Bike lights

Hitch · Sep 17, 2013

Need to get a set of bike lights...need some recommendations.

Preferably rechargeable, I think, but not with wires dangling everywhere when riding.

Roughly 70% riding on lanes, 30% trail/bridleways....

Needs to be probably a flashing rear, and a fairly bright front.

What i don't want, is ones that slip down and point towards the ground every 200 yards. I don't want ones that the lenses drop off. I don't want ones that have tiny brittle plastic clips that break in the cold.

Now, A quick look, is finding sets that cost more than the bike :laughing:

So anything decent about £50-60 ish?

brightspark · Sep 17, 2013

get a ledlenser h14 :laughing:

i have the rechargeable one got it of ebay for 72 quid .it earns the respect of people who dazzle u :whistle:

200m range of intense light 210 lumens

chunkolini · Sep 17, 2013

Bike lights? now that is a can of worms.
They have come on mindbogglingly in the last few years.
HID bulbs are amazing but fragile.
I would go LED.
I have one of these and use it on my 10 mile commute, and hack along in the pitch dark at a decent lick. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/exposure-strada-front-light-mk4-2013/rp-prod86626 mine cost £200 about five years back pricey but worth it.

On a budget like yours their is a baffling array.
These look good http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lezyne-super-drive-xl-500l-front-light-2013/rp-prod86390

Are you after seeing or being seen? on my commute I have no street lights and some idiot car drivers, a pair of brightish lights are ok in town but in the country you want to see and be seen. A reasonable rear light should do the job but the brighter the better on the front, also get one that can be dimmed when some plonker forgets to recharge it.
LiOn batteries and LED's are the way to go.
Also wear a reflective belt or slip over jacket.

DuncanM · Sep 17, 2013

LED is the way forward. You can get some spectacularly bright lights for under 30 quid on eBay. Their beam pattern isn't the best, but the amount of light they produce means it doesn't matter too much.

grandads_shed · Sep 17, 2013

on the bike forums people are saying that these cree lights are brilliant , i have seen videos on youtube as well and they are bright, the only reason i never got them is because every where i go there are street lights,
they make even more brighter ones that have 3 leds in them

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1800LM-CR...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item43be488642

bump · Sep 17, 2013

Had an email from 7dayshop the other day announcing their new Cree LED bundles. Here's a link to the full email.

Angusdog · Sep 18, 2013

Some of the uber-bright flashing front bike lights are counter productive in that they're so bright they blind drivers and would be illegal on a car. I can see why people use them, but they're actually dangerous. At least you have a wide choice of amazingly small and bright reliable lights. I'm old enough to remember those wee generator ones which rubbed on yer front tyre...

Didd1 · Sep 18, 2013

The list of websites is almost as long as the list of front and rear light combinations. I'm almost sure though to be legal both front and rear lights need to be on constant and you can only use a strobed one along side the normal ones. and hers another link just to keep you busy http://www.tmart.com/Bicycle-Lights-205gallery/ I've had quite a few things from them service/price and quality have been spot on.

lchris21 · Sep 18, 2013

just yesterday took delivery of a set of cateye uno + rapid 3. Non rechargeable but an AA battery supposed to last 80hrs in flash mode, cheap enough to run. Ebay bargain (about £30).............I've been using some Halfords bargain bucket checkout sets for a couple of years, but after a few near misses last winter decided to get more seen this year. They are like night and day !!!!
Note to self............... do not look into the flashing light to see how bright they are, take it from me they are :welder:

toddy · Sep 18, 2013

i would go with an exposure as some one has surgested.
i have there first one and it is still going 5 years later.. and still as good.

and i second the thing on constant lights..
and i personally think flashing lights anywhere on a bike isnt any worth...

striker · Sep 18, 2013

Smart lunar r2 rear. About £12
Cree 400 lumen front. Make sure it runs of 18650 li ion battery. Make sure adjustable focus lens. Can get with charger and a couple of batteries and bike bracket.(Carry a spare battery). About £25 all in.
All available from ebay.. I commute 25 miles a day all year round with this set up..
Hope this helps. Paul.

normspanners · Sep 18, 2013

I bought some from Lidl a few weeks ago rechargeable crees, very bright, not to bad at £12 for the set, not to bad a mounting either, as I am traveling over rough ground at speed whilst jouring , and they are bright enough for me and the dogs, but I do wear a head light as well for extra peripheral vision.

Drains · Sep 18, 2013

Tell you what's right handy on a bike - a head torch (edit, I see Norm just said that). It means you can see where you're about to go (which doesn't always happen with a bike mounted light and a tight corner), and you can always dazzle other drivers, just for fun.

anjum · Sep 18, 2013

I re-iterate one of the comments above. More important than which light you have is to wear some reflective clothing. The number of cyclists I see on London with black clothes and no lights is frightening. Must have a deathwish.

I don't cycle as the roads are too full of idiots drivers who can't see a car let alone a bike.

Wozzaaah · Sep 18, 2013

normspanners said:
I bought some from Lidl a few weeks ago rechargeable crees, very bright, not to bad at £12 for the set, not to bad a mounting either, as I am traveling over rough ground at speed whilst jouring , and they are bright enough for me and the dogs, but I do wear a head light as well for extra peripheral vision.

I bought some of the Lidl rechargeable ones too, Think I got mine for £7.99.
I was very impressed with them until I rode out with a mate one evening.
His puts out a massive amount more light than mine.
I think it's just a single CREE T6 one he bought on Ebay, don't think it cost him much more than the set I bought.

normspanners · Sep 18, 2013

I think it's just a single CREE T6 one he bought on Ebay, don't think it cost him much more than the set I bought.

See if you can find out the seller if poss Woz and pm me if its not allowed in the rules if that would be ok as before long the dogs are going to need their head lights on!

brightspark · Sep 18, 2013

Drains said:
Tell you what's right handy on a bike - a head torch (edit, I see Norm just said that). It means you can see where you're about to go (which doesn't always happen with a bike mounted light and a tight corner), and you can always dazzle other drivers, just for fun.

i use the ledlenser head torch on my bike turn head away when people dip lights but when they dont let them have it :whistle:

but if u so called did it for fun they can soon catch up and fill u in

chunkolini · Sep 18, 2013

I also carry a spare cheapo LED front and rear light for emergencies and a spare jumper for winter halts. Also a cheapo headlight.

grandads_shed · Sep 18, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4AIjXj9K7o

suicidal cyclist . did you see him ? the prat

Drains · Sep 19, 2013

brightspark said:
i use the ledlenser head torch on my bike turn head away when people dip lights but when they dont let them have it but if u so called did it for fun they can soon catch up and fill u in

What I meant to write was "you can dazzle other drivers, if you have a death wish..." :laughing:

Bike lights

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