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Recommended daytime bike lights
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I'm interested in purchasing some daytime bike lights (both front and rear).

My criteria:

1. Wide viewing angle
2. Bright enough to be seen during the day
3. Mounts to tri bike (including wide seat post)
4. Long battery life.

Recommendations?

Michael
Last edited by: NewbieTri100: Sep 20, 17 6:01
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Big fan of bontrager ion and flare. Get the RT versions and they will pair to your garmin.

http://www.TriScottsdale.org
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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For the rear:
I have the Bontrager Flare R's - one for my bikes and one for my son's MTB.

Elastic mounting, so should fit most seatposts, and interchangeable.
Battery life depends on how they are set in use - so mileage varies.
Micro-USB connector for charging. I put mine on the charger when I get back, and then forget about them until the next outing.

https://www.trekbikes.com/...-tail-light/p/13202/

There are three modes:
I've found that only the brightest mode (65LM) is useful during the day (bright and sunny where I live). The 35LM mode is insufficient in the bright sun until you're close to the biker.

They're popular where I ride (Alicante) - a lot of riders have them and when flashing on 65LM, I can see them from a very long way off.

For the front:
I have the Ion 100 R's. I've not seen any of them around. Only reason I bought this specific model is for the USB-charging - no point having one set of lights charging on USB and another set on AAA's.

They are classed as 'to be seen' instead of 'to see', and I've not been out on the bike after dusk. As such I'm not qualified to comment, but they look bright enough when turned on and flashing away. I would expect oncoming drivers to be annoyed if not angled slightly downwards.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-lights/bontrager-ion-100-r/p/14243/?colorCode=black
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [Sbernardi] [ In reply to ]
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Sbernardi wrote:
Big fan of bontrager ion and flare. Get the RT versions and they will pair to your garmin.

Thanks for the information. What does pairing the lights to my garmin do for me? Automatically turn on and off when I turn on the computer?

Michael
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [gahddenbooi] [ In reply to ]
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Thank you for the thorough explanation and feedback. I'll definitely look into the "R" series Bontrager lights.

Michael
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Dinotte: XML3 & QuadRed- http://store.dinottelighting.com/...-taillight-p177.aspx

Light & Motion: Urban 900 & VIS180 Pro - http://www.lightandmotion.com/...ling/combo-urban-900

Lupine: Piko & Rotlicht - http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/...sp?cID=0&PID=547 & http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/..._smart_taillight.asp

It's hard to describe just how good the lights from these companies are

"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [Rappstar] [ In reply to ]
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Rappstar wrote:
Dinotte: XML3 & QuadRed- http://store.dinottelighting.com/...-taillight-p177.aspx

Light & Motion: Urban 900 & VIS180 Pro - http://www.lightandmotion.com/...ling/combo-urban-900

Lupine: Piko & Rotlicht - http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/...sp?cID=0&PID=547 & http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/..._smart_taillight.asp

It's hard to describe just how good the lights from these companies are

Thank you for the recommendations Rapp. Good luck at your new job. I use Zwift several times a week.
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Specialized Flux Expert https://www.specialized.com/...rt-tail-light/131113

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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BryanD wrote:
Specialized Flux Expert https://www.specialized.com/...rt-tail-light/131113

Thanks Bryan. This is the model I was planning to get prior to my initial post. It's still the front runner because of the wide viewing angle but I'm researching the other suggestions prior to making my final decision. I like that I can buy a $5 adapter so the tail light fits on a tri seat post.

Michael
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [Sbernardi] [ In reply to ]
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Sbernardi wrote:
Big fan of bontrager ion and flare. Get the RT versions and they will pair to your garmin.

There is a thread on this already....it had numerous responses and i researched all of them. I went with this.....the ion and flare. The flare is so bright you cannot look directly at it......mounting the ion on extensions is a breeze. I recommend this option.
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Actually you don't need that $5 strap. That is only for the Specialized Stixx lights.

