The on road performance of bicycle headlights
In this paper a simple 'on road' test procedure is described which enables the performance of bicycle lighting systems to be assessed quantitatively. The procedure involves determining the maximum cycling speed which can be achieved 'comfortably' when using a particular lighting system under a typical range of night time cycling conditions. The test has been applied to 19 different lighting arrangements possessing an extremely wide range in electrical power characteristics and road beam patterns. The results suggest that the most desirable beam pattern incorporates an intense spot on the road, far ahead of the bike, with a broad light pool filling the area between the spot and the front of the bike. For an experimental lighting arrangement designed to produce such a beam pattern, relatively high cycling speeds were achieved (greater than 50 km/h on unlit roads) at reasonable electrical power input (8.4 Watt). While none of the commercially available systems which were tested could match this performance, the results demonstrated that the development of significantly improved headlight designs is well within the scope of currently available technology. Some initial guidance to this development is provided in this paper (a).
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/644061219
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Authors:
- Mccarthy, M J
- Mathieson, J G
- Coin, C D
- Conference:
- Publication Date: 1987
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: 403-25
- Monograph Title: Bicycle roughness issues, and the effective use of designated cycle facilities
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bicycles; Headlamps; Lighting; Street lighting; Test procedures
- ATRI Terms: Bicycle; Headlight; Lighting; Street lighting; Test method
- Subject Areas: Construction;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01428852
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: ARRB
- ISBN: 644061219
- Files: ATRI
- Created Date: Aug 24 2012 3:02PM