Night Cycling Light Recommendations

Michael Angelo.

Hi folks, as the darkness becomes more prominent than the light I am considering embracing it. I don't like turbo training so it's out on roads I will be. Can anyone please recommend a good set of lights that will help ease my fear of being knocked down. Any help tips or info greatly appreciated.

Wishbone Ash

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

..Any help tips or info greatly appreciated.

Might help to narrow it down if you gave a budget, batteries/USB re-chargable, quick removal required etc.

There's also a long thread somewhere on this topic.

Carawaystick

Where you are cycling too, main roads/backroads/city roads

Borderfox

I use a cat eye volt 700 up front with a front and rear knog blinder with an Altura night vision vest for visibility.

The volt 700 gives about 80-100 metres of good visibility at night so no slowing down. 2 hours on full power and ian recharge

tomasrojo

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

There's also a long thread somewhere on this topic.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055705708

lennymc

dynamo hub, edelux 2 with a rear light is what im using on the dark and lonely roads of east meath/louth. Good for 60+kph descents of snowton.

07Lapierre

I have these...

Front:
http://www.hopetech.com/product/r4-led/

Rear:
http://www.hopetech.com/product/district-plus-rear/

But I need lights for rural unlit roads. I also have more than one bike and like to swap lights from one bike to another, so a Dynamo is not an option.

If I only needed lights to be seen, (urban cycling) i'd get something like these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/cateye-el130-tl135-set/rp-prod110616

markusz

a good tip i got last year when i started doing some night spins was to ensure you know the road like the back of your hand... don't go exploring! because if you have knowledge of a pothole or gully then you won't hit.

Wishbone Ash

markusz wrote: »

...ensure you know the road like the back of your hand... don't go exploring! because if you have knowledge of a pothole or gully then you won't hit.

Not much good for those of us who head out before sunrise and are still in the saddle long after it sets. :cool:

CatFromHue

markusz wrote: »

a good tip i got last year when i started doing some night spins was to ensure you know the road like the back of your hand... don't go exploring! because if you have knowledge of a pothole or gully then you won't hit.

I don't know if that's great advice. If you've proper lights you should be able to see these things.

I used to use a Cateye Volt 300, which had 300 lumens, and it was grand. I wouldn't recommend anything with less lumens than that though for unlit roads.

Wishbone Ash

CatFromHue wrote: »

I don't know if that's great advice. If you've proper lights you should be able to see these things...

+1

It doesn't take into account debris etc. which could have been deposited on the road several minutes before one passes. Emergency utility road works can also be a hazard where an access hole has been dug and temporarily (and usually poorly) refilled.

Regardless of how good lights are, it won't stop one from being dazzled by oncoming vehicle lights especially in wet weather.

dissed doc

I recommend Exposure lights. I have a four year old Exposure Maxx-D Mk. IV (I think they are up to Mk. 8 by now). It is really a high quality light, but quite expensive (it was around €350 at the time). I had also easily spent that much over several years prior buying more regularly priced lights of 40 or 50 euros a time.

Really, the Exposure is super quality, and four years on it is perfect still. The level of brightness is really quite a lot (it will light up a street quite easily, with actual brightness that is quite blinding when you look directly at it). The lumen rating in 2011 when I got it was high, at 1285 on max setting, but I imagine other lights including from Exposure are long since over that. As to the quality, it is basically a very high quality accessory but you get what you pay for and it will last and it great for winter race bike training when it is twilight, for example, or just plain full on nighttime blackness!

If you are out on roads with no lighting, you need to assume you need to be lit up like a motorcycle or car as much as possible, so full on lights are not crazy (but obviously overkill for cycling around a suburb where it will blind everyone).

CatFromHue

1285!

you're making my 300 inadequate

Wishbone Ash

CatFromHue wrote: »

1285!

you're making my 300 inadequate

One of the Exposures gives 4,000 lumens at an eye-watering price! (For off-road use only I presume).

