Wizzbang

Im looking at doing some road miles on my bicycle, and have picked some decent road based tyres, but I need to get some lights as it will be dark when I get to go out.

I'm completely in the dark (geddit?) about cycle lights, my last set was many many years ago....sure they were wonderlights ?


Ive done some looking around and Cateye seem popular for my price bracket, which is bugger all (absolute tops is £40 and not a penny more). I'm not bothered about the rear light as I shall just get a cheapie from Wilkinsons or Poundworld, but its the front thats important as quite a lot of my proposed routes are unlit.


What can the biking masses of s'net advise ?

yoza

What the **** is a push bike ?



http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07...kenopedals.jpg

Wizzbang

*yawn*

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I used the Cateye Single Shot Plus at £70 which had good light output but kills the bracket as its too heavy, the Single Shot is not quite as bright but lighter and cheaper £50 I think.

I use a £170 Hope Vision 2 which is great but, for your budget, there is only one choice.....


Proceed to your local Tesco's and buy 2 of the 3W Aluminium torches they sell, as for fixing them to the bike either buy some specific blocks from a cycle website/Ebay or just go to Halfords and get some appropriately sized Jubilee clips, two interlocked act as a stable if not attractive mounting point.

The 3W torches employ a "Cree" Led and are very bright, enough to cycle unlit lanes on, I would advise 2 as they can chew through batteries so I would also suggest spending the rest of your budget on 4 Double AA rechargables (higher Mah the better), you can run one when its not so dark or alternate if one goes flat, I use them to fill in a bit at the side of the road where the Hope doesnt point and its like daylight !

So, 2 * £8 for the torches, £15 for some rechargeables and the rest on a rear, Tesco also sell some small LED rears but I see these as additional and not main, dont underestimate the importance of your rear (oo err), always run more than one as if your one lamp fails you are effectively invisible, one main and a couple of small cheap ones to make an outline, aim to have them to the right hand side of the bike rather than dead centre or left as its the car drivers point of reference, six inches over is six inches extra space they give you as they assume its central.

unclebuck

This is what I use:

Fenix L2D Q5 CE Premium Cree LED Flashlight - FenixTorch.co.uk

180 lumens of retina melting power!! Use the strobe setting in turbo mode and it will literally bring oncoming traffic to a stand still - very useful when you want to turn right

I wouldn't be without one now.

yoza

Mine.


http://campusbikeshop.com/merchant/9...ts2CrpFull.jpg

yoza

I have found that cycle lights are used more 'to be seen' rather than 'to see with'.

Wizzbang

Ive just managed to find the single shot EL600 for £42




Would this be considered up to the task ?

unclebuck

Nope, they are rubbish. You can do much better. Go for the Fenix

ChrisB

As somebody who owns the Fenix L2D Q5, I'd say it's now outdone for the money now. This lot will cost you about £40 delivered from DealExtreme.com:

SKU 16958 - Ultrafire Cree MCE Torch - Bin K-WC
SKU 03287 - Ultrafire 3.7v 2400mAh 18650 Battery Cells (2 Pack)
SKU 01251 - Ultrafire Battery Charger

Stonking light output for £40 - just need to add one of the many handlebar mounts DX sell. Downside is 18650 battery cells aren't that easy to get here in the UK (at sensible prices) but at 10USD a pair, it's worth getting a couple of pairs. Run time at full power is ~1 hour, so longer at low power which is probably fine for road riding.

It took about a week for my order to come from Hong Kong.

I've just got some external 18650 battery packs (3.7v, 6600mAh) which should give 3 hours of run at full power. Just need an evening in to wire it up and test.

hux309

Cree mc-e is ok but more of a spot beam, that's fine if your after that but a c bin p7 like mte or aurora will still top it in terms of light output, not by a lot granted.

DealExtreme: $38.80 Aurora AK-P7-5 HA-III SSC P7-C 2-Mode 900-Lumen LED Flashlight with Assault Crown (1*18650)

I use this little gem for a helmet light, one big advantage it uses replaceable hosts so as emitters improve just throw in a p60 host and off you go, i can leave the p7 on low with this on and they both last about 3 hours with bags of light, and should any driver think they're smart for staying on full beam they soon find out otherwise.

DealExtreme: $19.99 Ultrafire C1 Q5-WC 230-Lumen LED Flashlight with Clip (2*CR123A/1*18650)

This is a good module.

DealExtreme: $11.39 Cree R2-WC 3-Mode + 0~100% LED Drop-in Module for WF-502B and Flashlights Alike (3.6V~8.4V)

r32

What ever you get have at least two good bright rear lights on. At least one needs to be constant (not flashing) LED's are the best, nice and bright with good battery life. Try http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
or Online Mountain Bike Shop - Merlin Cycles

Both good shops and the sales are on.......

Leslie

Its surprising how many cyclists I see at night whose front and rear lights are just enough for legality purposes but are very difficult to see from a practical point of view. The old normal battery or dynamo lights always seemed to be much easier to see from a car. The flashing led types are no better.

Les

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

At least they are making a (limited) effort, it amazes me how many I see with no form of lighting at all, dressed all in black. Its bad enough when dressed in Hi Viz and a lit up like Blackpool riding a bike, without lights must be terrifying, its not like they are expensive or use loads of batteries like the old ones did, I am sure some of the teenagers think its not cool to have lights.