Commuting Light suggestions

Stuww

Hi All

A colleague has just asked if I can recommend a good front light for general commuting that involves mostly lit roads, but there is a section of unlit canal tow path.

Any recommendations?

Cheers

Stu

whyamihere

Budget?

Generally, with a decent budget, you should buy a fairly cheap set (around £20) which meet all the relevant standards, and so are legal for road riding (things like the light having to be visible for 180 degrees as you move around the bike, rubbish like that), these lights are what you get seen by and avoid any trouble from the police. Then, you buy a good headlight with the rest of your budget, for actually seeing by.

Gambatte

I'm using the smart twin headlights, rechargeable 6v battery.
£20-30.

If if you've got a tight budget they're great

belgiangoth

Most lights will do to be seen, a flashing light is a good plan. On unlit canals a rechargable system like the smart is a good plan for starters but you really get what you pay for. For £300 you get a SON dynohub built into a wheel and solidlights to go with them...

PrettyBoyTim

I got some of the Smart twin halogen lights that Gambatte mentions, from SJS Cycles on ebay:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/St-John-Street ... idZ2QQtZkm

Not had them long, but they're far, far brighter than any lights I've had previously. My commute is all along lit roads, but I did cycle through a park the other day, and it seemed to light up the road fairly well. Certainly very good value for money - I paid £27.50 for mine, including postage.

The battery is fairly large, and hangs in a little bag off the crossbar of your frame at the front, and it does require fairly regular charging. Lead Acid batteries aren't very fond of being overcharged, so I have mine on a little timer so it only charges around 6 hours per night.

marmitecp

Fenix L2d torch with optional bike mount works fine on unlit tow paths. 175 lumens and takes AA batteries. It burns through them in about 1.5 hrs but its fine if you use rechargables.
£30 odd from fenixstore.com.

Get a BS standard blinkie for the road though.

MB Robster

Get one of these, no-one will miss you then:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... bang-27737

interesting

MB Robster wrote:

Get one of these, no-one will miss you then:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... bang-27737

Right enough - My wife wouldn’t miss me with her rolling pin if I spent £550 on a bike light!!

mikeitup

Stuww wrote:

Hi All

A colleague has just asked if I can recommend a good front light for general commuting that involves mostly lit roads, but there is a section of unlit canal tow path.

Any recommendations?

Cheers

Stu

I can recommend one (or two of these) :

http://www.ayup.com.au/

delcol

after 2 near death incidents i ditched my 2 flashing led lights for..

a cat eye el530
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... nt%20Light

and a cat eye el 520
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... nt%20Light

both are very bright and give off decent light beam. i never used them off road though,.

though my commute does take me down poorly lit country road...

Hairy Jock

Use the brightest lights you can afford, check the likes of this review, personally I am thinking of investing in a set of DiNotte while the dollar is so weak.

johnnyc71

I got duel Dinotte 200L's and the taillight for commuting - including offroad sections. Cheaper importing and taking the tax / customs hit then buying from a UK supplier. Anyway - great kit - worth the money. I have travelled quite safely on unlit country roads - approx 20-25mph. Also, with the taillight, I have found cars treat you more like a vehicle.

ratty2k

Have to agree with the Dinotte lights!! I'm very pleased with mine, ride on unlit roads and along a canal towpath in the middle of the countryside. Well lit area in front, narrowish beam, but you can see to the sides enough. Have a Cateye led rear light
This one[/url]

Brian224

A Dinotte 5w is bright enough to see potholes on unlit roads, only problem is relatively short run time, they can go to reserve after about an hour on cheap Nimh. A second battery clip is a quick change but don't short it out! Add a cateye rear light and cheap flashers both ends for safety.

I used to use cateye RC230 lights but I always forget to care for the battery through the summer leading to a trip to Maplins. Even with a new battery each year, SLA lights are a low cost option giving good performance for unlit commutes though so I cannot complain.

Brian