Spotted a cyclist with the brightest lights on his bike... where to get the same?

Access

Hi all,

I thought this might be the best place to post...

Driving home last thursday evening, i spotted a cyclist who had the brightest led lights front and back i have ever seen, so much so that when i passed him on the road, his front static led light (bright white leds) blinded me to the point that i had to dim my rear view mirror! - he literally lit up the road ahead of him.

It was like another car behind me with their fulls on!

From what i could see before my retinas started to burn the front light looked long with about 5 or 6 super bright leds in it and the rear was a flashing red led light which seemed to flash in a very random changing pattern.

I have to say, fair dues to this guy as it was the best i have ever seen a cyclist lit up at night.

I obviously could not stop him to ask him where he got them, but does anyone know what make these bike lights might be and where to get the same, as i would love to get these for my bike and my sons bike as we do have led lights, but we might as well have a candle!

Thanks for any info on this.

seamus

If it's as bright as you say and a cluster of LEDs, then they're probably fairly expensive lights like these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70457
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70071

The rear light is probably this:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=64502
Or possibly it's bigger brother:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=64506

Morgan

Whereabouts was this?

Lumen

Access wrote: »

his front static led light (bright white leds) blinded me to the point that i had to dim my rear view mirror...my retinas started to burn...i would love to get these for my bike

ednwireland

this is pretty bright for a rear
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=56546

my dealextreme lights are pretty bright
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-waterproof-xml-t6-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82510

or just read this thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055705708

ctrl-alt-delete

Might have been my dad if it was anywhere along the roads from Dublin City Centre to Lucan I can't remember the name of the lights he has, but I know he has had comments from motorists about them, will find out off him later.

Access

Morgan wrote: »

Whereabouts was this?

Just outside Navan

Beasty

This is probably about as bright a light as you can get, although it's smaller sibling is more than adequate for unlit Irish roads

It is important to position these lights so they don't blind other road users. If you had to dim you mirror, the light was not appropriately aligned

Chips Lovell

If you're blinding motorists, then you're lights are too bright/misaligned.

Access

Sweet jesus seamus and beasty! £200+ for the font light alone?



The front was more along the long in line shape of the catseye rear from seamus first post from what i can remember.

It was def 5 or 6 in a line bright leds in that sort of shape.

Main reason i ask is as my son cycles most evenings and there is a gap of total unlit country road for about 4 miles from the nearest town street lights, where his lights are just not up to the job of lighting up the road ahead of him.

steve9859

If the lights are blindingly bright, I think the cyclist is probably more likely to get hit. I have noticed when I am on the bike, that it is very difficult to see how away a cyclist is when the lights are that bright. IMO they are more dangerous. What is wrong with just normal lights?

(Access: If you need to light up the road ahead of you that is a different story. I'm talking about city / town / suburban cycling)

BostonB

Deja vu?
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76967891

skidpatches

Access wrote: »

Just outside Navan

where outside navan?

BostonB

skidpatches wrote: »

where outside navan?

Do you know lots of cyclists outside navan with nova's for lights?

skidpatches

BostonB wrote: »

Do you know lots of cyclists outside navan with nova's for lights?

just two

BostonB

What lights do they have?

skidpatches

BostonB wrote: »

What lights do they have?

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4ejz6gj2e1qz7lxdo1_500.jpg

Beasty

skidpatches wrote: »

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4ejz6gj2e1qz7lxdo1_500.jpg

Prepare to be dazzled if you click on that link

inkedpt

I've seen one with some very strong lights both front and back in the end of last year and I ask him what sort of lights were those and for my surprise they were just normal lights but connected to a central rectangular battery that he had attached to the frame.

Wishbone Ash

Beasty wrote: »

Prepare to be dazzled if you click on that link

.......and note the wheelchair rubber!

ctrl-alt-delete

Moon is the brand my Dad is using,

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moon-x-power-300-rechargeable-front-light/

The one above is the front one he has, I'm not quite sure what rear one he has.

Wishbone Ash

ctrl-alt-delete wrote: »

Moon is the brand my Dad is using,

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moon-x-power-300-rechargeable-front-light/

The one above is the front one he has, I'm not quite sure what rear one he has.

Only 300 lumens though - some lads are using 2000 lumens!

bikedude

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70458

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70453

If you don't mind the price thats most likely as bright as it gets, completely overkill for commuting trough! :eek:

steve9859

bikedude wrote: »

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70458

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=70453

If you don't mind the price thats most likely as bright as it gets, completely overkill for commuting trough! :eek:

wow....the retailers really see commuters with too much disposable income coming!! I really don't get why anyone would want or need one of these (I commute over 10 miles by the way each way late night and early morning through London)

karltimber

Hi,

my 2c worth.
I started going out on mtb during the winter - at night (7pm onwards) as it was the only time I had spare.

So, after reading a US mtb forum I got this torch torch. It is powered by 1 18650 battery so a set of 2 batteries and a charger are needed.

I go riding by the boyne river (navan) with zero ambiant light and I had 2 of these.
1 mounted on the bars and 1 on my helmet, and I could cycle as if it was daylight.
This is super bright, cheap and manafont (similar to DX) ship within 2 days and you'll get it within 1 1/2 weeks. DX are taking the piss lately.

So a total of about euro40 for the 1 light and batteries/charger.

I tried to take pics out one night with my phone but that was useless.

edit: the reason I got this one was from the US forum as most websites have 100's of torches with 1000's of lumens but these lads had tested this one and rec'd it big time.

