Front lights

Cliveyp

with the dark evenings rapidly approaching, and collection of my Trek less than 20hrs away, it's time to think about a decent front light. I'm going to temporarily pull the ones off the MTB to get me through till replacements arrive, but my current front one is less use than a chocolate teapot on unlit roads.

My current rear is a cheap Cateye LED job that I bought 12 mth or so back, and for what I currently do is more than adequate. The front is an old Cateye halogen unit that struggles to even shine on an unlit path, let alone allow me to see where I'm going!

Obviously I'd like to spend as little as possible, but as for limit.....I'd guess probably £60-£80. I'd be reluctant to spend any more than this unless it would give a significant increase!

Any ideas on the best things available?

Erudin

I've pre-ordered a Lezyne Mini Drive LED Front Light (around £50), should be in stock soon:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-mini-dri ... ont-light/

http://bikemagic.com/gear/first-looks/lezyne-develops-range-of-led-lights.html

Specs:
Cree LED
100% CNC machined aluminium housing
Weather proof with O-ring and rubber seals
High capacity Li-ion rechargeable and replaceable battery
Intelligent charging with indicator
Mini USB charging cable included
Tool-free universal handlebar bracket included

Modes/burn times:
High (150 Lumens)/1hr
Medium (100 Lumens)/1hr 30mins
Low (50 Lumens)/3hrs
Fast Flash/hours!

Bobbinogs

The new lezyne range does look to be quite nice but I would need the top of the range one due to the hours of use (need a min of 3 hours pushing out decent light for pitch black country lanes). I can't help thinking that this time next year I will buy myself a nice dynamo hub for winter usage, they may be heavy and not very trendy but they help some of my fellow club cyclists chuck out loads of light and are ultimately the way to go.

Gizmodo

From other threads like this one that I've read, you need to specify what kind of riding conditions you need the light for. Well lit city streets or dark country lanes, a 20 minute commute or an overnight 100 mile sportive? It makes a big difference to the kind of lights you need.

I have no idea what the quality will be like or how long it will last, but I've ordered one of these Chinese imports:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170514393420
At £32.49 including delivery, even if it only lasts 1 winter it's got to be better than spending hundreds on a front light. I'll let you know next year how well it's doing.

dgstewart

Rather than a "bag of bits", you could consider the one-piece Moon X Power 300. I have two of these and they are excellent little lights, quite powerful and very compact/lightweight. Also, can be charged from a USB cable - very handy.

They claim to do 2 hrs on max (300 lumens), and 3 hrs on high (200 lumens), even longer on lower settings. I rarely use mine for over 1 hr at a time, so can't comment on these figures.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... LAA614.htm

Sign up for VIP (free) and it'll come down to £45. Merlin are also doing a further 10% off orders over £50 for the next few days, so if there is anything else at £5 or £6 you need you'll get that extra 10% too.

Cliveyp

Thanks so far guys.

As an idea for where i'd be riding, I do various routes at the moment, but many of them will be unlit main roads/bypasses. I have found my current halogen candle provides JUST enough light to see by when i'm in complete darkness and rolling along at about 8-10mph absolute maximum in complete concentration of the road ahead, but if a car comes the other way, it complete wipes out my light and I can't see a thing. One the road itself, this might not neccessarily be so bad, but when on the cycle path some distance from the road its a nightmare! As for runtimes....i'm currently out for around an hour at a time, but am planning to extend this. Can't see it being much lionger than 2 hours though generally.

I've just noticed that the LBS where the Trek is coming from tonight has a new stock of Lezyne units in so I might have a quick word about those later. I have also pulled up the links above to consider.

Any more?

dgstewart

I should have added that I use the Moon X Power 300 for commuting on unlit country roads (just got properly dark again when I set off in the morning in last two weeks). I'll be riding at ave. speeds of around 17 mph to 19mph with max speeds of up to 25 mph or so (on slight downhill and/or downwind sections!) and I have no trouble with seeing the road ahead with one of these lights.

