Double Bass DB bicycle thread

[Ketbass]

Another thing that people seem unable to grasp is the anatomy of the human eye. Each of us is fitted with this thing called an "iris", a self-adjusting orifice. In low light conditions it opens up and in high light conditions it contracts.

Now if the world is in low-light conditions (like, night, you know - it happens once every day), well, the iris will open up. Now if you flash a bright light into the eye, the iris will contract, leaving the person the eye belongs to temporarily night-blind. Furthermore, if it's flashing you can't compensate by looking elsewhere as you can with a steady light. You don't know where it's going to be next.

This is why the automotive lights arms race is inherently counterproductive. MORE LIGHT! they scream, so the auto manufacturers put ever-brighter-aircraft-landing-lights on the front of cars, drivers' irises contract even more, and they can see less and less unless it's lit up like the sun, and the idiots conclude the solution is EVEN BRIGHTER LIGHTS. I really feel sorry for the traffic cop in his dark blue uniform that has to work an accident at night with every light for miles around set on "Stun" including the incredibly bright lights on the back of his cruiser - so all those drivers passing the policeman in his dark blue uniform are effectively night-blind to anything less bright than - say - the front end of a Santa Fe locomotive.

I really think anyone who proposes brighter lights at night needs to be taken out to the woods at night with no artificial light and told to find their way home. The actual experience of discovering just how much you can see at nighit if you'll just do it naturally might be enLIGHTening for some of these poeple.

Anyway, NO FLASHING LIGHTS on bicycles, not if you want other people to actually be able to tell where you are and how fast you're moving. This is basic human vision anatomy, a knowledge that seems to have been almost totally lost in the last 30 years or so.

I think that’s valuable at night. Steady light is easier to read, but I use my flashing lights during the day and have many a motorist thank me at the next light that I was very visible to them and the flashing got their attention. I also live in a very bike friendly town.

In ATL I assume everyone is going to be doing something to kill me. Even in my car….

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I totally agree that as a driver, red blinkies on the back and flashing white on the front of bikes gets my attention better - I've never been blinded or otherwise negatively impacted by flashers/blinking as a driver, myself. However, I just did a little check on their approach to lights in Holland, cycling capital of the earth. Blinking lights on bikes are illegal, because blinking lights are only used to indicate a turning vehicle. Interesting. The Dutch do know bikes, and how to integrate them into a complete traffic scenario, which includes bikes, cars, and pedestrians.

 

[neilG]

I've had more than one driver either pull up next to me as I was riding, or at a stop and say how visible my rear blinkie was and that it was a great idea. I only ride in the daytime.
Blinking lights on bicycles are not illegal in California.

 

[Ed S]

I THINK the brightest front lights I've seen lately have been on e-bikes - which I generally detest absent a very limited number of specific applications/uses. Lately I've been seeing kids in our kinda wealthy town riding e-bikes. Not only is is criminal that kids aren't encouraged to use their own power, but it is horrible to have kids zipping up/on sidewalks, in streets, on powered vehicles. Same holds for e-boards.

I'd have to say driving at night, a red flashing light generally gets my attention.

 

[fdeck]

My rule is that a flashing red light during the day is just an attention-getter. At night I leave it on steady.

As for front lights, many are too bright, and are blinding to oncoming cyclists on the bike paths. I've taken an interest in this thanks to having some optical engineering experience. The problem with headlights is keeping most of the light below the horizon, to avoid shining into the eyes of oncoming drivers / riders. When you see the lights from an oncoming car, the light is just the "spray" that could not be controlled by the lenses and reflectors. It's enough for you to be seen, and some of it also helps light up road signs, house numbers, and so forth.

This is a design requirement of bike lights in Germany, as I understand it, but not the US. So we end up with basically un-engineered lights. The only affordable exception I've seen is this one:

600LM XPG + 2 LED Bicycle German Standard Smart Sensor Warning Light Bike Front Light Headlight

I've got a few of these, one on each bike, and they've worked quite well. Note "German standard."

 

[james condino]

Anyone who wants brighter lights at night has never encountered me on the trail. I occasionally experience light guilt; some nights I feel like a giant spaceship invading the forest. Mine are charging right now for tonight's session. If I put in a modest amount of battery conservation, I could ride from right now until Friday, maybe Saturday if I was really paying attention as my handlebars usually sport more lumens than my two old Toyotas!