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/exposure-six-pack-mk6-front-lights/rp-prod137795

markusz

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

+1

It doesn't take into account debris etc. which could have been deposited on the road several minutes before one passes. Emergency utility road works can also be a hazard where an access hole has been dug and temporarily (and usually poorly) refilled.

Regardless of how good lights are, it won't stop one from being dazzled by oncoming vehicle lights especially in wet weather.

ah ya, i understand if you are in towns or cities. the back roads of mayo don't have many cars at night or manholes in the middle of nowhere! :P
I have this 320 lumens light but i wouldn't use it at full power all the time.
www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/electron-terra-2-evo-front-light/rp-prod73909

this is 650 lumens @ 80 euro: http://www.marreybikes.com/lights/4376-electron-f-650-rechargeable-front-light.html

traprunner

For cycling dark roads this is great: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/6000-Lumen-5-x-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Bike-Light-Bicycle-LED-Headlamp-HeadLight-Waterproof/1196299715.html

All 6000 lumens of it

It does have a dimmer mode and a flash mode too.

lennymc

07Lapierre wrote: »

But I need lights for rural unlit roads. I also have more than one bike and like to swap lights from one bike to another, so a Dynamo is not an option.

I have some of the chinese ebay cree lights for my non dynamo hub bikes. They are Ok, beam isnt as focused, and it can dazzle oncoming drivers, and the battery life is about 2 hrs. My round trip commute is about 4 hours, so I love the fit and forget of the dynamo.

cdaly_

For battery powered rural riding, http://www.rosebikes.com/products/bike-components/lighting/battery-lamps/. 50lux or higher should do the trick. All of the rosebikes lights comply with German lighting laws and so won't dazzle oncoming riders/drivers and use all of the light to illuminate the road rather than the trees overhead.

Wanderer78

apologies for hijacking thread but what are people using for this season's night time mountain biking? im still running my solarstorm xt40 as main light

FrankGrimes

+1 on the Rose Bikes options. I have two of these Trelock 950 and they are excellent. Have one pointed down in front of the bike, the other pointed a bit further up the road and it's like having Xenon headlights on a car. Means I can descend with great visibility at night and doesn't seem to blind drivers, beam seems quite targeted.

Fian

FrankGrimes wrote: »

+1 on the Rose Bikes options. I have two of these Trelock 950 and they are excellent. Have one pointed down in front of the bike, the other pointed a bit further up the road and it's like having Xenon headlights on a car. Means I can descend with great visibility at night and doesn't seem to blind drivers, beam seems quite targeted.

Is it easy to switch these from one bike to another? I commute on one bike, wondering about swapping it over to road bike at weekends. Would the mount degrade over time if it were swapped back and forth frequently do you think?

FrankGrimes

The mount is the one flaw with these lights and definitely degrades. It's a little plastic bolt that screws in to tighten the strap and it's an odd-shaped opening and most screwdrivers just churn it up. Have now found one screwdriver that works perfectly, think it's 3mm wide flathead, so I use that. But I'd definitely opt for getting a second mount (they sell spares) and putting that on the 2nd bike, in which case switching would be easy.

darkvalley

FrankGrimes wrote: »

+1 on the Rose Bikes options. I have two of these Trelock 950 and they are excellent. Have one pointed down in front of the bike, the other pointed a bit further up the road and it's like having Xenon headlights on a car. Means I can descend with great visibility at night and doesn't seem to blind drivers, beam seems quite targeted.

I use this one on one bike and recommend it highly. I particularly like the run time, approx 6 hours on high beam and 45 hours on lowest setting.
I would generally run it at 3rd setting for flat or uphill and then the maximum 5 for down hill. Almost all my cycling is done on rural roads. It is very easy to change between settings and you can go either up through the brightness settings or down without having to cycle through the ones you don't want, if that makes sense.
It also tells you how much power you have left in hours and minutes for any given setting.

Agree that the only drawback with it is the mount. Mine does not need a tool to put on but uses a clip worked by hand, but it seems very flimsy, so much so that I bought a second mount as a spare. That said I have got a winter out of the first clip and it is still working.
Light from it is very similar to a Luxus U dynamo light that I have on my other bike.

