Having bought a bicycle, many stop at this, forgetting that riding it should be not only interesting, but also safe. And even if you get two-wheeled transport only for unhurried walks around the city or park, you should not forget about bicycle lights. Many novice cyclists believe that lighting is a waste of money. Do I need to put the headlights on the bike?.
Why is it important to put the lighting on a two-wheeled vehicle?.
First of all, the presence of any light source (headlights or ordinary lamps) and reflectors is necessary by law. But besides the need to adhere to the laws, you should also think about your safety.. At night and in conditions of poor visibility, bicycle lights will help you to better see the road in front of you..
Of course, you can know the route of your trip by heart and think that you will pass it without problems even with your eyes closed.. But in order to avoid meeting with pits or open hatches, it is better to install at least one front velofaru.
In addition, various light reflectors and lights help make the cyclist more visible. Believe me, even if the car is driving with the headlights on, the driver will not always notice the obstacle in front of him. Such a collision can be fatal for a cyclist.. Even if you can not afford to spend a large amount of money to purchase expensive lighting fixtures, be sure to stop at low-cost models to protect yourself..
How to choose the appropriate option?.
The headlamp for the bike must be reliable and bright enough.. When buying this accessory be sure to pay attention to the following features:.
the illumination produced by the headlamp must be strong enough so that it is not necessary to slow down even while driving downhill;.
good visibility - the beam should illuminate not only the road in front of the cyclist, but also on the sides;.
normal color rendering - the light should be white;.
the duration of work from a single charge or battery - you need to pay attention to how much you are going to ride a bike in the dark;.
mount - usually bicycle lights are equipped with fixed fastening systems, but you can also use an ordinary flashlight, which is installed in a special mount on the steering wheel;.
functionality - many modern models can play the role of not only the usual lighting device, but also be used as a headlamp without problems;.
the presence of several modes - this item is quite important, since it is not always possible to shine too bright a light in the eyes of car drivers or passersby.
Why light reflectors are not suitable for the role of bicycle flashlight?.
Some cyclists believe that the presence of reflective parts on clothes or a vehicle can replace bicycle headlights.. But it is not. The fact is that light reflectors can only work in certain conditions.. It often happens that reflectors go beyond that. Among them are:.
lighting angle - if the car drives right behind the cyclist, then the beam of its headlights will illuminate it well, but if the car approaches the curve, the headlights will gradually be directed to the bike;.
viewing angle - in order for reflective clothing or accessories to be bright enough, the driver's eyes must be within a fairly small viewing angle;.
car headlight beam shape.
To protect yourself on the road, especially if you are going to drive frequently in the dark, it is important to purchase rear and front bicycle lights.