I would like a set of lights that...

robrauy

...Don't always turn themselves on when they're in my rucksack :x

Also, if they had a simple ingenious tool free mounting system so that i could quickly move them from commuter to road bike that would be a bonus..

Oh and reasonably priced

Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

singlespeedexplosif

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Airbike_Lights.html

alfablue

The Fenix LD20 with a Twofish Lockblock is a fantastic light good enough for unlit roads, and the Lockblock is simple, effective, fast to fit and tool free. Add some 2900mah NiMH batteries and the LCD World Charger from Vapextech and you have a system that will beat much higher priced systems, with the advantage of unlimited runtime with replaceable batteries.

Or for ultimate power http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bi ... w_led.html

A lot of us are using one or other of these systems. They won't turn on in the rucksack easily.

robrauy

alfablue wrote:

The Fenix LD20 with a Twofish Lockblock is a fantastic light good enough for unlit roads, and the Lockblock is simple, effective, fast to fit and tool free. Add some 2900mah NiMH batteries and the LCD World Charger from Vapextech and you have a system that will beat much higher priced systems, with the advantage of unlimited runtime with replaceable batteries.

Or for ultimate power http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bi ... w_led.html

A lot of us are using one or other of these systems. They won't turn on in the rucksack easily.

Thanks for that - Bit pricey but looks worth it for a long lasting solution..Think I'm sold

Any ideas for a rear light ?

biondino

Fenix: "runtime is an impressive 2 hours" - so impressive that on a night ride you'd have to bring 2 or 3 changes of batteries with you? FAIL

robrauy

biondino wrote:

Fenix: "runtime is an impressive 2 hours" - so impressive that on a night ride you'd have to bring 2 or 3 changes of batteries with you? FAIL

Think that's only in turbo mode...

General mode - 9 lumens (71 hours) - 47 lumens (13 hours) - 94 lumens (5 hours) - SOS signalling. Turbo mode - 180 lumens constant (2 hours) - strobe. All figures using 2500 mah Ni-mh batteries.

alfablue

biondino wrote:

Fenix: "runtime is an impressive 2 hours" - so impressive that on a night ride you'd have to bring 2 or 3 changes of batteries with you? FAIL

How come its a fail? I get 2.5 hours on turbo, my night rides are less than 2 hours, I take a spare set of AA's always, just in case. PASS. That is impressive runtime given output and power source.

Was the OP looking at ALL night riding???

If you want long lasting lights that are also very bright you are looking at large battery packs and/or a lot more dosh.

Or you can spend £60 on a rubbish Cateye that will be dim and break its brackets and fall off from time to time. Run time might last you all night but at the cost of illumination.

Or you can get one with built in batteries, then you don't need to carry spare cells - because they are no use to you!

For the rear, Smart Superflash 1/2 watt (maybe x 2), £10 each.

boy on bike

alfablue wrote:

The Fenix LD20 with a Twofish Lockblock is a fantastic light good enough for unlit roads, and the Lockblock is simple, effective, fast to fit and tool free. Add some 2900mah NiMH batteries and the LCD World Charger from Vapextech and you have a system that will beat much higher priced systems, with the advantage of unlimited runtime with replaceable batteries.

Or for ultimate power http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bi ... w_led.html

A lot of us are using one or other of these systems. They won't turn on in the rucksack easily.

+1 for the Fenix. I use it in conjunction with a Cateye somethingorother: I use the Cateye on flash and have that on all ride, and only turn the Fenix on (in Full Power mode) when in unlit areas. It has a superb beam and is easily good enough to ride at full speed in the pitch black.

gb155

I use the Mars 3.0 on the rear, Its excellent

robrauy

gb155 wrote:

I use the Mars 3.0 on the rear, Its excellent

Looks good - What's the likelihood of it getting accidentally switched on ?

gb155

robrauy wrote:

gb155 wrote:

I use the Mars 3.0 on the rear, Its excellent

Looks good - What's the likelihood of it getting accidentally switched on ?