K

ctrl-alt-delete

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Only 300 lumens though - some lads are using 2000 lumens!

I know yeah, but they are still really bright, I'm not sure what the brightest Lumens is on ones that have a rechargeable battery,

I think the 2000 ones you'll have to have a battery pack on the bike somewhere?

Seweryn

ctrl-alt-delete wrote: »

Moon is the brand my Dad is using,

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moon-x-power-300-rechargeable-front-light/

The one above is the front one he has, I'm not quite sure what rear one he has.

I use that one and it is a very good light. One of the best for the money out there.
I also have the Moon Shield 60 at the back (+ one spare in my pocket) and it is also an excellent piece of kit. Very bright and can be recharged from a PC (same as the front one).

server_girl

hi - i got this light in the cycle shop in navan about 2 weeks ago... i'm out cycling most nights now and it lights up road really well.

http://bbbcycling.com/accessories/lights/BLS-63/

i think it was about €125 - it's one of the cheapest BRIGHT lights. best €€ i spent, winter training

Kintarō Hattori

karltimber wrote: »

Hi,

my 2c worth.
I started going out on mtb during the winter - at night (7pm onwards) as it was the only time I had spare.

So, after reading a US mtb forum I got this torch torch. It is powered by 1 18650 battery so a set of 2 batteries and a charger are needed.

I go riding by the boyne river (navan) with zero ambiant light and I had 2 of these.
1 mounted on the bars and 1 on my helmet, and I could cycle as if it was daylight.
This is super bright, cheap and manafont (similar to DX) ship within 2 days and you'll get it within 1 1/2 weeks. DX are taking the piss lately.

So a total of about euro40 for the 1 light and batteries/charger.

I tried to take pics out one night with my phone but that was useless.

edit: the reason I got this one was from the US forum as most websites have 100's of torches with 1000's of lumens but these lads had tested this one and rec'd it big time.

K

What's the run time like?

karltimber

I have run at full power - it has 5 modes - for 5-6 hours. Then i recharge so it could be longer.. it is well worth a try. I will attempt to take a pic or video tonight.

Beasty

ctrl-alt-delete wrote: »

I think the 2000 ones you'll have to have a battery pack on the bike somewhere?

Not with the Exposure - it's all self-contained with no wires and will run for up to 3hrs on the high setting and 24hrs on the low setting

Wishbone Ash

steve9859 wrote: »

I really don't get why anyone would want or need one of these (I commute over 10 miles by the way each way late night and early morning through London)

I think you've answered your own query. London is a mass of artificial light. Try cycling at speed on pitch black rural pot-holed and debris strewn roads.

BostonB

Exactly. I don't a need bright light till I hit the phoenix park, and the dark back roads beyond. In the city you don't need them.

blorg

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Only 300 lumens though - some lads are using 2000 lumens!

2000 lumens would be massive overkill for the road and in fact would cause problems with blinding oncoming drivers. (Any 2000 lumen light I'm aware of is a circular beam oriented at MTB use.)

300 lumens is more than enough for road cycling. I've done 70km/h twisting descents in the pitch dark on 225 lumens (Fenix TK11 down from Sally Gap and Stocking Lane.)

Even there that is still a torch with a circular beam; you could get equivalent illumination with substantially less lumens with a light that used a road-specific beam pattern.

steve9859

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I think you've answered your own query. London is a mass of artificial light. Try cycling at speed on pitch black rural pot-holed and debris strewn roads.

I acept that you need them in the unlit country. I said so in a previuos post. But there are plenty of people have them in the city, and just blind everyone.....Just turn them off or turn them down or do something! Like you drive with your full beams in your car in a country lane....you dont in the city. People that have these things in the city, either because they have a misguided idea that it makes them safer, or they dont turn them off after the country part of their commute really irritate me. Other posters have pointed out the danger of someone turning round to see if there is anything coming, and getting the LED headlamp or crazy bright front light from the person behind direct in the face!!

BostonB

steve9859 wrote: »

But there are plenty of people have them in the city, and just blind everyone.....

Have to say I've only noticed a few not plenty.

Of course if theres an epidemic I assume the cops should be pulling them over. Same with people with no lights, or cars, with no lights, or one light on full beam, or side lights, or pedestrians crossing the road, dangerously.

steve9859

BostonB wrote: »

Have to say I've only noticed a few not plenty.

Of course if theres an epidemic I assume the cops should be pulling them over. Same with people with no lights, or cars, with no lights, or one light on full beam, or side lights, or pedestrians crossing the road, dangerously.

6am crossing putney bridge there are strobe lights everywhere - head and handlebars!

BostonB

Thats what you get for to moving to the bright lights of London.

karltimber

Hi

as I said, here is a video of the Skyray cree led torch that I use for night time off-road spins.

Its a basic vid but it'll give a rough idea of the brightness -and for $19 - it's not bad. Just remember - no batteries (18650) come with it, and a new charger will prob have to be bought. The 18650 batteries are bigger than your standard aa/aaa.

K

blorg

18650s are bigger, but have superior energy density to AA/AAA. mAh ratings on 18650 are similar to AA (and far above AAA) but they are 3.7V rather than 1.2V (NiMh rechargeables.) As such an 18650 is the equivalent of around 3 AAs; most comparable torches running on AAs will require three or four AAs, which certainly is bigger than a single 18650.