Front Lights

[Maylian]

My work hours have recently changed so I'm now cycling in at 5am and can be leaving around 9pm and especially in the winter months I'm conscious about being as visible as possible.

Currently on the front I have a Cateye EL-135 which at short range seems quite bright to me but my colleague who saw me cycling in this morning said I was barely visible with a car behind me. So I'm looking to get a decent enough front light to work either on its own or in tandem with the cateye.

Requirements:
* circa: £60-80
* battery powered (unless can find a cheap magicshine)
* good visibility

The light will mostly be used for my commute which is only about 4miles and most of it is on main roads so battery life doesn't need to be extensive. The lights I've been looking at so far have been the mj-808 but not sure where I can get this cheapest, exposure spark and the hope 1 although not keen on the battery pack.

Any advice would be great, thanks.

 

[Norm]

Hope 1.

 

[scouserinlondon]

Hope 1.

plus 1

 

[the_mikey]

If by battery powered you mean by AA's rather than a rechargeable pack, then Hope1.

 

[smokeysmoo]

With those working hours I'd say you need a new job not a new light

 

[Cubist]

T6 XML Magicshince clone. Stupidly bright, and less than half your budget. Get two and set fire to teh tarmac.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-smo...te-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82507

 

[cyberknight]

With those working hours I'd say you need a new job not a new light

Lol

this week i have been leaving the house at 6 am and getting back about 7 pm , thats an 11 hour shift every day+ commuting .Next week i am on "nights " which means i will leave the house at 7 pm and get back about 8 am .

 

[Radman]

Agree with Cubist, my friend has just received his from hong kong from the same site and

it cost him £28 and its stupidly bright, but it does have a rechargable pack but its not that big

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/p7-wat...te-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82734

 

[Bobtoo]

Is this any good? Halfords seem to be offering a good deal on it.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_781905_langId_-1_categoryId_165636

 

[Tynan]

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rsp-night-sabre-1w-front-astrum-twin-1-2w-rear-id54230.html

this is what I have at the mo, very brigt and very small, the front is rechargeable, as bright as you;want for commuting in town I'd say

£28 including a quality rear as well

 

[smokeysmoo]

Is this any good? Halfords seem to be offering a good deal on it.

I saw one of these somewhere recently, oh yes, it was HERE

 

[cyberknight]

http://www.jejamescy...ar-id54230.html

this is what I have at the mo, very brigt and very small, the front is rechargeable, as bright as you;want for commuting in town I'd say

£28 including a quality rear as well

That looks a good deal .

I was going to suggest ...

http://www.planet-x-...-rear-light-set

Unless your cycling in unlit areas i find the magicshine lights a bit over kill

I use these as a "see me " light ..

http://www.dealextre...unt-3-aaa-26800

I used to use the smart r1 which is suppiled in the package from planet x and they are very very good , only recently moving to an r2 , which is very similar to the one that tynan uses along with a standard rear light on each pannier .

My see where i am going is a mj 808 magicshine .

I remember a cycling plus review a while ago of the cateye that you linked and for the money it basically said they were underpowered.

 

[Norm]

Is this any good? Halfords seem to be offering a good deal on it.

http://www.halfords....tegoryId_165636

I've bought some Cateye lights in the past. They don't get used any more.

All of these shots were taken at a fixed exposure.

Cateye HL135 on its own


Cateye HL135 bottom left, against Exposure Joystick on low bottom right. The smallest Exposure on its lowest setting has a broader, brighter beam.


Cateye HL135 bottom left, against Exposure Joystick on high, the Cateye has all-but disappeared



Cateye HL135 bottom left, against Exposure MaxxD on low, similar to the Joystick on high


Cateye HL135 bottom left, against Exposure MaxxD on low, yes, the Cateye is still turned on.

 

[Tynan]

oh go on, mention the cost of the MaxxD

I have the Race and like it very much but it's on the chunky side, the four and five cells ones look much bigger

granted for genuine night riding they're nice to have

 

[Maylian]

With those working hours I'd say you need a new job not a new light

Hehe its not quite that bad One week I'll start work at 5 and leaving around 3, other days starting at 12pm and leaving around 9.