We can’t always be movie stars so may never hear the director utter the above lines, but they are also important in cycling.
NSW Road Rules 2014 state,
 

Riding at night

The rider of a bicycle must not ride at night, or in hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility, unless the bicycle, or the rider, displays
(a)  a flashing or steady white light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the front of the bicycle, and
(b)  a flashing or steady red light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bicycle, and
(c)  a red reflector that is clearly visible for at least 50 metres from the rear of the bicycle when light is projected onto it by a vehicle’s headlight on low-beam.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.” Whilst this applies to riding at night, something many of us do not do, being visible is something we all must be individually accountable for. Modern vehicles do so much for the driver, they can often become inattentive. In our own interests we should do everything possible to be seen.

Lights

There are many different lights on the market. When buying lights, you need to consider a few things such as,
a) is it to show where I’m going in the dark, or to increase my visibility even during the day? If you are looking for visibility, you can use a light with lower lumen and so save money but a general purpose light should have around 1000 lumens.
b) how long do I need it to last? A cheap light that runs out of power just as you are heading home at the end of the day is not always a good purchase. Research how long it will last on each power setting.
c) how is it powered? You can get a combination of front and rear lights for as little as $40 but needs to be fed with batteries so is false economy. Lights with rechargeable batteries will work out cheaper in the long run.
d) how does it fit to my bike? Front lights often use an adjustable strap whereas rear lights can sometimes use a bracket.
Can it be fitted where paniers or other things don’t interfere with the light?

Whilst NSW Road Rules only specify the use of lights at night, Bike North recommends using both a front and rear light at all times. It makes you more visible to road users but also allows the ride leader to better see you when checking the group. You may never know when extra visibility will help, even on shared paths.

Camera

Some Bike North members are using cameras on their bikes. There are three main types, these being GoPro, Cycliq and Garmin, the latter including a radar device. Garmin also sell radar devices which do not capture video.

All cameras allow for different settings to regulate resolution and hence clarity of the images captured. The setting selected will determine resolution but also impact battery life. If you want high resolution video, obviously batter life will be reduced.

GoPro make excellent products for general action sport video. Mounting is generally easy on the bike or even your helmet, but they are intended for short activities so battery life may be limited to around two hours so need changing at the coffee stop.

Cycliq products are designed specifically for cycling. Their Fly12 (front) and Fly6 Generation 3 (rear) have the advantage of including lights and high-definition cameras in the one unit. One button turns on both the light and camera at the same time.

Battery life will depend on settings but can exceed five hours.

Cost can be an issue, and you will get very little change from $1,000 if you buy both the front and rear Cycliq cameras.

Now that you have your lights and cameras operational, it’s time for ……….

Action

Unfortunately, just because you are visible and have video footage of an incident, you cannot assume the authorities will welcome your evidence with open arms.
In serious matters, where a rider has been injured, video from a bike mounted camera has been instrumental in identifying the vehicle involved.
Where a vehicle passes too closely for comfort, there is far less success in having a driver charged and will depend on the cyclist pushing the issue with local police.

Summary

Finally, all Bike North members should invest in good quality front and rear lights AND use them at all times. Visibility is your best defence.

Cameras are optional, and expensive, but can be useful if required.

So fit the LIGHTS, add a CAMERA if you like, but most importantly ACTION.
Get out and enjoy your ride.