what front lights do you use/recommend

aripallaris

so i purchased a catseye uno, feels pretty decent for its size. took it out yesterday and was just about right for commuting . I decided to buy another one to hook onto the other bar. idea is to create a much wider beam.

thinking about it logically maybe i should have got one unit that was much more power. what do you guys use?

cyclingpast

I have an exposure spark as my main light, very bright. Cateye opticube as my secondary light, and then a tiny little mars voyager as my 'emergency' front light which stays off unless one of the other two runs out of battery. Haven't had any SMIDSYs at night since i started using that setup

EKE_38BPM

More light is generally better than less, but some people go crazy.
In urban areas (under street lights) is more about being seen than seeing. I would just have that light on flash mode and leave it at that unless you will be riding in the sticks.

If you are worried about illumination, try this. Personally, I use this front and back. Bright enough for me.

aripallaris

interesting setup stockwell. EKE not that massively worried to be honest especially now its summer but i suppose im still getting trigger happy on the new bike spending spree lol. im sure two unos will be more than enough light. the second ones coming as a set for literally the same price as a single. so luckily ill have two rear lights and two fronts. im sure thatll be more than enough

EKE you get my text about friday mate?

EKE_38BPM

Yup, I got your text. I'll call you tomorrow morning, around 10ish.

Are you up for going for a spin after the bike check? Maybe do a trial run of your commute?

aripallaris

a quick spin would be cool though can't go for long as I'm meant to be working from home. eek!

wizzlebanger

I only commute in normal lit roads.

Revolution light on bars set to flash.

Blackburn Flea light attached to helmet on flash. I think this is a fantastic little light. You can't feel it on the helmet and it gives me the ability to 'look at' or in the direction of stuff that might crash into me.

So on roundabouts I can look at oncoming traffic and a quick glance down side roads for anything exiting there. As my bike is pointing forwards anything that isn't pretty much head on might not see me with just that bar mounted light.

iPete

EL-135 Cateye & Hope Vision 1.

tarbot18

Depends where your riding my winter commute takes me round coastal path which is pitch black i have 2 cateye el 320 s on my bars which i think have 1000 candle power which are adequate and on roads i put 1 onto flashing. i have an underseat cateye and 1 on seatstay plus led lights on my rucksack , yep i like being seen !

Tonymufc

Hope Vision 1, with a Smart 1W up front and at the rear I have two Smart 1/2 watt super flashes.

cyberknight

Magic shine 900 lumen with a 200 lumen torch in a bike mount as back up light that i tend to use on flash, i ride a lot on unlit roads so i need the light .

I never get close overtakes when the MS is on , i reckon i have that much light coming out the front that they cant miss me ...

On the back i run 3 smart 1/2 watt superflash with 1 on each pannier bag and one on the rack, in winter i also have a head mounted rear flasher .
Combine all that with enough reflectives to make myself seen i feel totally confident riding in the pitch black .

shouldbeinbed

Front

Smart lunar 25 flashing to be seen by
Hope vision 1 to see by
A little knog-a-like from decathlon that goes on my helmet

Rear smart 1/2 watts

optimisticbiker

Electron Terra 2 + a cheap Kathmandu head-light on flash on the front and 3 CatEye of various descriptions/ages on the back...

dilemna

Front- Exposure Max D + x2 Smart 35 lux.
Rear - x4 RSP Astrium 2 1/2W LEDs.
Air Zound

Portrush Philly

My current set-up is:

Up Front

Hope Vision 4 bar mounted
Hope Vision 1 Helmet mounted
Exposure Spark set to flash bar mounted

At the Rear

Hope District set to flash
Exposure flare set to flash
Cateye LD1100 set to flash

I commute in the middle of the night and like to see and be seen!

Portrush Philly

My current set-up is:

Up Front

Hope Vision 4 bar mounted
Hope Vision 1 Helmet mounted
Exposure Spark set to flash bar mounted

At the Rear

Hope District set to flash
Exposure flare set to flash
Cateye LD1100 set to flash

I commute in the middle of the night and like to see and be seen!

rolf_f

dilemna wrote:

Air Zound

How does that help you see?

I use a couple of Raleigh RSP Asteris up front - neat but powerful and the rechargeables last well. Got mine for little more than £40. I also picked up a really bright Cree torch from Lidl which cost about £12 I think - just need mounts for that.

Also use Smart Polaris for lit streets and Smart 1 watts for the back.

Vivica

Cateye Single Shots.

Although i don't massively rate them in comparison with really high end lights, but i've had 3 of them, and they're decent bits of kit.

At the moment on Wiggle they really are a steal - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-hl-el600 ... light-set/
For £40, that's FANTASTIC light combo, the rear light is super bright, and the single shot is a quality light for being seen.

Berk Bonebonce

I use the only battery powered front light on the market that fits onto the fork crown: Spanninga Luceo. It uses a reverse LED lighting arrangement which I have found to be pretty good, although not good enough for unlit roads. Uses 3 AA batteries.

alan_sherman

Get a dynamo hub built into a wheel and a decent dynamo light. Never think about lights ever again (they are good to ride unlit roads).