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> I highly recommend an StVZO approved (German bike regulation) head light While I find the idea behind StVZO sound, if you only shop StVZO approved lights you

by giobox 8y ago

> I highly recommend an StVZO approved (German bike regulation) head light While I find the idea behind StVZO sound, if you only shop StVZO approved lights you are at a stroke eliminating a lot of extremely good quality lights at pretty much all price points. Even among really high-end bike light brands (Exposure etc), often only a limited subset of their range has received this certification. Much of the issues with blinding other riders and drivers can be mitigated almost entirely by setting the light at a sensible angle on your handlebars, if it even is an issue for the light you have. > Most bike lights have terrible beam patterns This really isn't true of good lights from reputable companies, and hasn't been for a while. A no-name bikelight from Amazon for 5 bucks might differ. > but you really don't need that 1000+ lumen light in the front or that "Can be seen for 5 miles" eye searing taillight for most road riding. This entirely depends on one's needs, but if you cycle anywhere that has zero street lighting, such as backroads at night, 800-1000 lumen lights are the _dimmest_ I would consider. Especially on a roadbike at ~20MPH, you absolutely need that level of brightness in pitch black to ride with similar confidence to daytime. For in city use, I absolutely agree though. There is a difference between lights for being seen by others, and lights that allow you to see in pitch black environments. If you are struggling to pick a light, I really like the road.cc light comparison tool, which allows you to compare the actual beams. https://lights.road.cc/ https://lights.road.cc/

Johnny555 8y ago
That comparison tool illustrates the problem. Look at the beam from the ~150UKP Cateye or Niterider (not cheap lights), see how the man standing ~10m away is perfectly lit up, bright as day? That means he's got the full beam in his eyes. As would an incoming cyclist or motorist Compare to the B&M IXON series beam, see how even 45 meters away, the beam cutoff is so sharp that someone standing down there would have their head above the beam cutoff. https://www.bumm.de/en/products/dynamo-scheinwerfer/produkt/1752qtsndi.html https://www.bumm.de/en/products/dynamo-scheinwerfer/produkt/... The main LED points backwards on those lights so not only do they have better control over beam pattern, but there's no incidental light coming direct from the LED -- the entire beam leaving the light is shaped by the reflector.
- giobox 8y ago
  The man In question is wearing a high visibility reflective jacket almost directly in front of the bike, it’s little surprise the vast majority of bike lights will cause this to illuminate. I still think this is a much more effective tool to pick a bike light than a still relatively niche German regulation. It’s not perfect either, but it’s the least worst approach I’ve seen.
  - Johnny555 8y ago
    His face is fully illuminated: https://lights.road.cc/beams/201817.jpg https://lights.road.cc/beams/201817.jpg Which means the main beam is shining in his eyes. The point of buying a StVZO light is not that it meets some arbitrary regulation, it's that such lights are certified to have a sharp beam cutoff that can be aimed to avoid unnecessary glare in oncoming cyclist eyes. https://pwoptics.weebly.com/model-2025.html https://pwoptics.weebly.com/model-2025.html

by giobox 8y ago

Johnny555 8y ago

That comparison tool illustrates the problem. Look at the beam from the ~150UKP Cateye or Niterider (not cheap lights), see how the man standing ~10m away is perfectly lit up, bright as day? That means he's got the full beam in his eyes. As would an incoming cyclist or motorist Compare to the B&M IXON series beam, see how even 45 meters away, the beam cutoff is so sharp that someone standing down there would have their head above the beam cutoff. https://www.bumm.de/en/products/dynamo-scheinwerfer/produkt/1752qtsndi.html https://www.bumm.de/en/products/dynamo-scheinwerfer/produkt/... The main LED points backwards on those lights so not only do they have better control over beam pattern, but there's no incidental light coming direct from the LED -- the entire beam leaving the light is shaped by the reflector.

giobox 8y ago
The man In question is wearing a high visibility reflective jacket almost directly in front of the bike, it’s little surprise the vast majority of bike lights will cause this to illuminate. I still think this is a much more effective tool to pick a bike light than a still relatively niche German regulation. It’s not perfect either, but it’s the least worst approach I’ve seen.
- Johnny555 8y ago
  His face is fully illuminated: https://lights.road.cc/beams/201817.jpg https://lights.road.cc/beams/201817.jpg Which means the main beam is shining in his eyes. The point of buying a StVZO light is not that it meets some arbitrary regulation, it's that such lights are certified to have a sharp beam cutoff that can be aimed to avoid unnecessary glare in oncoming cyclist eyes. https://pwoptics.weebly.com/model-2025.html https://pwoptics.weebly.com/model-2025.html