A light I can acually see with!!!

steve_pushbiker
steve_pushbiker Posts: 91
edited June 2008 in Commuting chat
If the cateye one you have is the little pencil torch one then this is OK for people to see you, but not for you to see where you are going. Cateye sell a bigger one with 5 leds which is probably better, but then you have the battery problem. For commuting I have a rechargeable cateye light. The battery weighs a tonne (fits in the bottle cage), but the light is nice and bright - easily enough for you to see where you are going in the pitch black. They do a double front light model which is intended for offroad riding in the dark and would probably be overkill for your needs.

Comments

  • Belv
    Belv Posts: 866
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12572290

    If these aren't to your liking then put a number on "wont break the bank". How long do they need to burn for at a time? Do you want a rechargeable set?
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    I recently broke my bank with the Ayup Roadie:

    http://www.ayup.com.au/uk-shop-kits.html

    Not cheap at £157 when you include postage, but it does exactly what it says on the tin, is very well made, and will certainly make you feel safer on those dark lanes.
  • claash
    claash Posts: 145
    I also use Ayup, they really are great!

    I have a stretch of my commute where there is no street lights, and the cycle path goes along the edge of a forest. In the winter there is no way I would have survived without the ayups!!
  • mrchrispy
    mrchrispy Posts: 310
    Ive a set of Dinottes front and rear, great for the road and front is good enough for off road.
    however, im going to get a hope 4LED for next winter....that should tan the neck of any driver I'm behind :D
  • Jon8a
    Jon8a Posts: 235
    superstarcomponents do a relatively cheap HID (still over £100). Suitable for offroad night riding so more than enough for a commute.
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    Jon8a wrote:
    superstarcomponents do a relatively cheap HID (still over £100). Suitable for offroad night riding so more than enough for a commute.

    Was put of by HID lights because they run at such an incredibly high temperature. Maybe I was misinformed? I do know that you don't want your fingers anywhere near my HID diving lamp, not that it would ever be on out of the water.
  • fury21
    fury21 Posts: 71
    Fenix L2D - http://thephotonshop.co.uk/page13.htm

    PLUS

    Twofish holder - http://thephotonshop.co.uk/page27.htm

    = Great light @ under 45 quid, powered by AAs

    more info here: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12550961
    itsnotarace.org - SCR Rules & FCN Calculator
  • karl j
    karl j Posts: 517
    depends what you mean by break the bank i guess.

    Mine is e a Blackburn X6, double header rechargeable thingy. Having 2 seperate heads it serves two bikes and the charged battery lasts a good few days . there are 3 brightness settings and a detachable dimmer (which i don't use) . . As for brightness - the lower two settings are easily bright enough for country lanes at night, though the highest setting will confuse passing satellites (ie. too bright for approaching motorists, imo)
    Morning route (when i don't get the train)

    Evening route ,
  • gs3
    gs3 Posts: 249
    This one appears a little expensive but the run time, ease of fitting and removal and choice of modes (brightness and flashing) with no wiring to get caught up with make the Exposure Joystick Maxx my choice. I have even used this as my solo light for off-road excursions. Can be fitted to your bars or helmet with supplied brackets.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=22850

    .
    BouncePlayCommute
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    I find my £40 Cateye plenty for most situations - and it's easy to take off and use as a makeshift torch too...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 20Opticube

    Except it's much cheaper now!
  • here2help
    here2help Posts: 19
    I use this one.

    It's on the expensive side, but you can truly see everything and it's bright enough to have cars flash their lights back at me.
  • karl j
    karl j Posts: 517
    gs3 wrote:
    This one appears a little expensive but the run time, ease of fitting and removal and choice of modes (brightness and flashing) with no wiring to get caught up with make the Exposure Joystick Maxx my choice. I have even used this as my solo light for off-road excursions. Can be fitted to your bars or helmet with supplied brackets.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=22850

    .

    thats it ! . i couldn't remember the name of that one. A mate at work has one, very good light. The only thing still in darkness is his wife, about how much it cost
    Morning route (when i don't get the train)

    Evening route ,
  • ThatGuyOnABike
    ThatGuyOnABike Posts: 198
    i swear i posted a reply to this yesterday... what happened??? was it taken off cos i accidentally swore in it???

    ah well... basically i said get a headlamp to see with and keep your on bike ones to be seen with. seriously, a headlamp is far more focused and designed to see with. and a really good one is not half as expensive as a bike light with same effect.
    if you wear helmet then this may not work. try blacks the outdoor store they sell some decent ones for around £30-40
    In the valley of high oil prices the cyclist is king!

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