LCD

Got Knog lights in bike station in Dundalk. Great lights & also got replaced when I stupidly snapped the elastic on them.

OleRodrigo

Ive used a Cateye EL135 on unlit roads. There is an argument for keeping light slightly dimmer than you might like as it keeps your eyes sharp, once you don't sacrifice being visible to traffic. If you're not using a dynamo, I think battery powered lights are better in case you run out of charge ( and carry spare batteries with your repair kit ).

Bike24.de is a good resource as it will tell you what lights are approved for german roads. The RSA would have done well to copy this scheme as part of their road safety framework, although it probably needs to be implemented on an EU-wide basis.

I've yet to get a USB chargeable light that I'm happy with. The internal battery starts to lose its capacity over time. If you can keep rain from getting into rechargeable battery powered lights, they seem to last longer.

In the end, a hub dynamo is the best option for regular night riding. Failing that, the Busch + Müller IXON IQ Premium LED Front Light runs on AA batteries and is a good second option.

TiBoy

***Front light this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-super-drive-xl-front-light-700l/rp-prod127954

You can buy a spare battery in case you regularly use the full 700 lumens for a few hours. I regularly train on unlit country roads and seldom, and then probably dont need to, use the full 700 lumens.



***2 of these for rear, one on bike and one on you:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-zecto-rear-light-20l/rp-prod107765

Tenzor07

This Bad boy here 6000 lumens!

SomeFool

I have been using electron lights for the last 3 years or so, used for 5 hours minium per week in the summer and double that in winter and still going strong. Find the battery fiddely to connect and charge but it has survived the heaviest of downpours so can't complain about it too much! Have a pair of exposure flares as rear lights and would recommend them too.

irlgw

I Once read somewhere that you should have two back lights, one static and one blinking. Definitely (as somebody previously mentioned) the biggest danger is been shadowed against the headlights of oncoming vehicles. I see so many commuters with cheap and dim rear lights sat in the middle of the road to make a right hand turn. I guess they must not be drivers.

I use the cygolite Hotshot Pro 2w. It is probably one of the brightest on the market and is fully programmable so you can choose brightness and flash rate. It will run about 8hrs constant on maximum setting and about 50 hrs on blink. I bought in OZ although they are manufactured in the US. Not sure if you can buy them locally. I use a rear light even in daylight during the summer hoping it will catch the eye of any driver who is on the phone or whatever and this is still highly visible in bright sunshine. I have had drivers and followng cyclists complain about the intensity of the light

I think there is a bigger selection of front light out there but would go for something light, compact and USB chargeable. I prefer the rubber quick release type mounting as opposed to the clamp on or click in. I like to take them off if I nip into a shop but sometimes the clips break after repeated use....

iniall

irlgw wrote: »

I Once read somewhere that you should have two back lights, one static and one blinking. Definitely (as somebody previously mentioned) the biggest danger is been shadowed against the headlights of oncoming vehicles. I see so many commuters with cheap and dim rear lights sat in the middle of the road to make a right hand turn. I guess they must not be drivers.

I use the cygolite Hotshot Pro 2w. It is probably one of the brightest on the market and is fully programmable so you can choose brightness and flash rate. It will run about 8hrs constant on maximum setting and about 50 hrs on blink. I bought in OZ although they are manufactured in the US. Not sure if you can buy them locally. I use a rear light even in daylight during the summer hoping it will catch the eye of any driver who is on the phone or whatever and this is still highly visible in bright sunshine. I have had drivers and following cyclists complain about the intensity of the light

I think there is a bigger selection of front light out there but would go for something light, compact and USB chargeable. I prefer the rubber quick release type mounting as opposed to the clamp on or click in. I like to take them off if I nip into a shop but sometimes the clips break after repeated use....

I presume, getting it in Australia, you didn't pay anything like the £118 Amazon are charging for the Hotshot Pro 2-watt...?

