Winter has kicked in with a vengeance, and for the last few weeks I’ve been leaving home before dawn and arriving after dusk on weekdays. Once out of the village it is pitch dark, and the wonderfully retro bodged halogen light I fitted on the commuter bike hasn’t got enough oomph to break through the dark and fog that are a feature of the ride, especially on the section where the local council has thoughtfully closed the pedestrian/cycleway to accommodate building work* and I have to navigate over the fields and around some trees largely by memory. When I’m riding in traffic I’m fine while I keep moving but as soon as I stop I become invisible.
I reckon I’ve got at least eight more weeks of this, so I’ve finally got a modern light, which actually lights up the road, and stays on for a few minutes when I’m not riding. It’s a bit of a risk having a better quality light on a bike I’ll leave in a public space most of the day, but the bike parking space seems pretty safe, and weighed against crashing into a tree or being run over, it makes sense.
If I muster up a lot more self discipline than usual, I may even fit it to the bike and take photos before next March.
*Because it isn’t a road, so it’s not like anyone important will be using it.
6 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 2, 2012 at 6:32 pm
timbobaggins
Oooh, shiny! I’ve just got a bike and need things like lights and new bar grips. Maybe a set of paniers if I get used to riding it to work…
December 4, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Zweiradler
You are right, the light might work better if you fit it to the bike.
With modern bike lights you don’t need streetlights anymore. I enjoy riding in the dark.
Nico
December 5, 2012 at 1:07 pm
teigl
Yes, modern LED technology is fantastic. For underground adventures we have a couple of 1,000 lumen units, they are small and easily recharged. Fit one of those to your bike and you would be dazzling the BMW drivers.
December 5, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Chuck
Great blog. I enjoy reading your posts and lights have always been one of my favorite things. I agree that commuting this time of year requires good lighting. Years ago I used a Union halogen and have now updated to dyno LED. On my Globe B&M headlight and tail light. On my junk yard dog a Planet Dyno headlight and a Spangia tail light. Lighting up the road opens up all kinds of opportunities to use a bike.
December 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Andy in Germany
Timbo: Hehe. It was only a matter of time. I hope to hear of your adventures cycling around Newcastle on your blog. Thanks for the pictures as well. Keep them coming…
Nico: I knew there was something I’d missed. Yes, lights that actually light up the road as opposed to giving cars a marker to aim at are a great invention.
Iain: My light is a mere 25 lumens, I find that setting it high so it shines at cars (a bit) does make them notice me a bit more. The thought of a couple of your lights in my handlebars does have some appeal though…
Chuck: Glad you like the blog. Mine is a B&M as well, in fact I think most of my new bike lights are. I used to have a set of massive halogen lights with a battery pack so big it hung off the crossbar: oncoming cars thought I was a tractor.
January 10, 2013 at 8:30 pm
And there was light. Sort of. « People Powered
[...] finally got myself moving and replaced the old front light on the commuter bike. The old light had started flickering when I used it and then decided to expire one morning on the way to college, [...]