Front battery powered light with beam cutoff

beegee

Hi

I want to buy a front cycle light for a friend. The light must be battery powered and most importantly must have a beam shaped for riding on road so with a flat cutoff like a car headlight. I have bought the Phillips LED light for myself (and incidentally it ticks all the boxes) but it costs about £90 and I don't want to spend so much on my friend. Are there any ? The only oher ones I have found are the B & M Ixon speed and the QLite QL-269. Recommendations would be appreciated.

It is important that the beam has a nice cut off because she lives in Copenhagen and there are lots of cycle paths and to ride with a dazzling beam is considered not nice.

Poacher

Not much help at the moment, but if you have any nearby Lidl stores, keep an eye on forthcoming offers via their website. Roughly three months ago they had a battery lighting set for about £9 (including batteries). The rear light wasn't remarkable, but the front light had exactly the beam pattern your friend needs, and was more than adequately bright - comparable to the IQ Cyo I run off a Schmidt dynamo hub.

thistle_

I use a Magicshine on the road. It has a rubber O ring mount on it so if I'm feeling nice I can dip it so it doesn't dazzle people, then put it back up do I can see where I'm going.
I'm not happy dipping it (if the road has lots of potholes) I just cover the top/right hand side temporarily with my hand as I'm riding. Not ideal but does the job.

Bordersroadie

The only road-specific beam pattern I have ever come across is the Exposure Strada.

fossyant

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

I use a Magicshine on the road. It has a rubber O ring mount on it so if I'm feeling nice I can dip it so it doesn't dazzle people, then put it back up do I can see where I'm going.
I'm not happy dipping it (if the road has lots of potholes) I just cover the top/right hand side temporarily with my hand as I'm riding. Not ideal but does the job.

Waaay to much spill for Copenhagen - magicshines are off road lights - got one for my MTB, and they have to be angled right down, but in a cycle friendly place, where laws with bike lights are different - nope.

thistle_

If you can't find one with a considerate beam pattern, could you make a cutout that would shape it to the pattern you need? Something similar to car headlamp deflectors when using a RH drive car where people drive on the right.

Covering a Magicshine by hand cuts the beam off pretty well, I'd think it would also work with less bright lights.
I can see why you might not want to be riding somewhere busy with one hand over half your light though

supersonic

The MS clone at £33 could be the option:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterpr ... -904482510

It has a very bright and small hotspot, which when angled down on the ground lights a good sized patch up, then stops abruptly. Outside the hotspot you get a much less intense flood which is good for picking up peripheral objects.

Very nicely made, and superb price.

The Rookie

When I run the MS copy linked to by SS on the road I use the simple expediant of a piece of elecrical tape across the top of the lens, lots of light, and sharp horizontal cut off - sorted.

Simon