Front light buying help needed

[blueybug]

On my list of "must get for family present list"

I have Front light for bike upto 40 pounds

Now Ive looked at the cateye 530 light but it gets bad reviews, whats the best for the $$

Its just going to be on a bike traveling to work (1mile) and back again

Thanks

 

[gaz]

I always suggest having two lights, one constant and one flashing, but you won't get much for £40 doing that.

This might intrest you

 

[HJ]

If you can stretch to about £50, you could probable pick-up one of these which is easily the brightest light you will find at that price point...

 

[wilko]

Have a look at this months Cycling Plus magazine they have done a road test on low budget front lights.

 

[andrew_s]

I'd go for a Fenix L2D torch. I use a thick rubber band (tent rubber) to attach mine to the bars.

The Magicshine is ordered from a warehouse place in Hong Kong. Very cheap for what it is, but considerable overkill for a short commute. The "900 lumens" full power mode is actually more like 550, according to those who have measured it. The other point is that delivery is very slow - up to a month.
Links:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149
http://www.bestofferbuy.com/haiii-ssc-p7c-sxo-3mode-900lumen-led-bike-light-set-p-27282.html
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29489 (with headtorch mount as well)

 

[kfinlay]

£14 will get you two of these one flashing and one constant will do you good for being seen. Maybe not the best for unlit roads. Rebadged version have been reviewed in this months C+ and got 9/10 at £19 each!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...STRK:MEWAX:VRI

 

[jimboalee]

For a 1 mile commute morning and night, something low cost from a thrift store.

Unless your 1 mile is totally unlit in the countryside.
Then,
you could buy a £10 rechargable 500,000 candlepower lantern and strap it to the handlebars.

 

[blueybug]

Well, Ive gone for the Hope Vision 1 front light
But need to get a good deal, cheapest is 72 pounds

 

[colinr]

Ive looked at the cateye 530 light but it gets bad reviews

+1 (or is it -1?). I've one of these and I hate it. In fact I'm on my second (replacement) as it's cleverly designed to get water damaged as quickly as possible.

 

[jimboalee]

There's no reason why you 'have to' buy a lamp specifically designed to fit on a bicycle.

Any torch will do.

One piece of legislation that needs to be remembered is bicycle lamps should be visible from the side view.
This is easy to remedy with a slice of white plastic milk canister and some tape.

If you can see your front and rear lamps reflected in a shop window, that's all that is required and the police will leave you alone.

For a 1 mile commute, I wouldn't consider spending over a tenner.

 

[Llama]

+1 re two front lights

i would advise the following:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=29389
£18 for a front and back set

if there are any tesco 3w lights stuill available get one of them too

 

[Big John]

The Tesco 3W light has been discontinued I think. I've got the Tesco 1W LED that runs on two AA batteries. Still early days as I've not had it long but is VERY bright. The downside is there is no flashing mode and you need to either construct a bracket of your own making or fork out about £6 for a purpose built one but well worth the effort. Under £10 too.

 

[bad boy]

Niterider Max 1w waterproof also comes in at £39 squids and well worth it.

Not read a totally bad review anywhere either by buyers or magazines and in fact the niterider 5.0 which I use also won the best low budget cycle light.

I have the max and the 5.0 which is £23 and they are very bright indeed you will not be missed at all.

At the cycle show they had a stand with the lights in a sort of fish tank full of water on constant flashing mode, they do not let water in at all.

I would have one of these all day long over the cateye 530 no comparison. They also look pretty sleek and the mount is very good.

 

[kfinlay]

£14 will get you two of these one flashing and one constant will do you good for being seen. Maybe not the best for unlit roads. Rebadged version have been reviewed in this months C+ and got 9/10 at £19 each!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...STRK:MEWAX:VRI

Had a chance3 to try this light out today in the cold - about 2C. After about 1 hr it lost a lot of it's brightness - I was able to look straight into the beam so obviously not bright. I was using 4x AAA 900mAH batteries and the cold wouldn't have helped but have now ordered 8 x 1200mAH batteries for £7 so still much cheaper than the Edinburgh Bicycle one

here's the batteries is case someone needs any

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230392791961&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[shouldbeinbed]

for that money you can't beat a Smart Lunar 15 or 25 set IMHO. very bright, robust and weatherproof front and back lights that ill get you seen well in advance. Commuting for a mile they will run for months on a set of decent batteries.

I'm not sure what the distance of your commute has to do with your lights, assuming that you're using them to be seen by rather than them being the only light on the road in front of you.