Two behind, or not two behind

...there's no question, that's a hideous allusion to Hamlet, but I didn't let that stop me. 

I won't say, "ever since a car ran me off the road with its bumper," because "ever" would have to include the first two weeks when I was busy repeatedly forgetting what had happened two minutes earlier. But definitely since I was back on a bike a couple months later, I've been extra aware of bicycle lighting after dark or in the rain. Yesterday, after I left an architecture lecture at UMass at 5:15, I tested my illumination scheme in both conditions simultaneously.

Yay, I made it home! Yes, I did scoot across Amherst center, under dry, still lit skies, to the car-free Norwattuck Rail Trail, then yes again, once the rain started and dark descended, I did take the slightly less direct route staying on the trail until it's end in Belchertown. I even used the hiking path cut-through that allows me to avoid all but 100 yards of busy Bay Rd. Yup, as best I can, without severely limiting my experiences, I avoid sharing the road with cars in lower visibility conditions, but I am also easier to see when a road is the only viable option.

An important part of my new tactic is using two taillights, spaced two feet apart with one out on my side pole. Not only does this make me twice as visible normally, it's infinitely more illumination if one of my lights fails, which I wouldn't immediately notice, because it's TAILING MY VISION! If you do ride a bike at night, I highly recommend two lights behind. It's cheap insurance. 

Yup, I'm also a pretty big fan of my 1,200 lumen rechargeable flashlight, which even with the added cost of a handlebar mount, count less than 10% of an equivalent bike light. It even has a flash mode and came with a lifetime warranty honored at building supply stores around the country. No return mailing delay required! Sorry bike industry, you lost me on this one.

Two more perks:

1) Beam can be focused 

to just right for the situation.

2) Comes with an adaptor for AA cells, 

a perfect backup for touring!