When I enter well lit areas, or it starts getting light enough to see OK, I switch to flashing mode for better urban visiblity.

Cliveyp

Is that when using both lights, or just one?

t5nel

Cliveyp wrote:

going to temporarily pull the ones off the MTB to get me through till replacements arrive, but my current front one is less use than a chocolate teapot on unlit roads.
quote]

I tried to do this last night after getting stranded in the dark having to work late unexpectedly last week.

Bloody things dont fit on my oversize handle bars or seatpost...

More expense :roll: probably cheaper to take the car...

daxplusplus

Check the MTB what lights for DIY solutions that may apply even for road use.

I've recently installed front lights for my commute (also on a Trek, mines a 1.4) following the advice in that section and so far so good:

- 2 torch mounts (approx £4)
- 2 XM-L 6 based torches - these are the latest LED technology and are more efficient than other led systems = brighter and/or longer lasting (approx £26)
- 2 batteries (approx £10)
- 1 charger (approx £15)

I wanted two front lights in case of failure but also becuase it helps with juggling battery run times (much more flexible).

They seem to do the biz and although the total is pretty high (around £55-£60) it is with in your budget and you'd be getting two very, very bright lights for this.

Bear in mind those prices are for ordering from overseas .. if you want the lights quicker then you will have to search around for UK suppliers and these are more expensive (it's what I did and the total pack cost me nearer £70 becuase of it).

arnie1000

I had a Cateye which I thought would be decent to see on dark country lanes. I was wrong.

I then brought a magic shine - 1400 lumens for £90 and it is honestly the best bit of kit i have brought. It is phenomenal. Its gives off as much light as a car light, making riding in the dark as easy as riding in the day time.

See
http://www.magicshineuk.co.uk/products/ ... MJ-816LSET

You can have it on full or reduced beam and either the main light or the side lights or all of them for total visibility.

I honestly could not recommend them highly enough. Several of my mates have since seen the light and brought them too....

danowat

My magicshine is over a year old now, used it in all conditions, rain, snow etc etc, its been fine.

johnboy183

+1 for magicshine

dgstewart

Cliveyp wrote:

Is that when using both lights, or just one?

That's just the one light. I've never tried two together yet - I only recently bought the 2nd one as a back-up in case I had a problem with the 1st, but I haven't fitted the 2nd mount yet (only takes seconds, just haven't got round to it yet as it's not been properly dark until this week).

The Magicshine lights do get very good reviews and they are brighter, but I couldn't be bothered with the various bits and bobs - much prefer a smaller one-piece unit like the X Power 300, and it's bright enough for my needs.

Monty Dog

IME 300 lumens I would suggest is the minimum power you need in a front light on unlit roads and more like 600 if you want to light the width of the road.
There are Cree XML units on ebay from China for £36 including postage with a stated output of 1200 Lumens - the same as the Magic Shine but cheaper - tempted to buy one myself at that price, it only needs to last a winter.

Runoutofgears

Along the lines, that MD has mentioned, I bought my magicshine 2 years ago, with the idea that if it worked for one winter it would be good value, It's now entering it's third "dark" season, sure the battery doesnt hold up like it used to but it's still good for a couple of commutes eachway before recharge.

Contemplating what to get next year, a one piece unit would be nice but at what price?

Perhaps I'll buy a new magicshine battery!

gwillis

my magicshine arrived last week and ive ordered another as its that good. With one I can ride unlit roads with ease and my reason for getting another is so I can mount it on my helmet for even more coverage.

