Front Light Recommendation

keano25

As above, can anyone recommend a decent front light for cycling in the dark, and I mean unlit country roads for around €50?

Thanks

iwillhtfu

Just bought a solar storm off eBay it's very bright. I don't think I'd use it on busy roads so should be perfect on country roads. €30 I think it cost.

It does have a separate battery pack though if it's neat you're after

keano25

That sounds good any links?

Beasty

One or two suggestions here

keano25

Sorry found it I think

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Upgraded-SolarStorm-X2-Mountain-Bike-Light-Front-Bicycle-Lights-Cree-LED-L2-T6-/141109506667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item20dac8326b

iwillhtfu

I got one like this it has 3 LEDs the one you linked is probably as good

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/2nd-Generation-X2-SolarStorm-X3-Cree-XM-L2-Energy-Saving-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Light-/141127393169?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&var=&hash=item20dbd91f91

whacker00

I recently bought this lezyne for the work commute. It's really great, nice and compact and a great beam for such a small unit. It charges from USB which is really handy

Think you can get the front/back set for around €70

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-micro-drive-front-light-200l-2015/rp-prod111708

iwillhtfu

Just an update back from a 45min spin.

30 metres out



60 metres out



Pictures don't do it justice to be honest it's very bright. I find myself pushing it down when I come across a car on the lanes. It easily lights 100M+

Sorry for the massive pics

CramCycle

Cateye volt 300. If you change your mind about the price, Schmidt edelux.

keano25

Looks very bright in those pics!

Got this in October, would recommend.

http://www.dx.com/p/cree-xm-l-t6-3600lm-4-mode-white-bike-light-headlamp-black-silver-4-x-18650-171971#.VNXQy6UeLqA

ford2600

Dónal wrote: »

Got this in October, would recommend.

http://www.dx.com/p/cree-xm-l-t6-3600lm-4-mode-white-bike-light-headlamp-black-silver-4-x-18650-171971#.VNXQy6UeLqA

Our civilised European neighbours have traffic laws on bike lights, so as not to blind other road users.

Most of the lights mentioned above don't comply.

I use lights that do comply and haven't had an issue on mainly unlit rural roads. B &M dynamo lamp and a Trelock 950 are the lights I've used.

I also have a 1000 lumen lamp for mtb. Not suitable for road though

CramCycle

I am against any of the lights that don't have a suitably shaped beam pattern above a certain intensity as they are only for truffle hunters and blinding other road users at a certain point.

iwillhtfu

I did mention that it wouldn't be for regular road use. As you can see from the pics I only use it on country lanes where the only traffic is my neighbours and on the xx bike. I think it's perfect for the job and once you're courteous enough to angle it down if a car approaches I don't see it being an issue.

For the PC brigade I also ride with a lezyne when going through town.

lennymc

i had one of those style lights and it up was fine for seeing where I was going, but horrendous for anyone coming towards me. I ended up changing to a dynamo set (about 110 all in) and it's much better. No charging batteries, proper mounting on the bike, good light. I havent used the ebay leds since.

CatFromHue

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Just an update back from a 45min spin.

30 metres out

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae170/leeomurchu/20150206_213525_zpss8tldvnu.jpg?t=1423175316[/IMG]

60 metres out

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae170/leeomurchu/20150206_213623_zpseg0fs3ej.jpg?t=1423175319[/IMG]

Pictures don't do it justice to be honest it's very bright. I find myself pushing it down when I come across a car on the lanes. It easily lights 100M+

Sorry for the massive pics

What's the light like from the cyclist's point of view? Does it light up the road well?

iwillhtfu

CatFromHue wrote: »

What's the light like from the cyclist's point of view? Does it light up the road well?

It's an out and out flood light. As others have stated I wouldn't fancy cycling toward it so it wouldn't be for town use.

There are 3 settings and flashing the low beam is more than adequate gives about 10m of clear viewing at a wide angle medium will give clear viewing for 40m+ easily High setting lights up everything within 60m+. The beam isn't as focused as it looks in the pics.

I'll take a few pics during the week showing the riders perspective.

keano25

lennymc wrote: »

i had one of those style lights and it up was fine for seeing where I was going, but horrendous for anyone coming towards me. I ended up changing to a dynamo set (about 110 all in) and it's much better. No charging batteries, proper mounting on the bike, good light. I havent used the ebay leds since.

Ya but how is the Dynamo on an unlit country road?

And what sort of bulb is in it?

I'm concerned about hitting potholes in the middle of nowhere..

