Recommend a good solid light set

Trotter

My hybrid arrives on Friday so the first thing I've bought is a high viz jacket. Next I need a good set of lights.

Can anyone recommend a set that would be best used on urban roads at night time?

There's so many on all the websites mentioned in the links, maybe you could give me your own recommendation.

Thanks!

Raam

What is your budget? I can recommend the Light and Motion Vega front light, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5772. On the back, I'm running one of these, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9112. Both are very good.

Trotter

Raam wrote: »

What is your budget? I can recommend the Light and Motion Vega front light, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5772. On the back, I'm running one of these, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9112. Both are very good.

Thanks a lot,
I suppose €20 or €30 would be good! Anything €40+ would be a bit pricey and more than I really need.

rob1891

a friend of mine uses a set of these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15974

They're very bright, very good value and have got the recommended rating in the cycling mags recently (cycling plus I think).

I use a cateye set, front light cost the same as the pair above, rear something like 20 euro and the blackburns perform as well if not better (better side visibility).

Rob

scaldybelt

I go out each evening to take the dogs for a good run a few miles down the lane. These evenings it's pitch black (living in the middle of nowhere!), so I have a Halfords rechargeable light on the front (I won't give the details as it's not the best, but it's fixed on the front so any cars will see me). A cheap rear flashing light also.
I bought a 56 LED headtorch on eBay which has 3 brightness settings and a flashing mode. This thing cost me about €10 delivered from Hong Kong, and is the dogs nuts! no pun intended
It takes 3 AA's and they have only just worn out last night after about 4 weeks of use (20-30 mins per night).

kona

Trotter wrote: »

My hybrid arrives on Friday so the first thing I've bought is a high viz jacket. Next I need a good set of lights.

Can anyone recommend a set that would be best used on urban roads at night time?

There's so many on all the websites mentioned in the links, maybe you could give me your own recommendation.

Thanks!

any cat eye LED that meet british standards

ruprect

I have a good cateye LD 1100 rear light, €26 inc delivery on ebay new. Around twice that price in town.

My front light is amazing 135lumens from 2AAs!
https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_71&products_id=195

gets great reviews on sites like
www.flashlightreviews.com
www.candlepowerforums.com

I attach it to the bike with a silicone ring. They also sell mounts.
https://www.fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=25_66

Use this code for a 8% discount CPF8
I got my father one too, and my mother wanted one then, and a mate. They are amazingly good, and a fraction of the cost and size of some bike specific ones. AND it is useful as a torch too, designed to be handled.

RtD

a friend of mine uses a set of these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=15974

They're very bright, very good value and have got the recommended rating in the cycling mags recently (cycling plus I think).

I'll agree with that, have a set of them myself from CRC, very bright and so far haven't had to go near the batteries, despite using them nearly every day for bout half an hour (flashing) for four months.

I decided on these after reading this group test which might help yourself.
http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/massive-commuter-lights-test-12906

Trotter

Thanks a lot for all the info!

blorg

I have a Smart 1/2 Watt on the back which is seriously bright, highly recommended. Cheap too. Someone posted a comparison with a "standard" 3-LED light:


On the front I use two, a BLT Ozone 9ine 1 Watt LED and a backup SMART Polaris in flashing mode.

Tomas_V

kona wrote: »

any cat eye LED that meet british standards

Most of them have a label saying they don't.

I bought one of their more expensive front lamps, the HLE-530. A nice lamp let down by a rubbish bracket that kept loosening up after every bump.

Fixed it by using a bracket from one of their older lamps.

blorg

Is the issue with LEDs in general and British Standards not that the standard maintains that all lights must be non-flashing. (Flashing lights being for emergency vehicles only.) Hence any LED with a flashing mode de facto does _not_ meet British Standards.

This of course rules out the vast majority of rear bike lights.

I believe the standard also looks at angles of visibility, which is a good thing, but I honestly wonder as to how relevant it is these days.

Itsfixed

RtD wrote: »

I'll agree with that, have a set of them myself from CRC, very bright and so far haven't had to go near the batteries, despite using them nearly every day for bout half an hour (flashing) for four months.

I decided on these after reading this group test which might help yourself.
http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/massive-commuter-lights-test-12906

Got these too. I'm convinced cars give me a wider berth when cycling to train station in these dark mornings.

rubadub

Tomas_V wrote: »

I bought one of their more expensive front lamps, the HLE-530. A nice lamp let down by a rubbish bracket that kept loosening up after every bump.

