Lights
Dizzy the Egg
Posts: 153
Cycled in to work 2 hours ago for the first time ever. However I noticed my front light was pretty weak. I work shifts so am looking to see if anybody could advise where I could get a very powerful front light, and what types would be best.
Cheers
Cheers
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http://niterider.com/prod_endurolith.shtml
http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/foru ... t=12548133
Also don't forget the commuters lights review on this site, though IMHO most reviewed were lights to be seen rather than see by.
A lot depends on budget. You can get some twin halogens (5w+10w) with lead acid battery (SMART etc.) for around £30 that will do a good job. But are bulky, not that sexy and battery life could be better (2.5 hours).
If you can afford £80-100 then top end LED cateye (610), or a Dinotte 200L is within reach - how suitable depends on the nature of the road - if it's lots of potholes and overhanging hedges you may want something with a wider beam. In which case you are in the £150+ MTB track lights arena and next weeks reviews!
HTH - Rufus.
http://store.dinottelighting.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=dinotte&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=549938380&Count2=467078804[/url]
So many lights out there in different price ranges.
For VFM i would check out these as a serious contender to the Dinotte, Exposure etc :
http://www.ayup.com.au/
No, I don't work for them .
I am going to buy a set myself after weeks of research.
Do you know how long you can expect a set of AA NiMH rechargables to last if they were for instance 2500mah? Or a set of Duracell alkaline?
Dinotte quote for the 200l
"Low mode will provide 180 minutes of high intensity light using 2300mAH AA batteries and approximately 100 minutes in High Mode".
Add about 10% more for 2500mah batteries (assuming they really are 2500mah and not overstated on the internet).
Duracells I think are around 2800mah - so you might squeeze 2hrs out of them in High mode, but personally the cost and environmental impact to me would be prohibitive!
HTH - Rufus.
I tend to use a 10W single lamp up front, with a Cateye Opticube lamp on flashing mode.
I've changed the dipped lamp to a 3W halogen which seems ok generally and use the 10W spot in unlit areas - it's great! Main downside is the big lead-acid battery hanging off the frame and battery life if you spend a lot of time using the 10W.
You get what you pay for - this is cheaper than a lot of rechargeable systems (got mine new on ebay for £30 inc postage), gives out a good amount of light but has the weight / battery life penalty.
I also use a cateye LED as front backup (flashing normally but adequate (just) on continually if the smart runs out of juice) and a Blackburn Mars LED on the rear which seems pretty good.
My rear light I always have flashing, but what about the front?
The light isn't needed to see as I cycle on lit London streets, but to flash or not to flash?
Flashing I think would make you stand out more as a cyclist, but would it distract other road users?
Anyway, most cyclists I've seen this past few weeks when evenings have been darker have been using only flashing front LED lights. I've been doing the same in low light and switching on the halogens when it gets 'properly' dark though I imagine just a flasher would do the job in streetlit areas where being seen was the priority.
Flashing lights do make your little point of light stand out as belonging to a bicycle which I guess is a good thing.
Just a pic of my bike.
Help I'm Being Oppressed
The Smart (despite the weight) is great despite being disco-dancy on bumpy 'firetracks'. The battery life is manageable by only keeping one on, but I've bought another battery (£3.99 from Maplins) and another battery-top. Works a treat for the price.
It's just a hill. Get over it.
What battery did you buy?
i need a new one for my smart lights and can't see the suitable one on their website
Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com
Twittering @spen_666
Very impressed with the Smarts. An optional detour for me is a mile or so through a section of dark woodland. I had thought I wouldn't be able to use that route once it got dark but the Smarts have changed that. I'm sure I've ridden motorbikes with dimmer headlights!
Rufus is right - the question is not "What's out there?", but "How much do i want to spend?". I'm a cheapskate!
Yup, that's the battery, currently on offer. Going to take it for a spin tonight having been on charge all day.
I may be wrong but this is what I think is the law in the UK.
The rear red LED may be flashing but only in a blinking fashion as opposed to some random flashing that they can all do. The flashes also need to be intermittent of no more than 1second or something like that anyway (sorry for not having the full facts) The front white LED light cannot be flashing at all unless used in conjunction with another light that has a steady light.
They also have to be fixed to your bike as opposed to yourself although their is no law as far as I am concerned stopping you having lights on you as well as your bike.
I have a rear light on my bike and my bag and a little cateye one on my bar on the front. I also use a HOPE HID light mounted to my helmet to see where I am going on poorly lit areas
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20052559.htm#6
Probably irrelevant anyway as 98% of such lights wouldn't meet the required BS standards!
Having seen some commuters with a set of 0.25 candelas LEDs on the rear of their bikes, producing a pittiful dancing pattern, anything bright and blinky has got to be good IMHO.
It beggars belief that people are willing to ride on busy roads with no / inadequate lights for the sake of a tenner and a few batteries!
Rufus.