing spots for a few minutes. I guess these are the same kind of idiots that run around in boats with led light bars and a spotlight blaring everywhere they go.
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What ever happened to conversation and discussion?
It seem to me that one could simply ride up next to a person with a bright light and say, "Hey, that's a pretty bright light!" and have a conversation from there. If the person listens then you have won a friend. If not then your conscience will be clean.
Instead, nowadays we just go to the internet and call people morons and idiots.
It seem to me that one could simply ride up next to a person with a bright light and say, "Hey, that's a pretty bright light!" and have a conversation from there. If the person listens then you have won a friend. If not then your conscience will be clean.
Instead, nowadays we just go to the internet and call people morons and idiots.
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What ever happened to conversation and discussion?
It seem to me that one could simply ride up next to a person with a bright light and say, "Hey, that's a pretty bright light!" and have a conversation from there. If the person listens then you have won a friend. If not then your conscience will be clean.
Instead, nowadays we just go to the internet and call people morons and idiots.
It seem to me that one could simply ride up next to a person with a bright light and say, "Hey, that's a pretty bright light!" and have a conversation from there. If the person listens then you have won a friend. If not then your conscience will be clean.
Instead, nowadays we just go to the internet and call people morons and idiots.
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What ever happened to conversation and discussion?
It seem to me that one could simply ride up next to a person with a bright light and say, "Hey, that's a pretty bright light!" and have a conversation from there. If the person listens then you have won a friend. If not then your conscience will be clean.
Instead, nowadays we just go to the internet and call people morons and idiots.
It seem to me that one could simply ride up next to a person with a bright light and say, "Hey, that's a pretty bright light!" and have a conversation from there. If the person listens then you have won a friend. If not then your conscience will be clean.
Instead, nowadays we just go to the internet and call people morons and idiots.
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It was pointed out to me by someone elsewhere that a small strobe or light helps him see riders rider approaching in the shade while he is in the sun. He is an older guy, probably more that 60 and wears glasses.
At 55 and effectively blind in one eye, I had to concede his point. Similarly, he conceded that there is a point, like everything else in life, where it becomes overkill.
Everyone wants to turn everything into a binary argument, intrinsic evil vs the beatific vision. I think there is room to compromise, even if the compromise isn't exactly as we would have it.
FWIW, I got on the trail last Saturday and forgot to turn off my L&M Urban 900 which was set on low/pulse. I rode several miles with some of the MACC guys until one asked me what kind of light it was - probably a polite way to suggest that I turn it off. Doh!
-Tim-
At 55 and effectively blind in one eye, I had to concede his point. Similarly, he conceded that there is a point, like everything else in life, where it becomes overkill.
Everyone wants to turn everything into a binary argument, intrinsic evil vs the beatific vision. I think there is room to compromise, even if the compromise isn't exactly as we would have it.
FWIW, I got on the trail last Saturday and forgot to turn off my L&M Urban 900 which was set on low/pulse. I rode several miles with some of the MACC guys until one asked me what kind of light it was - probably a polite way to suggest that I turn it off. Doh!
-Tim-
in my opinion it should be the standard for all bicycle lighting.
that and a horizon cut off. there is no reason why a cyclist light should shine as bright above the handle bars!
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I just picked up a couple of mini LED's that have the strobe feature. The rear red is 8 Lumens and the front clear is 18 Lumens.
I had no idea how some fellow cyclists felt about seeing them flashing but I'll be sure to limit the their use for the streets only.
I actually saw a few on the trail yesterday. Didn't find them annoying at all but then again it was a very sunny day.....
I had no idea how some fellow cyclists felt about seeing them flashing but I'll be sure to limit the their use for the streets only.
I actually saw a few on the trail yesterday. Didn't find them annoying at all but then again it was a very sunny day.....
Last edited by Speedway2; 08-27-19 at 05:27 AM.
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At this very moment I am charging my 45,000 lumen headlight. I have to work late today so it will be dark for my evening commute. Can't wait to have some fun on the MUP. I'm going to put the light on strobe mode and blast the B-52's "Strobe Light" through my blue tooth speaker.
