Bicycle lights for beginners??

[bMx334]

Hi guys, I'm new to the cycling scene and I was wondering if I could get any recommendations for a good quality bike light at relatively low cost? All recommendations would be appreciated!

 

[mjr]

Crosspost from https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=112638 - key point from my longer reply there: If you need it now, this is maybe the best legal headlight easily available in the UK for £10 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNION-LED...-USB-Charging-4-hours-batt-life-/262620514154 - 30 lux is just about enough to light dark country lanes.

 

[Hitchington]

These https://www.evanscycles.com/cateye-el135-omni-5-light-set-EV190653

with these...

 

[vickster]

These https://www.evanscycles.com/cateye-el135-omni-5-light-set-EV190653

View attachment 339945

with these...

View attachment 339946

And a charger for the batteries

 

[r04DiE]

Hi guys, I'm new to the cycling scene and I was wondering if I could get any recommendations for a good quality bike light at relatively low cost? All recommendations would be appreciated!

Will you be riding lit roads or unlit roads?

 

[si_c]

These https://www.evanscycles.com/cateye-el135-omni-5-light-set-EV190653

View attachment 339945

with these...

View attachment 339946

With respect, these are abominable, the front light in particular. They might be cheap, but they have really weak output and barely provide additional visibility. They satisfy the legal requirement to have lights fitted, but that's about it. For the same money you can get these

https://www.evanscycles.com/lezyne-hecto-drive-350xl-and-ktv-light-set-y10-EV276730

which are orders of magnitude better.

 

[mjr]

With respect, these are abominable, the front light in particular. They might be cheap, but they have really weak output and barely provide additional visibility. They satisfy the legal requirement to have lights fitted, but that's about it.

Do they? I don't think they do. Not that anyone seems to care any more - even Norfolk police are using them lately. The bigger problem is that they're really weak. For £10 less, the Union lights are legal (K-marked) and pretty decent.

 

[cubey]

Lezyne strip drive rear lights are awesome, unfortunately not so cheap.

 

[User32269]

These fellas from aldi have been great for me.

 

[Hitchington]

With respect, these are abominable, the front light in particular. They might be cheap, but they have really weak output and barely provide additional visibility.

They're fine for me. Each to his/her own.

 

[si_c]

Do they? I don't think they do. Not that anyone seems to care any more - even Norfolk police are using them lately. The bigger problem is that they're really weak. For £10 less, the Union lights are legal (K-marked) and pretty decent.

I think we've got to the point with lights now that meeting the specific standards is broadly irrelevant, partly as they are outdated, and partly as they are unenforceable. What is important is ensuring that the lights we use are fit for purpose.

 

[Bazzer]

Depends what call low cost and what your intended use is. You might find this helpful
http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-database.html

 

[mjr]

I think we've got to the point with lights now that meeting the specific standards is broadly irrelevant, partly as they are outdated, and partly as they are unenforceable. What is important is ensuring that the lights we use are fit for purpose.

Well, yes, the bigger reason to go for K-marked (or BS-marked if you ever find any powerful enough) lights is that you have some assurance that they're going to direct most of their light on the road in a vaguely sensible manner, whereas you can't tell what you're going to get otherwise and many of the lumen-bombers quite happily dump a ton of light on your front wheel or into the sky where it does no good... or even into your eyes or other road users' eyes, where it does harm.

I don't see how the Road Vehicle Lighting Regs are unenforceable, though. They're just mostly unenforced recently.

 

[bMx334]

Thanks guys!! I really appreciate the advice! So would it be more beneficial if I spent slightly more, say £20-£40 in order to ensure I get a decent enough light?

 

[bMx334]

Will you be riding lit roads or unlit roads?

I will probably be riding on a mixture of both? Would this mean I would need a different type of bicycle light depending on what sort of roads I would be cycling on?