'just in case' lights

notnot
notnot Posts: 284
edited September 2012 in Road beginners
With it getting dark earlier, early evening rides are getting closer to sunset time :( No lights on my road bike at the moment; are there lights I could stick in the saddle bag so I've got something to put on for visibility if I'm caught out while the sun's going down? Or am I better just getting normal lights, and unclipping them when not needed?

Comments

  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    It depends where you ride primarily.

    Be seen lights in well lit areas or "see" lights on dark B roads/country/rural
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    Thanks - primarily 'be seen' lights, though might also consider lights to see on the odd occasion I might be on rural roads after sunset.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    What is your budget?
  • woodywmb
    woodywmb Posts: 669
    Get this.
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cat ... t-ec007951

    Size of a 50p bit. Keep it in your saddle pack. Never be without a light that will alert cars coming towards you.
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1296598/
  • big_p
    big_p Posts: 565
    these are excellent http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=51663
    the front wont light the road ahead of you but there well bright enough to let drivers see you.
  • andyeb
    andyeb Posts: 407
    Personally I run with full lights in flashing mode even during the day - especially so if the sun is low in the sky and therefore likely to blind drivers.

    Better safe than sorry. Since I'd be carrying my lights in my back pack anyway (in case I have to work late), if I'm going to carry the weight, the lights may as well be doing something useful right?
  • karlth
    karlth Posts: 156
    big p wrote:
    these are excellent http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=51663
    the front wont light the road ahead of you but there well bright enough to let drivers see you.

    Halfords currently have those on a 20% off, if you don't mind dancing with the devil ;)
  • arthur_scrimshaw
    arthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    I've got a pair of these. Nice.....

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=86292
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    Thanks - could spend up to £50, but be happy to get something under £30 :) I've seen those Frog lights before - they do a decent job, then? Or I could get a rear one of those and one of those cateyes linked for the front...

    Also saw Electron Backupz advertised on CRC. Anyone used them? Recharging via USB might be handy.
  • k-dog
    k-dog Posts: 1,652
    I've got the old Backupz which lives in my saddle bag. I generally leave my rear light on my seatpost as it's out of the way but in the summer don't carry a front light.

    That at least keeps me legal and it's surprisingly bright for a tiny thing - and the watch type battery lasts for ages.
    I'm left handed, if that matters.
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    I've just got this even cheaper Knog light

    At £4 it just lives on my handlebars. A single LED but its proper bright and no one's crashed in to me yet.
  • AchillesLeftKnee
    AchillesLeftKnee Posts: 713
    notnot wrote:
    Recharging via USB might be handy.
    Personally, I wouldn't bother with rechargable for lights that are "to be seen" as opposed to "to see with". Dinky little rechargable lights cost a hatload more than battery lights, don't have amazing life per charge, and most importantly CAN'T BE RECHARGED WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE ROAD. With battery lights, all you need is a couple of spare batteries and you're illuminated for (literally) weeks.

    Also, might just be me, but I don't see a lot of point in having just one light on the rear. You've no idea whether rear lights are on or not, so having two on there seems pretty obligatory to me.

    Finally, if you really, really want to be seen by every car that comes even remotely close, get some reflective clothing. Full beam lights will light you up from literally hundreds of meters away, at which range no buggers gonna see your rear lights.
    Mangeur
  • haf1zur
    haf1zur Posts: 124
    i use two of these

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251091020942? ... 1439.l2649

    comes with rear lights as well

    lights up everything, impossible not to blind people, and when not used on a bike, works as a torch
    http://www.facebook.com/BringBorisBikesToNewham
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    craker wrote:
    I've just got this even cheaper Knog light

    At £4 it just lives on my handlebars. A single LED but its proper bright and no one's crashed in to me yet.

    That's a thought. So I could get two of the Knog strobe, and one of the little ones to have a 2nd back light :)

    Right, now some gloves...
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    JE James have good deals on Knogs :) Now I just need something else from there for around £3 to get the free postage. Might just get some batteries... They've got USB lights at a big discount, but these don't look especially good to be honest http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart-su ... 42688.html
  • Guanajuato
    Guanajuato Posts: 399
    The Tacx Lumos lights are great 'be seen' lights, as they're different.
    They replace the end plugs on your handlebars. The only issue is that water eventually gets into them. I got them replaced under warranty and have now wrapped cling film around the battery to keep water out as much as possible.
  • Guanajuato
    Guanajuato Posts: 399
    The Tacx Lumos lights are great 'be seen' lights, as they're different.
    They replace the end plugs on your handlebars. The only issue is that water eventually gets into them. I got them replaced under warranty and have now wrapped cling film around the battery to keep water out as much as possible.
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    The knogs have arrived now - nicely designed things, but seem to be getting slightly further afield now. If I want something that will do for riding unlit roads as it's getting dark but not risk blinding drivers on lit roads, what kind of brightness do I want.

    And yes, I know this is ridiculously quick to be upgrading :)
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    viewtopic.php?p=17265285#17265285
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    The Knog lights are great. Very handy, cheap, lightweight, simple to snap in your handlbar and very visible. They come in a bunch of colours and various suzes and shapes.
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    Thanks - that's a v helpful link. I think dealextreme can take a while for things to arrive, though. If I wanted to buy something in the UK, is one like this likely to do the job - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/smart-lunar-35- ... ight-2010/ - or would I likely be back here in a week or two asking about a new light :)
  • mikebikemike
    mikebikemike Posts: 166
    I usually have a head torch in my bag for "just in case"
    Alpkit ones cost £15 and have a rear LED. They're obviously more useful for making repairs/looking for dropped keys etc etc than a standard bike light. The torch is excellent but the rear LED is best as a suplementary rear light. They're 15 quid

    http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?tar ... ory_id=288
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    Thanks. I've decided it would be useful to have a pair of lights to see and be seen - ended up on an unlit road near sunset last evening... Seems a shame to attach them to my lovely slick road bike, but it would look a lot less slick in a ditch :)

    Are the torches linked here the best bet? viewtopic.php?p=17265285#17265285 From looking round, I suspect that the 25/35 lux sets you see around would be underpowered... Dealextreme has a week or so delay on shipping the torches, though :( Any good deals around more locally/with shorter shipping time?

    Think I'll try and get something ordered today, anyway - will be good to have some lights to use :)
  • haf1zur
    haf1zur Posts: 124
    notnot wrote:
    Thanks. I've decided it would be useful to have a pair of lights to see and be seen - ended up on an unlit road near sunset last evening... Seems a shame to attach them to my lovely slick road bike, but it would look a lot less slick in a ditch :)

    Are the torches linked here the best bet? viewtopic.php?p=17265285#17265285 From looking round, I suspect that the 25/35 lux sets you see around would be underpowered... Dealextreme has a week or so delay on shipping the torches, though :( Any good deals around more locally/with shorter shipping time?

    Think I'll try and get something ordered today, anyway - will be good to have some lights to use :)

    those are what i have and very good for what they are
    http://www.facebook.com/BringBorisBikesToNewham

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