Lights for commuting - Electron Twin 8 LED

georgee

I am considering buying the above for £55, they seem to strike the best performance for cash question when choosing lights, I currently use two cateye EL 3 LED lights but given I can't get the brackets off the old commuter I am considering new lights for the new bike.

I refuse to spend over £100 and I need something powerfull enough to dodge the deer in Richmond park at night. The bike radar review says there not the brightest in the world but am thinking the review is talking about night mountainbiking so not as relavent, any views?

Other suggestions welcome.

ChrisLS

...I bought a set of the Electrons, and they are not that bright. I ride lanes and tracks. On a wet dark night they are not up to the job.

georgee

where do I put my money then?

T800

I don't know that your budget will be enough. Dark wet roads just suck up light.

Even if it doesn't reflect off the road surface in a way that helps you see where you're going, the light does at least reflect in the general direction of oncoming road users, hopefully helping you be visible to them. (Don't know if that's much use for deer-dodging, though.)

georgee wrote:

where do I put my money then?

ChrisLS

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=M0006

...these are better. They are heavier but you can see where you are going...

woodford2barbican

I use these electrons and am happy with them. I cycle along the River Lea which is unlit and they are adequate for that. They are not great at providing side on visibility in traffic - but they do seem to gain you more respect from cars joining from side roads who do not expect someone with two lights that are so bright and don't blink to be a bike.

georgee

given the review I found, I stumped up for the cateye single shot 610 with 15k of candle power, seemed to be the best recomended for the money.

Now seeing those sigma ones I do wonder... thanks for the help, much appreciate, I'll drop another note If I do manage to hit a deer

Underscore

FWIW, I used a pair of Cat-Eye 10W halogens (one flood, one spot) with a SLA battery for the last 5 years and found the light output acceptable for commuting in all conditions. IIRC, I paid £70 from a LBS back then - I would imagine that something similar would be much cheaper now.

I've now started using an Ay-Up with the 3hr battery, which came in at just under £100 including shipping - but could be more if you get stung for duty/VAT. However, it is lighter, brighter and runs for longer.

Alternatively, how about something like the BLT Firewire 4.0. Claims to be equivalent to a 15W halogen but I find the light given out by LEDs to be much easier to see by than that from halogens...

HTH,

_

ChrisLS

...hope you don't hit a deer georgee, we've got them around here, running wild, the're big! Lights have caused me more problems than any other part of my bike over the years-does anyone remember those great big ever ready things?! Have to say lights are improving no end with loads of choice...good luck with the Cateye, they do make excellent lights...

ska aka

you mean the ones with the separate bracket that went round your fork leg?.then came loose and swung into the wheel? or the posh ones that bolted into a braze on on the legs,then swung downwards!!.

mikeitup

Not an easy choice to make.
After a lot of time spent searching the net I have finally ordered an AYUP Roadie kit.
AT £116 they aren't cheap but like most things you get what you pay for.Looked at the Cateye single shots etc, exposure, dinotte and afew others but went with the AYUPS.
I coomute mainly via road but my regular evening 17 mile loop is via road, towpath and unlit country lanes.

Not easy to choose lights is it?

I do not look forward to choosing a new tail light :?