Helmet lights for commuting

[crazyjoe101]

Just as long as you have something lower as nothing is more confusing that a light 4 ft in the air. It doesn't say "Cyclist"

In urban environments I run a Cateye Volt 100 on flash which to me is on the limit of what I would want on flash, any brighter and I would be worried about dazzling people, I have the bright 'spot' aimed down and I am considering applying a strong orange peel effect to the lense to eliminate the spot altogether.
If I am riding on unlit or country roads then I will have my T6 with flattened beam on steady at medium/full power, again with the focused part of the beam on the road only.

 

[Arjimlad]

Like Arjimlad I have a Moon Gem 1.0 on my helmet, and I always ride with it on flash mode, having read the comments above though I'm considering changing this.
I use the light mainly to point at cars on sideroads and waiting to turn right from the oncoming lane and since it's used as a 'be seen' it's always on flash. What makes a flashing light on a helmet worse than one on the handlebars? I understand that bright lights shouldn't be on helmets as this makes it exceedingly easy to dazzle or blind people but I didn't realise flashing was an issue.

I have mine on flashing, it is not so bright as to dazzle but it does shout "cyclist" to anyone looking at a mass of oncoming lights in a rainy rear-view mirror when stuck in traffic. I find fewer lane-changing motorist incidents when I have it on compared to just having the steady main light.

 

[Drago]

Do you gents not worry about the dent in your skull a metal bodied light will make if you auger into the ground head first? I've seen one of these first hand, and its enough to put Hannibal Lecter off his lunch.

 

[crazyjoe101]

Do you gents not worry about the dent in your skull a metal bodied light will make if you auger into the ground head first? I've seen one of these first hand, and its enough to put Hannibal Lecter off his lunch.

It would be negligible compared to the crator my camera would make.

 

[mr_cellophane]

It would be negligible compared to the crator my camera would make.

Just ask Michael Schumacher about that.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Pretty sure the flimsy plastic mouting clips would snap off and the light would come free in the event of a crash. I know Go Pro mounts are designed with this in mind, and plastic lights aren't as hard as the asphalt your skull so should be ok. I think...

 

[Drago]

I wouldn't bet my life on it. As I say, seen the aftermath and its messy. it can and does happen. Don't rely on on a process that's not been scientifically tested to save you.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Well it's an important point, the mount should be designed to breakaway in the event of a crash, but without getting in to the helmet debate (if that's even possible!), helmets will only save your brains from low speed impacts, i.e. falling sideways at 5mph. Your at the mercy of your skull in the event of a high speed headplant regardless.

It's also important to consider the added safety of adding the light in the first place, less chance of crashing, less chance of light being buried into your skull!

 

[Rustybucket]

today I rode to work with my helmet light on low contrast mode & my 2 Cateye 600 facing down, 1 on flash & the other 1 on low constant.
Bus still nearly got me had to stop quickly and skidded along the A40 - fun!

 

[ianrauk]

today I rode to work with my helmet light on low contrast mode & my 2 Cateye 600 facing down, 1 on flash & the other 1 on low constant.
Bus still nearly got me had to stop quickly and skidded along the A40 - fun!

You can have all the lights in the world upon your person and still some motorists still fail to see you.

 

[Rustybucket]

You can have all the lights in the world upon your person and still some motorists still fail to see you.

I know I was lit up like a bloody Christmas tree!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Just ordered a helmet light mount for my Cateye Volt 300 front light as I’d like extra visibility at night. It got me wondering, just how bright the lights are on your lids?

I find 300-400 lumen pointed down at the road is generally ok and doesn’t dazzle oncoming cars/cyclists, but how bright would you go on your lid? Brighter obviously isn't necessarily safer, can you go bright enough to illuminate the road without dazzling other road users?

When all the lights are competing out on the road the extra lumens on top would really come in handy for spotting those potholes, particularly when the road is wet and orange glow from street lights dominates.

I bought some el’ cheapo lights from eBay but they are hopeless at illuminating the road, and having spent not very much they turn themselves off periodically so aren’t the most reliable.

So what are you using up top?

Gosh, a volt 300 on your hat. are you hoping to signal passing spacecraft? I have one of those and regard it very very much as an on the bars option - it is my Brompton to see by light even on very dark early morning roads.

I have had a smart lunar 25 on a helmet before now and it strobed every bollard, road sign numberplate and any other reflective detail for 100 yards and more ahead of me,I could see the hi viz jackets hooked over the drivers seats in vans and bus cabs pulsing back at me & that light isn't nearly as powerful as the volt 300.

I came to the conclusion after a while that even the lunar was rather OTT for something at that level in a drivers and pedestrians eyeline. You also need to think that they do have a weight factor and on a mount stand a bit proud of your helmet, you are aware when you tilt your head one way or the other that there is a lump of something up there.

I now have a generic cateye 5 led bar thing (£15 from Halfords),very much a 'to be seen by' level of output light, It fixes around the front vents rather than on top so doesn't look or feel as odd once in place. It still gets me seen over the tops of vehicles for a decent distance but without the power & potential to temporatily blind or flash spot the eyes of someone driving a couple of tons of metal in my direction.

 

[RoubaixCube]

I honestly think there isnt enough advice on helmet lights. I recently bought an evans front & rear light set that was small enough to attach on helmets - front light is 80 lum and rear is 15 lum. The 80 seems pretty bright but the beam is not focused.
Not bad for an urban commute where most streets are properly lit up but i worry about the coming winter and going through this thread made me put in an order for a 150 lum lezyne which has a little more focused beam i think.

my standard setup is a Cree Q5 (specs say about 350 lum) doin its flashy thing on my bar. some cheapo rear light from a poundshop on my rackmount which will eventually be replaced. Since ive just installed lights on my helmet, the front 80 lum will be at its mid or lowest non flash setting depending on how dark it is out there and my rear light will be flashing obviously. If i dont have my DX trunkbag attached that i use for my commute then i run with an old cateye TL-LD130 on the seatpost which is decent enough for rides around town. I cant really attach a light to the back of my trunkbag because the light points downwards so wouldnt get seen by anybody (great design topeak )

I have spare cree lights so i guess i will be adding an extra onto my bar if i decide to go for a long tour. since its made out of aluminum i think its too heavy to be mounted on a helmet though its certainly doable but would be uncomfortable over time.

what a difference a helmet light makes though! Just being able to light up the road in front just a little bit more when its dark makes me feel all warm inside.

 

[Stonepark]

I just use two small flashers on helmet designed to go on handle bar (cr2032 powered), white to front and red to rear.

On bike (front dynamo hub) has a B&M Fly 40lux, new 80 lux on way and rear has B&M top line rear light/reflector/brake light.

Also for country rides have a Fluxient 3 XML u2, as nothing better than bright light to let drivers know other traffic on narrow lanes as with high hedges and blind corners they are often in middle of the road.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

A set of Ay-Ups, pointing rearward fitted with red Saxon caps is one of my rear lights. Never seen the need for a front pointing up top light, the one on my bars takes care of everything facing forward.