28/08/2026
Following the FWCC Club Championship 10 mile TT on Sunday I got feedback from various marshalls on the quality/effectiveness of the rear lights in use. I’m aware that this may have been discussed at committee level but as the organiser of the event I think it’s probably appropriate that I pass on my thoughts to club members in general.
In short, some riders were using lights which did very little to warn approaching drivers of their presence on the road. There can be two reasons for this; 1. The riders in question did not realise how poor their lights were, 2. The riders in question didn’t want to be seen. Now before anyone thinks I’m being unduly critical, I’ll admit to having been in the second category in the past. I’m desperately trying to stay ahead of my minute man and displaying a bright red beacon inviting other competitors to come and get me did not make sense from a competitive point of view. However, from an organiser’s point of view, safety is everything. We all know about deaths and serious incidents occurring and anything that can be done to mitigate the danger should be done.
I now race with an Exposure Tracer Reakt. It’s not cheap but it is very bright and it hasn’t made me any slower. It’s not the only highly rated rear light on the market and there is a reason that spending £65 on this instead of a fiver in the middle of Lidl is a better option. It is safer.
Obviously, I don’t just use the light for racing – riding in a group you are protected by the number of lights on display but when you are riding solo I would suggest that the earlier you are seen by motorists the safer you will be (the light also detects sudden braking and changes from flash mode to continuous light when slowing down).
So please, we all invest thousands of pounds in our equipment, don’t accessorise it with a light that is cosmetic at best. Invest in a rear light that means you will be seen and let’s stay safe whether competing or training on the roads.
https://www.exposurelights.com/products/tracer-4?srsltid=AfmBOorkbT9hgfybNEozfscoUNhXl-gf5gifAgnt06Gf-CHE29JnyOhN
(I’m not on commission!)
The TraceR 4 DayBright runs for up to 40 hours on a single charge, which for most riders is weeks of commuting or several days of bikepacking between top-ups. It weighs 35 grams, produces up to 200 lumens in DayBright pulse, and gives you 270° of side visibility so you stand out at junctions as wel...