A compact light for country lanes

smikeymikey

Hi everyone

I cycle around 45 miles to work 3 or 4 mornings a week through about 30 miles of unlit Essex country roads. I have been cycling regularly now for around a year and have if I am honest I have ignored the fact that my cateye front light is pathetic for this type of ride as I sadly found out going down a pot hole..luckily just needed a new tyre, tube and a little truing.

Recommendations please for a brighter light that will get me through the unlit lanes enabling me to actually see where I am going without staring intently 10 feet in front of me like I am doing now.

I ride a road bike and need something that will be of use when doing over 25mph downhill etc. I do not want some great big heavy lump of a thing on my handlebars so is there any sleeker compact ones out there that are suitable. I have 2 x smart 1W's at the rear and they seem to be quite effective.

Looking around the 100 quid max limit really.

I appreciate your replies

Mike

meanredspider

Look at the thread in "Commuting" - more-or-less identical requirement

meanredspider

Here

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

Hoopdriver

What you are looking for does exist - but not at 100 quid. I ride about 30 miles a day in the dark, on unlit lanes, and use a Lupine light. expensive but worth it. Light & Motion and Hope also offer good reliable bright small-sized lights that will allow you to be seen, and whose beam won;t be overrun at speed.

Lots of people on this forum seem to take great pride in the various sorts of jerry-built contraptions mounted on their handlebars, often multiple lights, which they've acquired for 50 quid and claim are just as good as (fill in the blank)

They're not. You get what you pay for - in lights as in everything else.

meanredspider

I use a Hope 1 LED and a Light & Motion 360 lid light - but that alone is 200 quid. That said, I value my life and lights are the one bit of cycling kit my wife says I can spend as much as I like on....

spasypaddy

in all honesty i agree with everything that has been previously said in this thread but i use an exposure strada. its fantastic. cars give way to me as they think im a moped

Hoopdriver

Yes, my wife too is also very supportive regarding expensive headlights. It could well be your health and even life you are paying for in advance; it is not a good place to be nip-cheesy.

ADIHEAD

spasypaddy wrote:

in all honesty i agree with everything that has been previously said in this thread but i use an exposure strada. its fantastic. cars give way to me as they think im a moped

Totally agree mate, I've a Strada MK 2 and it's life changing

cornerblock

Hoopdriver wrote:

What you are looking for does exist - but not at 100 quid. I ride about 30 miles a day in the dark, on unlit lanes, and use a Lupine light. expensive but worth it. Light & Motion and Hope also offer good reliable bright small-sized lights that will allow you to be seen, and whose beam won;t be overrun at speed.

Lots of people on this forum seem to take great pride in the various sorts of jerry-built contraptions mounted on their handlebars, often multiple lights, which they've acquired for 50 quid and claim are just as good as (fill in the blank)

They're not. You get what you pay for - in lights as in everything else.

Got to disagree, for the price range the OP is talking about they could get a Magicshine. The MJ816 is definitely bright enough, certainly fits the budget, the only aspect I couldn't vouch for is the longevity. Only had mine this winter, so far it's been a brilliant purchase though. As for overrunning it at speed. :? Well I don't know how quick you are, but as long as you put the light at the front of your bike I think you should be fine.

Hoopdriver

There is nothing about a Magicshine that would ever make me want to buy one. I value reliability, longevity, weatherproofing, and decent burn times - with a safe battery - over saving a few quid. I would not care to find that my light died on me 20 miles from home on a darkened lane, or facing the prospect of having to buy a new one each season as a lot of people seem to do. No thanks - buy once, buy well, enjoy your ride with peace of mind and plenty of reliable light.

cornerblock

Hoopdriver wrote:

There is nothing about a Magicshine that would ever make me want to buy one. I value reliability, longevity, weatherproofing, and decent burn times - with a safe battery - over saving a few quid. I would not care to find that my light died on me 20 miles from home on a darkened lane, or facing the prospect of having to buy a new one each season as a lot of people seem to do. No thanks - buy once, buy well, enjoy your ride with peace of mind and plenty of reliable light.

Well like I said, only had mine this winter and so far so good. And there is no light on the market that I would go out with as an only light. Wether it be £50.00 or £500.00. No point sounding snobby over a light source. As long as we all get home safely eh?