Get Some F**king Lights

Amen to that, and the combination of a mobile phone-using driver meeting a cyclist without lights at a dark T junction could go almost anywhere, guaranteed horribly wrong usually

i have proper lights and then the exposure flash flash flare combo as backup

totally agree with the notion that if you cycle a lot and have basic tools/spares then spare batteries or some LED blinkers as a back up is a sensible course of action

having been crashed into by a twat with no lights last night (also in a dark hoodie) i agree that this is something that needs to be addressed

my concern is that the police are just chasing an easy target and should also look at other dangerous road users too

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?

Don't cycle then, or accept the consequences? I've walked home before when I didn't have lights.

Fuck police fines for cyclists, catch some murderers and rapists or crack dealers and leave me the fuck alone,

One doesn't stop the other. Under that logic, as soon as there is a murder, all police must work exclusively on that case until it is resolved, and on nothing else.

^ that last point and Jame's last point.

and this is a great idea:

...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.

Or maybe they should then do some sort of group buy, and then offer the lights free if you've been fined....possibly a bit of a waste of admin.

But I've had times when I've not had my bag or taken a different bike without lights. So I'd be bummed if I got done. In fairness I've only ever really done this in summer when I didn't expect to be out after dark.

Plus as a driver it is annoying. Back in Spring this year I almost hit a cyclist as I was turning onto a side road - dark clothes, no lights, me a bit tired. Not a nice feeling.

i have no lights on the rear :/

Jame's last point

This is truly painful, hugo7. :)

This is truly painful, hugo7. :)

Nothing more so than a misplaced apost.

i have no lights on the rear :/

Bad idea, Yasi - make that purchase! Rear lights are so cheap. I don't know how you don't flinch every time you hear a car approaching from the rear!

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

I got warned about spilt oil on the road ahead by a police yesterday. She probably spent the rest of the day kettling students, but it was a bit of good.

Dunno if they still do it, but the Dr Bike things used to give out free (free!) lights. Perfectly good emergency lights. Even in summer I carry a pair around as pub lights for that visit that lasts a couple of pints longer than you expect.

i have no lights on the rear :/

I have a spare one you can have; cost me £4.

I've got lights on all my bikes, spare lights in my office drawer and in my bag, spare batteries with both.

It's just not worth it!

The last week of cycling home in pitch black along a minimally lit road in Hyde Park at around 5ish in the evening has scared me a bit, it's a long straight road with only two sets of traffic lights between the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park Corner so cars, mainly taxis, tend to really bolt down it, and there's lots of dark shadows from the trees so I feel like my visibility is poor. I have front and back knog lights which are fine for most roads, but I'm thinking of getting something else, but I don't know what would be the most effective. Any suggestions? Should I go for some reflecto gear or more lights?

I run this on the front:

This on the rear

You can get that Hope for about £70 - not cheap but it lights the road really well.

The rear is blindingly bright, a real investment.

£70 squids for a light! Gulp. I was thinking more along the <£20 mark. Maybe I'll just get some reflecto tape and make a big 'x' on my rucksack.

can henry get you lights at look mum at trade price? get a fibre flare if so, its a very good light for rear visibility.

Lots of recommendations in the lights thread.

Utfs, >>>>>>>, etc

Blindingly bright! great. That'll help riding behind you.

I wish people would turn their lights down sometimes (makes note to angle light down a bit). And didn't use the "hunting epileptics" setting.

@scoot there's a Cateye front that's pretty ace for about £40. Check out what's out there.

Spend good money on your front light, you'll thank yourself later.

I just realised I worded my question badly, when I said 'I have front and back knog lights which are fine for most roads, but I'm thinking of getting something else' I meant get something extra as well as my front and back lights. So I'm not after 'the best light for £20' as such but something that will work in conjunction with my lights to increase my visibility in changing light conditions (dark shadow/streetlights) to cars that are approaching from behind at great speed.

But nevermind. It wasn't an urgent/necessary question, the answer is pretty obvious and just requires a bit of research, I just thought someone might have some words of wisdom to impart, most people here being a lot more experienced at riding than I am.

can henry get you lights at look mum at trade price? get a fibre flare if so, its a very good light for rear visibility.

Really? Have you ever ridden behind someone with a Fibre Flare in wet conditions? They are barely visible.

Creation Iration is fucking right.... Thirty quid fine my fucking arse.

Coppers hand out little lights at the HGV education days for free. Why cant they stop people, educate them about the fact that they are invisible and maybe give them an emegency rear light.

Fucking fines... fuck off.

And get some fucking lights Yasi.

:)

In London, once a light is bright enough (which they are even at the bottom of the range) then spending the kind of money that could buy you a decent second-hand bike for an even brighter light isn't going to help. And is actually really fucking annoying for other cyclists. I think some people just suffer from lumen envy.
Scoot, if there is a dark section of road with cars approaching from behind then maybe add some Scotchlight to your bag or bike or round your ankles.

Thanks Will, Scotchlite looks like just the thing I need, plus I just found these on Amazon

MOGLO REFLECTIVE CHEVRON stickers (48") * 7 colours: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

I think my rucksack is going to get a makeover very soon

I disagree Will. I live in London and work all over the place, and I can't recommend enough having a really good front light. I'm not sure that the noticeable trend among cyclists to have really good lights is simply showing off: if you drive a car you have very powerful lights, so why not cycles? Once you've ridden through a park or dim street properly illuminated, it's hard to see why riding with a flipping winky on the front is good enough for anyone. However I agree that for rear visability, many lights are overkill, and just some retroreflective material on pedals, wheels, shoes etc is excellent.