Buying lights-helmet or bike mounted or both

kyle2brown
kyle2brown Posts: 117
edited February 2008 in MTB buying advice
What do people think for off road with a bit of single track?

Advantages/disadvantages of both or combined?

Comments

  • dirtbiker100
    dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
    above your eyes, bumps seem much flatter, below your eyes bumps look bigger. i went for bar mounted but a helmet one can be very useful for technical areas. my hope flood light still wasn't enough for tight turns and sections although i wouldn't want it to be any wider for general use...
  • FSR_XC
    FSR_XC Posts: 2,258
    Helmet lights are good as you look where you are going.

    However for road work & flat trails bar lights (to me) are better.

    One of the things I have noticed with night riding is that objects seem 'flat'. By using both helmet and bar mounts you get a better idea on drops etc, better all round vision and (to me anyway) more dimension to what you see (ie objects are not as 'flat').

    PM Helen - she is offering to lend out her 'spare' lights on Wednesday (Idless woods)
    Stumpjumper FSR 09/10 Pro Carbon, Genesis Vapour CX20 ('17)Carbon, Rose Xeon CW3000 '14, Raleigh R50

    http://www.visiontrack.com
  • kyle2brown
    kyle2brown Posts: 117
    FSR_XC wrote:
    PM Helen - she is offering to lend out her 'spare' lights on Wednesday (Idless woods)

    Unfortunately can't make tomorrow night
  • Chaka Ping
    Chaka Ping Posts: 1,451
    I've been wondering about this myself.

    I was going to buy a Hope Vision 2 led to put on my bars - but now I see they've got a new range out and I'm wondering whether I could get away with a one-led light on the bars and another on my helmet.

    :?:
  • dirtbiker100
    dirtbiker100 Posts: 1,997
    Chaka Ping wrote:
    I've been wondering about this myself.

    I was going to buy a Hope Vision 2 led to put on my bars - but now I see they've got a new range out and I'm wondering whether I could get away with a one-led light on the bars and another on my helmet.

    :?:

    i wonder what a hope 1 led on the bars and an exxposure joystick on the head would work out like?
    i think the 1 led would be heavy on the head. does it have a helmet mount?
  • impished
    impished Posts: 1,092
    Go for both everytime.
    The helmet light is especially useful when riding tight'n'twisty singletrack. Plus, when you hear something growling at you in the dark it's easier to turn your head to look for it :shock: while riding quick as you can in the other direction :wink:

    SketchyMTB
    My Pics
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,981
    Defo bars and helmet.

    I have these: www.ayup.com.au

    Check out the gallery for beam patterns.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • kyle2brown
    kyle2brown Posts: 117
    Daniel B wrote:
    Defo bars and helmet.

    I have these: www.ayup.com.au

    Check out the gallery for beam patterns.

    With the Ayup what combo of lights do you go for and I don't mean colour combo.

    Narrow on helmet and medium on bar?
  • lost-time
    lost-time Posts: 549
    I'd say both for the same reasons as those mentioned above. If you only have one light then go for the helmet mounted one as it'll be better for the twists and turns.
    I use two lumicycle lights. ( http://www.lumicycle.com/pages/default.aspx ). One bar and one helmet mounted. For the commute I have both on for making myself visable to cars. Off road I'll generally use just the helmet one unless at high speed and very bad riding conditions.
  • pittpony
    pittpony Posts: 1,057
    Definitely one bar and one helmet mounted. The bar light shows what is immediately ahead and the helmet one is great for looking longer distance or away from where your bars are pointed. Or for looking ahead on the trails to see where you're mates have zoomed off to ;)
    Giant Trance & XTC Composite
    South East MTB

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