Do you do it in the dark - or only with the lights on?

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Day or night, rain or shine - it's always time for me and my bike to be at the front.

but +1 & I can definately add snow to that as well

[ophic]

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

At night I usually stick the full beam on to help my visibility if I'm filtering through lanes of a motorway or dual carriageway.

Not so clever. Car drivers are more likely to hit you if they're blinded, not to mention less likely to be tolerant. There's also the possible mistake for a headlight flash.

On a sunny day I can see the sense in high beams. Big no no at night.

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah I filter at night, just keep the speed down a bit.
I've a pretty strong HID lamp on the front so it's pretty eye catching.

[Drew Carey]

Sane, because you did what you felt comfortable doing.

As an aside, I filter at all times, but feel comfortable doing so, I scan every car I am approaching, checking for head movements etc. Also, if it is moving slowly I tend to take my time a little more and treat it like a series of mini overtakes. By doing this, tend to get behind people, they tend to see you more rather than a flash of light in the wing mirror. If stationary however, then I simply keep going and am just ever watchful for people crossing lanes or doing u-turns.

Dunno how many of you talking about filtering actually drive in a car very often, but its worth doing it on the odd occasion just to remind yourself of how little even the most vigalent driver can actually see/distinguish when using mirrors.
For 1, any lights in the side mirrors just look like lights when they're all qued up behind you. If we're talking about a single lane of standing traffic and you filtering faster down the outside then maybe thats more obvious but regarding motorway filtering, lights are just lights all moving at different paces and a m/c light is almost indifferent until as little as 2/3 car lengths away.
In the cold rainy dark winter nights/days I'd quite honestly say I used more concentration too and from work than I did in the 8hours I spent here. Mostly because I've had very little to do this winter with the recession admitantly but still you get my point. Ophic can testify to the insanity that can be the M62/M621 in morning and evening rushhour, and YC can vouch for the A58 from Elland Road onto the A64(M) been just as nuts and a big favorite for the unindicated lane changers.
Im not doing a "my dad is bigger than your dad" statement I mearly am expressing that I dont take filtering lightly I fully expect that to be the situation in which I get knocked off. Not because I do it wrecklessly but just because when they change lanes it can all happen so fast YC bore witness to a very lucky escape not too long back and frankly its just a matter of time.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Day or night, rain or shine - it's always time for me and my bike to be at the front.

Same as Mr Squid. I always want to be at the front of the queue. The only real exception is when I'm on the Dullville, which has extra-wide panniers, and my filtering ability is a bit restricted.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Yeah I filter at night, just keep the speed down a bit.
I've a pretty strong HID lamp on the front so it's pretty eye catching.

And the understatment of the year award goes too...

YORKIE CHRIS - for his "pretty strong" HID lamp statment.

When you came round the other night I was watching out the front window at the passing cars. I knew it was your bike coming down the main road only becuase the tree's were alluminted as if by the sun!

Originally Posted by Stu

but +1 & I can definately add snow to that as well

And over here

When its daylight, and raining heavily, or if the traffic is very very heavy, I also put my full beam on.

I don't do that at night though.

If im not in a "full beam" mood though, i'll stick my hazard lights on and filter with those flashing.

Filter all times of day, but not if it is frozen or snowy as I don't fancy sliding sideways into a car!

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by leedsmatt7

And the understatment of the year award goes too...

YORKIE CHRIS - for his "pretty strong" HID lamp statment.

When you came round the other night I was watching out the front window at the passing cars. I knew it was your bike coming down the main road only becuase the tree's were alluminted as if by the sun!

yeah and I'm sure after we went out other night paint on back of your bike has faded another shade of yellow