Any cyclists - Bike lights recommendations?

wippers

wippers

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Gareth
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Hi Guys - I'm normally a daytime road bike user but have just bought a Boardman Hybrid bike for pottering about on. One thing I've not had since childhood is a set of bike lights and I can see things have changed somewhat from the 1980's!!

Can anyone recommend a set of half decent bike lights? I'm looking for something small and discrete, preferably quick release and rechargeable. Any ideas?
 
I bought this front light for my bike. Cost me a mere 14 sheets on Ebay and works as it should. Rechargeable battery pack, cree LED's and 4 power settings. Also has a battery level indicator

On the rear I just use a standard 5 LED light using 2 x rechargeable AAA's

SolarStorm_X2_2xCREE_XML_U2_LED_Bike_Light.jpg
 
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I`ve just bought a new rear light for my bike (this very evening!) Cost 7 quid, from Tesco they did have a usb rechargeable front light for 7.50 (special offer) maybe worth a look.
 
What I would add though, you need a good bright rear light. I'm surprised how many cyclist I pass who's rear light is not really visible until you're very close to them, which if you go anywhere unlit / poor lighting is a major problem. You pass them and they have a very bight and poorly positioned front light.

Just make sure you can be seen from the rear :o
 
Get a few lights get a fixed and a flasher for the front and on the rear as bright as possible. To be honest in daytime I would use bike lights as well now adays.
 
I have these as a backup pair, small enough to keep in my bag and usb rechargeable:
Lifeline%20USB%20LED%20Single%20Beam%20front%20and%20rear%20light.jpg


http://road.cc/content/review/116626-lifeline-usb-led-single-beam-front-rear-light

This rear light from Philips:-
61HEQr62zFL._SL1000_.jpg

  • 320 visibility thanks to unique light directing technology
  • Long-Life LED technology
  • Waterproof - IP63
  • Fits on all standard 50 mm and 80 mm luggage carriers
  • Complies with strict German StVZO regulations

Another rear light (this one flashes):-
61ZUYhBMI7L._SL1200_.jpg



And this front light from Philips:-
51wTVmUXpqL._SL1415_.jpg

  • power Luxeoned by 2 New generation High-power Luxeon LEDs (80 lux)
  • Motorcycle performance (Motorcycles up to 125 cm3): see up to 60 meters
  • Released according to stVZO regulation in Germany
  • Waterproof aluminium housing
The front light is absolutely amazing. It has a very good beam shape which is designed as non dazzle, just like car headlights. As opposed to those ridiculous high power torches that some people have on the front of their bikes dazzling everything in their way.
 
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Thanks guys some good advice here and some nice examples of what I'm looking for (i think ;)).
I like the look of the Lifeline ones and for under £20, they look like they're worth a punt.
 
http://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/lucas-feb15

have a look here you will need to register.

I would spend a bit more to be honest and get more light.
As a person who has done a LOT of road biking over the years I can't stress enough you can never have enought light.
Also hi-viz vest and or rucksack and lid.
 
Mr Bump said:
http://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/lucas-feb15

have a look here you will need to register.

I would spend a bit more to be honest and get more light.
As a person who has done a LOT of road biking over the years I can't stress enough you can never have enought light.
Also hi-viz vest and or rucksack and lid.
Click to expand...

Good advice thanks. That's a great site to use and not just for cycling kit. I always seem to spend at Go Outdoors but these prices look much cheaper. :banana:
 
no probs if you keep your eyes out some great stuff comes up but don't hesitate they can sell out in hours of some big brand stuff.
 
wippers said:
Thanks guys some good advice here and some nice examples of what I'm looking for (i think ;)).
I like the look of the Lifeline ones and for under £20, they look like they're worth a punt.
Click to expand...
Hi Wippers, as an emergency spare or helmet light they are great. But as a main light I would go with something brighter such as the other 2 lights I suggested. I spent a lot of time researching and they seemed to be highly recommended.
 
