Bright Light

[Keith]

Bit of a dull (arf!) topic, but recently spent time trying to suss out a light good enough to train with on dark evenings.

There seems to be plenty of lights that let others see you, but not many that allow you to see where you're going at speed, without spending £200+.

The Cateye EL320 is rated highly by some mags.

[img]http://i21.tinypic.com/2dqq4gl.gif[/img]

Don't bother. There's a really bright spotlight, but the spot is only about 10cm diameter on the road. Like trying to ride whilst looking through a keyhole.

Settled on Cateye EL610.

[img]http://i22.tinypic.com/35a3n2x.gif[/img]

Can now see the potholes. Good enough to train at pace.

Only problem is that my training partner now knows when I'm gaining on him & about to storm past up the hill....

[Sylv]

Not dull a subject

I'm on it at the mo too

Use lights mainly for commuting 24/7 but also mtb riding / racing

I've had some halogens for 2-3 years but they keep playing up now. Last night I had to ride home in the dark with only one of those tiny Backupz thingies and it's so scary I don't want to have to do it anymore. With the halogens on full beam I feel as safe as in daytime.

Was about to order some of the new USE/Exposure LEDs. Integrated battery, super bright (as good as halogens now), easy fit, super light and long burn time. They're not available quite yet though.

The top of the line can be had for around £250

[img]http://www.bikemagic.com/news/images/enduro-300_lo.jpg[/img]

THe model with a single LED £135, can be fitted on a helmet too.

[img]http://www.blazingsaddlescycles.co.uk/images/joystickmax.jpg[/img]

They all have great reviews.

[Rob C]

I got the old exposure joystick as a helmet light and it's really good. I use a cheap 5w electron flood light on the bars and the joystick compliments it well. If you fancy soldering your fingers together try this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Ultimat ... ens-with-/

[Jon H]

I've been using this little Dinotte light for commuting. Don't really know what it's like on unlit roads though as all my route is lit.

[img]https://store.nexternal.com/dinotte/images/200L-AA-S-300.jpg[/img]

[Andrew G]

I've got the EL-320 and found it pretty good, but then not used it on dark unlit roads yet.

Was looking at [url=http://www.niterider.com/prod_minewtx2.shtml]these[/url] at the cycle show. About £135 in online shops and they looked very good without having to go to really silly prices.

Used the Smart twin headlight jobs that cost £30 last year. They are fantastic lights, really bright, but the battery is an old heavy lump and more importantly doesn't last long enough for me. I needed to recharge every night or risk it running out on the way home on the second day. Bracket also doesn't fit oversize bars. Standard bars and a short commute and they can't be beaten for value.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]Used the Smart twin headlight jobs that cost £30 last year. They are fantastic lights, really bright, but the battery is an old heavy lump and more importantly doesn't last long enough for me. I needed to recharge every night or risk it running out on the way home on the second day. Bracket also doesn't fit oversize bars. Standard bars and a short commute and they can't be beaten for value.

[huw williams]

"Only problem is that my training partner now knows when I'm gaining on him & about to storm past up the hill...."

That's Marek though isn't it Keith? Don't worry, he's used to having people storming past him up hills

[kieran]

have also been thinking about this since my lumicycle battery ran out, do I get another battery ans stick with lumicycle or switch over to LED technology. check out the

candlepowerforum-transportation-bicycle topics

[url]http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=86[/url]

and

[url]http://www.cncdelite.com[/url]

anyway too much inof so still undecided

[Kasper]

Kieth if like me you can't be arsed with making your own lights!!!
(I struggle to fit in time to wash the thing let alone make my own lights!)

Then Pearsons carry the top of the range Cateye chargeable lights which look a real good investment for quality lightweight lights.

[Andrew G]

Just noticed the light I have and the one in the picture at the top is the EL-530 not the 320. Is it the 320 or 530 you had problems with? I've read reports that people did Paris-Brest-Paris with 2 x 530s and said they were some of the best lit riders. Not given mine a really good trial run yet and I'll admit a PBP-er isn't going to be going at training group pace.

[Dominic]

These are very popular amongst the audax fraternity especially the hub driven ones, but I guess I am in the minority in the club having a hub dynamo:

http://www.solidlights.co.uk/

and no I don't have any Not sure I can justify £155 on a just a light. I only have a bog standard halogen B&M oval which was good enough for £40. However the dynamo and wheel build did cost £190

[Andrew G]

How bright is that dynamo light Dominic? Also do you get a lot of drag from the dynamo hub and is it a weight to lug around? £190 for the wheel build isn't much if you include the fact you have a light power unit built in, and compare to the price of must rechargeables with half decent run time.

[Dominic]

Andrew,

Negligible drag, I have a Shimano one and bought the Ultegra version, there are several versions. There is a German companyy Schmidt who also make them for about 3 times the price. Like most things in cycling you seem to be in one camp or another, ooh er missus

The light I think is good. Previously I had Smart twin headlights. There is more light than them and plenty of light to light up the road, but I am sure it is what you are used to. Cars dip on country roads if that helps. I am sure it is not as good as solidlights or expensive LEDs. There is an LED version of my light for about £60 that I might try so I will let you know if I do.

The weight of the wheel - you don't notice until either you put it on again when the nights get dark (oh that feels a bit heavy) and slower steering to when you take it off, your bike suddenly feels quick handling.

I wouldn't go back to battery powered lights I don't think. The reason I got the dynamo was for audaxing in the dark, nothing concentrates the mind when you still have 60 miles to go in the dark, Also I found with the Smarts any time I fancied a extending my ride on the way home in the winter I would get about two miles down and country lane and they would all of a sudden go dim and then conk out.

[Keith]

[quote="Andrew G"]Just noticed the light I have and the one in the picture at the top is the EL-530 not the 320. Is it the 320 or 530 you had problems with? I've read reports that people did Paris-Brest-Paris with 2 x 530s and said they were some of the best lit riders.

[Andrew G]

Cheers Dominic. I think I'll add it to my "things to consider" list, as you say the Smarts just died quite suddenly. As it would be on my commuting bike and for winter training I wouldn't be tanking it along all the time, steady paced efforts. The appeal is never needing to charge up a battery aver few days, and the price isn't that bad either.