Bike light recommendations please

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m confused when looking at the variety of bicycle lights out there…

Led, Halogen, HID, Xenon, etc.

Some are rated by watts, some by candlepower, some seemingly not at all.

Batteries rechargeable or not.

Cost seems to range form $15 - $500.

Can anyone help me decide between these based on the following:

Use: Commuting - in the city.

Hours needed - 3 per day (or so).

No off-road stuff.

I like the idea of rechargeable batteries - but I really don’t want to give up my one bottle cage or have wires running - so self-contained (as opposed to seperate light and battery) appeal to me.

My big concern with rechargable batteries is that if a screw up and don’t have enough charge to get home - i’m screwed. Replaceable batteries seem like a good idea but I really don’t want to run through 200 AA batteries every year (for multiple reasons). Replaceable seems cool because I can keep a spare set in my backpack for emergencies.

I don’t want to worry about it in the rain.

I’m really not excited about spending more than $50-$60 - but I will if the light is ‘that much better’ and will give me better safety.

I will not be spending $300.

For a taillight I plan on just using one of the many flashing LED lights out there.

Can anyone either point me to some good reviews and information - or perhaps make some recommendations from experience?

What really is the difference between a rechargeable 10w halogen lamp ($125 or so) and a $30 led light? Is the difference huge on the road?

2

Use: Commuting - in the city

So you probably need to be seen more than to see. LEDs will work for this.

Hours needed - 3 per day (or so)

*Once again LEDs have a long life I am still using the same 2 AAAs in my head lite that came with the light at xmas. *

My big concern with rechargable batteries is that if a screw up and don’t have enough charge to get home - i’m screwed. Replaceable batteries seem like a good idea but I really don’t want to run through 200 AA batteries every year (for multiple reasons). Replaceable seems cool because I can keep a spare set in my backpack for emergencies

Rechargeables are cool, i will be buying rechargeale AAAs for my lights with an extra set so I have spares. My headlight, taillight, clip on blinker on my messenger bag and the headlamp I keep in the bag are all AAA so I don’t have to carry a lot of spares.

I don’t want to worry about it in the rain.

I had rain ruin a set of lights. Tailight are especially supseptible to this becasue the rear wheel throws the water at them. You can get a LED light combo for less than $20. Spend a bit more get a brand name set, or go to the shop and look and see if it has a gasket and screws toghether rather than snapping together. Anything that snaps together will leak eventually.

I’m really not excited about spending more than $50-$60 - but I will if the light is ‘that much better’ and will give me better safety.

Just for a set of lights to make you visible you shouldn’t have to.

What really is the difference between a rechargeable 10w halogen lamp ($125 or so) and a $30 led light? Is the difference huge on the road? **

A 10w lamp is great for dark trails where you need to see where you are going. I believe a 5w would work. We recently had a blackout, I have a 5 LED headlight, and a backup incadescent, and my three LED headlamp. I still had to pedal slow in order to see far enough ahead to be safe.

Hope this helps

4

It depends on what you need the light for. Are you letting people know you’re there? Or are you lighting the way?

If you can easily make out where you are going with the street lights, all you need is a couple of The Frog LED lights, or, being a super minimalist, just one on the back. The Frog, although great for the front AND cheap, may not be the best choice for the rear. Preferably, you’ll want something with at least 3 LED’s with a blinking pattern.

If you need to light the way for 90 min. in one direction, you will need a real lighting system. You should be able to get a 10 watt for $100-110 and maybe one with a battery that velcros to the toptube (though I think this looks much more tacky than a water bottle pack). The wattage that you select depends on your speed. As you go faster, you will over-run a light with less wattage. 10 watts = 15mph, 15 watts = 18-19mph, over 20 mph and you’re gonna need some serious wattage. I start having serious visibility problems with my 25 watt system at 28 mph.

If you go with the AA route, our employees have had great luck with this cateye:

http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=18&catId=7&subCatId=2

It’s small, does a decent job of lighting the way, and the batteries last a long time. Oh… and it’s so waterproof, you can SCUBA dive with it. You’ll eventually spend more money on batteries as you would have on a lighting system