Varia headlight and Edge 1000: beam cutoff

Website says: "Beam cutoff prevents headlight from blinding oncoming drivers."

How does this work when the headlight is connected with an edge 1000. I can't find a setting and it doesn't do it automatically. I keep getting flashed by oncoming cars that are getting blinded.

The beam cutoff is designed into the optics of the light. If you're are getting flashed by oncoming traffic, it means that your headlight is aimed above horizontal. IIRC, the mounting instructions specifies a horizontal light mount which results in the edge unit being tipped towards you.

The beam cutoff is designed into the optics of the light. If you're are getting flashed by oncoming traffic, it means that your headlight is aimed above horizontal. IIRC, the mounting instructions specifies a horizontal light mount which results in the edge unit being tipped towards you.

The headlight itself is perfectly level. I checked with a water level (google translate ;) ) when installing the mount. I can try rotating it a bit lower, but that would mean the edge unit isn't in optimal position anymore.

By the way, what is supposed to happen when there's oncoming traffic. Is the light supposed to turn off or the beam rotate downwards? I never notice anything different in the lighting when traffic is coming.

The headlight itself is perfectly level. I checked with a water level (google translate ;) ) when installing the mount. I can try rotating it a bit lower, but that would mean the edge unit isn't in optimal position anymore.

As a car driver, I would appreciate not being blinded by oncoming lights. As a cyclist, I use the light primarily for being seen. I have never been flashed. If you can, have somebody sit in a parked car in front of you while adjust the light rotation...better yet, sit in the car yourself.

Also, you can check to see if you have your beam angle set to auto. This will also have an effect if you're not using flash/high visibility mode.

By the way, what is supposed to happen when there's oncoming traffic. Is the light supposed to turn off or the beam rotate downwards? I never notice anything different in the lighting when traffic is coming.

The headlight does not have the ability to 'sense' oncoming traffic

The headlight does not have the ability to 'sense' oncoming traffic

On the website of my country it says: "Tijdelijke uitschakeling voorkomt dat de koplamp tegenliggers verblindt." This translates to "Temporary shutdown prevents the headlamp blinding oncoming traffic." and implicates it CAN sense oncoming traffic, otherwise it would not be able to temporarily shutdown.

Can someone define the "beam cutoff" on the english website? I've always sort of translated this as a temporary shutdown or rotating mechanism, but the unit would have to be able to sense oncoming traffic for that.

On the website of my country it says: "Tijdelijke uitschakeling voorkomt dat de koplamp tegenliggers verblindt." This translates to "Temporary shutdown prevents the headlamp blinding oncoming traffic." and implicates it CAN sense oncoming traffic, otherwise it would not be able to temporarily shutdown.

No mention of this in Garmin's North America website.

Can someone define the "beam cutoff" on the english website? I've always sort of translated this as a temporary shutdown or rotating mechanism, but the unit would have to be able to sense oncoming traffic for that.

This may help;

http://www.jvxdriver.com/hid_projector_beam.htm

As a car driver, I would appreciate not being blinded by oncoming lights.

That’s rich… Where I live, the San Francisco Bay Area, it is the motorists who appear to be in some sort of “arms race” regarding headlight brightness. If I’m out after dark, I can routinely expect to be blinded by cars as much as a half or more mile away. There is no comparison between a cyclist’s headlight and those of motorists. Motorists are the one’s blinding others on the road.

That’s rich… Where I live, the San Francisco Bay Area, it is the motorists who appear to be in some sort of “arms race” regarding headlight brightness. If I’m out after dark, I can routinely expect to be blinded by cars as much as a half or more mile away. There is no comparison between a cyclist’s headlight and those of motorists. Motorists are the one’s blinding others on the road.

That's unfortunate for you. I live in an area where, for the most part, drivers are considerate.

BTW, have you even stared into Garmin's headlight?. Being temporarily blinded by it is possible.

I use a Nightrider Lumina 750, almost always on its lowest and non-flashing setting. And yes, if you look directly at it from close range it is going to temporarily blind you. But only if you look directly at it. On the other hand, cars I frequently encounter will make it impossible to see what’s in front of me even when I don’t look at their light for many seconds as they approach and pass. It’s also true that in some circumstances (mixed-use path or cyclist next to sidewalk) the person encountering the cyclist’s headlamp will be closer than a bike gets to an oncoming car but for a much shorter time. Nor are pedestrians–even runners–moving nearly as fast a cyclist, so the risk is much less. Nonetheless, I believe the cars and their extremely bright lights are no comparison to those of cyclists, even the high-end ones.

In any event, I ride a lot after dark and many roads around here are very poorly maintained and littered with all sorts of debris and I need to illuminate the path in front of me so as to be able to evade these hazards. Naturally, cars need the same, but they’ve gone far beyond that need with the recent advent of LED headlamps.


Addendum: I apologize for taking this off-topic. I’m not fond of cars and sometimes that leads me astray… I won’t persist!