Flashing front light

[bigdom]

Can anyone recommend a slow steady flashing front light, my lights resemble an 80's rave.

[anonymous-user]

Whats wrong with a solid light that won't irritate anyone?

[frisbee]

AVV EM said:

Whats wrong with a solid light that won't irritate anyone?

Because the reason it doesn't irritate them is that they don't see it!

[anonymous-user]

I've found a good compromise with my Lyzene lights. They have a pulse mode, so it's a solid light that brightens rhythmically.

Heavy on charge, but effective.

[ambuletz]

I have a Lezyne femto (rear) which has got a fairly slow-ish flash mode which is the mode that I only use as I feel while the flash will get you noticed it's not too fast as to annoy. Sometimes I might use the faster one in fog. they also have a pulse one that gradually dims/goes bright along with the solid on. I'd imagine the front version does the same thing.

[bigdom]

AVV EM said:

Whats wrong with a solid light that won't irritate anyone?

I have one of those already. I'd like a slow flashing unit to go with it, to add another perspective. On the rear I run static and flashing, never had an issue so far.

Whilst the bicycle is not in the same speed league as the motorcycle, even using dip lights during daytime it's 'evidently' easy not to be seen.

Looking at Exposure lights this afternoon, they seem to have come out with daylight pulse pattern recently, so I'll think I'll get one of those.

[Banana Boy]

bigdom said:

AVV EM said:

Whats wrong with a solid light that won't irritate anyone?

I have one of those already. I'd like a slow flashing unit to go with it, to add another perspective. On the rear I run static and flashing, never had an issue so far.

Whilst the bicycle is not in the same speed league as the motorcycle, even using dip lights during daytime it's 'evidently' easy not to be seen.

Looking at Exposure lights this afternoon, they seem to have come out with daylight pulse pattern recently, so I'll think I'll get one of those.

I run a Cateye Volt 700 on pulse mode which gives a steady 100 lumens with a pulse of 700 lumens every second - rather than 'irritate' people I've happily discovered that it has almost eliminated people pulling/stepping out on me all together...

[IREvans]

bigdom said:

Can anyone recommend a slow steady flashing front light, my lights resemble an 80's rave.

I have an Exposure Diablo. It has several modes, including a flashing function which I use in daylight. Long battery life, and is super bright to use when it gets dark. Highly recommended.

[The Mad Monk]

http://www.cateye.com/intl/news/detail/339/

[Fluffsri]

http://www.exposurelights.com/cycle-lights/front-l...

[The Mad Monk]

Fluffsri said:

http://www.exposurelights.com/cycle-lights/front-l...

Yeah, but look at the price of that compared with the price of mine!

http://tinyurl.com/k4g2w5x

[macp]

I use a smart 700, bright well made and a lot cheaper than the competition at this lux level. However only one flashy mode. Mate swears by Moon kit. We compared his Moon 360 with mine and his was definitely brighter. Expensive but very well made and lots of modes.

[Fluffsri]

The Mad Monk said:

Fluffsri said:

http://www.exposurelights.com/cycle-lights/front-l...

Yeah, but look at the price of that compared with the price of mine!

http://tinyurl.com/k4g2w5x

Cant open that link with work comp. The link was just to show the OP the light, they are available cheaper elsewhere. I used to use Cateyes but found they weren't totally waterproof. Went to Exposure and never looked back. I have 10 year old lights that still work very well.

[ambuletz]

Mad Monks link doesn't actually link to any specific product, it's just the page with all the lights. £50 for a flashing light is ridiculous IMO. Anything over £10 is perfectly good enough.


These get highly rated and are so cheap you could just keep it on the bike and not care if it was nicked.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/LIPHBPDRL/phaart-bleep...

Edited by ambuletz on Monday 3rd April 10:44

[Grant20V]

I can't stand flashing lights personally, as a rider and as a driver.

Have a nice bright solid light.

You struggle to judge the distance / speed from a flashing light.

Oh and aim the light slightly downward, not upright blinding every on comer.

[Grant20V]

AVV EM said:

Whats wrong with a solid light that won't irritate anyone?

+1

[yellowjack]

Grant20V said:

AVV EM said:

Whats wrong with a solid light that won't irritate anyone?

+1

What's wrong with expecting drivers to be awake enough to spot, and deal correctly with a cyclist at junctions?

If we weren't being knocked off, or involved in (frankly quite terrifying) near-misses so regularly, then we wouldn't feel the need to to be rocking you back onto your heels with 700 lumens of white hot strobing brotherly love, yo!


OP, I use a Bontrager ION 700.

Slim, 'cigar' shaped light that mounts well, is USB rechargeable, and has 5 modes.

Solid low (200LM-6.75hrs) - solid 'regular' (450LM-3hrs) - solid high (all 700 lumens-1.75hrs) - eye catching "tick, tick, tick, boom" on repeat (Irregular Strobe-40hrs) - solid with a high output 'pulse' mixed in (50LM+ Flash-22hrs)

It's great, genuinely lasts slightly longer than three hours on the middle beam (450 lumens) solid, and has been completely reliable in frequent use over two years. Although mine was damaged in a MTB crash, such that the slide which mounts to the bracket got cracked, I've cable-tied it to the bracket and the whole lot is mounted and refitted in seconds.

https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Bontrager/Ion-70...

[E65Ross]

I use an Exposure race (mk9 I think...so "only" 1200 lumens....which is bright enough for road use in my opinion). I rarely have it on flash but when it's bright and the sun is low, or if, like this morning, it's particularly foggy I will. On pulse mode it remains solid all the time but every 1 second or so gives a much brighter flash.

I have noticed that I don't get drivers pulling out quite so frequently as before. I usually use it on solid mode though, rather than flashing. I think a flashing rear light is more important than a flashing front light.

[The Mad Monk]

ambuletz said:

Mad Monks link doesn't actually link to any specific product, it's just the page with all the lights. £50 for a flashing light is ridiculous IMO. Anything over £10 is perfectly good enough.


These get highly rated and are so cheap you could just keep it on the bike and not care if it was nicked.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/LIPHBPDRL/phaart-bleep...

Edited by ambuletz on Monday 3rd April 10:44

It links to Evans Cycles website - lighting section.

[TwistingMyMelon]

The Mad Monk said:

ambuletz said:

Mad Monks link doesn't actually link to any specific product, it's just the page with all the lights. £50 for a flashing light is ridiculous IMO. Anything over £10 is perfectly good enough.


These get highly rated and are so cheap you could just keep it on the bike and not care if it was nicked.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/LIPHBPDRL/phaart-bleep...

Edited by ambuletz on Monday 3rd April 10:44

It links to Evans Cycles website - lighting section.

I have one of those Phart lights, bloody amazing for price, best lights pound for pound I have ever bought