Now winter is here; what front lights do people recommend?
Discussion
Personally, i'd use at least 2, probably 3.
1 - some sort if uber "i want to see" light, like an ebay cree 4 cell job.
2 - a "i can get by with it" smaller rechargeable, like a wee.torch.
3 - one of those 2 quid led jobs set to flash.
I've been out in the boonies and had a light go, you want a backup! I also think for the cost / weight, a little flashy led is a good thing to have to make you extra visible.
You don't want to rely on those little coin batteries to see / navigate with though, they're bloody useless!!
1 - some sort if uber "i want to see" light, like an ebay cree 4 cell job.
2 - a "i can get by with it" smaller rechargeable, like a wee.torch.
3 - one of those 2 quid led jobs set to flash.
I've been out in the boonies and had a light go, you want a backup! I also think for the cost / weight, a little flashy led is a good thing to have to make you extra visible.
You don't want to rely on those little coin batteries to see / navigate with though, they're bloody useless!!
dhutch said:
Osram Nightbreaker, second most expensive of the conventional filiment bulb options. Usually.
Hadn't clocked this was in the cycling section!Ive got the Lezyne Micro Drive 600XL, and the KTV rear light. Which for the month, with usb charging, I can't really fault.
Certainly fine for my mixed road commute to the train station.
If you're just in the 'burbs with street lighting, 400 lumens is fine, but as others have said have at least 2 front and rear, usb powered with flashing.
I've got a Cateye AMPP 400 on the front with at 2400 lumen cheapy for the dark rural lanes.
The quality of the mount is important, you don't want your light bouncing all over the place.
I've got a Cateye AMPP 400 on the front with at 2400 lumen cheapy for the dark rural lanes.
The quality of the mount is important, you don't want your light bouncing all over the place.
I ride at night for fun with group of lads. Between us we use Exposure & Lifleline lights. The Exposures are top drawer lights but you do pay through the nose for them. Mine is a Lifeline Parvo, not quite up to the same standard but a third of the cost. I did look at the Magic Shine Monteer but couldn't get on with strapping a battery pack to the the frame. This is my Lifleline up the woods the other nght.
Some Gump said:
Personally, i'd use at least 2, probably 3.
1 - some sort if uber "i want to see" light, like an ebay cree 4 cell job.
2 - a "i can get by with it" smaller rechargeable, like a wee.torch.
3 - one of those 2 quid led jobs set to flash.
Second this. 1 - some sort if uber "i want to see" light, like an ebay cree 4 cell job.
2 - a "i can get by with it" smaller rechargeable, like a wee.torch.
3 - one of those 2 quid led jobs set to flash.
I’ve got an Exposure Trace as the “being seen” light and that gets run year round, even on the brightest summer day.
Then an Exposure Axis as the “to see with” light for the early start rides in the winter. Both are excellent bits of kit.
I never run a flashing front on its own though, as flashing lights make it hard to judge distance and speed. The back always has a flasher and a constant on.
Feel a bit of a t
t with so many lights in the summer, but it does feel like it makes a difference, especially from the back. I think if drivers see you earlier because of the lights, they have time to plan better overtakes. For the ones that don’t, well, that’s why one of the rear lights is also a camera. I'm onto my second set of Hopes - Vision 4+ this time.
They are brilliant (in every sense) and Hope seems to operate a policy of send them back to us and we well fix them f-o-c however long you've had them.
...not that they are unreliable
and the bayonet bar fitting is so simple but so convenient.
On the back I just use the £4 Aldi special USB re chargable which are very bright and unbelievably cheap for what they do.
They are brilliant (in every sense) and Hope seems to operate a policy of send them back to us and we well fix them f-o-c however long you've had them.
...not that they are unreliable
and the bayonet bar fitting is so simple but so convenient.
On the back I just use the £4 Aldi special USB re chargable which are very bright and unbelievably cheap for what they do.
Edited by Lotobear on Wednesday 5th October 09:06
President Merkin said:
I ride at night for fun with group of lads. Between us we use Exposure & Lifleline lights. The Exposures are top drawer lights but you do pay through the nose for them. Mine is a Lifeline Parvo, not quite up to the same standard but a third of the cost. I did look at the Magic Shine Monteer but couldn't get on with strapping a battery pack to the the frame. This is my Lifleline up the woods the other nght.
