MTB lights suggestion?
Discussion
Ive had several cateyes in the past, and whilst there fine for being seen on the roads with, and I can't ever remember any failing on me, you'd struggle with them if you do go off road at night (or even on unlit roads). What you want (if you can afford) is a hope vision one (circa £80). Compared to mate's larger, more expensive lights it is definately a very good buy! plenty of light for being seen with, and enough for off road riding!
Look for the Magic Shine (or non-branded P7 SSC on ebay) that come in at around £70 from UK or £50ish from China.
Rode last night with one and they are very very bright.
I have also got a small UltraFire torch strapped (a cut inner tube makes a cheap helmet mount) to my helmet.
Rode last night with one and they are very very bright.
I have also got a small UltraFire torch strapped (a cut inner tube makes a cheap helmet mount) to my helmet.
Edited by supertouring on Wednesday 18th August 10:43
May be worth giving Lumicycle a ring? They do some great high-ish end lighting sets and the guys who run the company are knowledgeable and pretty impartial.
They are a lot more money than the Cat Eye systems (I have one of those for my commuter bike and its fine on lit roads, but wouldn't want to use it on dark singletrack) but the halide systems put out huge amounts of light. I have one of the older halogen systems and its about a minimum for quick and/or technical trails at night.
Just one tip: Take a spare battery. It can be pretty off putting if the light suddenly dies in the middle of a pitch black forest.
They are a lot more money than the Cat Eye systems (I have one of those for my commuter bike and its fine on lit roads, but wouldn't want to use it on dark singletrack) but the halide systems put out huge amounts of light. I have one of the older halogen systems and its about a minimum for quick and/or technical trails at night.
Just one tip: Take a spare battery. It can be pretty off putting if the light suddenly dies in the middle of a pitch black forest.
I'm guessing the OP is looking to spend less than Lumicycle money, but if they have got the funds then Ay-Up lights are the new Lumicycle 
http://www.ayup-lights.com/
Mine are about to enter their third winter of use. Superb lights and outpower most things. Versatile too as I use mine off road MTBing weekly during winter but also all year round on my commuter. No such thing as OTT lights for commuting IMO...
http://www.ayup-lights.com/
Mine are about to enter their third winter of use. Superb lights and outpower most things. Versatile too as I use mine off road MTBing weekly during winter but also all year round on my commuter. No such thing as OTT lights for commuting IMO...
Chris71 said:
May be worth giving Lumicycle a ring?
Another vote for Lumicycle. I was lucky enough to pick up one of their dual Halogen set-ups in the clearance section greatly reduced because it had a small scratch on one of the casings, I personally think they underpriced it given the small imperfection.
Anyway the lights are brilliant, I've got a spot and flood light and off-road it really lights the way enabling you to still move along at a fair lick.
My brother has these on his bike, very bright and not too bad on the batteries. Ridiculously cheap as well.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18307
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18307
all you need here. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149 900lm of LED goodness for ~ £50.
Don't be put off with the HK location - I've used them loads and they've been excellent
Don't be put off with the HK location - I've used them loads and they've been excellent
The Lumicycle ones look awesome, but how often do you need to see 200+ metres on a push bike off-road? I may be spectacularly unfit but I can't see myself going more than ~30mph off-road at night 
As a left-field suggestion, and my plan for riding at night, what about a good torch?
I have a Fenix PD-30 R4 and have to say I'm a fan, same size/weight as a tube of smarties yet can throw as much light as my car headlamps on full beam when set to maximum power. Various power levels from 2-65hrs runtime on a pair of Li-Ion camera batteries, cost me about £40 and doubles as a torch (obviously) and with a diffuser a lantern when camping. Fully waterproof, they even sell specific bike mounts...
www.fenixtorch.co.uk
Obviously a bit heavy on batteries unless you use two pairs of rechargeables and alternate days, but still...
As a left-field suggestion, and my plan for riding at night, what about a good torch?
I have a Fenix PD-30 R4 and have to say I'm a fan, same size/weight as a tube of smarties yet can throw as much light as my car headlamps on full beam when set to maximum power. Various power levels from 2-65hrs runtime on a pair of Li-Ion camera batteries, cost me about £40 and doubles as a torch (obviously) and with a diffuser a lantern when camping. Fully waterproof, they even sell specific bike mounts...
www.fenixtorch.co.uk
Obviously a bit heavy on batteries unless you use two pairs of rechargeables and alternate days, but still...
rhinochopig said:
all you need here. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149 900lm of LED goodness for ~ £50.
