bikecrate

I got hit in the same way by a driver making a left turn. Destroyed bike but I was basically okay. She also did the "I didn't see you" excuse. Perfectly clear day and sight lines. Anyways, I decided the only factor may have been the road was dappled with shadows. My own experience, as a driver, cyclist can disappear a bit into the shadows in these conditions. Therefore, after that incident, I mounted a Niterider 750 in the front and rear and use them in the day and night.

DirePenguin

I've been using the Cycle Torch Bolt lights (available from Amazon) on my Domane. They're very small and light but bright and have several modes; constantly on, slow blink, fast blink and pulse.

coupster

To OP and all respondents: Whatever front light you buy or use, PLEASE, angle it downwards. I'm am getting really po'ed by being blinded during the daytime by the lights of oncoming cyclists on the rural roads I ride. Its actually worse than driving towards a set of high beams on. PLEASE.

rutan74

Ahh, look no further than a motorcycle. They must have the headlight on at all times TO BE SEEN.

She is at fault, period. Turning against traffic, no brainer who is at fault. I would guess that she was texting or looking at the phone. Lucky no one got killed. Last year in Charlotte a experienced rider was hit in the same manner. Didn't see her coming was the excuse but she hit the rider and the rider was killed. Scary.

I have a rechargeable front blinker. Not a headlight but just a white blinker. At least if something does happen, I will have done everything I know to be more visible. Yes, that means no black or dark jerseys either. Only bright colors for me. Cannot figure out why manufacturers continue to push mostly black or really dark colors for jerseys.

john

rumrunn6

yeah, you should def have something. sorry about you friends!

kissTheApex

This is the one I linked above. Not that big and has a steady on/off, not a strobe like the MS900.

jadocs

Cygolite Dash Pro

canklecat

Yeah, bike headlights should be designed with lenses that control the beam like motor vehicle headlights.

But go fuss at the negligent drivers who make it necessary for cyclists to run bright lights day and night. There's a difference between a momentary inconvenience to a driver, and a cyclist suffering serious injury or death from being struck by a negligent driver.

Seattle Forrest

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear it. Glad nobody was killed.

Digger Goreman

This. And am I the only one that reads the manual?! If a CAR doesn't dim its brights, in oncoming traffic, you maintain your lane and direct your main sight to the right hand shoulder... till past. Keeps you from blinding. MUCH lower lumens in bike lights.... Nighttime/Daytime? Need all the help we can get!

GreenAnvil

This is what I use: https://www.rei.com/product/110178/c...bike-light-set

The front light goes upside-down on the handlebar.

I also run a GoPro Hero Seesion on the front, and a Fly6 camera on the back. Every single close pass I’ve experienced, when I review the footage, I can see that the driver appears to be distracted (texting, on the phone...). If coming from behind you see the car zig-zagging (texting, looking at the phone’s screen). If coming from the front most of the times they are overtaking another car and going too close to the shoulder or bike lane on the opposing lane. On straight roads too... so they are either distracted or possessed... Left-turn hooks? They see you but don’t care. They must assume they own the road and you must get out of their way. Right-turn hooks? They seem to misjudge your speed.

I always assume they can’t see me or don’t care (even though I look like a Christmas tree) and ride defensively. Cyclist vs car, the car always wins.

Oh, I use a little sunglass mirror too.

WhyFi

Every time I see this thread title on the forum page, "scare" and "front flasher" sends my mind in a *way* different direction.

seedsbelize 

Again this morning, an oncoming car pulled out to pass, saw my light, and pulled back in.

datlas 

Bump/Update, in case anyone is following or uses the search function...

I did end up buying the Cygolite Dice 150. There is good news and bad news about this unit.

Good news: it does what it's supposed to. I have been using it for the past two weeks. I generally like it.

Bad news: Battery Life is quite disappointing. I have been using "single flash" mode which I believe is the lowest energy use, and although the package says I should get 24 hours of use, I am only getting about 7-8 hours on a full charge.

I am wondering if maybe the battery needs to mature or if my real-world battery life is typical. Anyone know??

mgopack42 

Overkill for what you are looking for probably, but i like this light i bought on Amazon. All aluminum, and they survive skittering across the road well. ( mount broke at speed and fell off roof of car also!) Evolva light. I use mine upside down with a go pro style mount (had to by a 1/4 x 20 adapter separately) since i have a aluminum combo mount for my garmin.

Carbonfiberboy 

I lost my front light of many years, a Serfas 250 lumen on an extremely rough bit of road. It came off my fork knob, bummer. I replaced it with a Cateye Volt400, which comes with a spare battery pack. Light seems to last plenty long for any daylight ride, though an all-nighter will need to have the battery changed out for the spare. I'll redo that knob mount! I like that it's a very narrow lamp, don't like that it has no cut-off.

Hunterdog

I have used a few front flashers and I think, based on friends' reports that drive past. that they really do help. Currently, I use the Garmin Varia UT 800 light. It works very nice and and attaches directly below my Garmin. Sort of cleans up the cockpit. I do not have connected with the Garmin computer however as I kept having issues with it switching from daylight blinking mode.

HarborBandS

I use the little Bontrager ION and FLARE RT series (like the cubes, but a little newer). USB re-chargeable, and irregular flashing patterns to supposedly grab attention better. Kind of pricey.

If I'm actually riding in darker conditions, I use a NiteRider Lumina 1200 boost. That thing is basically good enough to do off road riding in the dark at its highest power setting, but it also has a nice flashing setting at lower power.