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LED headlight problem solved
Adding a head-mounted LED
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...atalog_ id=BV (you will have to cut and paste the split line, or go to www.llbean.com , search BV49775 ) $35 to a see-me light on the handlebars solves the weak illumination problem This one happens to fit underneath my old Bell helmet okay, if I wear the helmet a little high in the front. Being able to put the light where you want from instant to instant overcomes the missing illumination feeling that LEDs give you, even running on low (it says 40h on its 3 AAA's). I'm able to run with one LED on the handlebars for a see-me and work the headlamp for complete comfort. Aside from that, it's the world's greatest invention, putting light wherever you walk when the power goes out in the house. The LLBean version has a continuously adjustable angle. Campmor has the same light with a click-stop thingy http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...rtNumber=55943 same price. I can't say which is better, but it's a nice technology. Campmor tends to have things in stock where LLBean is always backordered. -- Ron Hardin On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk. |
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#2
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LED headlight problem solved
Ron Hardin wrote:
Adding a head-mounted LED http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...atalog_ id=BV (you will have to cut and paste the split line, or go to www.llbean.com , search BV49775 ) $35 to a see-me light on the handlebars solves the weak illumination problem This one happens to fit underneath my old Bell helmet okay, if I wear the helmet a little high in the front. Being able to put the light where you want from instant to instant overcomes the missing illumination feeling that LEDs give you, even running on low (it says 40h on its 3 AAA's). I'm able to run with one LED on the handlebars for a see-me and work the headlamp for complete comfort. Aside from that, it's the world's greatest invention, putting light wherever you walk when the power goes out in the house. The LLBean version has a continuously adjustable angle. Campmor has the same light with a click-stop thingy http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...rtNumber=55943 same price. I can't say which is better, but it's a nice technology. Campmor tends to have things in stock where LLBean is always backordered. The only problem that may exist is a legal issue. Here in Florida (may part anyway) it's illegal to have a light on your head. I don't understand it. But someone I know has been stopped and ticketed for using such a light. Ken -- A bicycle does get you there and more.... And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun. ~Bill Emerson, "On Bicycling," Saturday Evening Post, 29 July 1967 Homepage: http://www.bikesandmoreonline.com/ |
#3
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LED headlight problem solved
On Sat, 01 Apr 2006 08:09:26 -0500, "Ken C. M."
wrote: The only problem that may exist is a legal issue. Here in Florida (may part anyway) it's illegal to have a light on your head. I don't understand it. But someone I know has been stopped and ticketed for using such a light. During a power outage,my wife was wearing one of those. Every time I spoke or moved, she would instinctively track me, and blind me. Now imagine driving, walking, or cycling at night when the rider is wearing one of those. Instinctive scanning movements cause the light to aim all about, and centering often on an object of interest...a pedestrian, oncoming cyclist, cager, etc. At the very least it is annoying, and worse, can disrupt someone's night vision temporarily. The concept is great, but I see no solution for preventing the effect, after several hours with someone wearing on. |
#4
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LED headlight problem solved
"Grunty Grogan" wrote in message news On Sat, 01 Apr 2006 08:09:26 -0500, "Ken C. M." wrote: The only problem that may exist is a legal issue. Here in Florida (may part anyway) it's illegal to have a light on your head. I don't understand it. But someone I know has been stopped and ticketed for using such a light. During a power outage,my wife was wearing one of those. Every time I spoke or moved, she would instinctively track me, and blind me. Now imagine driving, walking, or cycling at night when the rider is wearing one of those. Instinctive scanning movements cause the light to aim all about, and centering often on an object of interest...a pedestrian, oncoming cyclist, cager, etc. At the very least it is annoying, and worse, can disrupt someone's night vision temporarily. The concept is great, but I see no solution for preventing the effect, after several hours with someone wearing on. The negative aspect you mentioned is exactly why they're perfect for nighttime road cyclists. When you look right at the guy behind the wheel, he knows you're there. |
#5
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LED headlight problem solved
Gooserider wrote:
The negative aspect you mentioned is exactly why they're perfect for nighttime road cyclists. When you look right at the guy behind the wheel, he knows you're there. It's also the reason they're crap for night-time cyclists. I've lost count of the number of times I've been blinded in the winter by some inconsiderate ****** staring directly at my face with one of those. They're not usually using a little LED either, it's usually a 10 or 15 watt halogen one. -- Dane Buson - "Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." -Department of Social Services, Greenville, SC |
#6
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LED headlight problem solved
On Sat, 01 Apr 2006 21:00:24 GMT, "Gooserider"
