An idiot suggestion...

[JS]

Cycling home this evening, blinded by oncoming un-dipped headlamps for the tenth time, I tried a suggestion I read ages ago: close one eye as the car approaches, then when it's past swap eyes, so that you're then using an eye which is still dark-adapted. Predictably, I amost ended up in a tree. Has anyone ever made this particular bright idea work?!

[Marc]

JS

The best way is to concentrate very hard and look at the kerb/verge just ahead, I even do this in my car, it helps you not instinctively look at the lights.

Marc

[AJPITFC]

What about night classes the ones you getf rom the AA as used for driving?

[Karen Sutton]

any suggestions for those such as me with only one functioning eye?

[PW]

Peaked hat? High powered lights to make the b11ggers dip? I do both.

[Jim Davis]

I extend my right arm toward the motorist in question and raise my middle finger. You probably won't find this technique in John Franklin's Cyclecraft but the message is quickly and effectively conveyed.

[CJ]

Shade eyes with one hand and wobble alarmingly toward centre of road. Since you can't see anything else, use the offside headlight as your mark and aim to pass about one metre to the left of it. That way you'll at worst miss the car whilst also remaining on the road.

However I invariably find that my blinded cyclist pantomime causes the oncoming driver not only to dip his headlights but also brake sharply, sometimes slowing down so much that he's actually moving at a safe speed for the conditions! Thus I am normally able to lower the shading hand and resume normal progress.

[Pedalling Pete]

One clubmate used to use a tennis cap once popular for keeping the sun out of the eyes. The cap was white, of course, with a transparent green plastic peak, and open at the top. I guess one dipped one's head when blinded by headlights, so that by looking through the plastic you could see the oncoming lights at a lower intensity and avoid riding into the path of the car.

[Pat]

JS its a problem alright especially on country roads because of the contrast between total darkness and brilliant oncoming car lights.
I look down towards my front wheel and this protects my night vision, whilst still allowing you to have control of the bike.

[richardirving]

The advice received from Mick Madgett of Madgett Cycles in Norfolk is to flap your hand in front of your headlight once (no good if down on front forks) or twice - the resultant flicker always seems to trigger a dipped pair of beams. It is a stimulus that appears to reach deep and effectively into a car driver's brain; I use it always and it ivariably works

[Pedalling Pete]

I try to stimulate the dipping response by using the Cateye EL-400 3-LED front light in flashing mode. (But I use it as a supplement to a continuous mode EL-300 which complies with the British Standard).

[gar]

The bike shop reommended a Spec set with three different plastic colours; one for sun; one clear for normal; one to make the road lighter in the dark.
If you can see in the light with sunglasses, then you can see in the dark with yellowy ones.

There is a side effect.... you do not get pollen in eyes on a normal day or car dust; you have got a clear set on.

Always wear specs, even on a dark night. Three separate "lens" interchangeable on one pair of specs.

Three pairs in one. £29.99 I paid and I think they will last me very well indeed, and be excellent value.Beware of the loosening screws in the corner of the rims if you do not take care of them!
Who are the makers of this gear and is that cheap
at the price?

g