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At this very moment I am charging my 45,000 lumen headlight. I have to work late today so it will be dark for my evening commute. Can't wait to have some fun on the MUP. I'm going to put the light on strobe mode and blast the B-52's "Strobe Light" through my blue tooth speaker.
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I've never found it necessary to use a strobe on the rail trail. Nor a taillight, except when it was close to dark. The lights on my bike are primarily to alert car drivers to my presence, and other cyclists or pedestrians will see and hear me coming soon enough.
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Maybe these hi-intensity strobe lights good for bear defence......
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At this very moment I am charging my 45,000 lumen headlight. I have to work late today so it will be dark for my evening commute. Can't wait to have some fun on the MUP. I'm going to put the light on strobe mode and blast the B-52's "Strobe Light" through my blue tooth speaker.
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I see lots of lights, and I'm often informed of people's positions by them. The vast majority of those do not annoy me in the slightest and they are highly effective at promoting safety. If your lights annoy me, it is because they are aimed at my eyes in such a way as to actually impair my vision and they are bright and possibly strobing.
@downhillmaster was absolutely right to say your logic would justify shining high-beams into the eyes of oncoming drivers. If you're aiming bright flashing strobes that can be seen from a half mile in broad daylight directly into the eyes of oncoming cyclists in an effort to be seen, your strategy is self-defeating. All you're doing is making sure that the oncoming cyclist cannot look at you while you close the distance--exactly the same reason that running high beams when there's a car approaching from the other direction is illegal.
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Please don't turn this into a complain thread.
I'd simply like to ask those of you who use high powered strobe lights on the rail trails to please stop.
I'm not talking about crowded, meandering inner-city MUPs where crowds of pedestrians might make a flasher appropriate. I'm talking about high powered stobes out on long rail trails in the middle of nowhere where there are only cyclists.
I'm also not talking about the little diode on the front of your GPS or some other very low powered light but high powered LED lights on strobe setting.
They are simply not needed. Beyond that, they also interrupt the vision of cyclists coming the other way.
As a courtesy to other cyclists please turn your high powered strobes when you get to the trail. Thanks.
-Tim-
I'd simply like to ask those of you who use high powered strobe lights on the rail trails to please stop.
I'm not talking about crowded, meandering inner-city MUPs where crowds of pedestrians might make a flasher appropriate. I'm talking about high powered stobes out on long rail trails in the middle of nowhere where there are only cyclists.
I'm also not talking about the little diode on the front of your GPS or some other very low powered light but high powered LED lights on strobe setting.
They are simply not needed. Beyond that, they also interrupt the vision of cyclists coming the other way.
As a courtesy to other cyclists please turn your high powered strobes when you get to the trail. Thanks.
-Tim-
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#124
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Your logic was "If my lights annoy you it's because you see them." If you say something that stupid, you have no business insulting other people's logic.
I see lots of lights, and I'm often informed of people's positions by them. The vast majority of those do not annoy me in the slightest and they are highly effective at promoting safety. If your lights annoy me, it is because they are aimed at my eyes in such a way as to actually impair my vision and they are bright and possibly strobing.
@downhillmaster was absolutely right to say your logic would justify shining high-beams into the eyes of oncoming drivers. If you're aiming bright flashing strobes that can be seen from a half mile in broad daylight directly into the eyes of oncoming cyclists in an effort to be seen, your strategy is self-defeating. All you're doing is making sure that the oncoming cyclist cannot look at you while you close the distance--exactly the same reason that running high beams when there's a car approaching from the other direction is illegal.
I see lots of lights, and I'm often informed of people's positions by them. The vast majority of those do not annoy me in the slightest and they are highly effective at promoting safety. If your lights annoy me, it is because they are aimed at my eyes in such a way as to actually impair my vision and they are bright and possibly strobing.
@downhillmaster was absolutely right to say your logic would justify shining high-beams into the eyes of oncoming drivers. If you're aiming bright flashing strobes that can be seen from a half mile in broad daylight directly into the eyes of oncoming cyclists in an effort to be seen, your strategy is self-defeating. All you're doing is making sure that the oncoming cyclist cannot look at you while you close the distance--exactly the same reason that running high beams when there's a car approaching from the other direction is illegal.
Last edited by Al_in_NH; 08-28-19 at 12:57 PM.
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