Less antisocial front light
Discussion
I've been experimenting again. The headlight on my bike is brilliant but I have noticed a few issues with it.
When there is no traffic I have it on the high setting aimed straight ahead.
When I notice someone or something I switch it to the low setting and aim the middle of the beam about ten feet in front of me.
The beam doesn't pencil so to a degree I'm still dazzling other road users.
I only want to do that with my back light...
...
My first idea was to dissect an old Fiat Coupe headlight and put a torch bulb in the pencil beam side.
That worked but would be bulky and faff to make mounts and stuff. I thought about using my camera mount and spare battery pack but the torch was 6V and that would be risky on a bike.
I'll stick to the front light I have.
It makes this beam pattern at the moment...
...it's basically a spot light and isn't any wonder why other people find it dazzling.
So I started with duct tape and made a peak.
This improved things greatly.
I peeled it off and used it as a template...
...made it from the bottom of a ice cream tub and held it on with cable tie.
Appears to have done the trick.
When there is no traffic I have it on the high setting aimed straight ahead.
When I notice someone or something I switch it to the low setting and aim the middle of the beam about ten feet in front of me.
The beam doesn't pencil so to a degree I'm still dazzling other road users.
I only want to do that with my back light...
...
My first idea was to dissect an old Fiat Coupe headlight and put a torch bulb in the pencil beam side.
That worked but would be bulky and faff to make mounts and stuff. I thought about using my camera mount and spare battery pack but the torch was 6V and that would be risky on a bike.
I'll stick to the front light I have.
It makes this beam pattern at the moment...
...it's basically a spot light and isn't any wonder why other people find it dazzling.
So I started with duct tape and made a peak.
This improved things greatly.
I peeled it off and used it as a template...
...made it from the bottom of a ice cream tub and held it on with cable tie.
Appears to have done the trick.
Get one of these for 3 quid. Job jobbed.
C&B SEEN WIDE ANGLE/DIFFUSER LENS FOR 1000/1200 LUMEN BIKE LIGHTS WITH 39MM LENS APERTURE https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DQ5IGMU/ref=cm_sw_r...
C&B SEEN WIDE ANGLE/DIFFUSER LENS FOR 1000/1200 LUMEN BIKE LIGHTS WITH 39MM LENS APERTURE https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DQ5IGMU/ref=cm_sw_r...
Watchman said:
Get one of these for 3 quid. Job jobbed.
C&B SEEN WIDE ANGLE/DIFFUSER LENS FOR 1000/1200 LUMEN BIKE LIGHTS WITH 39MM LENS APERTURE https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DQ5IGMU/ref=cm_sw_r...
Tried one when they first appeared and thought it was useless. C&B SEEN WIDE ANGLE/DIFFUSER LENS FOR 1000/1200 LUMEN BIKE LIGHTS WITH 39MM LENS APERTURE https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DQ5IGMU/ref=cm_sw_r...
It doesn't pencil the beam at all. What I'm trying to do here is make my bike light like a car dipped beam. I have a 3000 Lumen one for high beam.
http://www.bumm.de/
That's pretty much it. Just trying to cycle to the same standard as I drive. These rechargeable lights are really good but even with the centre of the beam ten feet in front of me they can still be dazzling from in front. I would never drive a car with such a faulty headlight so why cycle?
That's pretty much it. Just trying to cycle to the same standard as I drive. These rechargeable lights are really good but even with the centre of the beam ten feet in front of me they can still be dazzling from in front. I would never drive a car with such a faulty headlight so why cycle?
Stiggolas said:
I Like the idea of the peak. What if you made it from shiny aluminium (or covered it in tin foil) would you get more light to the floor? I have the same light and will try this
Just what I was thinking. Nick LK's template, glue kitchen foil to the inside of the peak, and see if that re-directs more light to just ahead of the front wheel.I might have a go myself, with my Bontrager ION700 lamp. Perhaps a piece of old conduit or plastic pipe would work for that as it's a much narrower tube and lens itself. Might have to wait for a rainy day though...
yellowjack said:
Stiggolas said:
I Like the idea of the peak. What if you made it from shiny aluminium (or covered it in tin foil) would you get more light to the floor? I have the same light and will try this
Just what I was thinking. Nick LK's template, glue kitchen foil to the inside of the peak, and see if that re-directs more light to just ahead of the front wheel.I might have a go myself, with my Bontrager ION700 lamp. Perhaps a piece of old conduit or plastic pipe would work for that as it's a much narrower tube and lens itself. Might have to wait for a rainy day though...
That could work as well.
I have some proper work to do (sill repair on my Fiat Bravo) before it gets dark enough to find out.
My experimental front light...
...with pencil beam worked well on the way in but on the way home several drivers didn't dip their headlights at all or flashed so I guess being considerate is futile.
It was okay until it fell off. I think something more secure than a cable tie for the MkII prototype.
...with pencil beam worked well on the way in but on the way home several drivers didn't dip their headlights at all or flashed so I guess being considerate is futile.
It was okay until it fell off. I think something more secure than a cable tie for the MkII prototype.
So the MkII
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
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