It's what I could find quickly today to attach to my bike before riding home.
commuting lights
- Thread starter pedalton
- Start date
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It's what I could find quickly today to attach to my bike before riding home.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
And if you decide to get better ones then you always have those as spares!
Panter
Just call me Chris...
- Location
- Sittingbourne, Kent
That's actually why I bought the Halfords jobbie I linked to above, just to bail me out of a hole when the expensive rear light packed up.
Decided to stick with it and get a second because of its outstanding reliability!
If you're buying hi-viz make sure it has reflective panels. If you intend wearing a rucksack, a rucksack cover might be a better option.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Lights aren't only for night time, I was annoyed with myself today for forgetting mine, I would have ridden with them on today as it's gloomy and wet out here anyway, though it was daytime for both rides. My personal rule is that if it's approaching half the cars having lights on then I want them on my bike too, or if I'm cycling in and out of dark shadow in winter time between buildings.
I run Smart half watt ones which are cheap and bright as my main rear light, as I have several of them so normally keep spare in my bag, then I have a cheaper front light that I use as my back up and a Hope one to see with, though most of my commuting is done before it's dark, just for the next few weeks I actually need the light it gives on unlit cycle paths.
I run Smart half watt ones which are cheap and bright as my main rear light, as I have several of them so normally keep spare in my bag, then I have a cheaper front light that I use as my back up and a Hope one to see with, though most of my commuting is done before it's dark, just for the next few weeks I actually need the light it gives on unlit cycle paths.
andyfraser
Über Member
- Location
- Bristol
I saw someone last night with two cheap lights fitted; one front, one rear; both set to flashing on an unlit section of country road. Deity only knows how they could tell where they were going.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
You won't be disappointed its a great light for the money.
I also recently acquired a volt 300. Very good on its own. Your right about cheaper lights. I also have a £30 front light but its far less than half the brightness of the £60 volt300. Rear lights dont need to be so bright. I find any one will do within reason.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
I dislike Cateye lights. They used to be the best going, but in the last few years have failed to keep up. They're very expensive for not that great a build or design the clips fail after little use and the lights themselves aren't much better. I didn't much like anything I saw on UK websites have resorted to DX.com which is fantastically cheap for a better product. Although the two weeks shipping is a bit of drag.
Custom24
Über Member
- Location
- Oxfordshire
On the other hand, I am a Cateye fan.
For being seen, I have one of these - Cateye EL-135 LED front Light (the one with three LEDs). It is excellent. I've had it three years, use it every day. It is a "being seen" light, but when my headlight has failed, it is passable as a "see with" light in an emergency. The only issue I had was that after two years, the tab on the light that keeps it in the bracket broke, but a rubber O-ring has solved that - it's fine.
I wanted another one for the other bike, and bought a Cateye HL-EL130 LED front Light by mistake (it has one LED). It's fine, but not as bright or as good from the side. I've left it on the lesser used bike.
I use 2XAA Energizer 2400 mAh AA rechargeables in those. They last ages. I went for the hybrid ones that stay charged for long periods while not in use.
On the back, I tried various cheaper lights from Tesco and other places that all failed due to getting water in them before I settled on Cateye again, and I've had no problems since. I have two of these Cateye Omni 5 TL-LD155 5 LED that I've had now for 2 years. I have the older version that's not omnidirectional (it has a opaque back rather than transparent all the way round). I use the Energizer AAA hybrid 800 mAh rechargeables in those. Again, I wanted another pair for the other bike, and ended up buying the 3 led version by accident. These again are also fine, but not quite as good.
For being seen, I have one of these - Cateye EL-135 LED front Light (the one with three LEDs). It is excellent. I've had it three years, use it every day. It is a "being seen" light, but when my headlight has failed, it is passable as a "see with" light in an emergency. The only issue I had was that after two years, the tab on the light that keeps it in the bracket broke, but a rubber O-ring has solved that - it's fine.
I wanted another one for the other bike, and bought a Cateye HL-EL130 LED front Light by mistake (it has one LED). It's fine, but not as bright or as good from the side. I've left it on the lesser used bike.
I use 2XAA Energizer 2400 mAh AA rechargeables in those. They last ages. I went for the hybrid ones that stay charged for long periods while not in use.
On the back, I tried various cheaper lights from Tesco and other places that all failed due to getting water in them before I settled on Cateye again, and I've had no problems since. I have two of these Cateye Omni 5 TL-LD155 5 LED that I've had now for 2 years. I have the older version that's not omnidirectional (it has a opaque back rather than transparent all the way round). I use the Energizer AAA hybrid 800 mAh rechargeables in those. Again, I wanted another pair for the other bike, and ended up buying the 3 led version by accident. These again are also fine, but not quite as good.
Custom24
Über Member
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Here you go - my two favourites as a set for £20. I wish I'd found this when I needed to buy them!
http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Ca...ightset/2NLP?gclid=CMG_9d_jlcICFWTHtAodUHoAlA
http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Ca...ightset/2NLP?gclid=CMG_9d_jlcICFWTHtAodUHoAlA
Ootini
Senior Member
- Location
- North Wales
Sorry to hijack the thread, but does anyone else have trouble finding frame space to actually fit lights? I've got my rear attached to the little loop on my saddle bag, but due to the design it points down a little. Not a big deal, it can still be seen. But I don't have any room on the seat post to fit another, and I was thinking if I bought another light to attach to the "wheel stay" (?) I think it would be pointing up quite a bit. Also, on my handle bars I have a computer on one side of the stem and a single light bracket on the other side, again, no room to fit a spare.