Cygolites are also named best commuter bike lights on this site:

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-commuter-bike-lights/

I wonder is there anywhere they can be had here or in the UK without paying more than three times the price on the likes of Amazon...?

ted1

iniall wrote: »

I presume, getting it in Australia, you didn't pay anything like the £118 Amazon are charging for the Hotshot Pro 2-watt...?

Cygolites are also named best commuter bike lights on this site:

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-commuter-bike-lights/

I wonder is there anywhere they can be had here or in the UK without paying more than three times the price on the likes of Amazon...?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CYGOLITE-Dash-320-Hotshot-Micro-Bike-Light-Combo-Headlight-Taillight-Set-/161606018738?hash=item25a07826b2

120usd =roughly 102 euro. price includes delivery and taxes.

CramCycle

CatFromHue wrote: »

I don't know if that's great advice. If you've proper lights you should be able to see these things.

I used to use a Cateye Volt 300, which had 300 lumens, and it was grand. I wouldn't recommend anything with less lumens than that though for unlit roads.

I got the Volt 300 and the Rear Volt 50 for about 60squid from swimcyclerun. Fantastic lights. I carry a spare rear light, so if my front ever faded, I can swap out the battery from the rear light. I generally use the lower setting but the high power is more than enough for anything in the unlit countryside.

I was tempted to get the Volt 1200 for the spread of light but as I am on road all the time, there was just no need for it but it would be nice.

Fian

ted1 wrote: »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CYGOLITE-Dash-320-Hotshot-Micro-Bike-Light-Combo-Headlight-Taillight-Set-/161606018738?hash=item25a07826b2

120usd =roughly 102 euro. price includes delivery and taxes.

or you could buy it for 53usd on the "likes of amazon"

http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Dash-320-USB-Light/dp/B00MDCIDIE?SubscriptionId=AKIAJM4NKIQGABP2PIRA&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00MDCIDIE&tag=thesweethome-20&ascsubtag=SH2580

ted1

Fian wrote: »

or you could buy it for 53usd on the "likes of amazon"

http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Dash-320-USB-Light/dp/B00MDCIDIE?SubscriptionId=AKIAJM4NKIQGABP2PIRA&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00MDCIDIE&tag=thesweethome-20&ascsubtag=SH2580

That one doesn't ship to Ireland.
The one I linked to is a set which includes front and back lights , it's the same one that the poster said costs 187gbp.
It's only 87 dollars, but the delivery and Vat etc bring it up to 120 dollars.
If the one you linked to delivered to Ireland you would still need to add delivery and VAT

velopeloton

I have one of these BBB lights. Works great, loads of light and lasts for hours. The battery pack can also be used to charge a phone or garmin on longer rides.

mossym

ted1 wrote: »

That one doesn't ship to Ireland.
The one I linked to is a set which includes front and back lights , it's the same one that the poster said costs 187gbp.
It's only 87 dollars, but the delivery and Vat etc bring it up to 120 dollars.
If the one you linked to delivered to Ireland you would still need to add delivery and VAT

says on the page ships to ireland when i click on it

ted1

mossym wrote: »

says on the page ships to ireland when i click on it

Must have changed it since I checked, defo said that they didn't . Still comes to 77 euro without taxes, so more or less the same as my link but hasn't got the back light

ted1

Back to saying it does not ship to Ireland

seanin4711

ted1 wrote: »

Back to saying it does not ship to Ireland

parcel motel is your friend!

Bambaata

Anyone using Exposure lights? Im in the mood for proper investment so was wondering what would be recommended in their line? Whats the max lumen that is actually needed? I have a Hope Vision 1 as a backup but will have plenty of dark cycling coming up so feel like a 250/350 investment

Wishbone Ash

Bambaata wrote: »

.....Whats the max lumen that is actually needed?...

In my experience 300-500 is perfectly adequate for unlit roads at pretty normal 25-35km/h speeds. Unless you are doing high speed descents at night, anything over that is overkill and may just cause irritation to other road users.

jntsnk

Just a few safety tips from experience of night rides. Always have a back up light on helmet or in pocket in case your main light fails. Know the roads of your route, potholes or dogs are scary issues. Wear some sort of fluorescent top, that will stand out from a distance for a driver behind you, yellow top is good also when it's not dark enough in the evening as the rear light will not be effective until it's really dark. Clear glasses are handy.
You are just a small speck on the road for a driver a good distance away better be seen than be cool I know some guys hate wearing yellow.
Safe riding enjoy!

