Get Some F**king Lights

I've got this one from Condor the other day.

All I wanted is a small light, that will charge through USB and it does that. The only thing is that I ripped the velcro holder in two on a first week.

the velcro holders are utter gash. stick some gaffa tape around the inside - seems to help them maintain their structural integrity

Can you imagine if I actually spoke like that? It is what I have true enough, but I know they aren't enough but just haven't got something brighter and better. Too far down on a list of things to buy for my bike. The USB rechargble blackrover (?), are they honestly a serious upgrade from knogs?

I think the LFGSS (Lonely Gay Bike Society) attitude just doesn't suit me. I need to toughen up and honestly not give a fuck.

fify

This was a joke on the ride to Ayelsbury by a couple of drunk (Scottish?) women I believe when they read someone's LFGSS and made the lonely gay bike society off-the-cuff abbreviation. Just wanted to clear it up that yourmercianlover ≠ homophobic.

Equally interested in feedback on the magicshine (MJ-818 apparently), to give the recumbent a bit of a boost in the grey drizzle Glasgow does so well. Nothing in the lights thread apart from general good things about magicshine...

The front performs really well, and lasted a harsh winter. Dosent appear to have the build quality of the highe end stuff (really want Ay-ups). But great for the monies.

This was a joke on the ride to Ayelsbury by a couple of drunk (Scottish?) women I believe when they read someone's LFGSS and made the lonely gay bike society off-the-cuff abbreviation. Just wanted to clear it up that yourmercianlover ≠ homophobic.

gay=nerg for some on here. No irony permissible.

Since it's getting darker earlier, and I've seen a few people riding WFL who should GSFL, it's worth pointing out again that you can get physically discrete lights for little money.

Chainreaction have a £6 Cateye rear on sale just now which is tiny and nice and bright. For clampless lights, the Knog strobes work well but are not especially reliable; I recommend the Cateye equivalent instead which looks a bit like a clip-on boob. On an extreme budget, Poundland do a variety of cheap-quality lights which are maybe just ok in London's generally well-lit streets, but it's better than nothing if you are that skint.

clip-on boob.

Eating a carrot + reading that = tiny orange chunks all over my desk

The front performs really well, and lasted a harsh winter. Dosent appear to have the build quality of the highe end stuff (really want Ay-ups). But great for the monies.

That's probably enough to persuade me to buy a new toy then. I really ought to find a more permanent front lighting solution than a dealextreme torch gaffa'd under the boom, but as it's working surprisingly well I'll leave that until later...

the velcro holders are utter gash. stick some gaffa tape around the inside - seems to help them maintain their structural integrity

I ripped one of the velcro straps on mine within a few days of ownership, then the rear died for no reason, which I got replaced, the front died which I didn't bother replacing, the battery charger broke because it was made with tiny, brittle wires and now the usb charger is extremely dodgy and takes about a whole day to charge the remaining rear light that works. The grippy rubber bit on the back of one of the velcro straps also came off.
Now I use £6 Cree lights from ebay which have been faultless or Skully lights because they have an attachment for aero seat posts and they're brighter than Knogs.

Anyone used the Magicshine rear light?
[picture of magicshine light]
I have the uber powerful front one, and figured I'd run the rear off the same battery for shortish rides/commuting. Together with some reelights as back up.

I've had the Magicshine front (MJ-808) and rear (MJ-818) lights since last year and used them commuting throughout autumn and winter.

Short version - buy this light, it is ace.

I'm using the front and rear light running off a single battery which I keep in a Pro storage bottle in a bottle cage. Originally because I managed to break the velcro strap that came with the battery in a few days use but longer-term I've found it simpler to use than velcro.

I bought a Y-cable from DX and just run the minimum amount of cable from the storage bottle that I need for the lights. A couple of velcro cable ties secures the cables to the frame.

I've found this setup works very well. Had no problems riding in all weathers through winter and reasonably quick to attach and remove from the bike. The battery life is fine for a couple of hours with the front on blink and the rear on solid - usually I add a Mars 3.0 on blink at the rear and sometimes a Cree torch on the front for backup.

A few complaints / problems...

• The DX description says "3 modes including 2 flash and 1 constant setting" but this isn't right, you get a blink mode that alternates the very bright centre light and the less-bright outer lights plus a constant mode. I would much prefer a constant rapid blink using both sets of LEDs.
  
• To turn the light on or switch modes you rotate the body of the light by about 120 degrees. This can be tricky with gloves on and cold hands and it's easy to overshoot and select the next mode.
  
• The DX Y-cables are a bit frail and I destroyed one after six months of plugging and unplugging. However I'd rather the Y-cable failed than the cable on the lights, and at $3 each you can have a few in reserve.
  
  

At the DX prices I would absolutely recommend them, there is nothing close on the market.

I don't like it when cyclists have front lights that are too bright. It's central London, not Dartmoor, you don't need something that's been decommissioned off a lighthouse. All you do is blind other road users - including other cyclists. I suspect there is an element of dick waving about it all.

Good point, its one thing to have effective lights, quite another to use them considerately. I get blinded by military issue searchlights in the park/town all the time. Particularly treacherous in Richmond Park, where a rogue deer can appear at any time. Angling it down a bit is all thats needed.

Bethnal Green! Is there some kind of local by-law about the use of lights? Does this extend to the obligatory wearing of dark clothing too?
Seriously, every other cyclist seems to have a death wish there!

