Bike Lights, Bikes and Development

Dandy Horses, bikes and bike lights

The history of bikes and bike lights is a fascinating one for anybody with an interest in cycling. Man has always sought to make life easier and transport has long been a preoccupation. Attempting to invent a reliable source of wheeled transport was a big challenge in pre-industrial revolution days and many bizarre attempts were made which with the benefit of hindsight we can giggle at.  The very first version of a bicycle was the German invention the “Laufmaschine” which translates as “Running Machine”. These wooden framed vehicles were known as “Dandy Horses” in England and were the forerunner to the modern bicycle. The Dandy Horse was very similar in its silhouette to a modern bicycle but lacked pedals, chain and gears. Bike Lights were not thought of at this point and many collisions with innocent pedestrians occurred in 1819 when the Dandy Horse was at its pinnacle of popularity in the UK. The rider of the Dandy Horse would sit astride the machine and then simply walk or run along the pavement. As the roads in those days were not generally well maintained, Dandy Horse riders would simply take to the paths and knock people over in their quest to save time. By the 1860s, Dandy Horses were largely forgotten due to their impractical nature and a new machine appeared. The Velocipede boasted an adjustable saddle, which in itself was a vast improvement on the Dandy Horses which had to be made to measure. Velocipedes were initially made entirely of wood and with metal wheels and they did not make for a comfortable ride, though they did boast pedals which at least negated the need to run along whilst sitting on the machine!

Penny Farthings, bike lights and safety awareness

Penny Farthings may appear very cumbersome to us with their huge front wheels which appear to make the whole thing look totally out of balance but compared to the old wooden bone shakers, Penny Farthings were far easier to ride and a lot more comfortable due to the addition of solid rubber tyres in place of solid metal. Because of the size of the front wheels which could be as tall as 64 inches, riders were constantly in danger from falling and as the brakes on these models were not brilliant, there were many accidents, some serious. Bike lights of the day were basically candle lanterns, which as one can imagine did not offer enormous visibility to the rider or to pedestrians who might be passing by on the road. The candles in these lanterns were constantly going out and as roads were often in poor condition, riders were at risk of bad accidents should they get caught in bad weather or darkness. Oil lamps which burned paraffin or coal oil soon appeared and pushed candle lamps out of the picture. As far as the bike lights of today go these seem old fashioned but such was their popularity that they were still in common use until the middle of the twentieth century.

Things have progressed so much in terms of bike lights and accessories that the inventors of the first bicycles would be amazed by the sheer range on offer today.

The Importance of Bike Lights

Bike lights and road safety

As any keen cyclist knows, road safety is paramount; yet it is surprising just how many people are willing to risk life and limb by riding their cycles without appropriate safety gear. So what is the appropriate gear exactly? The clothing you wear is very important if you plan on cycling often or for long distances. Loose fitting clothes which are easy to move in are important as restriction of movement could potentially slow down your reactions in a dangerous situation and sometimes seconds can save lives. Don’t forget that fluorescent clothing is incredibly useful and not only after dark but also in the daytime during poor weather, a foggy or even an overcast day can reduce visibility significantly and ensuring that you can be easily seen by motorists, fellow cyclists and pedestrians is of paramount importance. Reflective bands for ankles and arms are a great investment and should be part of your everyday cycling wear. Bike lights are a legal requirement and care should be taken in choosing the best available for your bike.

All about bike lights

It is illegal and very dangerous to ride without bike lights and the following requirements should be carefully considered at all times. Check that your bicycle has the following.

·         A white front light should always be present

·         A red rear light is equally important

·         A red rear reflector

·         Amber reflectors on the front and back of each pedal

You can also fit reflectors on your wheels for added visibility and this is an excellent idea if you live in an area with a lack of decent lighting. It’s not only rural areas which suffer for poor lighting but many suburban areas too. Flashing bike lights are worth the investment as they naturally draw more attention that a sedentary light but there are certain rules which must be carefully adhered to for your own safety and that of others. Flashing lights must flash at a rate of 1-4 equal flashes per second.

