Exposure Blaze rear light - too bright?

[E65Ross]

I have been running an exposure blaze rear light for a little while now, but someone commented that the setting I run it on (brightest setting but flashing) is too bright.

In reality, it probably is brighter than a cars fog lights, which are annoying. But with a car with fog lights....you are following them for a while, but you pass a bike quite quickly.

Should I run it on the lower setting, or let people see me from orbit? It certainly would be ideal for rides when it IS foggy, but is it "too much" for normal riding, either at day or night?

For reference I usually run the Exposure blaze on full power flashing, and a Moon LX70 on constant but low. Could always run the blaze on constant on medium or low and run the moon on high flashing (the battery on the moon is very poor compared to the exposure.

Cheers

[E65Ross]

spiritof'76 said:

What lumens is it ?.......I have a Moon Ring rear light at 25 lumens and it's super intense at full setting ! Anymore would seem pointless to me, so much so that in anything less than fog I run it in strobe mode

80 lumens on full!

[E65Ross]

marting said:

I've got a TraceR which is the same light but USB chargeable I believe. I've had similar comments when its on flashing and the Mrs is with me. I think its not too bad if its not flashing through.

The TraceR is 75 lumens, the blaze is 75. The blaze is also usb chargeable. The main difference between the TraceR and the blaze is the battery life on the blaze is much longer.

[E65Ross]

Thanks for the input chaps. I often run with lights on during the day and think the high power may be better there, but at night the low or medium power would be sufficient.

[E65Ross]

loudlashadjuster said:

Fluffsri said:

If they are moaning it means they have seen you! I run mine on full during the day in crap weather and flash at night. Id rather be moaned at and not squashed!

Using fog lights in a traffic jam: same logic.

I can't imagine being moaned at by a driver, it's more other cyclists I'm thinking of. Being half blinded by flashing red spotlights then turning into a dark street isn't much fun.

Not quite. Cars with fog lights on aren't passed quickly and you're often stuck behind them for some time. Cyclists are usually dealt with within a few seconds.

[E65Ross]

Interesting differences of opinions here. I think the brightness modes equate to 80, 40 or 20 lumens. I guess I could run it on 40 lumens, which is still pretty bright, and reap the extra battery life benefits....

[E65Ross]

SixPotBelly said:

In built-up areas either the traffic is queueing and I'm faster, it's moving slowly and I'm in moving with it, or it's only moving about 10-15 MPH faster than me. I don't need a blindingly bright rear light to warn people a mile back of my presence. It'd just be pissing off everyone behind.

On the open road, on the other hand, even those obeying the 60 or 70 MPH limit will be closing on me very quickly indeed. People who use the road regularly will know where the hazards are, and most won't be scanning ahead for anything unusual. I want people to be aware there is something unusual ahead much earlier. Hence the pulsing mode. Note it's still a low power mode though compared the daytime open-road mode.

I agree with this to be honest.

My only problem is that at the moment, my commute being 20 miles, I am starting out in the dark (pitch black) but finishing around sunrise. Approx 1/2 of my journey is on unlit roads of 50mph+, there isn't any "town" cycling, but a small amount of cycling in a village, but that's not long. For when the sun is rising I want it full power for obvious reasons, but then it's potentially too bright for the other sections.

I think I'll have the exposure on medium solid and my moon on flashing medium (still pretty bright but not 80 lumens bright!)