Bike Lights

[Lovacott]

I got a set of USB rechargeable lights from Lidl for less than £15. The front one is so bright it dazzles pedestrians and car drivers unless I've got it on one of the lower modes. The rear one has only got one LED but it's as noticeable as a motor vehicle tail light.

I have been using a pair of these EBUYFIRE rechargeable LED's and they are very good.

I also have a bottle dynamo and a set of Nean lights.

I use the LED's on the lanes and turn them off when I hit civilisation.

I have the LED's angled down and left so that I can see potholes and other crap you get on country lanes without dazzling any oncoming traffic (not that I see a lot of traffic).

The dynamo setup is great for in town stuff.

I wouldn't rely on a single light due to the lanes being literally pitch black with no road markings or signs.

 

[Spokesmann]

After a lot of shopping around and comparing, I went for a new Cateye VOLT 1700, very, very bright, easy to operate with gloves, batter pack can be changed and good build quality. Shop around for the best deal prices vary considerably. Range from 130 to over 200. I do a lot of early morning and night time riding so need something I can rely on.

 

[Notafettler]

how it can literally dazzle motorists. T

Motorist don't take kindly to being dazzled changing their lights to high beam, blindly the cyclist. Not great.

 

[Chris S]

If it's one of the recent, last few years,ones, i don't see how it can literally dazzle motorists. They use the german approved beam pattern.
I agree that they are excellent. The fronts are well up to riding on dark country lanes.
Bike lights are one of the prime areas of bike marketing bullshittery.

Perhaps it directs the beam to the right?

 

[Sharky]

Perhaps it directs the beam to the right?

That's an interesting thought. I hang my lights under the bars, not on top, so would work for me!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

At this time of year I often find I am riding around and the light starts to go - hence light are needed - or at least advisable

Now - I had a bike a while ago that had integral light - OK it was an ebike - so I could switch them on by pressing a button on the handlebars as I went along
I love that idea - no stopping to get off and press small buttons on the back and front of the bike

Now - I was wondering if there are any lights that have a centralised control - so the light is whereever - fron ot back - but they can be switched on by a central button.
Logically it could be powered from a powerpack on the bars as well - hence simple to remove and recharge
clearly it would need some wiring - but it would just follow the brakes lines plus a bit

seems like a good idea - but I have never seen one -

 

[gmclean]

Just ordered these for myself: Blackburn Dayblazer 800 Front and 65 Rear Light Set.

I have lights already but they are 'be seen' lights, not 'seeing' lights (front in particular). They get good reviews.

 

[Dan Ferris]

Thank you everyone for your help and input. I've gone with the Storm Lite as i needed some other bits from Wiggle anyway. I'll be testing them out next week, looking forward (providing they do the job!) to getting out in the dark.

Thanks again.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I got a set of USB rechargeable lights from Lidl for less than £15. The front one is so bright it dazzles pedestrians and car drivers unless I've got it on one of the lower modes. The rear one has only got one LED but it's as noticeable as a motor vehicle tail light.

I use them myself and recently bought another spare set when they were on promotion again. Mine were £12.99 a pop. 99% of the time I only use the front on the lowest setting and it is plenty good enough for roads with lighting. The only time I've ever used the middle setting for any distance was when I went for a ride in some woods at night and it was pitch black under tree cover. I double up the Lidl rear light with a cheapo Chinese flasher costing a couple of quid as a belt & braces measure.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Tried various lights over the years, some of the very early day LED variants by Cateye , Various Moon lights etc. Bought the cheap Cree torches from China which are still going. However I`m a firm believer in pay cheap you pay twice. As an all year commuter, why scrimp on what is essentially a safety item. Spend the money on Leyzene, Cateye Exposure etc . Just as an example the Exposure lights are fully programmable to give you lots of different lighting options. Currently running a Strada 900 and Joystick on the helmet.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Bought the cheap Cree torches from China which are still going. However I`m a firm believer in pay cheap you pay twice. As an all year commuter, why scrimp on what is essentially a safety item. Spend the money on Leyzene, Cateye Exposure etc . Just as an example the Exposure lights are fully programmable to give you lots of different lighting options.

There's a lot of truth in "buy junk, buy twice" but once you get to a decent quality level all you are doing is paying way more money for a brand name offering just a little more performance or durability. Lights can get damaged and they can get stolen or fall off. As regards programming lights, this is just a gimmick. A manual switch with a High, Medium, and Low setting is more than enough.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Spoken like a true tight wad .

 

[andrew_s]

At this time of year I often find I am riding around and the light starts to go - hence light are needed - or at least advisable

Now - I had a bike a while ago that had integral light - OK it was an ebike - so I could switch them on by pressing a button on the handlebars as I went along
I love that idea - no stopping to get off and press small buttons on the back and front of the bike

I sort the switching problem by using a hub dynamo with a sensomatic light.
If it's dark, the lights are on; if it's light, the lights are off. If I ride through a tunnel (even of thick trees), the lights come on, and turn back off as I ride out the other end.
The only time I use the switch is for daytime fog and railway platforms.

The sensor is quite conservative, so if it's a dull day in winter, the lights can be on all day, and of course there are no worries about run time.

 

[Lovacott]

I sort the switching problem by using a hub dynamo with a sensomatic light.
on all day, and of course there are no worries about run time.

I've been hunting around for a hub dynamo wheel (27.5 x 2.10) but to no avail.

Any recommendations?

 

[andrew_s]

I've been hunting around for a hub dynamo wheel (27.5 x 2.10) but to no avail.

Any recommendations?

Anyone that builds wheels to order should be able to sell you one, but you'll have to make contact and ask, rather than just clicking on a web page. There are quite a number of specialist wheel building firms, but many of the better local bike shops will also build wheels to order.
e.g.
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m10b0s170p0/Wheels/Dynamo-Handbuilt-Wheels
Taylor Wheels (in Germany, probably cheaper).


Don't forget to say it's a disc brake wheel if that's what you want. If you use rim brakes, you could also ask for a disc hub and a non-disc rim, by way of future proofing.

(I build my own wheels)