Personal light AND bike light?

[Red Eco]

Hi all,

Just a quick question - what are people's thoughts regarding having a light for a bike as well as personal lights?

My wife and I will have a heap of EL wire and fairy lights tied to our clothing at night. Given this, we weren't sure whether having lights on our bikes would be necessary as well. Anybody here got any thoughts on whether we should have both? And, if so, why?

Ta,

Marty

[theCryptofishist]

Lights on your bike makes them easier to find in the dark.

[trilobyte]

Yes! Personal lights, because you're not always on your bike. Sometimes you ride it somewhere, then arrive and park/lock it, and go walking somewhere. Personal lights mean you're not a darkwad that could be a hazard to another person, someone on a bike, or a mutant vehicle. In addition to personal lighting, you should also have some kind of headlamp or small flashlight. That's handy for anything from working on something to going to the bathroom at night.

[Red Eco]

Thanks both.

trilobyte - yes, we will have heaps of personal lighting. We're just not sure if we want/need lights for our bikes as well. And we have also organised headlamps as well. What are your thoughts on having both personal lights and bike lights?

[trilobyte]

You don't *need* decorative lighting, unless you're the creative sort of person who wants to do that. You do need a headlight, because you'll want and need to be able to see the ground ahead of you when you're riding at night. Other participants, dropped/discarded items, dunes, ruts, guy wires, and any number of other obstacles may be out there at night.

[Red Eco]

Thanks.

[Bless]

Don't be a darktard

[Drawingablank]

When out and about headlamps can be worn around your neck, angled to illuminate the ground ahead of you - this way you don't blind everyone you look at.

In a pinch this method also works when riding a bike - simply adjust the angle of the headlamp to illuminate a distance ahead of you.

[delle]

You're going to be getting off your bike a lot. The places you'll be doing so offering sufficient bike stands are the minority, rendering your bike an invisible hazard for anyone/thing passing by there until it's too late.

At least half of planning for a successful Burn includes thinking of how to avoid being a problem for others. This falls into that category too.

[maladroit]

I've had zero trouble finding unlit bikes. Easiest thing in the word...simply allow one to catch you around the ankles and you'll know it's there as you plunge into a pile of other bikes bristling with hard metal objects.

[Maizie]

You're going to be getting off your bike a lot. The places you'll be doing so offering sufficient bike stands are the minority, rendering your bike an invisible hazard for anyone/thing passing by there until it's too late.

At least half of planning for a successful Burn includes thinking of how to avoid being a problem for others. This falls into that category too.

aaaaaaaand, signature added.

[Red Eco]

Thanks.

m

[AntiM]

A headlight on the front of your bike lights your way. It can be quite dark and seeing even a few feet where you are going can prevent some pretti nasti falls.

[skippy3k]

When out and about headlamps can be worn around your neck, angled to illuminate the ground ahead of you

This is also helpful for when you pee. (Sorry ladies!)

[Thecatman]

In 2008 I lost the headlight I had on my bikes handlebars.I don't know if it fell off during the day or if some "darkwad" needed it more than I did. Fortunately I had a spare.