Steady or flashing headlight in daylight?
03-14-09, 02:49 PM
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Steady or flashing headlight in daylight?
What's the best/safest way you run your headlights in normal, bright daytime conditions - steady on, low beam, high beam, or some sort of flashing mode?
Which have you found works best to get attention from motorists?
I'm currently running a Cygolite Rover II LED if that matters - the high beam is very bright and sufficient for night commuting w/o slowing down.
Which have you found works best to get attention from motorists?
I'm currently running a Cygolite Rover II LED if that matters - the high beam is very bright and sufficient for night commuting w/o slowing down.
03-14-09, 02:53 PM
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I use both in daylight. Have had cars approaching me Stop in the road until I passed.
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03-14-09, 02:58 PM
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I use flashing during the day, if only to conserve battery life for when I really need it, at night on steady.
03-14-09, 03:36 PM
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I ride with a flashing light at all times.... then at night I add a NiteRider Mini-Newt on steady. Better safe than sorry
03-14-09, 03:44 PM
#7
aka Phil Jungels
Definitely flashing during the day - changes are noticed.
03-14-09, 03:55 PM
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I use a small Firefly light, which can be seen for up to a mile away and seems to get the attention of crossing or turning cars.
03-14-09, 04:12 PM
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flashing
03-14-09, 05:56 PM
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Personally, off. Though that might be different if I had anything with a slow strobe, as opposed to the superfast strobe on the flashlight I use.
03-14-09, 06:13 PM
#12
You gonna eat that?
Flash by day, flash plus steady at night.
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03-14-09, 06:21 PM
#13
Share the road.
Off during the day and night. Ninja's unite! Just kidding. I will flash during the day until the police catch me.
03-14-09, 07:08 PM
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03-14-09, 09:15 PM
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I, too, don't see how the nocturnal flashers can stand it. It drive me nuts.
+17 on flashing in daylight. Much more visible. My little Princeon Tec Aurora has a fast flash and a slow flash. I use the fast but I think the slow is worse than steady.
No puns intended.
On some of those rare occasions when you're on the street, take a look at other cyclists and see what you see. The attention-gainer of the flash does it every time for me.
+17 on flashing in daylight. Much more visible. My little Princeon Tec Aurora has a fast flash and a slow flash. I use the fast but I think the slow is worse than steady.
No puns intended.
On some of those rare occasions when you're on the street, take a look at other cyclists and see what you see. The attention-gainer of the flash does it every time for me.
03-14-09, 09:36 PM
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On a bright day I don't run any lights; but on gloomy, dark or foggy days I use my seperate amber flasher on the front, with the center taillight flashing.
I've seen one person using a flasher in broad daylight, and quite frankly...I barely noticed it because the sunlight washed it out. And those Fireflys BA commented on, your not going to see anywhere close to 100 feet in broad daylight not alone a mile!
At night I run the amber flasher with my headlight on constant, plus I have three taillights ablaze along with barend lights, not to mention leg and seat bag reflectors.
I've seen one person using a flasher in broad daylight, and quite frankly...I barely noticed it because the sunlight washed it out. And those Fireflys BA commented on, your not going to see anywhere close to 100 feet in broad daylight not alone a mile!
At night I run the amber flasher with my headlight on constant, plus I have three taillights ablaze along with barend lights, not to mention leg and seat bag reflectors.
03-14-09, 09:44 PM
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My bicycle headlight is on FLASH mode during daylight hours and steady for night/dark riding as appears to be the sentiment of most of the folks replying.
I read an article somewhere that having a headlight flashing at night can actually make it more difficult for a driver to determine your distance from them. So, you might be seen with all that flashing at night but the driver may pull out in front of you thinking you were further away.
I read an article somewhere that having a headlight flashing at night can actually make it more difficult for a driver to determine your distance from them. So, you might be seen with all that flashing at night but the driver may pull out in front of you thinking you were further away.
03-15-09, 07:19 AM
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I use the steady mode on my headlight, day and night. I use a Fenix light, and the flash mode is actually an SOS pattern and not very effective for traffic. The pauses are too long between flashes. People do seem to notice it, however, on steady mode.
03-15-09, 07:22 AM
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Flash during day and flash+steady during night.
180 lumens x2 of flashing goodness from two Fenix L2Ds in the day and then at night, the L2Ds go to 108 lumens x2 of steady. And an additional flasher for the nights.
180 lumens x2 of flashing goodness from two Fenix L2Ds in the day and then at night, the L2Ds go to 108 lumens x2 of steady. And an additional flasher for the nights.
03-15-09, 07:54 AM
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Flashing can be seen further in daylight or foggy conditions than steady light. It takes advantage of our eye structure and how we perceive stimuli.
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03-15-09, 09:10 AM
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Except for very bright lights, a steady light would not be noticed in bright conditions.
I use a flashing light sometimes when things are overcast and towards evening. One steady and one flashing when it's dark.
I use a flashing light sometimes when things are overcast and towards evening. One steady and one flashing when it's dark.
03-15-09, 09:28 AM
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When it's bright out I don't use any lights, if it's overcast or especially cloudy, flashing.
At night, 1 flashing/1 Steady in the front, flashing in the back. The steady headlight in the front drowns out the flashing as far as my view goes, but i'm still more visible to motorists.
A few months back it was slightly foggy and sort of dark in the AM, and I ran a flashing headlight all the way to school when my main light quit working. It was like the worst motion sickness i've ever experienced...terrible.
At night, 1 flashing/1 Steady in the front, flashing in the back. The steady headlight in the front drowns out the flashing as far as my view goes, but i'm still more visible to motorists.
A few months back it was slightly foggy and sort of dark in the AM, and I ran a flashing headlight all the way to school when my main light quit working. It was like the worst motion sickness i've ever experienced...terrible.