Safety Solutions for Your Velomobile: Lights, Lights, and More Lights!

[@velomobilesh7276]

Thank you for the great video. The main argument for this large hotspot in Germany was the better illumination of the IQ-XL to the front without causing glare in the mirrors. There are different models that I can customize individually at no extra charge.

[@twilwel]

I used the space inside Axels' XL- hotspot to put the two cameras inside. Also a gps-receiver. With the Varia radar/light at the rear and blinking lights on the sides my Hotspot is chock-full 😅 My old eyes appreciate the colour (less blue-ish) and the very wide beam of the IQ-XL lamp. When there is no traffic around I switch the high-beam on and can drive like it`s daytime. Some light shines on the front of the velomobile, which makes being seen from the side much more likely than with reflective stickers only. People can actually see the front part of the velomobile in the dark! In the daytime I get many thumbs-up for having such good lighting.

[@mnveloguy]

@@twilwel yes. If I permanently mount this hotspot, I will do the same with my cameras. I agree it is great for visibility.

[@jeremyyork3538]

An interesting video, thanks. I'm all in favour of being seen, especially at night. However, I do think it's possible to 'go over the top' with lights. I have two head lights, one of medium brightness and the other which is far more powerful and enables me to ride safely at night at a reasonable speed. When vehicles are approaching me, I turn off the bright light out of respect for drivers. At the rear, I have a flashing red light and a solid one which, along with a decent reflector is good enough to be seen. If drivers don't see me, they're not looking! My point about 'going over the top' is when your panoply of lights becomes irritating to drivers with the potential for bad driving. I enjoy your videos and can sense that you are really passionate about velos and riding them.

[@mnveloguy]

@@jeremyyork3538 a flashing and solid forward and a flashing and solid rear works well for me and is what I have in this video. At night I turn off the rear flasher because I think it’s too blindly bright. The IQ-XL works well in this new hotspot because of how the cutoff pattern is set. It’s actually less blinding for oncoming drivers than the IQ-X in the original hotspot. I only activate the high beam when there are no oncoming cars. It’s really not needed for general night riding in my option. Thanks for watching.

[@jeremyyork3538]

@@mnveloguy You make some very good points, thank you.

[@GregCantori]

Love all that light!

[@mnveloguy]

Me too. Very powerful and great wide beam pattern. I and one in my first MK1 and sold it with the bike. Ended up having big regrets about that!

[@johannesobernoeder1156]

What light did you use in your previous Hot Spot? The new one uses The BUM IQ-XL according to your video description. Just a tipp: It would have been nicer if you had said it in the video.

[@mnveloguy]

@@johannesobernoeder1156 I showed the factory installed hotspot which uses the standard IQ-X headlight. I assumed anyone that has a factory installed hotspot knows the headlight is an IQ-X, which is why I didn’t mention it. The only place you can get the smaller hotspot is Velomobile World or through a Velomobile World Dealer.

[@chaircamvideos]

Have you got any lighting on the sides (like the amber markers on a truck trailer) to highlight the long low silhouette? Even some retro reflective tape can make a huge increase in visibility and be the difference between being seen or squashed. I don't know what the lighting rules are there but for me in UK the biggest improvement in visibility I have made so far is an amber strobe on the back of my wheelchair with an unusual flashing pattern. I can hear vehicles slowing down some distance behind now once they see it.

[@mnveloguy]

@@chaircamvideos all of the writing on the velomobiel is reflective and there are additional reflective stickers too along with the red sticker on the back of the tail. Night visibility is actually better than day visibility in my opinion.

[@twilwel]

Straylight of the lamp in the hotspot shines on the front of the velomobile. Traffic from the side can actually see a large part of the velomobile!

[@chaircamvideos]

@twilwel @mnveloguy thanks for the explainations