Bicycle lighting

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by Ninja59

It does depend on how you define "mend a puncture" - if focusing on cars, what with on a car the modern vehicles practical choice of tyre gunk? Only fixing holes upto 5 mm big and some amount of stupid steps?

Define how you mend a puncture on a racing bicycle - who mentioned cars?

Step 1 - remove offending wheel
Step 2 - remove offending inner tube (if using clinchers)
Step 3 - option one, mend puncture using repair kit, option two replace tube with spare carried under saddle
Step 4 - replace tube in tyre and on rim, and inflate
Step 5 - replace wheel
Step 6 - continue ride.

Thought it was simple, your riding buddies are having a natter and probably helping...this all happens very quickly.

J.

[Prufrock]

[QUOTE=RobbieH;1532388And if you think cars vs bikes was bad; Mike, Campag. Pah, Shimano all the way baby![/QUOTE]

Shimano versus Campagnolo eh, that old chestnut...

I've bikes equipped with Campagnolo Super Record and Record Corsa, and one equipped with (Shimano) Dura Ace.

Functionality...probably Shimano, especially if you're a pussy who needs to click-click to change gear.

Aesthetically for me it's Campagnolo all the way - more durable too in my experience.

Jon.

[Mike_Brace]

I have no problems over well lit bicycles even with flasing front and rear lights. On our local lanes it means the bicycle is clearly visible from a distance. I have never suffered with problems of dazzle from them. Tractors are terrible - nearly always with front and rear work lamos on and set to dazzle - the rear ones often on to illuminate a large trailer which has no lighting.
Nextcome the cars with very high intensity lighting blinding you as they go through potholes or come round a bend and although on dip totally blind you as they shine straight at you on with vans and 4x4's from a height. If they are travelling to a brow and a left hand bend for them be prepared to lose all vision.

[RobbieH]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

Shimano versus Campagnolo eh, that old chestnut...

I've bikes equipped with Campagnolo Super Record and Record Corsa, and one equipped with (Shimano) Dura Ace.

Functionality...probably Shimano, especially if you're a pussy who needs to click-click to change gear.

Aesthetically for me it's Campagnolo all the way - more durable too in my experience.

Jon.

Much more interesting than talking tin cans LOL.

Now I used to believe in Campag for bearings - hubs and headsets ALWAYS were Campag. More recently, Hope hubs, Cane Creek headsets.

Old skool Campag Record cranks were objects of desire as were Record and Super Record rear mechs. Then Mavic SSC rear mechs were a piece of CNC marvel.

But more recently, 7800 Dura-Ace

And I like clicky, clicky rather than fumble, fumble. Then I can concentrate on riding I remember friction shifting (Simplex levers were the best), then Suntour Powershift before SIS blew it all away

[chris-oxon]

I have to agree with Bill 56. I do a daily trip along a a winding (fairly narrow) A road between Wargrave and Henley, in the early evening, and have noticed in the past few months that the intensity of a few cycle lights is becoming a real hazard. This road carries a lot of cyclists at times plus regular bus services and commuter traffic. Fine that cyclists wish to provide themselves with optimum protection, but there does need to be some common sense regulation here to protect the safety of other road users. It also is a fact that as we become older, our eyes don't recover as quickly from dazzle, making it more difficult to see into the shadows for a short time after being dazzled.

[griston64]

Campag all the way for me ! Much better than Shimano in every way ! It might not work as well because its Italian but can anyone name any famous Japanese cyclists ????

You should refer to "the rules" if you disagree.

Back to lights - I have 3 Cateye rear led. One on back of helmet one at back of saddle and one on seatpost. On the front I run a rechargeable Hope light which has four constant settings and one flashing. I use the flashing for the lit roads and the constant for the unlit country roads which make up about 3 miles of my 10 mile commute. I feel safest on the pitch black country lanes than I do in Glasgow itself and I also think I am more visible at night than I am in broad daylight. Like Robbie H I now use the flash in daytime whilst commuting as it helps cars to see you.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by chris-oxon

I have to agree with Bill 56. I do a daily trip along a a winding (fairly narrow) A road between Wargrave and Henley, in the early evening, and have noticed in the past few months that the intensity of a few cycle lights is becoming a real hazard. This road carries a lot of cyclists at times plus regular bus services and commuter traffic. Fine that cyclists wish to provide themselves with optimum protection, but there does need to be some common sense regulation here to protect the safety of other road users. It also is a fact that as we become older, our eyes don't recover as quickly from dazzle, making it more difficult to see into the shadows for a short time after being dazzled.

How can a cyclist become a hazard to a car ?? Would you not rather notice ( or as you put it be dazzled) by a cyclist than pull out and kill them ?

[griston64]

fyi Robbie H

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...57752919,d.d2k

[rippedoffagain]

Originally Posted by glasgowjim

I find the idea of being blinded by a cycle light quite amusing given that the height of lights and the brightness of headlights on the 4x4 cars blind me regularly as I drive my 480 .

Yes, that's one of my other major bugbears. I drive home in the dark every day on a road that has a horrendous safety record. Its a terrible road. Straight enough for lunatics to think its ok to cane it, but just bendy enough so there's lots of chances for oncoming traffic to blind you on bends, or for cars behind to cast so many interesting shadows in front of you that its hard to keep track of where the road actually is.

Many cars these days don't have headlights at all it seems. They have great big laser cannons instead.

Its my opinion that if you need these super intense laser canons to see where you're going, you're either driving too fast for the conditions or your eyesight is no longer up to the job for driving.

And main beam, I think it should be banned until people can learn when it is appropriate to use it, eg NOT when there is oncoming traffic, and not when you're right behind another car such that using it renders all the mirrors on the car in front completely useless.

[RobbieH]

Originally Posted by griston64

fyi Robbie H

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...57752919,d.d2k

US website - 'nuf said LOL. Remember early Oakley's, "Breaking Away" and a certain riders choice of shorts and black socks

Although some of the rules ARE universal