+1 for the Lifeline Pavo - I've been using one for the last year on MTB rides, it's very bright and the lack of external battery is a plus.The downside of the Parvo is it comes with a fixed Garmin style mount, whiich means you do have to mount it carefully so it points in the right direction. There is a line on the Wiggle page that says they're updating the mount but I don't know if they have done that. And Garmin mounts aren't compatible, I looked into it.
Some Gump said:
Personally, i'd use at least 2, probably 3.
1 - some sort if uber "i want to see" light, like an ebay cree 4 cell job.
2 - a "i can get by with it" smaller rechargeable, like a wee.torch.
3 - one of those 2 quid led jobs set to flash.
I've been out in the boonies and had a light go, you want a backup! I also think for the cost / weight, a little flashy led is a good thing to have to make you extra visible.
You don't want to rely on those little coin batteries to see / navigate with though, they're bloody useless!!
Yes, this is similar to what I go with. An ebay Cree light to flood a lot of light immediately in front, then a better branded light with a good focus to highlight anything further ahead (pot holes etc), then a small flashing light to draw attention.1 - some sort if uber "i want to see" light, like an ebay cree 4 cell job.
2 - a "i can get by with it" smaller rechargeable, like a wee.torch.
3 - one of those 2 quid led jobs set to flash.
I've been out in the boonies and had a light go, you want a backup! I also think for the cost / weight, a little flashy led is a good thing to have to make you extra visible.
You don't want to rely on those little coin batteries to see / navigate with though, they're bloody useless!!
I've got an Exposure Strada and have it mounted under my Garmin via a Gopro mount. I like the handlebar remote so you can toggle between modes at night so you don't dazzle oncoming cars. I just looked at the Exposure website and the 2023 model of the Strada has an Aktiv version which can auto-dip when it senses oncoming lights - 1600 lumens and 10,200mAh battery as well.
I bought this beast from Halfords last year - https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/...
Yes it's quite large and heavy but it lights up the road very well, has a load of settings and has battery life indicator on top. Also comes with a garmin mount so you can mount out front under the garmin or use a regular strap mount on your bars. Would highly recommend.
Yes it's quite large and heavy but it lights up the road very well, has a load of settings and has battery life indicator on top. Also comes with a garmin mount so you can mount out front under the garmin or use a regular strap mount on your bars. Would highly recommend.
I’m running Halfords lights. For the third winter.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/...
Upgraded from a 1000 lumen to the 1600 lumen version last winter. Very impressive performance. Only downside is the rubber strap. I’ve snapped two but Halfords swap without issue.
It comes with a GoPro mount adaptor too but it doesn’t work with my Quadlock out front phone holder though.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/...
Upgraded from a 1000 lumen to the 1600 lumen version last winter. Very impressive performance. Only downside is the rubber strap. I’ve snapped two but Halfords swap without issue.
It comes with a GoPro mount adaptor too but it doesn’t work with my Quadlock out front phone holder though.
I have one of these, its a bit heavy, and only gets around 30mins at full power, but it is very bright, and waterproof and the battery still work a year later.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353756827785
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353756827785
President Merkin said:
The downside of the Parvo is it comes with a fixed Garmin style mount, whiich means you do have to mount it carefully so it points in the right direction. There is a line on the Wiggle page that says they're updating the mount but I don't know if they have done that. And Garmin mounts aren't compatible, I looked into it.
Yeah that is true but it's quite easy to get the mount in the right place.More of an issue was no stock levels to just buy the mount on it's own (as I have 3 bikes and didn't want to keep taking it off each time I swapped bikes) but I managed to finally buy a second mount recently.
river_rat said:
Yeah that is true but it's quite easy to get the mount in the right place.
More of an issue was no stock levels to just buy the mount on it's own (as I have 3 bikes and didn't want to keep taking it off each time I swapped bikes) but I managed to finally buy a second mount recently.
Bit of a quibble, agreed & the light itself is really good. OTOH, it is £170 now, £150 when I bought one, so an adjustable mount ought to be part of the package but it may actually be so now, I had a look & Wiggle have removed the note aboiut updating the mount. Maybe they've done it?More of an issue was no stock levels to just buy the mount on it's own (as I have 3 bikes and didn't want to keep taking it off each time I swapped bikes) but I managed to finally buy a second mount recently.
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