commuting lights

[pedalton]

Hi all,

This is my first post and just started commuting on my mountain bike yesterday. I have the basic white and red reflectors. Are these sufficient or would you suggest lights? Any advice on good types? I can see they run off batteries, would these drain quickly? I look forward to hearing your experiences with this. Thanks.

 

[Cycleops]

If you are going to be riding at night with just reflectors you are risking your well being plus you'll be breaking the law. My experience of lights up to twenty quid is that they fail in a very short time. I have just ordered some Cateye Volt 300s for sixty odd quid so will let you know. Maybe someone else can offer their recommendations.

 

[ScotiaLass]

It depends on where you are commuting.
Is it on roads that are lit, or unlit lanes/towpaths etc?
There's such a choice out there...I have lights on both my bikes, mainly incase I get 'caught out', so they aren't that powerful but are good enough on lit roads.

 

[Ganymede]

I have used the same basic (ie cheap) cateye and little clip-on back light for 2 years now - I use rechargeable batteries, so I do have to keep an eye on them but do not have to keep buying them. I should mention that I don't cycle commute every day and I have a short commute of 3.5 miles each way - some of the people on this site cycle 20 miles or more each way each day and indeed you would need better lights for that. How far do you commute?

If you are only cycling on well-lit roads you can get away with the bare minimum legal requirement (ie 1 white light on the front and one red one on the back, though I would always have a flashing light on the back as it says "bike!") but if you are using unlit lanes then you need to think about being able to see. My cateye is enough for me on unlit lanes but I do not cycle fast - if you are a speedy cyclist you need to see further into the distance.

The most important thing for BEING SEEN is to wear REFLECTIVE clothing (not hi-viz, ie dayglo yellow or orange). Reflective bands round your ankles or on your sleeves are also good.

Welcome to the forum, by the way! Cycle commuting is great and I love cycling in the dark!

 

[Cycleops]

Just found a write up on lights in of all places The Grauniad, quite interesting: http://www.theguardian.com/environm...ay-seen-autumn-cycle-lights-group-test-review
Also this one on Bike Radar of the best cycle lights: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-bike-lights-for-road-cycling-32289/
Might give you a bit of an insight.
Have look on the big internet sellers sites like Evans and Chain Reaction and read the customer reviews. Things to look out for, as well as obviously how effective they are, is waterproofing and durability of the mounting.

 

[raleighnut]

You can get a decent set of Cateye lights for about £30 and the batteries last for ages (alkaline AA cells are quoted at 280 hrs flashing in 1 of my rears) Why not use them ?
Also be aware that it is illegal to cycle after dark without lights (Although the chances of being fined are pretty slim)

 

[Panter]

Really does depend what you want them for. If it's just to be seen, then you can get away with cheapies (but I strongly recommend two, front and back for when/if one fails) but if you need lights to see by, you need something with a lot more power.
Personally, I like these for the rear lights, only cheap, and look cheap, but have been faultless for 3 Years or so, surviving heavy rain, off-roading and a few crashes.
Fronts, I use Hope vision 1's. Expensive, but ultra reliable with outstanding customer care and with two of them, are bright enough for pitch dark country lanes. (you can find them cheaper if you hunt around)

 

[Jody]

There are loads of options depending on what you intend to use them for and where you ride.

£15-20 buys you an Ebay retina burner. Very cheap, very bright but can be hit and miss on battery quality etc Run time 2-4 hours. If you buy one of these keep it angled down!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item20c5013dc9
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5000LM-So...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item258c34b893

£5-10 on a bright rear
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/claud-butler-proteus-1-rear-light-1-2-watt-led-id80265.html
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smart-lunar-r2-2-x-1-2-watt-rear-light-id64035.html - Run time on this is up to 60 hours

Seems like a reasonable and cheap set of commuter lights for £20. 18 hours run time (front) on a couple of AA batteries.
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/smar...id64043.html?gclid=CILWqa3wiMICFUzMtAod_EsAyQ

Beyond these the sky is the limit in terms of choice and cost.

 

[iggibizzle]

I've been using a couple of cheap £5 a pair tesco lights daily for a couple months now. No battery change yet and been fine in all weathers. I've added a couple of them £2.50 wraparound rubber lights from decathlon too so I'm more visible.

 

[Beebo]

Urban night cycling doesnt require the super lights that some people seem to ride with.
I just use two Smart rear lights, less that £10 each, and a couple of front lights, again both less than £20.
They run off AA or AAA batteries which I liberate from the stationery cupboard at work!

 

[Feastie]

I have a front light that re-charges via a USB cable off my laptop. No batteries needed! Been using it for months and only had to charge it back up once. It's definitely bright enough for city cycling, whether it could light up a country road in the dark headlight-style - I'd be less confident, but if you're doing that kind of riding you're probably looking at the big guns light-wise anyway! Still it's strong enough that it does provide you with a patch of visibility on the road. The same company do a back light, although I've already got one of those so not tried it. Good reviews though.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moon-gem-20-led-rechargeable-front-light/

My battery powered lights seem to last for ages anyway. I've had the same back light for 3 years and never replaced the batteries. This one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Superflash-0-5-Flashing-Light/dp/B001JGFI74

Best thing about it is that the centre flashes whilst the rest of it is on constantly. Thereby solving the "flashing or constant?" dilemma in a single light. Also much cheaper than lots of other lights!

 

[Leaway2]

This would be my suggestion, with some rechargeable AAA batteries.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-CREE-Q...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item53fcd93f87

 

[pedalton]

If you are going to be riding at night with just reflectors you are risking your well being plus you'll be breaking the law. My experience of lights up to twenty quid is that they fail in a very short time. I have just ordered some Cateye Volt 300s for sixty odd quid so will let you know. Maybe someone else can offer their recommendations.

Thank-you so much for pointing this out to me, as you can see I am beginner commuter and not used to riding in the dark. I bought some basic front and rear lights today from a department store running off AAA batteries. That should do for now at least.

How far do you commute?

4.5 miles each way. I ride all on road and quite well lit, I would say. However I am going to up my vis clothing though as suggested on this thread.

Thanks everyone!

 

[fossyant]

Good luck with Department store crap. You need two sets in case one fails.

 

[fossyant]

You must have lights by law