Fixed it by using a bracket from one of their older lamps.

They usually give 2 sizes of clamp and some rubber strip things. Better to get an over sized clamp and some old bike tube, wrap it around the frame/bar and then clamp onto it. This acts as a dampener to any vibration. It also allows you to tighten it up really well as it springs into the rubber, so even if the nut is loosened a little it is still tight.

Flashing lights are not meant to be used, but I still use them as I fear for my life more than I fear the law, and have passed plenty of gardai who never said a thing, most are ignorant of the laws they are supposed to enforce. When driving I find the flashing LEDs far more noticeable, and have never mistaken them for emergency vehicles or being distracted by them, people are very used to them now, almost expect them on bikes.

Ghost Rider

I agree. I also think a sensible amendment to the legislation would be to allow cyclists to use flashing lights (or at least for them to be allowed flash below a certain watt-age).

rubadub wrote: »

Flashing lights are not meant to be used, but I still use them as I fear for my life more than I fear the law.

blorg

They are allowed in the UK now, but only (legally) to supplement a constant light.

That said you are never going to be stopped for having a flashing light.

Tomas_V

blorg wrote: »

That said you are never going to be stopped for having a flashing light.

I think the benefit of flashing lights is over-rated. Mainly it saves the battery. I use flashing in the day-time when visibility is weather-impaired.

When driving, at night, I find it easier to focus on a steady light so I can judge the direction and speed of a cyclist. A broad beam rather than an intense one is the most effective (for being seen).

That said, I'm convinced that some of my near misses when cycling myself, were with drivers who quite easily saw me but did as they pleased.

The problem with the newer Cat-Eye brackets is the hand-tightened 'cable-tie' mechanism, it keeps unscrewing itself. They're probably not familiar with the unique properties of an Irish cycle-lane.

padi89

ruprect wrote: »

I have a good cateye LD 1100 rear light, €26 inc delivery on ebay new. Around twice that price in town.

My front light is amazing 135lumens from 2AAs!
https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_71&products_id=195

gets great reviews on sites like
www.flashlightreviews.com
www.candlepowerforums.com

I attach it to the bike with a silicone ring. They also sell mounts.
https://www.fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=25_66

Use this code for a 8% discount CPF8
I got my father one too, and my mother wanted one then, and a mate. They are amazingly good, and a fraction of the cost and size of some bike specific ones. AND it is useful as a torch too, designed to be handled.

I have the same Fenix and it hammers every other light i have tried.I only have mine a week or so and everyone in the family and mates are asking me where to get one.I have also had people stop me at night asking what it is.
I also use it when walking the dog at night ,its so easy to spot him from long distances.Incredible light,i highly recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gavin

What's the flashing/strobe like on the Fenix ? Is it too strong to use in traffic ?

Gav

High&Low

Tomas_V wrote: »

I think the benefit of flashing lights is over-rated. Mainly it saves the battery. I use flashing in the day-time when visibility is weather-impaired.

When driving, at night, I find it easier to focus on a steady light so I can judge the direction and speed of a cyclist. A broad beam rather than an intense one is the most effective (for being seen).

When I am driving I find cyclists with a flashing front light much more noticeable than a steady light, it catches the corner of your eye or you see it reflecting off something from a greater distance. It is easier to judge the distance and speed of a cyclist with a steady light, but I prefer noticing cyclists earlier.

Raam

High&Low wrote: »

When I am driving I find cyclists with a flashing front light much more noticeable than a steady light, it catches the corner of your eye or you see it reflecting off something from a greater distance. It is easier to judge the distance and speed of a cyclist with a steady light, but I prefer noticing cyclists earlier.

I've read that a constant light is better for being seen at dawn and dusk, and a flashing light is better when dark. I can't remember where I read it, but I'll try find it, maybe.

P

padi89

Verb wrote: »

What's the flashing/strobe like on the Fenix ? Is it too strong to use in traffic ?

Gav

Well if you have it pointed downwards it may be OK but be wary that the strobe feature on it is designed to stun for protection more than for being visible.

The light has a standard mode which is low medium and high and SOS then you turn the bezel for Turbo and strobe.Some good videos here but you really need to see in person what it can do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHidJoRElaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isfuJ8ru7Xk