Best lights for £25
ZootHornRollo
Posts: 85
Hi,
I am looking to get some new lights for my bike. My current lights were bought out of Halfords about 6 years ago, most likely cheapest on display, and are rubbish! (well thats not completely true, i will be keeping the rear as that is actually rather good!)
So... i have around £25 to spend on new front lighting. I understand that is a meager budget given that midrange kit seems to start around £60 and goes up beyond the cost of my bike.
Main use is for scooting across town in street lighting so a flasher would be good but i would like better illumination for the odd jaunt between towns and villages on country roads.
What would be the best way to spend £25 on front lighting?
Multiple cheap torch-type units from ebay? Reduced Bikehut kit on ebay? (insert other?)
I am looking to get some new lights for my bike. My current lights were bought out of Halfords about 6 years ago, most likely cheapest on display, and are rubbish! (well thats not completely true, i will be keeping the rear as that is actually rather good!)
So... i have around £25 to spend on new front lighting. I understand that is a meager budget given that midrange kit seems to start around £60 and goes up beyond the cost of my bike.
Main use is for scooting across town in street lighting so a flasher would be good but i would like better illumination for the odd jaunt between towns and villages on country roads.
What would be the best way to spend £25 on front lighting?
Multiple cheap torch-type units from ebay? Reduced Bikehut kit on ebay? (insert other?)
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Comments
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Can't go wrong with these http://www.rutlandcycling.com/17908/Sma ... t-Set.html
I run the same lights but with a super flash at the rear.0 -
Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps
Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html0 -
I've been using these for a year or so now. They're bright, robust and fairly easy on batteries. Well worth considering.
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rsp-nigh ... 54230.html0 -
Tonymufc wrote:Can't go wrong with these http://www.rutlandcycling.com/17908/Sma ... t-Set.html
I run the same lights but with a super flash at the rear.
+1 for Smarts.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Tonymufc wrote:Can't go wrong with these http://www.rutlandcycling.com/17908/Sma ... t-Set.html
I run the same lights but with a super flash at the rear.
since i'm keeping my current rear light i think this more powerful front light would be more suitable, no?
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/25643/Sma ... Light.html0 -
jeremyrundle wrote:
Ah, you champion the ebay lights! do you use them in sets? how many?
They seem to be a total bargain. I could get four within my budget but thats a lot of batteries (even initial outlay for rechargeable's)
what battery life do you get out of them? 17 watts from AAA batteries sounds like a major drain.0 -
I used a Smart Lunar 35 last winter and was very happy with it. It was bright enough for unlit roads on my commute (although not much light spread) at least at the speed I travel, and has a bright flash mode. It can be had for about £25.
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/25643/Sma ... Light.html
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... Light.html0 -
ZootHornRollo wrote:jeremyrundle wrote:
Ah, you champion the ebay lights! do you use them in sets? how many?
They seem to be a total bargain. I could get four within my budget but thats a lot of batteries (even initial outlay for rechargeable's)
what battery life do you get out of them? 17 watts from AAA batteries sounds like a major drain.
The 5w (supposed, and yes they are bright, I charge avery five hours, I broke my 17w and are waiting on two more when they arrive I will leave on and see how long they last.
I have a LUX meter and will be testing a number of lights this week.
I would raather have four £6 lights on the front at 5w each than one £30 light to be honest, at least you have spares.Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps
Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html0 -
How did you break the 17W lamp?Steve C0
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sc999cs wrote:How did you break the 17W lamp?
Using up the attic when I dropped it through the hole down two flights. Switch broke.
Yet I did the same with a 4D cell Maglite not a scratchPeds with ipods, natures little speed humps
Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html0 -
i've gone for two of the 5W fella's from the 'bay.
Just need to select some decent rechargeable AAA's now!0 -
duracell vs uniross????0
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just found this... not exactly the same batteries but may be of use to someone!
http://fwd.five.tv/gadget-show/videos/t ... -batteries0 -
I have a 10W halogen setup going spare. It's made by Smart and has a nice big NICAD battery that fits in a water bottle holder. It has three modes: a fairly low level that's enough to let others see you, low beam (about 7W at a guess) and high beam. On high beam it lasts at least two hours, probably near three but two is the most I've tried. You'd get at least 4 hours on low beam. It's very waterproof and has never let me down.
I used it several times a week for off roading in pitch darkness and it was almost enough on its own, but I used a small Cateye spotlight too. For on road use it's more than enough, even on unlit roads. Cars always dim there headlights when they see it.
20 quid inc. postage and charger? I think I still have the instruction leaflet too.http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!0 -
As I said I would do some checking with my lux meter of the lights I have.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WESTON-S-511-LUX- ... 53e44632fe
Note, the readings were all taken with the light at 33" from the LUX meter.
The £20 1w Edinburgh cycle light reviewed by BR produces 250 LUX
The £3 1w Light IDENTICAL to the above on Ebay produces, well.... 250 LUX
The £3 3w Chinese light on Ebay 400 LUX (same design more power)
The £6 5w Ebay chinese light 600 LUX and my
LED Lenser P14 off the scale at 2,300 LUX.
(LED Lenser P14 not another make that uses P numbers)
So consistently the cheap lights have been brighter and for just a few pounds compared with what you may pay in a cycle shop.Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps
Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html0 -
You won't be disappointed with these. I'm very very pleased with mine after having several rubbish lights before.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CATEYE-Bike-Light ... 559wt_11410 -
I would be.Joelsim wrote:You won't be disappointed with these. I'm very very pleased with mine after having several rubbish lights before.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CATEYE-Bike-Light ... 559wt_1141
this will blow most of the above mentioned lights out of the water.0 -
ZootHornRollo wrote:i've gone for two of the 5W fella's from the 'bay.
Just need to select some decent rechargeable AAA's now!
30 Days and still no lights :x
no' happy! No reply from the firm either. Paypal claim being lodged today.0 -
emdeef wrote:I used a Smart Lunar 35 last winter and was very happy with it. It was bright enough for unlit roads on my commute (although not much light spread) at least at the speed I travel, and has a bright flash mode. It can be had for about £25.
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/25643/Sma ... Light.html
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... Light.html
I have this too and for what OP wants (flashing and to be noticed) its great.
I disagree about using it to see by though, I have to go pretty slow (and i'm not that fast at the best of times) to feel safe and sure of whats in front of me just using this one. its very much a backup as a headlight.0