Tenzor07

Bambaata wrote: »

Whats the max lumen that is actually needed?

That's down to personal preference, I would say that a 250/350l light is good for roads with street lighting around, enough for a reasonable spot of light in front of you...

Lumen

Bambaata wrote: »

Whats the max lumen that is actually needed?

Lumen is a measure of output. Lux is a measure of how much the target is illuminated, and takes into account beam spread (viewing angle). For that reason in terms of avoiding potholes you're better off looking for lux numbers which are generally measured at 10m. Anything over 50 lux is fine.

Beam spread (viewing angle) is critical. For instance, a point source putting out 10,000 lumens in all directions would be fairly useless as a bike light as it would only illuminate 8 lux at 10m, if I'm using my calculator right.

tomasrojo

jntsnk wrote: »

You are just a small speck on the road for a driver a good distance away better be seen than be cool I know some guys hate wearing yellow.

The yellow bit doesn't fluoresce at night, so so long as these yellow-haters are using reflective stripes somewhere at night, they're about as visible as the standard hi-viz wearers. (Dusk/dawn is a different matter.)

Alanbt

Bambaata wrote: »

Anyone using Exposure lights? Im in the mood for proper investment so was wondering what would be recommended in their line? Whats the max lumen that is actually needed? I have a Hope Vision 1 as a backup but will have plenty of dark cycling coming up so feel like a 250/350 investment

I borrowed the Exposure Strada from a friend for a few rides and its damn good.
Certainly overkill for most situations but you will definitely be able to see all you need and be seen.
Lots of cash money required though. About €300

Tenzor07

There's a newer one out, the Exposure Diablo Mk7, 1300 lumens and it costs' €250, good for a bit of CX training in the dark!

Jim Stynes

Probably been mentioned on here before but what are the cree lights like? All the fellas in the club have them. Cheap and plenty of light from them.

I am after something to light up the road, head lamp for trails at night, light at the back of my bike. Anything else worthwhile for night time road/trail cycling?

Unknown Soldier

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Probably been mentioned on here before but what are the cree lights like? All the fellas in the club have them. Cheap and plenty of light from them.

I am after something to light up the road, head lamp for trails at night, light at the back of my bike. Anything else worthwhile for night time road/trail cycling?

A single CREE that I got off ebay 2 years ago. It's 1,500 Lumens. And according to testing tonight last about 2.5 hours. Though my test assistant, the missus, didn't actually notice when it went off.

She had one job.

The video does not do it justice tbh. You can see the road ahead for quite a bit in utter, werewolf eating your head off, darkness.

They go for the head first, I've read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvoHSQVFohE

I can't wait for the 6,000 one I've ordered of Aliexpress. They'll see me from the space station.

You still need all the usual flashing lights though, for personal safety.

This one is just for cycling in total darkness. The video was taken this morning going up Stocking lane.

It's very dark and quite fuppin' scary.

ted1

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

A single CREE that I got off ebay 2 years ago. It's 1,500 Lumens. And according to testing tonight last about 2.5 hours. Though my test assistant, the missus, didn't actually notice when it went off.

She had one job.

The video does not do it justice tbh. You can see the road ahead for quite a bit in utter, werewolf eating your head off, darkness.

They go for the head first, I've read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvoHSQVFohE

I can't wait for the 6,000 one I've ordered of Aliexpress. They'll see me from the space station.

You still need all the usual flashing lights though, for personal safety.

This one is just for cycling in total darkness. The video was taken this morning going up Stocking lane.

It's very dark and quite fuppin' scary.

While it's a powerful lamp , it doesn't seem to have a god shape, it seems a much lower rated one with better direction and spread of light could do a better job

Tenzor07

Seems to have a pool of light directly in-front and then a spot light ahead in the distance... or maybe it's just the video quality...