Lights

[Original Poster]

So after getting caught short some way away from home on the bike last night with no lights on I need to get some ordered as soon as possible.

My budget is £30, don't need or want to go wild (for once..)

Fire away!

[mosc7pc2]

I would recommend Smart Lunar 35.
It uses two AA batteries, has low beam, high beam and flashing mode.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

they are doing 30% off at the moment which is bang on your budget.

I've been hunting a second one cos I like it so much, and guess what, I've seen ebay second hand used items auctioning for around same price!

[Mars]

Assuming you only need to be seen, and don't need to illuminate dark streets or forest paths then I'd recommend the Knog range. I have Skinks front and rear. My wife has the larger but brighter Bullfrogs. The advantage is that they're very easy to remove if/when you need to park the bike at work or pop into a shop.

[robpearson]

I'm also really impressed by the Knog lights, very bright for the money. Obviously, don't expect to go off-roading with them, but for being seen, they are great.

[Taffer]

OK, in true PH fashion this is over budget, but not much (£35.99):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-hl-el320-and-tl-ld6...

[Rouleur]

+2 for Knogs - I've got the Frogs as I only need them for when I finish a ride at dusk, and you'd never know they're on the bike. Only £11 a pair http://www.wiggle.co.uk/knog-frog-led-twinpack/

[yellowjack]

mosc7pc2 said:

I would recommend Smart Lunar 35.

Another vote for the Smart lights, but check your LBS, as they also sell under the 'bSpoke' brand, and have been available as a set along with a usefully bright rear red LED lamp as well. I use 3x Smart/bSpoke front lamps, and they do the job well, although I am planning to upgrade to 'Exposure Strada' or similar, once I can afford one.

[yellowjack]

Taffer said:

OK, in true PH fashion this is over budget, but not much (£35.99):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-hl-el320-and-tl-ld6...

That looks like a great deal. I know I've already said that I use the Smart lights at the front, but I've also got the white body/clear lens/red LED version of that Cateye rear lamp, and it is brilliant. Very bright, good battery life, lots of different modes (fixed, flashing, random chase, and one that looks like a Cylon Warrior, or KITT from Knight Rider, depending on how far back your TV memories go!) I paid about £19 for just the rear lamp. Can't vouch for the front one, but I've had Cateye front lamps in the past and had no complaints (the wife nicked my old Cateye filament lamp for her commute!)

[dougc]

Taffer said:

OK, in true PH fashion this is over budget, but not much (£35.99):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-hl-el320-and-tl-ld6...

I've got this set up. The front is bright but probably not enough for really dark riding with no other light - I'm mostly in town so no real need to see the road with them, just be seen.

The rear is eye searing.

[Original Poster]

Thanks so far guys!

[anonymous-user]

mosc7pc2 said:

I would recommend Smart Lunar 35.
It uses two AA batteries, has low beam, high beam and flashing mode.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

they are doing 30% off at the moment which is bang on your budget.

I've been hunting a second one cos I like it so much, and guess what, I've seen ebay second hand used items auctioning for around same price!

I definitely recommend these. I'd hold out on the price though or try ebay. I was seling these on ebay last year for £12, they're really cheap from wholesalers which makes them really the best light for the the money IMO.

[shalmaneser]

Taffer said:

OK, in true PH fashion this is over budget, but not much (£35.99):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-hl-el320-and-tl-ld6...

Good choice. Anything by cateye is a great choice.

[snowdude2910]

another vote for the knogs i have the little ones with 2 led's in each and they're great for being seen visibility not so much but with a bidget of £30 i'm guessing that's not what your looking for

[Original Poster]

Yeah I just want to be seen really, I ride 10-20 miles on the road after work for enjoyment/fitness and as it's getting dark much earlier I need to be seen really!

[Mr Gear]

Good price on these at the moment: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/smart/lunar-10...

The rear light is superb in this set. The front light is good for being seen, but not for seeing if you know what I mean.

[Original Poster]

Mr Gear said:

Good price on these at the moment: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/smart/lunar-10...

The rear light is superb in this set. The front light is good for being seen, but not for seeing if you know what I mean.

Looks good!

I don't need to use the lights to see (hence the low budget) as I only ride on main roads with the occasional side road, always street lights available

[Mr Gear]

Original Poster said:

Looks good!

I don't need to use the lights to see (hence the low budget) as I only ride on main roads with the occasional side road, always street lights available

In that case, these will be spot-on. Like I say, the rear light is incredibly powerful, which is a most useful attribute on urban streets.

[Gnarlybluesurf]

Personally i'd say the Knogs are great as back ups but not your main light - they don't have reflectors and i seem to remember a case on here of someone being knocked off at night and the driver getting let off as he had none reflector lights.. the lights have to reach a minimum standard to be considered "a bicycle light" despite some of the brighter ones not meeting these...

I'd go for these super bright lights and within budget... all have got top reviews too in the bicyle press and are super bright!

http://www.myspokes.co.uk/exposure-joystick-mk-5-3... £15 this is almost half price of other retailers


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bicycle-Cycle-Bike-1W-Al... £11 although these are basically a none branded version of a light that gets 4.5* on Bikeradar and costs twice as much
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...

Edited by Gnarlybluesurf on Wednesday 28th September 12:00

[jamescodriver]

I bought these back in June time, i run lights on all the time out of habit.

The strobe effect is excellent and the main beam is very good indeed. The rear light has something like 8 different sequences.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Trevelyan]

jamescodriver said:

I bought these back in June time, i run lights on all the time out of habit.

The strobe effect is excellent and the main beam is very good indeed. The rear light has something like 8 different sequences.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I've got the same set of lights on my bike but I think you're wrong about the rear light - they're only two mode (on or flashing). For being seen they're fine, and I did actually use them a couple of times on unlit roads last winter and the front was was bright enough to see with as well.

As I plan on doing a bit more night cycling on and off road this year I've now supplemented them with a Blackburn Mars 2 on the rear and a DealExtreme/Magicshine eyeball melter on the front. I'll still use the Halfords ones on the road though as a backup in the case of the rear and as the main front light to avoid dazzling car drivers.