Commuter bike lighs

[aigel]

I started to commute some days by bike and there is darkness now in the winter! I need an upgrade on lighting. I found some old threads, but technology is moving fast here. I'm looking for a decent white front light that can light a dark trail and a red rear flasher that is intense but not obnoxious. Both should be reasonably compact without remote battery packs. Budget should be $60 or less total. USB charging would be good but also okay is AAA or AA as I have a battery charger for those. The commute is about 40 minutes requiring lights, so 3 hour battery life would be nice to give about a weekly charging requirement.

Any recommendations? There are a gazillion choices out there, it has to be one of the most flooded markets out there, so I'd love to hear "I have this, and it works" from someone who shopped recently!

Thanks!

G

[nota]

I would use a clip on flash lite for a head light
lots of led/rechargeable flashlites out there now
or maybe a helmet mount so it goes where you look

and an led rear red lite
I used to use leglights strap on
as the motion of the lite on your leg is more noticeable then a fixed lite

here is one version
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Multi-Use-Bicycle-Safety/dp/B000AO7JP0

wheel lites look cool also

[crb07]

Cyglolite Metro 550- front
Serfas Thunderbolt UTL-6 for rear. Both have USB chargers.
Pretty good deals on Ebay.

[wayner]

Lots of inexpensive rear LED lights available.

I'd put one on my helmet, one on my seat and one somewhere on my body.

[jyl]

I've had good luck with these three tail lights
Cygolight Hotshot Micro $35
Serfas Thunderbolt $40
Knog Blinder 4 V $45

They are listed from most favorite to less favorite.

For headlight, I have been using Chinese cheapo lights with a single Cree XML T6 LED. They cost about $25, including battery and charger, last 1 to 4 years (quite variable quality), plenty bright. However, now that brand name LED lights have come down in price, I'd get either

Knog Blinder Road 3 $47
Cygolight Metro or similar model, with about 400 lumens $45-55

400 lumens is plenty for commuting in the city. More than bright enough to be seen, and bright enough to look for potholes at 15-20 mph. Much brighter headlights are not necessary, and rather irritating to others, unless you are going faster in total darkness, or mountain biking when you need to see the subtleties of roots and stones.

These lights are all USB charging. Run time for the taillights is very long, especially on pulse or blink. Runtime for the headlights is usually around 2-3 hours on high, longer on low and much longer on blink. You will probably want to charge the headlights every other ride. It's very convenient.

If you will be riding on the road, I would suggest mounting the headlight to your helmet, angled so it points at the road when you are in your normal riding position. You can lift your head and aim it at what you want to see or what you want to see you. A bright headlight in the windshield gets a driver's attention when he is about to turn in front of you, ditto in the rear view mirror gets his attention when he is about to cut you off. Then a cheap white blinky on the handlebars. If you will be riding on bike trails, then handlebar mount is fine, since there aren't drivers to worry about.

Also if you will be riding ing the road, reflectives are very good for being seen. Everything from tires to clothes comes in reflective now. And a $2 roll of reflective safety tape will take care of the rest. If you're riding on bike trails, then reflectives don't matter much.

[aigel]

Wow, thanks for the comprehensive input!

30% of the ride is on city streets, 70% on a dark multiuse trail.

How about this combo?

Amazon.com : Cygolite Streak 310/Hotshot SL USB Light Combo : Sports & Outdoors

Also thanks for the input on reflectors. I will get some ankle units (need them anyway for various pants) and will also upgrade the pannier with reflective material. I also have an orange bike jacket coming.

Thanks!!!

G

[jyl]

I think that will be okay. If you are tearing along at 25 mph + on the dark MUP, you might wish for brighter, but probably not.

[aigel]

Thanks John - average speed is about 15 mph, but the trail is flat, straight and lightly used. I will upgrade if it is insufficient and the commute becomes a habit! Main issue is time. It is a combined bike-train-bike ride that adds at least 50% time over car commuting, but of course I get much of it back in active cardio, which I'd have to do anyway. Of course it would be more enjoyable cardio, such as a ride, swim or run at daylight ...

G

[Rikao4]

don't ride myself..
Groupon has these pretty cheap..

[look 171]

I ahve one of these mounted to my handle bar and only use it when I really need it. I also have another mounted low (wide spread beam pattern) mounted on my fork. I like my light low, so I can see the wheel of the rider in front of me (I wheel suck all the time) or the big pot hole. I don't do much riding at night anymore. The one on the fork is a Solarforce Solarforce L2B Cycling Bike Haiii 1 Mode CREE XM L2 U2 670 Lumens LED Flashlight | eBay that has served me very well. Durable too. It has survived a couple of rain storms. Our rain storms are like someone spitting compared to what John has to go through.

[look 171]

NiteRider Lumina 750 from Bike Bling

Sorry. This thing on my handle bar

[rwest]

I've used the Magicshine brand- around $80 for the single version, they claim something like 900 lumens, but probably less. It is very bright and has 3 levels to select from. You'll be able to see great and more importantly, cars will actually see it and not pull out in front of you.

Bright is good, lots of light sources to compete with in the evening, so you need to stand out, early morning not as much, but man, knowing you're visible makes the ride less stressful. I also think when vehicles can see you from a farther distance and not be surprised by your presence, they treat you better and give you more room.

[VaSteve]

I have a $40 light that blinks and sets off my wireless bike computer. It ticks me off since I thought I had the problem solved.

Anyone know a fix? Maybe I can mount to my helmet, but it's not set up that way.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

don't ride myself..
Groupon has these pretty cheap..

I don't ride at night (or as much as I should in the day), but yeah, those look pretty cool!

[Jim Bremner]

I'm biased I work for Serfas as a sales rep please do look at the Thunderbolt for the rear and the USL-305 for the front. A ton of light companies rate the light when it's cold. We rate ours once they're warmed up there's a big difference. We also warranty our lights way longer than the othe guys. Step into your local store and I think that you will see that ours offer a fantastic bang for the buck.

[sc_rufctr]

I'd recommend the Volt series from Cateye.

Product categories | CATEYE

I'm using the Volt800 ($150USD on Ebay). Certainly not cheap and it's not their best but more than good enough for me.

[aigel]

Cygolite appears to be made in the US. That's nice. Are others too? Jim?

I have second thoughts on a fixed install on handlebar. After riding another couple times in the dark now, I can see the advantage having it on your head. I think I am switching to a head mounted solution.

G

[aigel]

Originally Posted by aigel

How about this combo?

Amazon.com : Cygolite Streak 310/Hotshot SL USB Light Combo : Sports & Outdoors

I went with this combo and wanted to report back. Both front and rear lights are plenty bright. I like the flasher for daylight visibility. The only complaint is that the headlamp doesn't last more than 2-3 days (about 2.5h). I wish they would have made the battery twice as big. It is nice to have a compact light, but having to hook it up is just annoying. It'd be perfect if it would last 5 days and weekly top offs were required.

I am logging about 50-70 miles / week on commute now. It is great ...

G

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

don't ride myself..
Groupon has these pretty cheap..

I have seen these in the flesh finally. Very dim, compared to that image and apparently tough to align properly. Looked pretty useless to me in getting attention from a distracted driver in the dark ...

Cheers!

G

[group911@aol.co]

For reflectors, those goofy looking yellow vests with reflector strips that the road crews use are great.
I also like the spoke reflectors for side visibility.