If they last one winter ill be more than happy given the price

thescouselander

I've got one of these that I use for commuting down unlit cycle tracks:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165636

Its nothing fancy but cheap enough and reasonably bright. Not sure how many lunens it is but its certainly bright enough to light the entire back garden and I have no problem travelling at speed in the dark. Seems to run for ages on AA rechargables.

wishitwasallflat

Just noticed the Cateye EL 530 is on sale at Halfords for £35 - don't have one myself but a friend who commutes 18 miles per day year round has had one for two years and likes it, I've never seen it at a better price so maybe ...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... &mode=list

apreading

Whatever you do, DONT buy the Cateye EL530...!

I bought one several years ago, thinking it would be good based on the money it cost. It is bright in the bright spot - trouble is that the bright spot is the size of a 2 pence piece at 20 yards. It was dangerous and sits in my garage now. At the same time I bought an EL510 which is actually much better because the light, whilst not as bright, is more diffuse. My daughter has this on her bike and it is OK, because she doesnt really ride in the dark, but if you want a good front light then dont look at Cateye.

I bought a £5 torch from deal extreme that took AAA batteries and a £3 rubber mount and it was 100 times better than the EL530.

Please DONT - can you tell I feel passionately about this? I wasted good money on one and cant understand why they sell them.

willowthewhite

I went out last night and did a little over 30 miles on unlit country lanes with a Moon X Power 300 that my LBS loaned me for the ride, and it was more than adequate, so much so that I'm picking one up from the shop at some point over the weekend.

Chris James

apreading wrote:

Whatever you do, DONT buy the Cateye EL530...!
.

yes, I had one too and it was useless. Not only that but I dropped it on the floor and the switch stopped working. It seemed to be quite fragile as several users on here reported the same problem (thsi was a few years ago, so maybe the switches are now better, but i doubt it)

wishitwasallflat

helpful info re the Cateye - thanks I shall pass!

Cliveyp

Cheers for all the advice guys, really appreciate it.

Dropped into the LBS yesterday to collect the bike and wangled a discount on the Lezyne Power Drive. Initial impressions are good, but hoping to be out with it tonight so will know if it was an expensive mistake later!

Erudin

Lezyne Mini Drive arrived today, first impressions are good, the clamps supplied are a good design and fit the oversize and standard bars on both my road bikes securely without needing packing with rubber like my other lights.

thescouselander

Looks good. Any chance of some pics of how well it lights up the road?

Cliveyp

Minidrive looks good.

I can confirm, although not having much that was reasonable to compare it to, that the Lezyne PowerDrive is awesome! Like I say, I've not really got any comparisons, but spread of light is good, power of light is good, quality of light and bracket excellent, all round chuffed!

Erudin

Took it for a ride down wet unilt lane and it's better than the Cree torch I got from Ebay, lights up the verges and good spot on the road, could still see ok after oncoming cars had passed. For high speed training/off-road you might want something brighter/wider coverage, but great for commuting or getting home if a ride finishes after dusk.

Could not get camera to work on unlit roads but these came out:

Electron Nano 1 Watt:


CREE Q5 LED Wide Spot Zoom +900 lumens Chinese Torch:



Lezyne Mini Drive:


Update:

Did a 25 mile ride on A roads and light was plenty bright enough on the lowest setting most of the time, just turned it up on the faster hills.

wishitwasallflat

Cheers - Lezyne looks brighter in centre but tighter beam ? Is that right

pastey_boy

i have recently got one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130551479243? ... 1439.l2649 and all i can say wow. seems brighter than its 400 lumens would suggest. the light head is tiny and the battery straps to my stem. after 3 hours the light is still going strong. the beam is diffused so it gives off a nice even light and its more than adequate for unlit roads. for me this is the perfect road light as it weighs next to nothing, awesome battery life and very good value when compared to the opposition. plug it into a 4 cell battery pack and it will keep going for approx 8 hours on full.

wakou

Erudin wrote:

Could not get camera to work on unlit roads but these came out:

Electron Nano 1 Watt:


CREE Q5 LED Wide Spot Zoom +900 lumens Chinese Torch:



Lezyne Mini Drive:

You already have your Christmas tree up? Or is that last year's?