Strobe effect from sun.......
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 940
Likes: 3
I have monovision so depth perception is limited on me anyway, then add to it the color changes due to the sun going down, and the stobe, Ummm, time to pull over for a coffee or something.
Couple of things that help me and I drive/ride a lot. Orange colored sun glasses when the sun is going down, yellow during rain, fog, or very gray. I applied some electrical tap to the bottom part of my clear visor, so I can use it as a sun visor, that 1" doesn't effect anything when the visor is closed but put a nice strip of sun blocking when the sun is in the horizon.
Be Careful it can be dangerous especially on curves.
Couple of things that help me and I drive/ride a lot. Orange colored sun glasses when the sun is going down, yellow during rain, fog, or very gray. I applied some electrical tap to the bottom part of my clear visor, so I can use it as a sun visor, that 1" doesn't effect anything when the visor is closed but put a nice strip of sun blocking when the sun is in the horizon.
Be Careful it can be dangerous especially on curves.
Works just like the visor in your car.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Fla
Living in south florida, most of the roads around here flow north/south...
So, I get to experience that in both morning and evening rides. Thing with me is, it actually flashes a bright red. I've heard, that people with Epilepsy have problems with flashing colors, red being one of the more significant colors that may trigger attacks. Kinda makes me wonder if I am borderline epileptic...
I just turn my head to an angle which might help lessen the degree of sight distortion...
So, I get to experience that in both morning and evening rides. Thing with me is, it actually flashes a bright red. I've heard, that people with Epilepsy have problems with flashing colors, red being one of the more significant colors that may trigger attacks. Kinda makes me wonder if I am borderline epileptic...
I just turn my head to an angle which might help lessen the degree of sight distortion...
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
improvise, adapt and overcome. dont let your eyes focus on where you are but let your brain use your eyes to look at where you are wanting to go.
I got plenty of practice with this on walking back and forth to the bar for beer in night clubs with strobe lights back in the late 60s.
I got plenty of practice with this on walking back and forth to the bar for beer in night clubs with strobe lights back in the late 60s.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
Slowing down 5-10mph or speeding up 5-10mph can sometimes change the strobe frequency enough to help
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Since the crash the other year, I'm more sensitive this sort of phenomena than I used to be. Only a bit now, as I've gotten better and better.
The trouble for me is continuous flashing or flickering. Something I will perceive if I look down the grocery store cereal aisle while I walking. Things are constantly flicking by me, creating the strobe or flickering effect that flips my brain out. At work they recently installed some god-awful garish striped carpet and cross-wise tube lights in a tunnel and work, so I get to practice dealing with this several times a day.
What has worked especially well for me is to focus on a specific point part way along, several seconds away. As I approach it and get close, I pick another point further along and refocus on it now. Repeat as necessary. It seems to change my perception of things flashing by, and my brain doesn't get so upset. I'm not tuning anything out, I"m just switching from "wide mode" vision to "specific point" vision.
From the physical therapy, I also still have some psychedelic pictures that I work out in front of taped to the refrigerator. Ones like this link (image specifically not imbedded into this thread) http://frontpsych.files.wordpress.co...ychedelic.jpeg
The exercises simply started with looking at them and trying not to throw up or fall down. Just look a few seconds and then look away. That gradually progressed to looking at them while moving my head, slow or fast for about 10-20 seconds, and then taking a break. Retraining my brain on how it perceives motion.
And, as mentioned by some others above, when it all goes wrong, stop riding for a bit. Wherever you are, it's a nice place to pull over and stop moving for a few minutes. If you stop early, you usually only need a few minutes to settle things back down.
The trouble for me is continuous flashing or flickering. Something I will perceive if I look down the grocery store cereal aisle while I walking. Things are constantly flicking by me, creating the strobe or flickering effect that flips my brain out. At work they recently installed some god-awful garish striped carpet and cross-wise tube lights in a tunnel and work, so I get to practice dealing with this several times a day.
What has worked especially well for me is to focus on a specific point part way along, several seconds away. As I approach it and get close, I pick another point further along and refocus on it now. Repeat as necessary. It seems to change my perception of things flashing by, and my brain doesn't get so upset. I'm not tuning anything out, I"m just switching from "wide mode" vision to "specific point" vision.
From the physical therapy, I also still have some psychedelic pictures that I work out in front of taped to the refrigerator. Ones like this link (image specifically not imbedded into this thread) http://frontpsych.files.wordpress.co...ychedelic.jpeg
The exercises simply started with looking at them and trying not to throw up or fall down. Just look a few seconds and then look away. That gradually progressed to looking at them while moving my head, slow or fast for about 10-20 seconds, and then taking a break. Retraining my brain on how it perceives motion.
And, as mentioned by some others above, when it all goes wrong, stop riding for a bit. Wherever you are, it's a nice place to pull over and stop moving for a few minutes. If you stop early, you usually only need a few minutes to settle things back down.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 48
From: Eastern N.C.
yep, it drives me nuts. I have to blink and refocus over and over. I've never heard any of the other guys I know that ride ever complain about it, so I didn't. I do not feel so all alone now. hehe
kroozeabout.
kroozeabout.