Lights, front mainly, for country lane commute

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macp

Guru
Location
Cheshire
I bought my Lezyne 400xl and smart 700 after reading about them on this excellent site

http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/bike-light-database.html
 
Whatever you get, get a backup and one suitable for use in repairs.
Dynamo lights are far more effective than their wattage suggests because the light is directed to where it is needed. A hub dynamo may be out of your price range, but if she is commuting every day, all winter, could be a very worthwhile investment. Bottle dynamos produce the same power output but are not a reliable and trouble-free and you need a good mounting.
 

united4ever

Über Member
nice website macp. I have a Lezyne 400 and it's good. Though not as bright as the cree light I got for £15 off ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U2-LED-Mo...hash=item3d04354aa5:m:m2BYsEBelXD30tSGLFf61sg

The inconvenience is that they need the power pack carrying too - i just run it round the top bar and stick it in my pannier. Also, heard about them starting fires when charging but I only charge it when it's plugged in next to me at work (not plugging it in overnight and going to bed). I realise I am not selling this cree light am i:smile:. Seriously it's way brighter than the Lezyne 400 and half the price. Good to have one of each.
 

united4ever

Über Member
Crikey. I'd heard good things about that website, but all of those lights look utter shoot for road use, lighting up the trees so high so much that they'd probably dazzle oncoming traffic.

Yeah too bright for road use if on full beam but they have a button which allows you to adjust the brightness (3 settings I think) on the lowest setting its fine for roads I think (and battery will last longer) probably only would last an hour on full power beam which is great for pitch black country lanes (but should adjust setting if someone oncoming a bit like full beam when driving).
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
Yeah too bright for road use if on full beam but they have a button which allows you to adjust the brightness (3 settings I think) on the lowest setting its fine for roads I think (and battery will last longer) probably only would last an hour on full power beam which is great for pitch black country lanes (but should adjust setting if someone oncoming a bit like full beam when driving).
Simply turning the power down isn't enough to overcome a shoot O lens. If it's bright enough to light the road, it's going to dazzle oncoming people. If you tilt the lamp down enough keep the top of the beam below the horizontal, then it's going to be too bright too close to your wheel and that's even if it'll stay steady and not slip further forwards.
 
Hi,
My neice is after some lights for her country lane commute. The lughrs are to see with rather than to be seen. Her budget is around £50, is this doable?
What are the current deals atm?
I dont think my Cateye Volt 300 was that (£50)
http://www.cateye.com/intl/products/detail/HL-EL460RC/moreinfo/

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CLuZ3vnZ4s8CFTIW0wodOpsERg&gclsrc=aw.ds
I've take a spare battery if I think my ride is more than 3h at the max out put, I've never needed it though.
 

LocalLad

Senior Member
I'm on cheap Cree from eBay. In fact, I went for two...I have a backup light if ever I need one, but I carry both battery packs with me on a triangular frame bag (though going to swap for a small tri bag).

Whatever you go for, I'd suggest a backup...nothing scarier than a rapidly running out battery in the middle of nowhere!

I also have three rear lights for the same reason...a proper one, a small clip on one (carried with batteries separated by tabs so they don't run out), and one on the back of my helmet
 
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