Don't be put off with the HK location - I've used them loads and they've been excellent
Why did I forget to mention dealextreme? Slipped my mind Don't be put off with the HK location - I've used them loads and they've been excellent
If I'd not already bought my Ay-Ups then I'd be using the dealextreme lights (they weren't available at the time I bought my Ay-Ups). A few of my riding buddies have dealextremes of various types and they're great.
BTW halogens are old technology now. I built several sets years ago, although my DIY guide is still the 3rd result on google for "DIY bike lights". I couldn't be bothered building LED lights hence just treated myself to the Ay-Ups, but it can be done too.
the_lone_wolf said:
The Lumicycle ones look awesome, but how often do you need to see 200+ metres on a push bike off-road? I may be spectacularly unfit but I can't see myself going more than ~30mph off-road at night
It's not just that though, you need peripheral vision and the right colour light to get decent contrast.I've got a twin-light (spot and flood) Lumicycle setup and it's only just addequate for serious mountain biking at night.
My LED Cat Eye road bike setup is reliable and low energy for a lit commute, but it'd be useless dodgy tree branches at 20-odd mph on the trails.
the_lone_wolf said:
Chris71 said:
...Stuff...
Fair pointsIf you're serious enough to be spending the price of a decent bike on a light setup you're a lot more serious about riding at night than I am - I'll stick to the daytime with free sunshine 'cause I'm tight
I find it gives between 5 and 10 seconds of good visibility in unlit sections, depending on speed, which is adequate enough to avoid obstacles.
I would love one of their current LED offerings but as you have pointed out they're the cost of a bike.
neilus said:
the_lone_wolf said:
Chris71 said:
...Stuff...
Fair pointsIf you're serious enough to be spending the price of a decent bike on a light setup you're a lot more serious about riding at night than I am - I'll stick to the daytime with free sunshine 'cause I'm tight
I find it gives between 5 and 10 seconds of good visibility in unlit sections, depending on speed, which is adequate enough to avoid obstacles.
I would love one of their current LED offerings but as you have pointed out they're the cost of a bike.
The ones I saw were ~£500 for the spot and flood - IIRC I only paid ~£600 for my bike
That said I'm a big fan of lights, my motorcycle has three HID lamps that are like turning the sun back on and great if you're away from other light sources when it gets dark.
I'd recommend getting a couple of sets. Ones to be 'seen' and some to 'see' with.
The ones to be seen can be the small LED type with flash modes and that last ages.
The ones to see with should be powerful.
Deal Extreme lights are very good value. The Batteries are crap quality though. Hope are also good value. However, these types of lights have limited battery power - unless you pay a load of ££ - hence the ones to be 'seen' with.
Rear light - Blackburn Mars 3. I use three on the back of my bike.
The ones to be seen can be the small LED type with flash modes and that last ages.
The ones to see with should be powerful.
Deal Extreme lights are very good value. The Batteries are crap quality though. Hope are also good value. However, these types of lights have limited battery power - unless you pay a load of ££ - hence the ones to be 'seen' with.
Rear light - Blackburn Mars 3. I use three on the back of my bike.
I used to use a set of Nightsuns http://www.night-sun.com/htmldocs/xc.html
Carefull use of the main lamp saw them last the whole evenings training ride and were far brighter than anything else around at the time
Still in the garage, but I guess the battery is u/s after 10 years
Carefull use of the main lamp saw them last the whole evenings training ride and were far brighter than anything else around at the time
Still in the garage, but I guess the battery is u/s after 10 years
pdV6 said:
Off-road, a lamp on your head is very very useful, no matter how bright the main light on your bar is.
I intially started night riding with one big bar-mounted light, but one on your head makes a massive difference for sharp corners, over drops, etc. One of the reasons I chose Ay-Ups over, e.g. Hope, was they came with 2 individual lamp units for the same price as Hopes: one on bars, one on head.
pdV6 said:
neilus said:
I find it gives between 5 and 10 seconds of good visibility
You need bigger batteries then Off-road, a lamp on your head is very very useful, no matter how bright the main light on your bar is.
mk1fan said:
Rear light - Blackburn Mars 3. I use three on the back of my bike.
If we're talking rear lights I am running one each of these:http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Fibre_Flare_Ulti...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Knog_Skink_LED_R...
A mate of mine saw me the other night and reckoned Iwas visible for about a mile!!
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