Recommendations for lights

[kiwifruit]

I been using my Cateye 800 for about 3 years now and still going strong. Halfords has it for £55.99 then use CYCLING15 code to take it down to £47.59.

 

[Blue Hills]

Ndfr, you said you will mostly be on cycle paths.

Are you essentially going to be riding in town, ie not on unlit lanes and roads?

 

[mjr]

Cheap old 2000 lumen Chinese Cree front with a Fresnel lens.

The lens bit is very very important to avoid dazzling oncomers. Otherwise it's a torch which can't be used legally on roads (including cycleways) unless you point it at the floor, like most lights sold in the UK (but as long as you've got lights, you're unlikely to have problems from the police - it may be different if your dazzling causes a crash, though). A £10 German spec light is better.

 

[AlanW]

Garmin Vario for UT800 for commuting and twin Lumicycle Explorer Plus lights for the more serious stuff

 

[NDFR]

Ndfr, you said you will mostly be on cycle paths.

Are you essentially going to be riding in town, ie not on unlit lanes and roads?

Yes, no unlit roads, mostly cycle paths but a few well lit town roads.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

In that case I'd go with something cheap and cheerful as your light will be mostly to be seen rather than see by. Then you could spend the difference on some reflective ankle bands or some such.

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes, agree totally.

I'd get this as a front:

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cateye-omni-5-front-light/rp-prod141030

This as a rear:

https://www.evanscycles.com/cateye-610-rear-light-00106077?1=-1,esvcrea:315873454041,esvplace:,esvd:c,esvtgla-303860843956,esvo:00106077-NA-RED,esvaid:50080&1=-1&lsft=esvt:52828-GOUKE1989442,esvq:,esvadt:999999-0-1144826-1&esvwa=NISO_Bike Lights_Cateye_No Year_Normal&esvwa=NISO_Bike Lights_Cateye_No Year_Normal&esvwc=UK_Shopping_PR_Accessories_Bike Lights&esvwc=UK_Shopping_PR_Accessories_Bike Lights&esvt=52828-GOUKE1989442&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-1144826-1&esvcrea=315873454041&esvplace=&esvd=c&esvtg=pla-303860843956&esvo=00106077-NA-RED&esvwm=CPC&esvws=Google&esvwt=&esvaid=50080&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhsj827ee4wIVKrvtCh0j1g5uEAQYASABEgL4b_D_BwE

Could also get one of these as a spare/backup for the above (I paid less than £2). It fits cateye mounts. Is a perfectly decent light though I haven't been in any rain with it yet.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterpro...-Light-Lamp-/152194343571?hash=item236f7d6293

As a backup set to carry with you (and in any case you should really have two back lights running), these - go on same mounts of course so very easy to swap over mid-ride.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cateye-omni-3-front-rear-set/rp-prod141206

Of course the lights aren't rechargeable as such. That is their genius and they will very likely be running, even the cheapo chinese one, when rechargeable lights are landfill.

As others have suggested, get some AA and AAA rechargeable batteries - preferably low self discharge. Eneloops for example. Ikea also sell what are quite possibly eneloops. Other sources abailable - 7dayshop or even Lidl.

And a good charger like this. Used to be available for not a lot over £20, maybe still is if you hunt around NDFR. Has variable charge speeds but best used on the slowest whenever possible (no problem - will charge overnight) to ensure longest battery life.

https://www.batterylogic.co.uk/technoline-bl700n-battery-charger.asp

Can't add that lot up at the mo and the charger is clearly a fair whack, but better value by far in the long run that some overpowered USB things that will just blind other cyclists on your cycle lanes - a major irritation in London.

All of those lights will keep you perfectly visible to anything on wheels.

(ie maybe not a US jet fighter)