Daylight Visible Bike Lights - The Ultimate Guide
At See.Sense, we believe that staying visible on the road is essential for every cyclist's safety. Using Daylight Visible Bike Lights is one of the simplest steps you can take to increase your visibility and improve your safety.
Do I Need a Daylight Visible Bike Light?
The answer is a resounding YES! Daylight visible bike lights are an essential piece of equipment for any cyclist.
A daylight visible bike light ensures that you are seen by other road users, particularly in bright sunlight and glare, and significantly reduces the risk of accidents. Visibility is just as important during the day as it is at night - 80% of all cycling accidents occur during daylight hours.*
Think about modern cars. In 2011, the European Union introduced legislation requiring all new passenger cars and small vans to be fitted with daylight running lights (DRLs). Why shouldn't it be the same, if not even more important, for cyclists?
This is backed by the research too. A study of nearly 4000 cyclists found that cyclists with Daylight Visible Lights on their bikes had a 33% lower crash rate than a control group without daylight visible lights. The importance of visibility cannot be underestimated - a further study found that cyclists believe that they are visible at more than twice the distance estimated by a driver under the same circumstances.*
What Lights Do Professional Cyclists Use?
Professional cyclists use daylight visible bike lights, and for good reason. As athletes who spend countless hours on the roads, they know just how important visibility is to staying safe while cycling. Whereas in the past it was fashionable to forgo lights in favour of a lighter ride, most professional cyclists now choose to use a daylight visible bike light during training.
See.Sense lights are specifically designed with Daylight Visibility in mind, which, combined with our patented reactivity, keep you safer and more visible on the road.
How To Choose A Daylight Visible Bike Light?
There are some key considerations you should make when purchasing a daylight visible bike light:
Brightness
Look for a light with a high lumen output (preferably 200 lumens or more) to ensure it is visible during daylight hours. Brighter lights increase your visibility to other road users, even in sunny conditions. ICON3 produces a powerfully bright 350 lumens rear and 575 lumens front, ensuring you are always visible.
Wide-Angle Visibility
Choose a light with a wide beam angle to ensure it can be seen from various angles, not just directly behind or in front of you. This helps improve your visibility to drivers approaching from different directions. For widest visibility, we recommend ICON3’s 270 degrees of visibility.
Flashing Modes
A light with flashing modes can catch the attention of drivers more effectively during the day. All See.Sense lights react to your surroundings and adapt to your ride, flashing brighter and faster at riskier moments while saving power through a steady flash when suitable.
Battery Life
Daylight visible lights often require more power, so opt for a light with a long-lasting battery life. ICON3 (16 hours) and BEAM+ (30 hours on adaptive light mode) provide plenty of battery life to last through your longest rides without needing to recharge.
USB Rechargeable
Choose a light with a USB rechargeable battery to make charging more convenient. This feature allows you to easily charge your light using a power bank, computer, or wall charger.
Easy Mounting and Removal
Look for a light with a user-friendly mounting system that can be quickly attached and removed from your bike. Our twist and lock mount has been specifically designed for easy charging and theft prevention when you need to leave your bike unattended.
Durable Construction
Opt for a light made from high-quality materials to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. Look for features like a robust casing, shatterproof lenses, and impact resistance. ICON3 has been produced locally in the UK, using high quality, durable materials.
Brand Reputation and Reviews
Consider purchasing a light from a reputable brand known for producing reliable and high-quality bike lights. At See.Sense, we pride ourselves on our high scoring reviews and positive testimonials, having worked in conjunction with cyclists for almost a decade in designing our lights.
Why Choose See.Sense Daylight Visible Bike Lights?
See.Sense were amongst the first companies in the world to produce daylight visible lights, and we’ve continually ensured that all our lights are extremely visible in daylight. By using two CREE LEDs and a fresnel lens, our newest light, ICON3, provides powerful visibility for your daytime cycles - even in direct sunlight.
In addition to daylight visibility, our lights are also packed full of smart features. All See.Sense lights react to moments of risk on the roads, such as junctions, roundabouts, or filtering in traffic, by sensing your change of speed and flashing brighter and faster in response to make you more visible. These added variations in flash patterns means the light is much more interesting to the brain, allowing for improved visibility to other road users as the flash pattern never becomes repetitive or easily ignored.
For a full breakdown of what makes our lights so special, check out our ICON3 Technical Breakdown