wrote: The negative aspect you mentioned is exactly why they're perfect for nighttime road cyclists. When you look right at the guy behind the wheel, he knows you're there. Oh, NO argument there. By the actions in my town of Moo-U-V drivers, it would only make me a better target. I gave up pavement, and just stick to trails. This is too bad, because I lose the store and Post Office runs on the bike, and smooth pavement is a luxury now. But I live in a suburb with very narrow country roads, sometimes with steep banking and no place to escape..not even the escape hatch of a sidewalk or shoulder, in some places. I fear it is better in my case to not provide such a tempting target. If you lightstruck one of them, well, they are already in a feral condition to begin with, and NOTHING is as important as getting their kids to soccer. Especially anything as trivial as my life. (Pardon the mood today, but I did have a narrow escape with one only an hour ago. The side mirror DID miss my elbow, so no real harm done. It was a glorious Spring day, and possibly the cagers are entering the Breeding Phase.) |
#7
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LED headlight problem solved
"Gooserider" wrote in message m... "Grunty Grogan" wrote in message news On Sat, 01 Apr 2006 08:09:26 -0500, "Ken C. M." wrote: The only problem that may exist is a legal issue. Here in Florida (may part anyway) it's illegal to have a light on your head. I don't understand it. But someone I know has been stopped and ticketed for using such a light. During a power outage,my wife was wearing one of those. Every time I spoke or moved, she would instinctively track me, and blind me. Now imagine driving, walking, or cycling at night when the rider is wearing one of those. Instinctive scanning movements cause the light to aim all about, and centering often on an object of interest...a pedestrian, oncoming cyclist, cager, etc. At the very least it is annoying, and worse, can disrupt someone's night vision temporarily. The concept is great, but I see no solution for preventing the effect, after several hours with someone wearing on. The negative aspect you mentioned is exactly why they're perfect for nighttime road cyclists. When you look right at the guy behind the wheel, he knows you're there. It's the reason I don't use a head-mounted light. The essence of safe vehicular cycling is predictability, for the cyclist to fit into the expected flow and behavior of traffic. This includes fixed headlights that point in the direction of travel. The potential to confuse and disorient a driver by pointing a bright light at his face is, in my opinion, a greater threat to safety than any gain from the lights (vs an effective set of fixed head- and tail-lights). RichC |
#8
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LED headlight problem solved
Grunty Grogan wrote:
During a power outage,my wife was wearing one of those. Every time I spoke or moved, she would instinctively track me, and blind me. Now imagine driving, walking, or cycling at night when the rider is wearing one of those. Well of course you don't let women use them. What you need for safe low-light riding is the ability to overcome high beams from oncoming traffic by watching the right edge of the road with your head beacon, far from blinding the other guy with it. In may case, it's a deer detector as well, picking up deer eyes off the dark road edge where the fixed beams don't catch them. You can see very well where the beam is going, and it's easy to manage. -- Ron Hardin On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk. |
#9
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LED headlight problem solved
"Grunty Grogan" wrote in message ... On Sat, 01 Apr 2006 21:00:24 GMT, "Gooserider" wrote: The negative aspect you mentioned is exactly why they're perfect for nighttime road cyclists. When you look right at the guy behind the wheel, he knows you're there. Oh, NO argument there. By the actions in my town of Moo-U-V drivers, it would only make me a better target. I gave up pavement, and just stick to trails. This is too bad, because I lose the store and Post Office runs on the bike, and smooth pavement is a luxury now. But I live in a suburb with very narrow country roads, sometimes with steep banking and no place to escape..not even the escape hatch of a sidewalk or shoulder, in some places. I fear it is better in my case to not provide such a tempting target. If you lightstruck one of them, well, they are already in a feral condition to begin with, and NOTHING is as important as getting their kids to soccer. Especially anything as trivial as my life. (Pardon the mood today, but I did have a narrow escape with one only an hour ago. The side mirror DID miss my elbow, so no real harm done. It was a glorious Spring day, and possibly the cagers are entering the Breeding Phase.) Oh I've found having a light on my lid has been instrumental in getting motorists to notice I'm there much sooner than when I didn't have a light on my lid. Oncoming drivers dip their headlights *much* sooner, thus indicating they've seen me much sooner than previously - in my book this is increasing my safety on the roads. Indeed I've found another advantage to a lid-mounted light - if the oncoming traffic doesn't dip headlights, a swift direct look from me to where the driver of the offending vehicle is located soon makes them realise I'm there - again, increasing my safety. I don't always look directly where an oncoming driver is, but having the facility to do so has made my night-time cycling far safer IMO. It's not necessary to *stare* for a *long time* at an oncoming driver and dazzle him/her, but a swift look certainly gets their attention - which is a good thing. Indeed I've had motorists comment on how visible I am when cycling at night and how they view this as a good thing and have even said they wish other cyclists were as visible as I am. Cheers, helen s |
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