Extra bike lights

It can be a good idea to add more bike lights if desired but they should still adhere to the regulations and be fitted in the correct areas and be the correct colour, i.e. a white light at the front and a red light at the back. It is extremely important to remember that other people on the road may be dazzled by overly bright lights. Regular maintenance of your bike lights should be carried out with care. Cleaning them and checking that they work is an obvious thing to some but it is all to easy to become complacent about road safety and checking equipment, especially for regular cyclists. A broken or dysfunctional light could lead to you not being seen on a dark, busy or poorly lit road and it is oversights like this which can lead to fatal accidents. So take care to ensure your bicycle is properly equipped with all that you need to stay safe on the roads.

Bike Lights Compared

Types of bike lights

Since the early days of cycling their have been constant attempts to improve upon the technology of bike lights; the days of candle lit lanterns strapped to the front of shaky wooden cycles is thankfully over and we can enjoy more choice than ever before. If you are not particularly technically minded, the array of bike lights available is quite mind-boggling. To simplify and further explore your choices there are various explanations of some of the more popular bike lights below.

LED bike lights

LED lights are a cheaper option than some alternatives and are considered particularly suited to those who do not ride their bicycles frequently. LED lights are suited for front and back use, a white LED light for the front of the cycle and a flashing LED for the back. It is only in relatively recent years that white LED bike lights have passed muster as far as regulations are concerned for the front of bicycles; in the past they were not considered suitable at all and current laws are in the process of taking new developments into account. When deciding which LED bike lights are suited to your needs, you need to consider the amount of time you spend on your cycle and under what conditions. Very low power LED lights are fine for riding in brightly lit Suburban Street during the evening but as their output is not large they would not be ideal for darker lanes and roads. For those who require a brighter lights it is now possible to run an LED light from a dynamo and it is possible to generate a very bright light even at a low speed.

Halogen bike lights

Rechargeable halogen bike lights are a very popular option for many regular cyclists. Once the preference of mainly off-road cyclists they have become a good choice for many urban cyclists because of their brightness and the fact that the rechargeable systems are good value for money. A drawback is that the wide and bright light can dazzle oncoming traffic; it is for this reason that it is important to check regulations.

HID bike lights

HID or High Intensity Discharge are extremely powerful bike lights, the brightest available on today’s market. They use a lot of power but the advantage of a rotationally symmetrical beam which is capable of illuminating as much space up as down. These lights are great for off road use and should they be used in a busy area then it is important to adjust the beam to avoid dazzling the oncoming traffic.

Additional bike lights

Some cyclists like to maximise their visibility by using supplementary safety gear and lights. High visibility clothing with reflective patches are popular as are arm and leg bands. Automatic turn signals which are worn on the hands and which react by flashing when the rider signals an imminent turn are a relatively recent development; there are also manually operated models available.

When choosing the lighting for your cycle, it is important to consider when and where you will be riding it, how often? Investing in the latest lighting can be a good move in certain circumstances. Safety on the road is after all paramount.

Bikes and Bike Lights Past and Present

Early days of cycling: before pedals, gears and bike lights

The history of cycling is a fascinating one especially when one considers that much of the first developments took place in the seventeenth century. Early models were a far cry from the technological wonders of today and the first bicycles were called “Hobby Horses” which were constructed from wood and lacked pedals, gears and chain never mind safety features such as bike lights or reflectors! These models were actually pushed along with the rider’s feet; the only advantage over walking was that it was slightly faster. It was in 1840 or thereabouts that the first pedals appeared and were invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan who two years later was arrested for knocking a child over. It seems that Mr Macmillan had not thought about the potential dangers of riding on the pavement!  In fact it was quite some time before any safety features like bike lights or bells were added to bicycles.

