Rear Light for a Cycle Helmet

Darren Ash

Hi everyone,

This is my first winter commuting to work and I need some advice. I've already purchased a front and rear light for my bike as well as a high visability jacket. However, I also wanted to buy a rear light that I could attach to my cycle helmet. Can anyone recommend a good light for this purpose?

Thanks for your help in advance

Darren

AndyManc

One of these ........... (it has a clip)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Blackburn_Mars_40_Safety_Rear_Light/5360037937/

Depending what your helemt is, you can put a wide cable tie through the vents and the light clips on to it

or ...what I've done ...... bought one of these ...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Respro_Hi-Viz_Helmet_Band/5360013399/

and clipped it on that.

always_tyred

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Knog_ ... 360032637/

or

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Elect ... 360020255/

It should be possible to bungee things like either of these to the helmet okay. I put some knogs in rear vents a couple of winters ago.

Big Red S

I used to have a cateye LD500 (the knightrider-ish one) cable-tied to the back of my helmet.

The Electrons (and presumably knogs) fit on pretty well, and are quite visible, too.

always_tyred

I'm assuming these are supplementary lights, rather than your main light, right?

The knogs are good emergenct/supplementary lights, but they had to bring out a "bullfrog" in the end for that reaason.

Nick6891

AndyManc wrote:

One of these ........... (it has a clip)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Blackburn_Mars_40_Safety_Rear_Light/5360037937/

Depending what your helemt is, you can put a wide cable tie through the vents and the light clips on to it

i saw someone with one of them, it was one of the brightest rear lights ive seen and its only £14.99

daniel_b

What about this puppy:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13422


Tempted to get one for my gf for her commute.

Dan

jonginge

I don't want to start a flame war but I don't think helmet lights are that good an idea. They are too high, too small and drivers won't be looking for lights at that level. Worse, they mingle with car's rear lights further up the road giving the driver a false sense of perspective (small = far away to the subconscious brain).
Get one or more large, wide main lights is my advice.

cougie

Good point !

I only have a helmet light on at the front - so I can see round corners and things.

I do have at least two LEDS at the rear of the bike tho.

Feltup

JonGinge wrote:

I don't want to start a flame war but I don't think helmet lights are that good an idea. They are too high, too small and drivers won't be looking for lights at that level. Worse, they mingle with car's rear lights further up the road giving the driver a false sense of perspective (small = far away to the subconscious brain).
Get one or more large, wide main lights is my advice.

I don't understand your comment of drivers won't be looking for lights at that level. I notice the high lights on trucks and they are much higher. Personally I think a secondary light on the helmet is very useful for spotting cyclists as the lower bike lights can merge with and get swamped by car lights too easily. High up flashing lights give drivers an earlier indication that something else apart from cars is up ahead. I good main bike light is also a must.

cougie

I can see his point - if something is that high - do you associate it with a cyclists head - or do you think its a cyclist further up the street ?
Similar thing to two bikes riding close together with strong offroad lights on - cars have been known to pull over cos they think its a car coming towards them.

(Personally I'd not rely on just that light - I would have a couple on the bike and preferably reflectives down my back to join up the 'dots'.)

woodgob

I've got something similar to these (mine are white reflective with four LEDs). I don't know where mine came from as they were a gift. But they are the business. They are meant for ankles but I strap one though the back of my lid and the other on my bag. Works a treat in conjunction with main rear light and hopefully the high positioning on the lid tells drivers that I'm a cyclist from a distance.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=24014

cougie

Aldi sell those bands - they had them in last Thursday - I think £4 for four of them - well worth the money. The LEDs are a bit weak - but at least you always have the reflectives.

Mikelyons

Hi Darren

if you live near a large Tesco try out their lights.

I'v just bought a twin-pack of 'micro-ights' for £2.60 with
1 white & 1 Red Ligt - each with LED.

Light modes are steady, regular flash & irregular flash.

They also include a small elastic strap for fitting.
I just wrapped the strap round one of the vents & tied back to the light.

Regards
Mike

AndyManc

JonGinge wrote:

I don't want to start a flame war but I don't think helmet lights are that good an idea. They are too high, too small and drivers won't be looking for lights at that level. Worse, they mingle with car's rear lights further up the road giving the driver a false sense of perspective (small = far away to the subconscious brain).
Get one or more large, wide main lights is my advice.

Normal rear lights on helmets are great, I get given far more room when I use my helmet light in conjunction with another rear light attached to my seat post.

They don't blend with car lights when they are flashing away like mad , plus , you can direct the light at any nutter speeding up behind you by just turning your head.

simon_e

When I used to commute in the tin box I passed a chap every evening riding on an undulating narrow road near town. He had a normal-looking rear light on the seat post and a larger round one at the top of his rucksack. In the dark or dusk I always saw his top light first, particularly when he was just the other side of a brow in the road.

gs3

You can attach almost any type of LED rear light (provided it comes with belt clip) to one of these helmet bands quite securely http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=23572 effectively doubling the chances of you being seen actively and passively.

.

jedster

I have used that helmet light from chain reaction cycles and the backupz light. Both are very good - visible, extremely light and long batter life on flash.

I don't really get the suggestion that helmet lights are unhelpful. They sit at a similar height to high level brake lights on cars. I find those very visible. Drivers can't help but look at them because they are at about eye level!

I don't see them as a substitute for a good main rear light but I think the are a useful addition.

J

Darren Ash

Thanks for the advice AndyManc.Your suggestion works brilliantly.

AndyManc

(smug mode)

John C.

finally found this

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 152c003244

Saw one being used one morning driving into Leeds and they really do stand out well

Mr_Cellophane

I have a http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=14828 which I started to clip on the plastic stay at the back of my helmet this week when I realised that, when it was on the seat post, it was partially hidden by my saddle bag. Now to get a bigger brighter one for lower down.