Favorite/best bicycle head/tail lights

[masraum]

I've seen an old thread on this, but 3-4 years is a long time in this sort of tech these days.

We'll be riding on the streets in group rides soon, and I may try commuting (3 miles and mostly bike paths, but no skimping on safety).

What are the current recommendations for head and tail lights for bikes? THese will be street driven and will by 99% to hopefully, keep from being run over.

I saw a guy the other day in the day time (cloudy) that had a great, nice bright rear light. By the time my wife told me to chase him down, he was turning.

I also saw a guy that had a light on the back of his bike and a horizontal bike at the base of the rear of his helmet which seemed like a good idea.

Maybe I need one of these.

[rusnak]

LED Lenser make one that you wear in your head. There is a blinking rear light, and obviously a functioning twin beam head light.

[MFAFF]

These are very good... expensive however I think they are worth it... have had mine in pretty much daily use for the last 5 years. Zero problems.

Helmet light:

https://exposurelights.com/products/bike/helmet-lights/link-plus-daybright

Front and back:
https://exposurelights.com/products/bike/trace-tracer

Very easy to clip on/ off bike and pretty secure. Bright enough as daytime lights and plenty bright enough for nighttime use. As the they are USB rechargeable I can top them up during they from my PC if needed.

Cateye are also good, with the advantage of being significantly less expensive, even if they are not as robust. Choices....

These are also very widely used, the Nebula version, especially those on the road bikes training in Regents Park:
MOON SPORT WEBSITE | Bike - Tail Light

Very smart and the large visual footprint is good.

[rwest]

Besides the lights, Buy hi-viz yellow everything.

Every one of my jerseys and jackets are hi-viz and reflective. I truly believe that if someone can see you from a far distance, it gives them time to process your existence and give you room. I feel like if you “surprise” them, they get upset and react poorly.

I see guys riding in all black on black bikes all the time- nobody besides themselves think bicyclists are cool, so better be seen than feel tough.

So many good lights available these days thanks to LED.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

^ Black is just stupid.
the shade is called millenial darwin black btw.

get Hi vis yellow. flamboyantly gay all the way!, but works.

Front light attached to head. You can aim it where it needs to be aimed. For example, at a driver who is getting ready to pull out in front of you, or, say, a bear walking toward you.

Rear blinkey affixed to the seatpost. The blinkeez work best when lined up just right to line of sight. The guys with the lights you can see for miles have their lights attached to the seatpost/frame. It's like a laser beam. It's powerful, but needs to be pointing in the right direction.

When I ride with people who attech that sh#$ to their helmets, or camlebacks often, I am right behind them and can barely see their blinky. Why? It's not pointing in the right direction. Perhaps an airplane could see them from above, but not a car from behind. The effectiveness really depends on which way their head is tilting at the moment, sometimes its good, but overall it never seems to be as effective as a solidly mounted light

[cabmandone]

I bought one like this for my dad to put on his recumbent. It's highly visible from a distance.
https://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B07C9CGHRY/ref=zg_bs_3403491_48?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=51XNFRSG2S6Y685FK8HW

[billybek]

I have a Lezyne 1100 on the bars of the fat bike and a Niterider 800 helmet mounted for trail riding at night. I think the rear is just a cateye flasher that mounts to the seatpost or downtube.

Good to be seen.

[masraum]

Thanks, all.

[red-beard]

What size Jersey's do you wear? I still have some of the tie-died Tour de Taco jerseys.

[mepstein]

I don't ride with people who use the blinking rear lights during the day. Takes the enjoyment out of riding when you feel like you are pedaling through a construction zone the whole ride. Alone in the evening, I use one.

[David]

I wonder if a S&W, HK, Sig etc jersey would help curb some automotive hijinks.

[jwasbury]

Have a couple Cygolite brand products. They have been good.

Definitely like hi-viz gear too.

[Tobra]

You want reflecty clothes. Get vinyl reflective stickers and put them on the hat, use a mirror on the hat and/or glasses.

I like a light on the head, points where you look. Buddy had some NITESUN, or some such thing. Halogen bulb with battery pack sized and shaped like a water bottle, which was handy. Lights on the handle bars, hi/low beams. Battery did not last as long on bright, lasted plenty long, was plenty bright. Had a red flasher for under the seat. I used to take two hose clamps and put an AA sized Maglite on the handlebars. Easy to take the light with me when I parked it.

I knew a guy who used to put one of those plastic chemical lights in the mesh pocket on the back side of his shirt when did night rides You could safety pin that to the back of your shirt to good effect, maybe wear light up bracelets like I get the grand kids at the dollar store. Take a bag of them for the whole group even. Would be better for a one off though. You want lights, Maybe a light up dog collar for your arm on the traffic side. Look at LED dog collar, you could put a blinking red X on your back, theoretically.

[stuartj]

I wear black. Im not wearing high viz. Although I do have some new flash white shoes.

I recently got one these lights. The mount is great, high up under the seat (yes the light really does shine out of....) its bright, has the usual modes and a nifty brake light function under deceleration. Theyre available all over the place.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/XLITE100-Bicycle-Rear-Light-Auto-Start-Stop-Brake-Sensing-IPx6-Waterproof-LED-Charging-Flashlight-Taillight-For/32919340579.html

[masraum]

Originally Posted by red-beard

What size Jersey's do you wear? I still have some of the tie-died Tour de Taco jerseys.

James, thanks, the missus is a small womens in Pearl Izumi and I’m a Large in the Pearl Izumi. That would be great and generous. I could try to meet you or pay you for shipping or whatever, if you’ve got our sizes.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Have a couple Cygolite brand products. They have been good.

Definitely like hi-viz gear too.

Some of the old threads that I’ve seen here also reference cygolite. They look pretty good. I chased a guy down today to ask what kind of light he had because it was nice and bright, and it was a cygolite.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by David

I wonder if a S&W, HK, Sig etc jersey would help curb some automotive hijinks.

Or open carry...

[masraum]

Most of our gear is black, but our jerseys do have colors and reflective elements. Our bikes are also black. I’m thinking that some reflective tape down each of the rear tubes would be good for both of us. Her bike didn’t come with the reflectors. Mine did, but I’ve removed them.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stuartj

I wear black. Im not wearing high viz. Although I do have some new flash white shoes.

I recently got one these lights. The mount is great, high up under the seat (yes the light really does shine out of....) its bright, has the usual modes and a nifty brake light function under deceleration. Theyre available all over the place.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/XLITE100-Bicycle-Rear-Light-Auto-Start-Stop-Brake-Sensing-IPx6-Waterproof-LED-Charging-Flashlight-Taillight-For/32919340579.html

Cool, I have seen a few lights that have brakelight type effects.

[red-beard]

A few pieces of reflector tape will help. But you need loud clothes (save lives?).

I don't know which brand, but there are some really obnoxious lights out there. One has a non-repeating, flashing pattern. Obnoxious to ride behind, but I am sure it is the most noticeable.