Yep true. I think they believe it gives them the cloak of invincibility, thus enabling them to undertake buses.

http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/safety_warning_for_cyclists_in_hackney_as_dark_nights_draw_in_1_1121361#.Trp2G51niAw.twitter

"Sergeant Brian Gordon, from the Dalston Transport Hub Team, has warned of a “zero tolerance” approach this week to cycling offences as the dark nights descend.

He stressed the importance of cycling with the right equipment as the Gazette reiterates its Hackney Cycle Safe campaign.

The change in the clocks means many commuters are forced to travel both to and from work in the dark.

“Most cyclists do not realise quite how invisible they are, especially with the darkness coming around,” said Sgt Gordon. He reminded cyclists that using lights in the hours of darkness was a legal requirement – those who do not face a £30 on the spot fine."

I know its sensible to have lights, but does EVERYTHING we do wrong have to have a £30 fine?

What if its a case of you took your lights out with you in the morning but they switched themselves on all day in your bag (a feature of Knog's) so when you came to put 'em on your bike the batteries are dead and your bank card got cloned so you cant get money out for new batteries without id which you didnt bring with you as you didn't know your card got cloned, as happened to me two weeks ago?

Bad luck eh?

Fuck police fines for cyclists, catch some murderers and rapists or crack dealers and leave me the fuck alone, I gotta deal with escaping death by shit drivers every day you mugs, I could go on but its all been said a billion times already on forums, in pubs, in the street, at home and is getting so boring I'm gonna digress.

It really angers me how Londons cops are happy to catch us lot out at every opportunity.

...awaits barrage of self-righteous replies

You do have a fair point. I was moaning the other day about my brand new front light failing in heavy rain. Looked down and it was off and would not come back on. I always carry a spare now in case it happens again. Just a small 3LED thing, but alight nonetheless.

Which makes me wonder, what constitutes a light? Could you get away with cycling along holding a candle? impractical I know

I know its sensible to have lights, but does EVERYTHING we do wrong have to have a £30 fine?

What if its a case of you took your lights out with you in the morning but they switched themselves on all day in your bag (a feature of Knog's) so when you came to put 'em on your bike the batteries are dead and your bank card got cloned so you cant get money out for new batteries without id which you didnt bring with you as you didn't know your card got cloned, as happened to me two weeks ago?

Bad luck eh?

Fuck police fines for cyclists, catch some murderers and rapists or crack dealers and leave me the fuck alone, I gotta deal with escaping death by shit drivers every day you mugs, I could go on but its all been said a billion times already on forums, in pubs, in the street, at home and is getting so boring I'm gonna digress.

It really angers me how Londons cops are happy to catch us lot out at every opportunity.

...awaits barrage of self-righteous replies

If a car driver was barrelling about the roads with it's light off at night every cyclist under the sun would be throwing a fucking fit.

Loads of kids bimble around my locality with fuck all lights and wearing dark hooded tops - I just think it's natural selection if they get mown down under such circumstances, but if my wife was the person behind the wheel when one of these doppers swerves to their death under her car then she would be heartbroken and never drive again.

i reckon the feds are dead right on this one.

+1 and to add to that I believe you are a courier and therefore a 'professional'. I assume (dangerous I know) that you carry a spare tube(s)? At this time of the year that should be extended to batteries and probably spare lights. I have 2 rears and carry spare batteries for both front and rear every time I expect to be out after dark.
Years ago the figure banded about for a road fatality was £1M. I reckon if policing cyclists saves lives it's money well spent.

i reckon the feds are dead right on this one.

Innit

@ wvm too fuckin right mate I carry spares of everything including batteries, tubes, and 'pick me ups'.

Fair point about the feds and hoodies and wives in cars.

My point is I'm bitter about the overwhelming slant in street cops targeting cyclists when really a crack dealer is far more dangerous a threat overall to society to a cyclist without lights.

A tricky argument I know but I've saids me piece and I wont bother yous any more lol

edit - THAN a cyclist without lights (Jesus I just reread that above and it cracked me up)

Which makes me wonder, what constitutes a light? Could you get away with cycling along holding a candle? impractical I know

It used to be the case that they had to meet a BSI standard, but I think that was changed a few years ago to allow LED lights.

Every Michelmas term in Oxford, the police camp out on the same bridge going into town and fine everyone without lights. But the fine is waived if you buy some lights and show the receipt at the police station. That seems a lot more sensible, as it actually fixes the problem.

Just got back from Manchester. It seems cyclists there have a natural glow around them from all that Ready Brek and so don't bother with lights. It was weirdly popular to navigate busy central streets with not a single light on them, or any decent reflective clothing.

My point is I'm bitter about the overwhelming slant in street cops targeting cyclists when really a crack dealer is far more dangerous a threat overall to society than a cyclist without lights.

I'm glad that feds cover all the bases. I'm sure they'd rather nab a dealer than a cyclist - they didn't get into policework to run around in the dark stopping cyclists - but they have to give priority to anti-social behaviour however it may manifest itself.
I'll admit that they probably nab more riders than dealers because dealers aren't committing their crime quite as conspicuously as riders without lights, so it probably appears that the feds are picking on riders.

Saying that, I'd like to see a much tougher approach to fuckers on phones while driving. Almost as dangerous as riding at night without lights.

Nabbing a dealer doesn't fill the PoPo coffers like collaring urban velo ninjas at £30 a throw.
Like shooting fish in a barrel.

And surely many will have targets.
When I had my car I always found myself getting pulled towards the end of the month, a friend of my Dads in the force explained that it will be because they are racing to meet their quota of uninsured drivers etc