tatanab wrote:The early "steady" lights (Vista lights) were also flashing, just too fast to be seen. This extended battery life as you say. I believe the noticeable flash is another import from the USA. In the early/mid 90s I was riding there and flashing lights were common, and even that long ago there were some strobe lights powerful enough for day use.pwa wrote:My possibly unreliable memory tells me that the first flashing LED rear lights used this function to extend battery life. It could be that flashing red lights then came to mean "cyclist" to other road users.
Ironically the RAC still badge and sell these very early "Vista lights" (Including the green LEDS for the front) as bicycle lights