Lights

Why not get a normal back light that doesn't burn retina, that you don't have to fick about with, and can still be seen comfortably from 1/4 of a mile away?

If anyone is in the market for a top of the range tail-light, I've been running a new Hope District over the past few weeks and I don't think they get much better or brighter than this.

The brightness/intensity of the light is incredible, I've had comments from motorbike riders asking about it, very reassuring to have in low-light/darkness/poor weather when out on the lanes. Bit overkill for the town, but it's another cracking piece of kit from Hope. Easy to use, robust, can run from the same battery pack as your front, relatively lightweight, and weatherproof.

http://www.hopetech.com/page.aspx?itemID=SPG210

£95 is way expensive for a single rear light. I presume you're getting some sort of commission, since you've using something that won't be on sale for ages?

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I was sent a final proto to test ride before they go into production (I think they're making them atm), no commission or whatever, they just wanted some feedback. I was going to say this but didn't want to get drawn into the ins-and-outs of it all.

I figured the product would be of interest to readers of this thread and thought I would share, hope that's ok.

£95 is way expensive for a single rear light. I presume you're getting some sort of commission, since you've using something that won't be on sale for ages?

yes, you basically pay for a nice CNC housing made in the uk (if at all).
I don't believe hope has an advanced optics division.

just buy this for 1/3

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42077

I was sent a final proto to test ride before they go into production (I think they're making them atm), no commission or whatever, they just wanted some feedback. I was going to say this but didn't want to get drawn into the ins-and-outs of it all.

I figured the product would be of interest to readers of this thread and thought I would share, hope that's ok.

It seems a great light, but priced at near £100, it would have to be the perfect rear light....lasting several years without any water ingress, or hinge breakages. In fact, to be totally honest, it would really have to go some to beat the RSP Astrum Rear. That is some light, with its twin 1/2 watt lamps, its the brightest rear light I've seen on the road. Its only £15 or so, and the Hope would have to be many times better than that, to be real value.

World's gone utterly mad.

It seems a great light, but priced at near £100, it would have to be the perfect rear light....lasting several years without any water ingress, or hinge breakages.

it probably will. looks all very solid and full metal construction.

Am I the only person not on a HOPE kickback? Fark!!

:) :)

Surething, I absolutely agree. Having worked as a mechanic for a couple of years (no longer), I can't fault Hope for their superb level of customer service, fulfilment and general quality of product.

I've come to trust their LED 2 light (purchased, now 3.5 years old and no problems apart from a new battery, commented on it earlier in this thread) on a bunch of rides where you can't be let down (overnight solo rides etc), and I hope it's true for this as well.

World's gone utterly mad.

Well at least you can see it all going mad...

Why not get a normal back light that doesn't burn retina, that you don't have to fick about with, and can still be seen comfortably from 1/4 of a mile away?

The Blackburn Mars 3.0 would be that, but I taped it more as an example of how easy it was to diffuse a rear light, for the benefit of TNRC riders with lights that were causing problems for others.

Personally, I'd like to see a 1W rear LED, with some side visibility, and the option to diffuse via some kind of frosted internal screen, or to run it at 1/2 power (rather than the ability to switch between 2 billion flashing permutations).

If I could only keep one of my existing lights, I'd keep one of the bright ones, use it at full whack for daytime TTs, and then slap on an inch of red electrical tape for all other times.

Does anyone have ANY idea how much 500w of blinding rear light crap pisses off drivers, especially in the rain, and how totally unnecessary and counter productive it is?

Yes. I'd say any (unmodified) rear light of 1W and above is for daytime use (should you feel the need), unless your batteries are fucked.

Does anyone have ANY idea how much 500w of blinding rear light crap pisses off drivers, especially in the rain, and how totally unnecessary and counter productive it is?

Maybe you mean 0.5 watt?

Even so, yes it probably is a bit blinding to drivers, but only rainy and dark nights that is an irritant, but also a lifesaver to a cyclist. I know which side I support. But clearly we all have different viewpoints. What you may see as unnecessary, I see as being fucking essential.

that depends, if the light is too bright, in their field of vision (flashing on his windscreen) he might not be able to see exactly where you are

Maybe you mean 0.5 watt?

