Lights for commuting

[scottyD]

I'm slowly starting to get into commuting to work on my bike (12 miles each way). Although if I'm honest this weather is putting me off a little at the moment!

But back to the point. I'm thinking ahead that I will need some kind of lights on my bike quite soon, as I will be riding between 7am and 8am and probably after 6pm. The route is 80% unlit B Roads with the rest being faster A roads, lit and unlit. So I was thinking of a rear flashing LED and probably some kind of hi-vis cycling top. But on the front, are there any decent front lights that will actually help to "light the way" as well as just making you visible to on coming traffic? The other element / complication is that I am on rather a tight budget, so as good as a £100 light might be, that's a bit too much to pay! Any experiences folks?

 

[Theseus]

As in a lot of things, you pay for what you get.

On unlit B roads I would want more than a flashing LED on the back. Probably a decent steady light as well. Flashers attract attention, but can be difficult for some drivers to guage exactly where they are.

For the front, again both a flasher and a steady light.

 

[RedBike]

So I was thinking of a rear flashing LED and probably some kind of hi-vis cycling top.

Go to a DIY store and pick up a hi viz jacket from there. Yours for under £5.

Make sure you buy two rear light. One can be a cheap one from your local supermarket but don't even think of skimping on the main rear light. You are totally dependent on this light for drivers to noticing you and therefore not knocking you off.
The 1/2 smart or one of the top better Cateyes are a good choice.

But on the front, are there any decent front lights that will actually help to "light the way" as well as just making you visible to on coming traffic?

Yes, the only trouble is they generally cost quite a bit of money. You can fit cree powered ('tesco') torches which are just about powerful enough to light the way. As far as i'm aware there are no 'cheap' led cycle specific lights that are capable of lighting the way and giving a reasonable run time.

 

[Llama]

search previous posts - fenix torch and tesco cree
tesco is £10ish
fenix is around £40-£50

these are the best cheap front lights - (if you get a replacement smart bracket you can cable tie the torches to your bar)
if you want to spend more, others will be better able to advise

 

[simon_brooke]

I'm slowly starting to get into commuting to work on my bike (12 miles each way). Although if I'm honest this weather is putting me off a little at the moment!

But back to the point. I'm thinking ahead that I will need some kind of lights on my bike quite soon, as I will be riding between 7am and 8am and probably after 6pm. The route is 80% unlit B Roads with the rest being faster A roads, lit and unlit. So I was thinking of a rear flashing LED and probably some kind of hi-vis cycling top. But on the front, are there any decent front lights that will actually help to "light the way" as well as just making you visible to on coming traffic? The other element / complication is that I am on rather a tight budget, so as good as a £100 light might be, that's a bit too much to pay! Any experiences folks?

There are basically three front light solutions that work in really dark conditions:

(i) Dynamo (ideally hub dynamo) and light. This is the best solution for long distance riding, but expensive. Good dynamo lights are good enough for riding fast in total darkness, but that means a budget of about £200 for the lighting setup (more if you go for a SON hub). The best dynamo lights now use LED heads, which are more efficient.
(ii) Rechargable halogen lights a la classic lumicycles (there are many other brands). These are quite expensive and require recharging every time used, but they're bright enough for fast riding off road in total darkness. Battery life is limited - typically 3 to 5 hours depending on bulbs used. And not cheap.
(iii) Rechargeable LED lights like these (again, there are lots of other brands). They're brighter and last longer than any other solutions, but presently very expensive (price will fall)

I currently use solution (ii) and aspire to solution (i). I also have a one-watt Cateye Opticube LED which isn't quite good enough for full darkness but does about 80 hours on three AAA batteries and cost about £25, so much cheaper.

 

[HLaB]

Slightly OT, probikekit are doing the smart 1/2 watt rear led for £4.32 a bargain IMO.

 

[fossyant]

Snap up a couple Smarts for that.

Yep - torches are the cheapest bang for buck option - maybe add a front flasher.

Get two smart rears - have one flashing, one constant, and maybe a little backup light.

If not on a buget then there are all sorts of options.

 

[Davidc]

This for a rear light, this is very bright and most people had these as a rear light on the FNRttC that I have been on.http://www.evanscycles.com/products/smart/1-2-watt-led-rear-light-ec017551

As for a front light, buy a Tescos torch or a Fenix one and a Two fish block holder.

I use one of those Smart lights as a rear flasher - but that price is far too high, shouldn't be more than a fiver. They will run happily on NiMH batteries which keeps costs down. (I run the rear flasher day and night, so rechargeables are a must!). Also have a LED dynamo light as a steady light.

The comments above about a flasher and steady light apply just as much to the front. I use a dynamo light (B&M) and a battery flashing LED light on the front, and if going out of street lighting also have a Cateye EL530. That's good, but only affordable SH and I think the beam's too narrow as a light on its own.

Last winter, before getting the Cateye, I used a 5W (nominal) LED torch in a mount as the extra light. Awesome light, but oncoming drivers seemed a bit miffed.

 

[summerdays]

I bought a BLT Fantom XR9 last winter and its bright - brighter than my Smart 1/2 watts (though they are cheaper BLT is about £25).

The smart ones are good and can be mounted on the seat post or stay's with the mounts supplied or buy a new mount and you can put it on the back of a rack. And the only rain failure I had with them was failing to switch off once when they were almost drowned by the amount of rain coming down.

 

[twowheelsgood]

Go to dealextreme and get a torch with a 4-die LED driven from 2 cells. Cost you about £40 with cells and smart charger.

Essentially the same LED as the Lupine Tesla which is about £270 (cree mc-e which you won't find in a Tescos job or even a branded fenix at this price).

Admittedly the reflector isn't as optimized fro cycling but it's shed load of light for the money.

For the rear get one or two Smart suprflashes at a tenner each.

 

[fossyant]

I used a 5W (nominal) LED torch in a mount as the extra light. Awesome light, but oncoming drivers seemed a bit miffed.

Heh...heh.... 2 x Hope Vision 1's for next winter...they will be mightily miffed with me....

 

[scottyD]

Thanks for that. Plenty of food for thought. Looks like a I think a £50 budget for the set up is managable. Never thought about it before, but I've got a Mag light at home that runs of 2 AA batteries that might work if fixed to the bars as at least a contribution to the lighting! Thanks again everyone. And cross your fingers for the rain tomorrow as i may unleash the bike!

 

[3tyretrackterry]

i use a LED headlight and 2 red cheap flashers on rear as well as a yellow jacket and a yellow rucsac cover never had any probs the headlight confuses drivers at distance and if they blind you you do the same back. it also puts light where you need it ie where you are looking hope this helps

 

[Tynan]

shining bright lights at drivers' eyes is no more clever than them using full beam on you and other drivers

it needs to get quite dark before you need alight to see the way, your eye will be quite good at that, especially if you've learnt the road

after that you really are looking at a powerful light to be of any real usealthough much will depend on the speed you ride at

 

[purplepolly]

Heh...heh.... 2 x Hope Vision 1's for next winter...they will be mightily miffed with me....

and the cyclist going the other way with two hope vision 1's will be me. Unfortunately, they would stretch the op's budget a little. Great lights and very robust, the original one survived the skid and crash that killed a cateye.

As a driver, I find flashy lights attached to the back of helmets really good especially in traffic. If you do wear a helmet, then there's also reflective bands that'll fit round them.