Any thoughts on these rear lights? Wondering if I should add it to my santa list...........

https://www.groundeffect.co.nz/collecti ... with-laser

I also just got the GE email and was looking at this.

dwgknz wrote:I also just got the GE email and was looking at this.

Gimmic or useful ? I'm commuting to Chch CBD to Prebbleton so 90% separated bike path but the little bits from end of motorway to Prebbleton are high risk night and day. have been tempted to ride Springs Rd but have been using the longer (and road worked) official cycle route via Halswel Junction, Shands, Marsh, Rail Trail.

UK_Exile wrote:

dwgknz wrote:I also just got the GE email and was looking at this.

Gimmic or useful ? I'm commuting to Chch CBD to Prebbleton so 90% separated bike path but the little bits from end of motorway to Prebbleton are high risk night and day. have been tempted to ride Springs Rd but have been using the longer (and road worked) official cycle route via Halswel Junction, Shands, Marsh, Rail Trail.

not sure about the lasers - will only really be visible when it's pitch black.

As far as daylight visible lights go I've been using a set of See.Sense Icon+ for about 5 months and love them - they're adaptive and smart (have internal motion sensors and light sensors, so adapt intensity and flash rate to depending on what you're doing an oncoming cars headlights : https://seesense.cc/ ). No forgetting to turn them on/off - and usually do about 3-4 weeks (commuting about 1hr a day) between charges

the dedicated cycleway along the motorway is great, then it's hopeless from there to prebbleton - looking forward to the motorway and over-bridges being complete and the new cycle lanes linking to prebbleton being completed ( https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/project ... m2-map.pdf )

Will look at the icon+. It's connectivity seems a bit gimmicky to me as I ride to get away from stuff. No GPS and no strava here!

Yep, also very much looking forward to the cycle trail upgrades that happen due to motorway extension. The existing motorway part is great for safe and fast commuting (I've opposite thoughts on the low speed separated cycle stuff in the city!) Guessing the cycleway will be end of motorway project activity. Doesn't seem to be motorway timeline posted anywhere. Wish is it was early in project as the many business entrances along Halswel Junction & Shands aren't great. I can see why some riders take their chances on Springs Rd. not too bad in evneings if after 6pm though, just a bit slow as lot of brake, look, cross, speed up, etc

I've tried a couple of cheapy DX laser lights over the years and I like the idea for subtle persuasion of motorists. The problem with all of them is that the lines paint about a handlebar-width wide, and I'd prefer a metre or so from centreline. Not sure if these specific ones would be different or not.

I ended up putting tape over the left laser and mounting crooked to get my 1m wide line. It did seem to help with car passing distance in the dark on my commute from Porirua into Wellington.

UK_Exile wrote:Will look at the icon+. It's connectivity seems a bit gimmicky to me as I ride to get away from stuff. No GPS and no strava here!

I only ever connect to it via bluetooth to set power/flash patterns (which annoyingly get reset to defaults when you charge it). All the other stuff is gimmicky indeed....

I've just ordered an Icon+ from Merlin cycles. Everywhere has been out of stock for a long time and they just got them back in. NZ$113 so very good price too as other stores waqnting $145 - $190
Hoping its as good as the reviews say.
https://www.merlincycles.com/seesense-i ... 01630.html

https://seesense.cc/ have a new version coming out called the Ace. Lighter and lower cost so quite attractive. Can pre order them now but I couldn't wait until July for one

I cycled to work once about a week ago and haven't since. Partly because of my fitness level but mostly because my commute is on a very busy Great South Road in Auckland and I didn't feel particularly well lit. I wish they'd make daylight savings 2 hours, because 1 hour doesn't really help for the mornings.

Anyway, the ICON's extra features like theft warning does seem gimmicky and made me lose interest, so I've just ordered the Lezyne Laser Rear. Eager to see how that works.

I agree all the ICONs feature are glimmicky and I won't use them. Chose it because of high IP rating, battery life and that its optimised for daytime use too. Everything I read about the Lezyne said the side lasers useless in daytime. Hoping I made the right choice, as you will be too!

Here are my thoughts on the Lezyne with a little video if anyone's interested.

http://fatasscyclist.co.nz/2018/04/07/improving-visibility-while-commuting/

Those side lasers do look quite useless. By the time they're seen by a motorist coming from behind it's too late for them to change their passing distance. Shame as the flash looks nice and bright. Quite a slow flash pattern. It's adjustable?

My Icon+ arrived today and feck me is it bright. Even sitting on my brightly lit office desk it far far too bright to look directly at, even fully side on. Directly from rear at close proximity its retina burning. I hope the intelligent stuff in it dims it a bit so it does not annoy motorists and evoke a dangerous intentional near miss pass manoeuvre

Update on See.Sense Icon+ x
It's bright, really bright so I'm definitely visible both at night and in day.
Hard to tell when riding however does seems like the flashing varies depending on road surface and brightness in area.
Battery life is great.
Bluetooth works but I choose not to use it.
I'd recommend this light

All good.....apart from the mount. It's a silicone band and I don't trust a rubber band to mount a $115 light!
The default rubber pad is designed for round seat post and my TCR has aero post. It allowed the light to rotate around a bit then the band would go slack allowing it to slip off the pins on the lights.
I then ordered the aero mount direct from https://seesense.cc/collections/shop/pr ... s-adapters
Had to order direct from see.sense as stores don't stock the spare parts.
It has little rubber flaps that sit each side of the aero post. Much better, prevents it rotating so design is ok.

But I still don't trust a silicone band long term. Tried using cable ties but not convenient as need to cut them off to recharge the light.
McGyver fix that's working well is I've tied a short length of thin cord to the light and onto seat rails. That way if (when) the silicone fails the light won't be lost under the wheels of a car.
It also stops me dropping it when mounting it after charging and then wife receiving a 'he's crashed at this location' text message..........it's happened