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

@james condino
Can you post a photo of the lights on your bike?

 

[VictorW126]

In connection with the discussion that has arisen, I will explain about flashing lights.

I was talking about traveling during daylight hours and in good visibility. I always use flashlights, even on a clear day. Bicycle lights are not as bright as car lights or traffic lights. Continuous lights are lost against the bright sun, reflections, shop windows, etc. The flashing light is more visible during the day and attracts more attention. We're not trying to be polite or nice. Our goal is to be visible!

A flashing lantern during the day is not a problem. It can only interfere with those who travel by "train" for a long time after you.

However, I just did a little check on their approach to lights in Holland, cycling capital of the earth. Blinking lights on bikes are illegal

Regarding the rules in Holland or in Asian countries. There is a huge difference between riding a bike where there are several hundred cyclists on the road and riding where you are the only cyclist in the last month. In Amsterdam, drivers are prepared for the fact that people on a bicycle are riding nearby. In Arkhangelsk or Murmansk in winter, the driver does not expect a cyclist to be nearby at all. In Holland, a constantly burning light is provided, it is familiar, it clearly indicates the object, it does not irritate the eyes. In Arkhangelsk, a constantly burning bicycle flashlight on the road will not be noticeable against the background of bright car headlights. Flashing lights are a great way to make a statement.

When riding in a group peloton, the flashing light is very disturbing, but the group of cyclists is clearly visible and does not require special measures. When I drive alone, I turn on the flashing mode.

Night riding is a difficult event that requires special preparation. I've driven a lot on freeways at night with no streetlights when my light, car lights and sometimes moonlight is all I have. Driving on illuminated sections of the highway and driving through a neon city is a completely different event. Obviously, everyone has their own conditions and their own experience. All this requires a separate discussion.

It should also be said that there are very powerful LED bicycle lights with an external battery. They shine brighter than a car spotlight. They do not have a light beam adjustment, as is done in car headlights. They can blind a person and cause damage to eyesight. I also take it out of the general conversation and stay within the framework of compact bicycle lights.

 

[lermgalieu]

In connection with the discussion that has arisen, I will explain about flashing lights.

I was talking about traveling during daylight hours and in good visibility. I always use flashlights, even on a clear day. Bicycle lights are not as bright as car lights or traffic lights. Continuous lights are lost against the bright sun, reflections, shop windows, etc. The flashing light is more visible during the day and attracts more attention. We're not trying to be polite or nice. Our goal is to be visible!

A flashing lantern during the day is not a problem. It can only interfere with those who travel by "train" for a long time after you.



Regarding the rules in Holland or in Asian countries. There is a huge difference between riding a bike where there are several hundred cyclists on the road and riding where you are the only cyclist in the last month. In Amsterdam, drivers are prepared for the fact that people on a bicycle are riding nearby. In Arkhangelsk or Murmansk in winter, the driver does not expect a cyclist to be nearby at all. In Holland, a constantly burning light is provided, it is familiar, it clearly indicates the object, it does not irritate the eyes. In Arkhangelsk, a constantly burning bicycle flashlight on the road will not be noticeable against the background of bright car headlights. Flashing lights are a great way to make a statement.

When riding in a group peloton, the flashing light is very disturbing, but the group of cyclists is clearly visible and does not require special measures. When I drive alone, I turn on the flashing mode.

Night riding is a difficult event that requires special preparation. I've driven a lot on freeways at night with no streetlights when my light, car lights and sometimes moonlight is all I have. Driving on illuminated sections of the highway and driving through a neon city is a completely different event. Obviously, everyone has their own conditions and their own experience. All this requires a separate discussion.

It should also be said that there are very powerful LED bicycle lights with an external battery. They shine brighter than a car spotlight. They do not have a light beam adjustment, as is done in car headlights. They can blind a person and cause damage to eyesight. I also take it out of the general conversation and stay within the framework of compact bicycle lights.

I disagree with your comments about flashing lights. They are also very disconcerting to other cyclists during the day and I urge you to reconsider using them. Before I moved, I bike commuted across the Golden Gate Bridge daily, and often passed other cyclists in close proximity. I would have to place my hand in a position to block the flashing light - it’s that’s distracting. They’re not necessary.