Even so, yes it probably is a bit blinding to drivers, but only rainy and dark nights that is an irritant, but also a lifesaver to a cyclist. I know which side I support. But clearly we all have different viewpoints. What you may see as unnecessary, I see as being fucking essential.

The thing is, Ashe, on a dark night, you need less light on the rear, and less on the front up to a point.

I feel like a have to use my über front light at full blast whilst doing night-time laps in Regents Park, as intermittent ambient lighting inhibits my night vision (I go from sodium glow to near darkness repeatedly). The same light, on half power, is like having the moon on my handlebars when I'm doing 25mph down an unlit country lane.

Does anyone have ANY idea how much 500w of blinding rear light crap pisses off drivers, especially in the rain, and how totally unnecessary and counter productive it is?
I think about that sometimes with a cherrybomb rear light, but at the end of the day I only have one light and with my life at stake I'm probably going to err on the high side - right? Though I don't know how the cherrybomb compares to the rear lights discussed here, it is rather dazzling.

The thing is, Ashe, on a dark night, you need less light on the rear, and less on the front up to a point.

I feel like a have to use my über front light at full blast whilst doing night-time laps in Regents Park, as intermittent ambient lighting inhibits my night vision (I go from sodium glow to near darkness repeatedly). The same light, on half power, is like having the moon on my handlebars when I'm doing 25mph down an unlit country lane.

I take what you say onboard, but I think its safe to say that most of my cycling is done in the dark, and it does make A LOT of difference when my lights are on their maximum power. I'm not imagining it. It does make me safer, and causes drivers to give me metres of room, instead of inches.

Heavily laden lorries passing inches from me at 50mph is no fun. Its scary. Really scary.

@ Yemble - I think it's 1/2W. I reckon that's about as high as you want to go at night (unless you start doing the DIY diffuser thing). But I wouldn't have it angled directly into a driver's sight line.

The first time I got blinded on the TNRC was by andyp's light, and it was only a 1/2W Smart thing. If we were strung out in a single line, I just couldn't see anything whilst behind him, and continually had to either move out, or go around him. Thankfully he's very slow ;)

I take what you say onboard, but I think its safe to say that most of my cycling is done in the dark, and it does make A LOT of difference when my lights are on their maximum power. I'm not imagining it. It does make me safer, and causes drivers to give me metres of room, instead of inches.

Heavily laden lorries passing inches from me at 50mph is no fun. Its scary. Really scary.

I'm not disputing the fear factor, but there are times when those lorries are going extra wide around you because they've been blinded, and might compromise the safety of oncoming traffic - driving too wide whilst their eyes are readjusting - and that could end in disaster for everyone in the vicinity.

Drivers also make bad decisions when they're finding something exasperating about being behind a cyclist. Some drivers are just like this about bikes in general, but plenty get like it due to reduced visibility (from LED glare), poor rider positioning, erratic riding, etc.

I sense your words have wisdom, but am reluctant to weigh your theory against mine. The result of such a test/experiment could be rather permanent, with no room for a re-take. But I will ponder it.

As long as you don't get stuck behind a car with its rear fog lights on in normal conditions, you'll be fine ;)

Personally, I'll worry about blinding drivers when they stop being too fucking ignorant to not dim their lights when on the opposite side of the road to me.

Drivers also make bad decisions when they're finding something exasperating about being behind a cyclist. Some drivers are just like this about bikes in general, but plenty get like it due to reduced visibility (from LED glare), primary rider positioning, erratic riding, etc.

ftfy

Personally, I'll worry about blinding drivers when they stop being too fucking ignorant to not dim their lights when on the opposite side of the road to me.

+3W

It depends what you want a light for. It's much like people who hang 50 lights off of themselves and their bikes. Above a certain amount of lights / brightness you are not gaining anything in being seen. You are seen.

It's a bit like speaking to someone. At very low levels people will be straining to hear you then as you volume increases they begin to hear you clearly. As long as some is hearing you clearly without issue from a comfortable distance there is no point shouting. If you continue to increase your volume of speaking then you just become annoying / painful and although they can hear that you are shouting so concentrating on what is being said becomes very difficult because of the pain / overwhelmingness of it all.

I think that happens with overly bright rear lights, you get to the point where people are passing you but they have to go for a bit of a blind drive as they pass and wait for their eye to adjust. It becomes a drive and hope it's clear situation. 99% of the time it's ok but then it's not clear that one time.