Daytime cycling lights, which can you recommend for me ?

[fossyant]

Check out the Magicshine SeeMee rear lights. I have the 300 for commuting and the 200 for other rides. They have a smart day mode that changes depending on lighting conditions. Magicshine have also released two new front lights with a really good cutout beam. I have the twin beam version with remote. It also has a day flash. Importantly, the beam pattern does not blind walkers, drivers etc

 

[Binky]

I have to say I don't bother unless it's a particularly dull day, I've always got a rear light on bike but usually don't switch on in daylight unless its winter etc when light a lot less. This time of year especially in bright sun I really don't see the point.

 

[Sea of vapours]

They're very good lights but the design with the rubber band round the charging port and on/off switch is terrible.

You're talking about the circumferential band, covering the charge port, aren't you? i.e. not the band holding the light onto the bike. Why is this a terrible design? It seems to me to be much better than the typical 'clip off cover' type of arrangement.

 

[biggs682]

Nothing too bright.

Well that's most of cycle chat counted for 😁

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I have 3 front lights - all rechargeable

2 are there for normal use - visible but cheap with a wide visibility
2 means that is one turns out to be low on charge then there is still one around

and one other that is much brighter and has a sharper beam - only used when it gets dark and I need the path illuminated - it needs to be pointed at the path and not towards oncoming traffic

 

[fossyant]

I have to say I don't bother unless it's a particularly dull day, I've always got a rear light on bike but usually don't switch on in daylight unless its winter etc when light a lot less. This time of year especially in bright sun I really don't see the point.

Bright sun can be an issue for those with crap eyesight (plenty of those drivers on the road). Rear are also very useful in tree cover with stippled light.

 

[dicko]

After much deliberation I have decided on the Magicshine Seeme 150 Smart bike light combo. I also received a 10% off first order when accessing the web page. Thank you all for your invaluable assistance you gave me.

 

[rualexander]

You're talking about the circumferential band, covering the charge port, aren't you? i.e. not the band holding the light onto the bike. Why is this a terrible design? It seems to me to be much better than the typical 'clip off cover' type of arrangement.

Yes the rubber band covering the charging port and the switch.
It's terrible for a few reasons: it can move so that the wee nub on the rubber is not aligned with the switch so it can be hard to activate the switch; it can be awkward to connect the charger cable and the band can put pressure on the charging port/connector; it's not waterproof so if left out in rain water can get inside the unit and kill it, this happened to me when camping and my bike was outside overnight lying on its side.
Exposure repaired it but if they'd designed it better they wouldn't have had to. I'm not the only person to have had this issue either.

 

[Mrs M]

I use Bontrager daytime lights, small rechargeable and bright enough with a few settings

 

[PaulSB]

Yes the rubber band covering the charging port and the switch.
It's terrible for a few reasons: it can move so that the wee nub on the rubber is not aligned with the switch so it can be hard to activate the switch; it can be awkward to connect the charger cable and the band can put pressure on the charging port/connector; it's not waterproof so if left out in rain water can get inside the unit and kill it, this happened to me when camping and my bike was outside overnight lying on its side.
Exposure repaired it but if they'd designed it better they wouldn't have had to. I'm not the only person to have had this issue either.

I agree "the wee nub" can move when opening/closing the charging port. I've known this happen once. It's true if the band is not pulled back sufficiently it can put pressure on the cable. The solution is to pull the band back and fully expose the charging port. Under normal usage the unit is perfectly waterproof, leaving one's bike laying on it's side, outside, in the rain is hardly normal usage. I suspect many "waterproof" devices would fail with this sort of treatment.

My mobile phone, and I suspect 99.99999% of phones, has an open/uncovered charging port. I only have to go outside in the rain to get a "moisture in port" warning. Now that is bad design.

 

[rualexander]

leaving one's bike laying on it's side, outside, in the rain is hardly normal usage. I suspect many "waterproof" devices would fail with this sort of treatment.

Of course it's normal usage, never been camping before?
In any case, clearly being out in rain is normal usage for a bike light, whether it's on its side or not.

 

[Sea of vapours]

In any case, clearly being out in rain is normal usage for a bike light, whether it's on its side or not.

I think that last phrase is pretty critical. My normal usage does involve heavy, prolonged rain (unfortunately!), but des not involve lying on its side. overnight outside a tent / bivvy. In my normal usage, the port is facing downwards, since I put the light on that way, and is covered by the rubber cover in such a way that I've not so far, in a few years of usage, had an issue. Your 'normal' is more challenging obviously!

 

[freiston]

I just leave my dynamo lights switched on. Being StVZO, properly set up, they don't have the "too bright" issue.

Personally, I find the biggest advantage of DRL to be identifying moving vehicles from parked ones when looking in my rear view mirror (on the bike - I don't drive) or glancing over my shoulder. To a lesser extent, this happens looking forward and sideways - I say lesser because generally, I find it easier to distinguish moving vehicles from parked ones when looking forward. Occasionally I have been aware that a cyclist might have been "picked out" earlier due to DRL but generally, my impression is that I see them irrespective. I have to admit that when I'm using my mirror or glancing over my shoulder, I'm not looking for bikes but big scary cars. Saying that, I do use the mirror on cycle tracks when pulling out to overtake other cyclists/avoid pedestrians and other obstacles.

 

[PaulSB]

Of course it's normal usage, never been camping before?
In any case, clearly being out in rain is normal usage for a bike light, whether it's on its side or not.

I haven't been camping with my bike. To describe normal usage as leaving your bike, and therefore light, laying on it's side, all night, in the rain is to stretch "normal usage" beyond reasonable limits.

Bikes are designed to be used upright and any equipment attached to a bike would be designed to function in this mode. I've used two Tracers, front and rear, on two bikes. On one bike the mounting is bars and seat post and the other ⅔ up the fork and top of the seat stay. In neither instance has moisture been a problem.

The company probably recognised the light had been used outside of what most would consider the norm. My guess is Exposure fixed your light as a good customer service in the expectation it would be received as such. Instead you choose to criticise the company on the web. I find that hard to understand.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I haven't been camping with my bike. To describe normal usage as leaving your bike, and therefore light, laying on it's side, all night, in the rain is to stretch "normal usage" beyond reasonable limits.

Bikes are designed to be used upright and any equipment attached to a bike would be designed to function in this mode. I've used two Tracers, front and rear, on two bikes. On one bike the mounting is bars and seat post and the other ⅔ up the fork and top of the seat stay. In neither instance has moisture been a problem.

The company probably recognised the light had been used outside of what most would consider the norm. My guess is Exposure fixed your light as a good customer service in the expectation it would be received as such. Instead you choose to criticise the company on the web. I find that hard to understand.

In my experience any bike likely to be used by teenagers needs to be OK dumped on its side when they arrive somewhere

especially if they are boys

they would be lucky if they are dumped chain side up!!

this does seem to have changed since "I were a lad" but I always noticed that I was more careful than most people
at West Kirby Marine Lake in summer (Dave will know it) mine was often the only one leaning against a wall!!