Off road visibility mainly, but it tbh, the brighter the better.

Quote from: redis that really needed? i mean, you would be killing people as you ride past.

Nothing says "give cyclists room" quite like a light saber through the face.

If you are going off road or on dark country roads then it pays to have a big front light.

Quote from: SeriousBest to use a pair of lights on the back, just in case one runs out of power. Have one flashing and the other constant. If you are going to be only on town roads then the front lights dont matter too much, but you should still have one.

Its worth pointing out that a flashing light on its own is illegal.

Plenty have them and I have never seen anyone pulled over because of it. Usually though they have multiples. If the authorities were going to be like that then the Police shouldnt go out and arrest people on Christmas day, the fire brigade shouldnt put out fires and the hospitals shouldnt save people, ambulances shouldnt attend emergencies, Etc. Etc.

Its another law which only the jobsworths will bother with, providing you have a light then most police wont bother you.

Quote from: Cypher

Quote from: SeriousBest to use a pair of lights on the back, just in case one runs out of power. Have one flashing and the other constant. If you are going to be only on town roads then the front lights dont matter too much, but you should still have one.

Its worth pointing out that a flashing light on its own is illegal.

Er no it isnt. It has to conform to a BS standard, however flashing lights are not illegal.

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad

Quote from: Cypher

Quote from: SeriousBest to use a pair of lights on the back, just in case one runs out of power. Have one flashing and the other constant. If you are going to be only on town roads then the front lights dont matter too much, but you should still have one.

Its worth pointing out that a flashing light on its own is illegal.

Er no it isnt. It has to conform to a BS standard, however flashing lights are not illegal.

Im affraid they are. There are no two ways about it. Look it up, Im not going to start quoting cycle law requirements.  There are enough forums about thinking it is gay and others saying you look like a twat.  In fact I think its even in the highway code.  Flashing On its own it is illegal, Fact.  In a conjunction with a solid light is not iirc.  The reason being simply is that flashing lights in the Uk are reserved for emergency vehicles and turn signals only.

Of course as serious points out you are never going to be stopped for it.

As you say it has to conform to BS standard, so for example LED lights are illegal.

Quote from: Cypher

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad

Quote from: Cypher

Quote from: SeriousBest to use a pair of lights on the back, just in case one runs out of power. Have one flashing and the other constant. If you are going to be only on town roads then the front lights dont matter too much, but you should still have one.

Its worth pointing out that a flashing light on its own is illegal.

Er no it isnt. It has to conform to a BS standard, however flashing lights are not illegal.

Im affraid they are. There are no two ways about it. Look it up, Im not going to start quoting cycle law requirements.  There are enough forums about thinking it is gay and others saying you look like a twat.  In fact I think its even in the highway code.  Flashing On its own it is illegal, Fact.  In a conjunction with a solid light is not iirc.  The reason being simply is that flashing lights in the Uk are reserved for emergency vehicles and turn signals only.

Of course as serious points out you are never going to be stopped for it.

As you say it has to conform to BS standard, so for example LED lights are illegal.

No... flashing lights are not illegal. The highway code changed some time ago, and regulations regarding lighting did too. Perhaps you should read it again.

They were illegal, to use solely on a bike, however providing they meet BS specifications for flashing period, duration, and brightness... then theyre not.

Exhibit 1: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20052559.htm

As you find reading the highway code difficult heres the part in question.

Quote" (g) a front position lamp capable of emitting a flashing light (whether or not it is also capable of emitting a steady light) which is fitted to—


(i) a pedal cycle; or

(ii) a trailer drawn by, or a sidecar attached to, a pedal cycle;


and which, if it is a lamp which is required to be fitted pursuant to regulation 18, is capable, when emitting a flashing light, of emitting light to the front of the pedal cycle, trailer or sidecar (as the case may be) of an intensity of not less than 4 candelas; or

(h) a rear position lamp capable of emitting a flashing light (whether or not it is also capable of emitting a steady light) which is fitted to—



(i) a pedal cycle; or

(ii) a trailer drawn by, or a sidecar attached to, a pedal cycle;


and which, if it is a lamp which is required to be fitted pursuant to regulation 18, is capable, when emitting a flashing light, of emitting light to the rear of the pedal cycle, trailer or sidecar (as the case may be) of an intensity of not less than 4 candelas."

Exhibit 2: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/guidanceaboutlightsonpedalbi4556

Thank you and goodnight, Ill take apologies in the form of hat eating, or simply recognition of the fact you were owned by myself.

Not so much difficulty reading it, more the fact I read the highway code over 5 years ago.  Mind ignorance is never an excuse.

If Im wrong I apologise and say whoops.  By your own admission it was illegal at one point.  I wasnt aware the law had changed, nothing more to it.  Explains why I was finding articles suggesting it was illegal.  I imagine its still one of these grey areas of the law.

The difference Is though I can admit Im wrong, I can appologise and dont feel the need the for an ecore or get an ego boost from being right.

but thats not how we roll.

Quote from: CypherNot so much difficulty reading it, more the fact I read the highway code over 5 years ago.  Mind ignorance is never an excuse.

If Im wrong I apologise and say whoops.  By your own admission it was illegal at one point.  I wasnt aware the law had changed, nothing more to it.  Explains why I was finding articles suggesting it was illegal.  I imagine its still one of these grey areas of the law.

The difference Is though I can admit Im wrong, I can appologise and dont feel the need the for an ecore or get an ego boost from being right.

if its any consolation Cypher, I didnt know it had changed either.

Should still be illegal IMO, flasher on its own is no where near as visible. A quick glance over your shoulder can easily be completed during the "off" cycle. As a driver and occasional cyclist, I would never consider the possibility of using a flashing light on its own.

Any lights at all is still better than most cyclists in my experience though, try driving in Cambridge sometime. If you look left and right and cant see a cyclist there, its because the bastard has no lights on and is wearing black. IMO such people should be classed automatically as a suicide if you hit them.

Quote from: Mongoose

Quote from: CypherNot so much difficulty reading it, more the fact I read the highway code over 5 years ago.  Mind ignorance is never an excuse.

If Im wrong I apologise and say whoops.  By your own admission it was illegal at one point.  I wasnt aware the law had changed, nothing more to it.  Explains why I was finding articles suggesting it was illegal.  I imagine its still one of these grey areas of the law.

The difference Is though I can admit Im wrong, I can appologise and dont feel the need the for an ecore or get an ego boost from being right.

if its any consolation Cypher, I didnt know it had changed either.

Should still be illegal IMO, flasher on its own is no where near as visible. A quick glance over your shoulder can easily be completed during the "off" cycle. As a driver and occasional cyclist, I would never consider the possibility of using a flashing light on its own.

Any lights at all is still better than most cyclists in my experience though, try driving in Cambridge sometime. If you look left and right and cant see a cyclist there, its because the bastard has no lights on and is wearing black. IMO such people should be classed automatically as a suicide if you hit them.

Human eyes are better attuned to change and the rear lights are there to warn other road users of your presence, to an extent the front ones too. This means that usually a flashing light is more noticeable than a steady one which your eyes will get used to and perhaps not be recognized as easily. Ive been watching out for cyclists recently and the flashing ones are easier to spot than constant.