The Flux comes with an Aero Seatpost strap

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/
Last edited by: BryanD: Sep 20, 17 6:55
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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BryanD wrote:
Actually you don't need that $5 adapter. That is only for the Specialized Stixx lights.

The Flux comes with an Aero Seatpost adaptor

Thanks for the heads up. $5 saved!
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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I use the Flux on the back of my P2 and the Stixx on my helmet.

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Yes. And I think they will automatically pairbsmd turn on. Just a nice feature to have. Garmin is also making their own lights that will have more pairing features.

http://www.TriScottsdale.org
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Thank you. Let me just say that, in comparison to other lights mentioned here, there is simply no comparison between a light that is well over 100lm and one that is well under. E.g., a 65lm taillight vs a 160lm taillight? There's just no debate.

Once you get a REALLY bright taillight, you won't ride anything else.

Some lights do better than others. Lumens is the right measure to use here, but it's often incomplete because lens design plays a big role. But this is much more true for headlights than taillights. That's because you are using the headlight to see, so where the light ends up matters a lot.

I.e. a 900lm headlight can actually be much more useful than a 1200lm headlight if the lens design is better so more of the light ends up on the trail.

But for a taillight, the same logic doesn't apply. In the case of a taillight, all you care about is how much light is being generated, which is exactly what lumens tells you: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_(unit)

So, basically, for headlamps, you need to consider both lumens and lens/reflector design, because the way the light illuminates the road/trail matters a lot. But for taillights, all you care about is lumens. Brighter is better.

"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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NewbieTri100 wrote:
I'm interested in purchasing some daytime bike lights (both front and rear).


My criteria:

1. Wide viewing angle
2. Bright enough to be seen during the day
3. Mounts to tri bike (including wide seat post)
4. Long battery life.

Recommendations?

Michael


Bontrager Ion 800 RT and Flare at the back, super visible during the day from very far, front and back, battery last for 10h in "day blink" mode. worth every penny, plus they sync with Garmin and you can switch them from the computer. Also once you press start on your Garmin the light are on, no need to press any buttons...
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Bontrager Flare R (or RT) is the best! Trust me. It's like consecutive flash-bangs

Stay home, stay healthy.
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [NewbieTri100] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate it.

Michael
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [Rappstar] [ In reply to ]
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Have you actually been hands-on with the VIS 180 Pro yet?
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [dangle] [ In reply to ]
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dangle wrote:
Have you actually been hands-on with the VIS 180 Pro yet?

Not yet. I have an email in to L&M to try to get one for testing. I tested the original VIS180, which was great but not bright enough. Based on the overall quality of L&M lights and the accuracy of their lumen testing in the past, I'd be shocked if it wasn't as advertised. But I haven't actually gotten hands on yet.

"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [Rappstar] [ In reply to ]
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Rappstar wrote:
dangle wrote:
Have you actually been hands-on with the VIS 180 Pro yet?


Not yet. I have an email in to L&M to try to get one for testing. I tested the original VIS180, which was great but not bright enough. Based on the overall quality of L&M lights and the accuracy of their lumen testing in the past, I'd be shocked if it wasn't as advertised. But I haven't actually gotten hands on yet.

I was disappointed with the brightness as well compared to current stuff like the Flare R and Lezyne Micro Drive. The amount of taillight mounting systems for a deep seatpost like a Trek IA, BMC TM, and Trek SC kinda sucks, I'm hoping the 180 Pro can compete with those.
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [Rappstar] [ In reply to ]
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Rappstar wrote:
Dinotte: XML3 & QuadRed- http://store.dinottelighting.com/...-taillight-p177.aspx

Light & Motion: Urban 900 & VIS180 Pro - http://www.lightandmotion.com/...ling/combo-urban-900

Lupine: Piko & Rotlicht - http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/...sp?cID=0&PID=547 & http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/..._smart_taillight.asp

It's hard to describe just how good the lights from these companies are

I started using Light & Motion Urban 1000 and VIS 180 Pro. They seem amazing but I've never used bike lights before (did not ride in the dark). For daylight use they definitely seem to work especially in the intermittent modes.