Very little to be totally honest mate.

Specialized Needs

biondino wrote:

Fenix: "runtime is an impressive 2 hours" - so impressive that on a night ride you'd have to bring 2 or 3 changes of batteries with you? FAIL

Depends on a person's needs, I think. I bought a Fenix and find that it is fine to use on my commute on one of the lowest two settings most of the time, but with the option to 'pump it up' for dark alleys or parks or other bits of road, which is helpful. Not too much hassle to carry around a spare pair of AAs.

I am now looking for a companion light to be seen by - the Fenix isn't very visible from the side IMNSHO. The trouble is that anyone I see with a front light I like the look of is inevitably travelling the other way on a busy road and I'd never be able to catch them :roll: Anyhow, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable tapping them on the shoulder and saying 'nice lights, mate, what are they?'.

alfablue wrote:

For the rear, Smart Superflash 1/2 watt (maybe x 2), £10 each.

If this is the keyhole shaped one, I have one of these. I hate it. The pressure switch on mine is so sensitive that it tends to switch on in my pannier at work. I now carry it with a battery removed. Even worse, I found myself cycling down Deptford Creek Road with the light 'cycling' (no pun intended) through the 'flashing'/'off'/'steady' modes after every slight bump :shock:. Not ideal for a rear light which, by its nature, is difficult to check. This may just be the particular unit I bought, but I have now lost all confidence in it . Even my wife can testify that it switched itself on when no-one was within yards of it, when I left my bike in our utility room before Christmas. Maybe the air pressure changed :roll: Looking at getting a more reliable companion - maybe a Cateye LD1100, if it seems to get good reviews.

On the bright side (ha ha) for the Superflash, it is very visible.

il_principe

robrauy wrote:

...Don't always turn themselves on when they're in my rucksack :x

Also, if they had a simple ingenious tool free mounting system so that i could quickly move them from commuter to road bike that would be a bonus..

Oh and reasonably priced

Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

I give you Knog lights:


http://www.knog.com.au/Product.aspx?productId=160

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/m/Cycle/7/Knog/

cougie

I would have thought that two hours plus of turbo light was enough for 95% of commuters Biondino ?

Are you really riding for 6 hours or more at night ? Anyway as Alfa says - on high beam - thats usually plenty for dark roads - so thats about 5 hours of light. Cant imagine the wilds of Putney not having streetlights ?


I have the Smart light on my bike too - v bright - but cant comment on it turning itself on in a bag - its either on the bike or its getting charged again in the kitchen.

alfablue

I have 3 superflashes, none of them show any unreliability with changing modes or switching themselves off, so I suspect it is your particular unit. Mine are not very sensitive, they take a firm press to turn them on. I did have an older smart one, pre superflash, that was dodgy however, so I think we were unlucky with these particular ones. As they can be had for about £10 they are the most bang for your buck you can get.

The complaining tadpole

Fenix on the front with a cheap smart polaris in flashing mode. On my commute ( 10 miles on unlit back roads mainly,) this is sufficient, even today at 6.00am through fairly dense fog I had no problems seeing potholes etc, and a Mars 3.0 on the rear coupled with a cheapy Halfrauds light in flashing mode on my rucksack. Have'nt been wiped out yet!
Crosses fingers for the ride home later

robrauy

jashburnham wrote:

robrauy wrote:

...Don't always turn themselves on when they're in my rucksack :x

Also, if they had a simple ingenious tool free mounting system so that i could quickly move them from commuter to road bike that would be a bonus..

Oh and reasonably priced

Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

I give you Knog lights:


http://www.knog.com.au/Product.aspx?productId=160

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/m/Cycle/7/Knog/

Hmmm.... I had a Knog Toad. Really liked it as it was bright, was easy to get on and off the bike and didn't seem to turn itself on in my pack. I used it as a backup front light.

One day it fell off, and I managed to retrieve it from 20 yds back up the road. A couple of days later I wasn't so lucky. It fell of without me noticing (big hill on the way home kind of concentrates the mind )