 

[Ketbass]

I think the point is in San Francisco there are lots of cyclist like in Holland and flashing lights are not necessary. But most of the US, bikes are the exception and not the norm. Daytime flashers are a safety item in my view. Nighttime absolutely not. Just like using a flashing light as a runner on a country road. You really have to do something to be noticed.

I had a police car stop next to at a light and thanked me for using flashers on the rear. He could see them through the low sun at 5:00pm and said he’s picked up many a cyclist limp body from the ditch. Most of them had no lights at all.

Flashing lights on the bike trail? Why?? Unless it was a quick route back to the road.

 

[lermgalieu]

I think the point is in San Francisco there are lots of cyclist like in Holland and flashing lights are not necessary. But most of the US, bikes are the exception and not the norm. Daytime flashers are a safety item in my view. Nighttime absolutely not. Just like using a flashing light as a runner on a country road. You really have to do something to be noticed.

I had a police car stop next to at a light and thanked me for using flashers on the rear. He could see them through the low sun at 5:00pm and said he’s picked up many a cyclist limp body from the ditch. Most of them had no lights at all.

Flashing lights on the bike trail? Why?? Unless it was a quick route back to the road.

As I already stated, I agree with red flashers on the rear. White flashers on front, never. I've lived and bike commuted in four disparate areas of the country (upstate NY, OR, CA and TX) and have been cycling for 40 years.

 

[Ketbass]

I’ll respectfully agree and disagree with you. As a cyclist who’s been hit twice, once by someone who pulled out of their driveway, facing forward and said they “just didn’t see me coming” and the other who just didn’t realize they had drifted over the yellow line, I think daytime flashing fronts are as important as rears. For night/dusk riding, it sounds like we all agree on steady lighting

 

[lermgalieu]

I’ll respectfully agree and disagree with you. As a cyclist who’s been hit twice, once by someone who pulled out of their driveway, facing forward and said they “just didn’t see me coming” and the other who just didn’t realize they had drifted over the yellow line, I think daytime flashing fronts are as important as rears. For night/dusk riding, it sounds like we all agree on steady lighting

Ok, well next time you pass a cyclist and they crash into a wall, temporarily blinded, think about whether the most important thing is your skin at all costs. I've been hit by cars twice myself, and each time a flashing light may or may not have helped.

 

[fdeck]

NDTD (new drive train day).

Yet another "incident" finally convinced me that coaster brakes don't belong on "serious" bikes, e.g., that will be used in traffic. So I installed a rear hand brake, and developed the "need" for a conventional single speed rear hub.

This is an interesting technology. The hub is exactly like the old freewheel hub, where the freewheel cluster is threaded onto the hub body. Except, the cluster is replaced by a freewheel assembly (so you can coast) and a single speed cog, the number of teeth of your choosing. A little bit of calculation later, I ended up with 40 teeth in front, and 17 in back, within 3% of my previous gearing.

Plus new spokes of the correct length for the hub/rim combination, generic Chinese, from Amazon. Built it up this morning and took it for a spin. I'll pay just a tiny bit more attention to truing it. The nice thing about a double wall rim is that you can adjust the spokes without removing the tire.

This is still my "knock around town" bike. Anything less than 30 miles. More than that, and the local terrain starts to get more hilly and I start to get more older, so I still have a geared bike for long rides.

 

[Jason Sypher]

My Canyon Ultimate CF

 

[Stefn]

I have been choosing a bike for a long time , I read an article about mountain bikes https://www.bikethesites.com/types-of-mountain-bikes/, now I have ordered Enduro. It hasn't arrived yet, as soon as it arrives, I'll take a picture of it. I'm looking forward for it!

 

[unbrokenchain]

Anyone here ever successfully tote a dog in a bicycle baby trailer? Here goes nothin..

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Depends on the dog, I’d say.

 

[fdeck]

I've seen dogs in bike trailers, in baskets on the front of bikes (small dogs), and even once a dog poking its head out of a backpack (the bike was carrying camping gear).

With that said, I know nothing about dogs myself, e.g., how you'd decide if a particular dog could handle riding in such a way.

 

[neilG]

I've seen plenty of dogs in trailers.