At the end of the day for daylight use its reducing the statistics. I read somewhere that getting hit from behind is only 3% of bike accidents and the majority is other stuff (drivers not seeing you as they turn into your lane, doors opening etc.)
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [Rappstar] [ In reply to ]
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Rappstar wrote:
dangle wrote:
Have you actually been hands-on with the VIS 180 Pro yet?


Not yet. I have an email in to L&M to try to get one for testing. I tested the original VIS180, which was great but not bright enough. Based on the overall quality of L&M lights and the accuracy of their lumen testing in the past, I'd be shocked if it wasn't as advertised. But I haven't actually gotten hands on yet.

I just bought one of these two weeks ago and sent it with the wife to Kona where she's using it for daylight training. We've been running the Vis180's for a couple of years and they are great lights. Most important is the mount system works well when switching between road bike, tri bike, fatbike, mtb, etc. The more than doubled output of the Vis180 Pro vs. the Vis180 is very apparent. L&M also reprogrammed the very slight pulse sequence to have a much more noticeable pulse. Very cool that L&M continues to upgrade a proven design with new LED tech.

This same approach is used by Dinotte who updates their products regularly and offers trade-in discounts. We have a lot of their lights too. Mostly used for winter night riding, but we recently picked up the Quad Red taillights. This is now my favorite taillight! The limiter with Dinotte is the antiquated mounting system. The mount on this light sucks and doesn't provide a lot of flexibility. I know there are workarounds, but for the price they should update their mounting system. Jordan if you have any regular communication with the company, please urge them to evolve the mount design. I think this alone would make them much more mainstream for sales. Even at their price points. I just ordered up a couple of Dinotte converter mounts from Shapeways so we can run these on our S5's. My next project will be looking to see if I can get an adapter that will mount on the back of the Quad so it can be used with something like the L&M Vis180 mount (downside is no angle adjustment) or NiteRider Solas adjustable strap mount.

My favorite daytime front light is the CatEye RapidX3. I like it mounted on the fork blade and they offer a simple aero fork adapter. This setup works great for tri-bikes where it can be a challenge to find a good bar mount location. This think is bright and runs forever in the flashing modes.
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [FranzZemen] [ In reply to ]
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FranzZemen wrote:
At the end of the day for daylight use its reducing the statistics. I read somewhere that getting hit from behind is only 3% of bike accidents and the majority is other stuff (drivers not seeing you as they turn into your lane, doors opening etc.)


Yesterday somebody local was hit from behind (and killed) by a Dodge Ram during daylight on a straight, rural road. It's the same road we have group rides going down 6x a week. I haven't left the house without an obnoxious taillight for two years because of how distracted drivers are getting. Partly why I rarely ride my tri bike outside...I'm tired of MacGyvering lights to it (and occasionally stopping to pick them back up). That 3% seems awfully catastrophic when it does happen. It wasn't the first one this year here either.
Last edited by: dangle: Sep 20, 17 13:44
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Re: Recommended daytime bike lights [dangle] [ In reply to ]
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dangle wrote:
FranzZemen wrote:
At the end of the day for daylight use its reducing the statistics. I read somewhere that getting hit from behind is only 3% of bike accidents and the majority is other stuff (drivers not seeing you as they turn into your lane, doors opening etc.)


Yesterday somebody local was hit from behind (and killed) by a Dodge Ram during daylight on a straight, rural road. It's the same road we have group rides going down 6x a week. I haven't left the house without an obnoxious taillight for two years because of how distracted drivers are getting. Partly why I rarely ride my tri bike outside...I'm tired of MacGyvering lights to it (and occasionally stopping to pick them back up). That 3% seems awfully catastrophic when it does happen. It wasn't the first one this year here either.

Agreed! Anything to bring down the stats.

One thing I noticed is that I get honked at a lot more since I put lights on. I'd rather have motorists annoyed at me (and avoiding me) than not realizing I'm there.
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