Lighting!

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RoubaixCube

RoubaixCube

~Tribanese~
Location
London, UK
Cateye Volt 700 x 2 on the handlebars, and Cateye RapidX x 2 on the front forks. Cateye RapidX x 2 on the rear stays, with an exposure Tracer on the seatpost.

thats a hella lotta lighting - may i ask what sort of conditions you are commuting in?
 

flake99please

We all scream for ice cream
Location
Edinburgh
thats a hella lotta lighting - may i ask what sort of conditions you are commuting in?

Unlit canal path, some unlit road, some well lit main roads. Proportionately, I would say 25%, 10%, 65% in order I have written. Both the Volt 700 are on a constant setting (1 highest setting used on the canal path only, the other lowest setting and on throughout the entire commute). All the Rapid X are on flash mode, with the Tracer on Pulse (lowest brightness).

I start work at 4am each day, so the lights are on for 365 days a year.
 
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RoubaixCube

RoubaixCube

~Tribanese~
Location
London, UK
Okey dokey.:okay:

For a fiver you cant go wrong, I'll be sure to do a little mini review when it arrives - though im not sure what there is to review. size, weight & brightness? Id be curious to know how long the battery lasts though as it doesn't say in the items page.

Unlit canal path, some unlit road, some well lit main roads. Proportionately, I would say 25%, 10%, 65% in order I have written. Both the Volt 700 are on a constant setting (1 highest setting used on the canal path only, the other lowest setting and on throughout the entire commute). All the Rapid X are on flash mode, with the Tracer on Pulse (lowest brightness).

I start work at 4am each day, so the lights are on for 365 days a year.

Much needed then :okay: I could commute by river too but its less of a direct route and just adds too much time ontop. It takes me 40-45mins if I stick to the main roads, tow path would almost be double that, not to mention the extra 8-15miles that it adds on.

Cycling home via the river here is a big no no anyway :tongue: a few months ago a cyclist at night was mugged for his bike on the tow path.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crim...gging-for-bike-along-canal-path-10329956.html

I do cycle past caledonian road in islington where that kid got stabbed for his bike on the way home though. But since its all downhill im usually going 20-27mph. Unless their ursain bolt or linford christie they wont be able to catch me.
 

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
I currently have options from some of those little ones with 4 LED's that wrap round your handlebars, one front and back for emergency be seen ones. Then my normal lighting is one or two smart lights, though I've bought a new Volt 50 which will replace one of the smart lights.

At the front I have an electron nano? as my basic light, and one or two Hope's that I can put on. Though I was thinking about getting a volt or another light that would be rechargable via a USB connection if I realised after setting off to work that I was running out of charge.

I've got lots of duplicate lights from when the kids were little and I made sure they had they same mounts on their bikes so we could swap. And I normally misplace things so it's good to have alternatives that I can grab. Some times I clear out my bag and find several lights lurking in the bottom!

I'm normally commuting in daylight or dusk, I only really get dark commutes in December and January, though it can get pretty dark before that in bad weather or in fog.
 

raleighnut

Legendary Member
I actually find dusk to be the worst time for commuting and have been known to stand outside after work with a coffee and a fag waiting for it to get properly dark before I start to cycle home. There is a condition known as 'twilight myopia' (which I suffer from) which basically means your eyes don't focus properly in half light although they are fine in the dark, plus it makes rear bike lights difficult to see against oncoming cars bright headlamps.
 
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RoubaixCube

RoubaixCube

~Tribanese~
Location
London, UK
Most of my commutes are around 9.45am-1045am then 8pm-9pm. My mornings are fairly bright while my evenings are.....well Its when dusk turns into night, I ride as soon as the sun goes down. Unless its the summer where the sun doesnt really start to go down until around 8pm. Dusk around the Embankment area is quite beautiful
 

Stonepark

Veteran
Location
Airth
Town riding B&M Lumotec IQ Cyo T up front off hub dynamo, rear - B&M Topline Brake Light and Fenderbot and country rides add to previous with Fluxient 3*XML U2 up front.

Plus helmet flashing rear led when worn.
 
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OP
RoubaixCube

RoubaixCube

~Tribanese~
Location
London, UK
well, it looks like my Leyzne Micro Drive wont be making it. Cant find it on Leyzne's website nor can i find it on CycleSurgery's website and the 'Micro Drive' C.S has listed isnt the one with the single LED which i was trying to purchase, its the 400XL which i already have. I ordered it last week on the 15th, No contact has been made with me regarding my order. Waiting for a refund now :sad:

My quest for a 400-500 lux bang for buck helmet mountable light continues!!!
 
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RoubaixCube

RoubaixCube

~Tribanese~
Location
London, UK
Got my Cateye Volt 300 in - It borders on just a little too heavy side to be comfortably mounted onto a helmet. Im sure for some people it wont really matter.
 
OP
OP
RoubaixCube

RoubaixCube

~Tribanese~
Location
London, UK
I currently have options from some of those little ones with 4 LED's that wrap round your handlebars, one front and back for emergency be seen ones. Then my normal lighting is one or two smart lights, though I've bought a new Volt 50 which will replace one of the smart lights.

At the front I have an electron nano? as my basic light, and one or two Hope's that I can put on. Though I was thinking about getting a volt or another light that would be rechargable via a USB connection if I realised after setting off to work that I was running out of charge.

I've got lots of duplicate lights from when the kids were little and I made sure they had they same mounts on their bikes so we could swap. And I normally misplace things so it's good to have alternatives that I can grab. Some times I clear out my bag and find several lights lurking in the bottom!

I'm normally commuting in daylight or dusk, I only really get dark commutes in December and January, though it can get pretty dark before that in bad weather or in fog.

Already prepared for this! I have a 13000mAh external battery pack sitting in my locker at work. I leave it there just in case my phone, tablet or bluetooth devices runs out of juice, halfway through the day. Admittedly I have barely used it but since i run 2 or 3 rechargeable lights now. it would be a wise decision to have one of these at work on standby.
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
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