Lights, front mainly, for country lane commute
- Thread starter Rykard
- Start date
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mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
I bought a full tyre dynamo setup (Axa HR + bracket + Axa Pico 30 Steady + Axa Riff Steady + some wires) for that, mail order from Bike-Discount.com - it's fine for dark tree-lined country lanes near me.
If you want battery, Axa Greenline or Cateye GVolt (not Volt) look like the best bets to me. Lidl had some OK own-brand ones (40 lux on high, so slightly brighter than my Pico, although only 2.5h on that brightness) for £10 a few weeks ago but I bet they've all sold out by now.
If you want battery, Axa Greenline or Cateye GVolt (not Volt) look like the best bets to me. Lidl had some OK own-brand ones (40 lux on high, so slightly brighter than my Pico, although only 2.5h on that brightness) for £10 a few weeks ago but I bet they've all sold out by now.
I have a Wiggle Lifeline 500 lumen and I go out on unlit roads and it's great, 2 hrs highest setting 4 hrs lower setting. Enough light either side and plenty in front. Can't comment on longevity because I've only needed to use it the last month or so.
It was about £25 but it looks like they've stopped selling it.
They have a 375 and a 700 lumen for £22 and £35 respectively but cannot comment on those, the 700lumen comes in the same casing.
It was about £25 but it looks like they've stopped selling it.
They have a 375 and a 700 lumen for £22 and £35 respectively but cannot comment on those, the 700lumen comes in the same casing.
Wobblers
Euthermic
- Location
- Minkowski Space
I've got the Lidl 40 lux light. It's actually not too bad and gives a decent shaped beam. I don't think it's quite bright enough for cycling at speed down a dark lane, but for a gentle pootle it should be okay. Two of them would probably be a reasonable solution - if you can find any, that is!
steve50
Disenchanted Member
- Location
- West Yorkshire
Bright enough for anyone and comes with rechargeable battery, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solarstor...267942?hash=item3d0673f5e6:g:obEAAOSwz2lXBYPN
Hacienda71
Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
I have recently got an Izone Arc 850. Well made, very bright, good focused spread of light, USB rechargeable and waterproof. I paid circa £35 after using a discount code at Treadz. I got a bit p'd off with crap battery life after a few months use on cheap solarstorm etc lights from China. Hope something designed and distributed by a UK company may have better longevity.
dim
Guest
- Location
- Cambridge UK
thats what I have .... I'm on my 2nd year now using it, and I cycle on very dark unlit cycle paths daily (even during summer, as I often work late) .... I use it on low (it has 3 settings), and I use it on the headband
Brilliant, and it's very bright (even on the low setting) .... it's a bargain
shouldbeinbed
Rollin' along
- Location
- Manchester way
Smart 700 or Cateye Volt 300 (just good enough for a to see by light) search my username and either light for the longer sales pitch and extensive usage history for both
or of the budget can stretch a few Quid Cateye Volt 800 is very good too.
or of the budget can stretch a few Quid Cateye Volt 800 is very good too.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Battery life seems to be a casualty of a combination of built-in batteries and the modern fetish for using high lumen ratings to overcome naff lenses, with 2-3 hours seeming fairly common now. If you're willing to cut it fine with a 20 lux mode (really the lower limit for seeing on wet, dark country roads IMO), then you can double that. Compare that to the early countryside-ready 20 lux LED headlights which used pairs of removable C or AA cells and do 10 hours between recharges of 2000mAh batteries - it's the main reason I still have a near-antique held together with tape on my folding bike.
But really, for an indefinite use time between recharge opportunities, I feel dynamo lighting is still worth the minor niggle of wiring it up.
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
http://road.cc/content/review/76831-moon-x-power-300-front-light
I've been using one of these for just that purpose for the past couple of years and highly recommend it. I rarely need to use the overdrive beam, and it has four levels of brightness plus a far-too-bright flash setting.
The only drawback I have found is that the mounting bracket does not fit if you have cross/inline brake levers as there is so much bulk at the front. I have had to put a secondary accessory rail on my winter commuting bike just to take the light. I paid under £40 for mine but at this time of the year you may need to hunt about a bit to get one at that price.
I've been using one of these for just that purpose for the past couple of years and highly recommend it. I rarely need to use the overdrive beam, and it has four levels of brightness plus a far-too-bright flash setting.
The only drawback I have found is that the mounting bracket does not fit if you have cross/inline brake levers as there is so much bulk at the front. I have had to put a secondary accessory rail on my winter commuting bike just to take the light. I paid under £40 for mine but at this time of the year you may need to hunt about a bit to get one at that price.
These Moon lights might do the trick - would come in at £36 for the set with the current discount on lights.
https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-meteor-comet-front-rear-led-light-set-59185.html
https://www.merlincycles.com/moon-meteor-comet-front-rear-led-light-set-59185.html
I'd suggest one of the European lamps with shaped beams, like this https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/b--m-ixon-iq-premium-led-light-kit---80-lux-/aid:703616
I have a pair of Philips saferide 80 lamps, which are 4x AA & rechargeable, but sadly discontinued. 80 lux has been fine for unlit country lanes, which prompts me to tip the one above.
I have a pair of Philips saferide 80 lamps, which are 4x AA & rechargeable, but sadly discontinued. 80 lux has been fine for unlit country lanes, which prompts me to tip the one above.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
How long would she be riding on totally unlit roads ?
My commute has sections of lit and unlit so i use a solarstorm x2 light for the unlit sections and a lower power light for the lit sections , this also means if one light fails then i have a back up one way or the other.
My commute has sections of lit and unlit so i use a solarstorm x2 light for the unlit sections and a lower power light for the lit sections , this also means if one light fails then i have a back up one way or the other.