Idleater

Mine is fine. It's an led with a German approved focused beam. Dynamos are fantastic.

keano25

Idleater wrote: »

Mine is fine. It's an led with a German approved focused beam. Dynamos are fantastic.

Any link?

Idleater

keano25 wrote: »

Any link?

I have a cheap sp dynamo light, got it in a bundle with a pv8 hub. There are far better and more powerful lights, my comment was more to agree with the posters that say focus is better on the road than bright scatter everywhere.

CramCycle

keano25 wrote: »

Ya but how is the Dynamo on an unlit country road?

Depends on the light

And what sort of bulb is in it?

Most are LED

I'm concerned about hitting potholes in the middle of nowhere..

Not an issue with any decent dynamo powered light

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/plight.asp covers most of the questions, with links to the various possible headlights

Civilian_Target

+1 for dynamo lights. If you're riding regularly in the country side, they're worth every cent.

I have the older version of this, but my little brother has this exact one
http://www.bumm.de/produkte/dynamo-scheinwerfer/lumotec-iq-fly-t.html

I've been using it on country roads since 2008. It projects a shape on the road that lights the way effectively, you can see enough in the pitch dark to come down a hill at 30mph, yet it doesn't blind oncoming traffic.
When you stop, the light runs dimmer, like a regular bike light, for several minutes before turning off.

The newer version that I don't have also has a day/night sensor that spills light everywhere during the day for maximum visibility, and focuses it in the dark for when you need to see.

Never needs charging, never needs batteries, and always on. I spent years carrying a battery backup just in case, but I never used it.

iwillhtfu

Out of curiosity how much do these dynamo lights cost?

ford2600

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Out of curiosity how much do these dynamo lights cost?

A cheaper shimano hub built into a wheel with a basic lamp is doable from Germany from just over 100. With shimanos best dyno hub and a decent light you'd be up on 150.

Higher end stuff is 300/400 upwards.

CramCycle

I got Shimanos best hub built on a Magic CXP22 rim, 36 spoke, tube, rim tape and a GP4000S tyre for 177euro with delivery from Rose.

Ryath

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Out of curiosity how much do these dynamo lights cost?

B&M light €55 and a basic rose wheel with own brand rim basic shimano hub for €65. The light is as good as any you'd buy at twice the price. I have Son Schmidt Edelux 2 light and SON delux hub built with a mavic open pro myself. The Edelux use uses the same reflector as the B&M just has a metal body. The wheel is where you could spend more to get something lighter with less drag.

http://www.rosebikes.com/article/b--m-lumotec-iq-cyo-premium-t--senso-plus-front-headlamp/aid:709237

http://www.rosebikes.com/article/shimano-dh-3n31-with-xtreme-sari-t-19-r-28700-c-atb-front-wheel-716134/aid:716136

Civilian_Target

My advice would be to avoid rim hubs - they drain the life our of your bike.

For a good self set up, I got a prebuilt double-walleed road wheel with a Sanyo hub for 70 EUR, plus another 60 EUR for the front light and 22 EUR for the back light. You can go cheaper, but if you want something that will last for years, I think that's a good way to go.

Cyclewizard

CramCycle wrote: »

Cateye volt 300. If you change your mind about the price, Schmidt edelux.

this, great light

CatFromHue

I have the volt 300 too!

lennymc

keano25 wrote: »

Ya but how is the Dynamo on an unlit country road?

And what sort of bulb is in it?

I'm concerned about hitting potholes in the middle of nowhere..

Apologies - only seeing this now. most of my cycling in winter is on unlit country roads. I have descended at about 55-60kph with this light although that would be as fast as i would take it. As for seeing lights - you see everything. It has a good beam pattern. It is an edelux LED light and a shimano something hub dynamo. I got the wheel & dynamo on ebay, it's been faultless. I got the light from cramcycle on here. I find it way better than the ebay cree lights I was using previously. All in it cost me about 120.

schmidt edelux beam pattern is shown on this page

Mec-a-nic

+1 for Dynamo and LED light setups. They have come a long way from heavy generators and dim bulbs that blew a lot. I've upgraded two of my bikes in the past year - details from other boards threads here

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93244394&postcount=285
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=89598160&postcount=182

ford2600

If your doing a lot of unlit roads it's not a bad idea to have a back up battery light set, in case of a mechanical/puncture. I fixed a puncture in dark in December 13 near Powers the Pot which wasn't much fun without a light.

Urban areas probably not necessary