On the Cree stuff, be careful as many are MTB lights and the many thousand lumen ones can be over the top for the road. They can be dazzling for oncoming traffic as they have no deflection and may be more focused than a typical car light. Though a lot of LED bike lights, road or otherwise, don't comply with the road regulations, though no one ever gets stopped for it. Generally for the road just go for something with good reviews from road cyclists and in my opinion has a bright static light at the front and maybe get a secondary flashing light. For the front you need to illuminate the road and see where you're going. Flashing alone isn't going to do that and only serves as a light to be seen with.

Rear, a good bright red light basically. I'm an off road rider but have a Moon Crescent for the rear for occasions I hit the road. Small enough to stick in a pocket and charges by USB. Quite bright, though more suited for urban areas. If in unlit areas often you might want something brighter.
 
If you're doing a decent amount of road riding then I'd recommend 2 rear lights so that if one fails/runs out of batteries then you can still be seen - the problem normally is that you don't know your rear one has failed until you get home/run over.
 
deadkenny said:
On the Cree stuff, be careful as many are MTB lights and the many thousand lumen ones can be over the top for the road. They can be dazzling for oncoming traffic as they have no deflection and may be more focused than a typical car light. Though a lot of LED bike lights, road or otherwise, don't comply with the road regulations, though no one ever gets stopped for it. Generally for the road just go for something with good reviews from road cyclists and in my opinion has a bright static light at the front and maybe get a secondary flashing light. For the front you need to illuminate the road and see where you're going. Flashing alone isn't going to do that and only serves as a light to be seen with.

Rear, a good bright red light basically. I'm an off road rider but have a Moon Crescent for the rear for occasions I hit the road. Small enough to stick in a pocket and charges by USB. Quite bright, though more suited for urban areas. If in unlit areas often you might want something brighter.
Click to expand...

I ride a cycle path alongside a river on the way home, which isn't that well lit, but you don't need a bright light to cycle down it as there is enough to get by quite easily. However, some cyclists have the lights you mention pointing straight ahead rather than down, blinding everything in their way destroying any night vision you may have had. Maybe should be on the WAMT thread!
 
Have to admit I have those kinds of lights as my night riding is off road MTB and I do of course need enough to light the place up like it's daylight and burn through the forest :D (I think combined my front lights work out at 6000 lumens. And that's genuine lumens, not Chinese ebay lumens which are usually way over quoted).

But yeah on occasions when I get to road I switch them to the lowest power and mine can be angled easily to I point them left and down. Plus my bar light is a wide spread diffused light so not so direct, but still I've been flashed by drivers if I don't point them away. I have a helmet light also but would turn it off on the road as it's a spot and would be right in their eyes, or at least turn my head to the side of the road.

If I was to do some real road riding or commuting though, I'd get much lower power lights. That said a lot of people's road lights are way too dim. Those that have any at all.
 
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An alternative to the Philips Saferide which also meets the German regulations and won't dazzle oncoming drivers/cyclists/pedestrians is the B&M Ixon IQ Premium.
 
As at the mo I'm just after something "to be seen", I've bought a pair of the Lifeline lights and have to say I'm impressed with the build quality. The rear light is plenty bright enough, but as expected the front one won't light up your path in front of you very well. They're what I was looking for so thanks for the advice. I will be investing in a more powerful front light at a later stage so will return to this thread then. :)
 
I have a hub dynamo with LEDs front and back (Cateye), that stay on for some minutes after you stop. I leave it switched on day and night as the hub dynamo doesn't have any resistance compared to the tyre ones. The LEDs are built on to the frame and don't need batteries or ever go flat and need you to remember to recharge them. You will never need to carry them around with you, or leave them at home when you've decided to stay out after dark, or get them stolen. So it's the best way to have low maintenance, low effort lighting, always ready to go.
 
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ianp5a said:
I have a hub dynamo with LEDs front and back (Cateye), that stay on for some minutes after you stop. I leave it switched on day and night as the hub dynamo doesn't have any resistance compared to the tyre ones. The LEDs are built on to the frame and don't need batteries or ever go flat and need you to remember to recharge them. You will never need to carry them around with you, or leave them at home when you've decided to stay out after dark, or get them stolen. So it's the best way to have low maintenance, low effort lighting, always ready to go.
Click to expand...
Do you have a link to these? They sound interesting.
 
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