The development of cycles and bike lights

By 1861 the first Velocipede made an appearance and this model was a vast improvement on the Hobby Horse, with pedals fitting onto the front wheel it was similar to a tricycle. As people learned that the larger the front wheel the further they could travel, so the battle to make models with larger and larger front wheels commenced; this lead to the development of the Penny Farthing which is still well known for its rather ridiculous appearance. By 1885 the Safety bicycle made its first appearance; with chain, gears and a more sensible silhouette it contributed to the popularity of cycling even further than the Penny Wheel had done. When bike lights first made an appearance alongside velocipedes in 1860 they were an absolute necessity. Conditions in streets and lanes during this period were almost universally bad; rough roads and lack of public lighting made riding a velocipede a very dangerous business indeed.

The first bike lights

The very first bike lights were sold alongside the velocipedes they were intended for. Candle lamps were the first effort at making cycling a safer affair and these were very impractical as cycling produces a breeze, which of course often extinguished the flame! The candles for these early bike lights were inserted into a spring loaded cylinder where the mechanism would elevate the candle as it burned lower. Candle lamps were soon superseded by oil lamps and these had so much success that they were still in use during the 1950s remaining a popular choice for the cyclists of the day. The invention of Acetylene gas in 1892 proved to be a turning point in the industry as this produced a powerful white light which was adopted into the cycle lighting industry.  By 1895 the dynamo powered lamp had appeared and proved very popular; Ever Ready was also producing battery powered lamps in the USA.  Developments have gathered momentum and today the efficiency and reliability of bicycle lamps has gone on from strength to strength.

All about Bike Lights

Bike lights and the law

The question of how to ensure your safety when riding a bicycle on the roads is an important one as cyclists are vulnerable to other people and especially motorists. Ensuring that you and your cycle have maximum visibility will go a long way to minimising the risk of accidents. There are laws governing the use of bicycles with regards to the use of safety equipment particularly.  Good, working lights and reflectors must be fitted to all bicycles which are ridden after dark or in poor lighting conditions. So what are the laws regarding bike lights which are arguably the most important of safety paraphernalia. The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations are very specific when it comes to bike lights and all cycles must have certain lights fitted and working if they are ridden between sunset and sunrise; some weather conditions may make these laws applicable during normal daylight hours too, consider a foggy day when visibility can be reduced to a few feet, rain and drizzle can also make it necessary to use lights during daylight hours.  The following will give some idea of the basic and most important points to remember when choosing lighting for your cycle.

Bike lights and the RVLR

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 or RVLR have been periodically updated and amended as technology has changed. Ensure that your bike lights adhere to the regulations and stay as safe as possible.

• Front Lamps must be white; they must also be positioned in the centre or offside and no more than 15000mm from the road. Front bike lights must point forwards and if the light has the capacity to flash it must emit at the very least 4 candela. If the front light does not flash it must conform and be marked as conforming to BS6102/3 or the corresponding EC standard.
• Of rear lamps one must be red; it must be centrally placed or offside. Rear lamps should be between 350mm and 15000mm from the road and should be facing behind or visible from behind. If the rear light has the capability of flashing it should emit 4 candela at least. If the rear light does not flash but only emits a steady light then it should conform to BS3648 or BS6102/3 or the EC version of such.
• One rear reflector is required by law; it should be red in colour and marked BS6102/2 and should be placed centrally or offside. The distance from lamp to ground should be from 250mm to 900mm at or close to the rear pointing towards and visible from behind.
• Pedal Reflectors are also required and no less than four. These should be amber in colour and should be marked BS6102/2 or the EC equivalent. Pedal reflectors should be positioned two per pedal and visible from front and rear of each pedal.

Exceptions with regards bike lights and regulations

In the case of older cycles there are exceptions made with bike light regulations. Bicycles made before October 1990 may have any white front light which is visible from a sensible distance and cycles made before October 1985 do not need pedal reflectors. It is however important to consider the value of reflectors and bike lights in general, adhering to regulations will keep you visible and safe.