Lights

Raam

now that it's getting dark earlier, my cheap lights are showing their true worth. My trip home has a section where there are no street lights for about 3km, and when there are no cars about, I can hardly see the road in front of me. That said, they are fine for other people seeing me.

Does anyone out there have any of the rechargeable lights? If so, what kind have you got and are they any good?

ta,
P

Morgan

I've got a set of these:
http://www.lumicycle.com/Product/product2.aspx?product=SYSNIMH2&dep=82
Lumicycle NiMH 2000. They've got 12 and 20watt lamps but 12 is plenty for seeing where you're going on the road. They also make cars dip their lights long before they reach you. Run time is about 2.5 - 3 hours.

Raam

thanks Morgan, that one looks good, but also looks to be out of my price range, so I'm thinking of going for this one...


http://cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=134&idproduct=8299


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8904

it looks neat, you don't have to use a water cage to mount the battery

Any opinions?

P

Cassiel

Have a set of Smart halogen twin lights 5W + 5W, only ever need to use the one. The battery straps onto the top tube. Get about two hours out of the battery. Got them from the local bike shop, but think they are in Argos as well. Have em two years, they do the job. Them and the fluorescent vest stop cars in there tracks reckon they think its a Garda checkpoint or something. Price about €65 to €75 I think in Argos.

Mucco

Morgan wrote:

I've got a set of these:
http://www.lumicycle.com/Product/product2.aspx?product=SYSNIMH2&dep=82
Lumicycle NiMH 2000. They've got 12 and 20watt lamps but 12 is plenty for seeing where you're going on the road. They also make cars dip their lights long before they reach you. Run time is about 2.5 - 3 hours.

You can make a set similar to the Lumis from plumbing fittings, they cost next to nothing. It's easy to make up your own NiMH battery, and a basic charger won't be too expensive, though a smart charger is better. They give a truly excellent light.

M

Morgan

If you're getting the L&M ones you should get them from the Cycle Superstore. If you ask them for a loyalty card you'll get 10% off - beating the CRC price. I'm not familiar with that model but I've seem the L&M ARC and they're very well made. 13w should be plenty for the road too.

There's a nice guide to making your own lights here:
http://www.jeremyb.net/projects.html

More here:
http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/concert/2301/index2.html
and here:
http://www.timpaton.net/bikes/light/

Raam

Thanks for the advice lads,
went for these in the end

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8904

I've had em for about two weeks now and they work quite well. The light is very bright and lets me see where I'm going on those unlit roads. If you don't charge it, the light goes from bright to dead very quickly, i.e. it's either shining or not, no middle "half dead" ground.

P

Patrick Murphy

God you guys spend alot of money or your bikes. I'm looking to get lights for my bike. I was hoping to spent under €40.

Ghost Rider

If you don't do any cycling in really dark places (i.e. country roads, unlit suburban roads or the inside of photographic development labs) then you should definitely get away with spending less than €40.

I live and cycle between Dublin 7 (Phibsboro) and Dublin 6 (Ranelagh). The streets are all well lit so I find smaller, battery-powered, 3-LED lights fine. I also wear a visi vest, though, so that may make a difference too.

I use one of these for the front: http://www.cateye.com/uk/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=20&catId=7&subCatId=2

And for the rear, I use something like one of these:
http://www.cateye.com/uk/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=27&catId=7&subCatId=4

I'm sure you'd get something similar to these for around €25, all in. Maybe spend the extra €15 on a recharger and a bunch of batteries.

Personally, I'd quite like to have lamps as bright as a motorcycle's on my bike, but some of the more powerful ones are quite heavy or bulky and I already have enough cycling-related sh-te to carry around with me (i.e. a helmet, tools, pump and rain gear).

With the lights I have and the visi vest, only the drunkest or most crack-crazed drivers would fail to see me.

Patrick Murphy wrote:

God you guys spend alot of money or your bikes. I'm looking to get lights for my bike. I was hoping to spent under €40.

daymobrew

Patrick Murphy wrote:

God you guys spend alot of money or your bikes. I'm looking to get lights for my bike. I was hoping to spent under €40.

Cycle SuperStore in Tallaght have a selection of lights.
There is a front/back light set for e30.
I got a text from them about an offer where you get a free light set worth e25 when you order from their website before 18 Dec. Go to http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/free and use code "2897". I got the text because I signed up for the Loyalty Card (which gives you discounts). I hope that this doesn't apply to just Loyalty Card members.

randomname2005

I ordered a light from ebay which was < €10
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Mode-19-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Head-Light-with-Battery-New_W0QQitemZ7197821431QQcategoryZ2904QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I only have it a few days, the light is bright, the bracket a little fiddly but good for less than a tenner.
R

Capt'n Midnight

A while back Aldi/Lidl did some LED head lamps, these are great for picking up reflective surfaces and blinding drivers, and maybe for looking at potholes.

If going in dark places then reflective jacket will be brighter than your lights, motorists have very poor visibility from the inside of thier cars and a much poorer understanding of their einviromnent and virtually soundproofed in their comfy cocoons.