Bicycle lights

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone!

What kind of headlights/tail lights do you use on your bike? There are so many different brands & models to choose from.

I'm not planning any long trips -- just want to be prepared when it starts getting darker earlier (DST).

Have a wonderful evening :)

Denise

[chickwhorips]

i have a cat eye. even in the darkest of darks it has a good wide light. (important for wandering bears)

i got mine at REI for about $30 i think.

[Bikingmomof3]

I have a Planet Bike Beamer 3 Headlight. It works well for riding around the neighbourhood in the evenings, was inexpensive, and my bike store had it in stock. :)

Edit: forgot the info link: http://www.planetbike.com/frontlights.html#

[SnappyPix]

I'm paranoid about not being visible enough (and like to be able to see where I'm going!)

I have Cateye's super-bright front and rear lights:

http://www.cateye.com/uk/productImages/big/1086023827HL_EL500.jpg http://www.cateye.com/uk/productImages/big/TL_LD1000_lg.jpg

The front headlight is so bright that when on cyclepaths, I've seen folks think some kind of UFO was about to land in front of them!
I also love the tail light as it has two rows of LEDs, which can be set to either constant, flashing, or a whole host of combinations.
As with the front light, it's mega-bright and has excellent visibility from the side too.

[divingbiker]

I've got the Planet Bike Alias SC front light. (Don't know how to paste a picture in here or I'd do that.) It's VERY bright, has 3 different brightness levels, and flashes. I usually use it in the flashing mode because I want to be seen since I commute in a city with lots of traffic. Two of my coworkers have the same light and also like it a lot.

I've got a couple of Planet Bike tail lights, one on my helmet and one on the seat post.

I like to be lit up like a Christmas tree when it's dark outside.

Here's the front light (didn't buy it from this place but they've got a good picture): http://georgegarnercyclery.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=1807

Here's the tail light (also didn't buy it from this place): http://kozy.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3992

[Teddyparker]

I have a planetbike beamer 3 like bikingmomof3. I got it at cycle loft. It was the only one that fit my road bike's handlebars. I use it on every early morning ride. Sigma has one as well that REI carries that is so easy to attach. I bought one today for my hybrid and my son's cyclocross. All of our bikes have flashing tail lights.

[tygab]

I just got back from a club ride and it was getting quite dark at the end. It was on a bike trail (24 miles) with many shady sections, and the last few miles it was so dark you could barely see oncoming also not illuminated bikes. And at this hour it's pretty serious riders so the potential for a bad collision is definitely there. :eek: The club wants everyone to have lights, and up till now I haven't needed one...

Needless to say, it's time to get one. My problem is I am very handlebar real estate poor. I have my compu on one side, and since I don't have a 2nd set of bosses, I have a bar mounted 2nd bottle holder. I am not sure how I will solve this problem.

[Teddyparker]

Tygab,
How about a light for your helmet?

[Fledgling]

I snagged a $33 Blackburn Quadrant and Mars 3.0 compo pack from D i c k's Sporting Goods. They're pretty bright and you can see them well from the side. They have steady and then two flashing modes. Easy to attach, too.
Hope you find some you like!

[tygab]

Tygab,
How about a light for your helmet?

I might opt for that, I'll have to see. It probably would make the most sense. I have some research to do.

[postiechic]

hi.....apart from front and rear lights....I've got these funky things. I wear em on my ankles. They also have flash/non flash and have replaceable battery. Now that really adds to the christmas tree effect!
http://www.torpedo7.com/page/australia/PROD/sun-lights-accessories/ACLLH-RB4

[Fredwina]

Tygab, Minuora(sp) make a something called a space bar. It's t-bar shape thing that attaches to your bars to give more "real Estate."
I have two Sigma LED's on my cannondale, and Rechargeable Cygolite on my Friday. The Cygolight is brighter, but is much more expensive, and has less run time(about 3/4 of an hour on bright). The best solution to have both bar and helmet mounted lights, but that would depend on what you're doing (riding Brevet all night vs the club ride ran a little late) The more reflectivity/light you can manage, the better!

[nuthatch]

I highly recommend Snappy's rear CatEye light. With fresh batteries, it will just about blind you. I'm much more paranoid about someone running into my rear in the dark than turning in front of me, but I've got the Planet Bike Alias 10W on the front for my own poor night vision. It's awesome - especially for commuting in the winter.

And you can't have enough little flashers attached all over your self and bike. :)

[crazycanuck]

Hey denise,

You have many options in regards to lights & would like to tell you about my/our choices.

If you want to make your own lights-if you don't mind carrying a battery in your hydration pack-let me know and i can have ian post some instructions plus the items required.

I can't see **** at night & recently purchased some Cateye Double shots. I don't know how much you want to spend but they're VERY VERY VERY bright. I don't use the smaller lights because they don't cover the whole area in front of me (good for night riding off road you see...).

c

[Geonz]

I have a couple of those Cateyes (the first picture). I also have a Bike Planet 10W which is totally awesome and about as bright as a headlight... but I have LOST it somehwere in the house... for a year now! May ahve to have some kind of ritual to call it forth.
However, I've gotten a lot more comfortable riding with less brilliance.
A note about cheap taillights - boy, what a pain. I picked up a $6 one last Nashbar order and then remembered what happened the last time I did that. THey're not designed to hold together. When I clipped it to the back with its hardware, it just flew off at the first bump; when I fixed it a little more securely to the netting in back, it *still* came apart within 40 miles. It's back together...I don't know for how long.
I also have a reallite http://www.reallite.com/RLHome.htm http://www.reallite.com/images/reallite_ani.gif - it's very big!
The owner's manual is almost worth the price itself (very humorous).
Oh, and the hokeyspokes are a big hit with kids - if I don't get at least one "COOL LIGHTS!" a week I get depressed.
Of course, last time somebody hollered out their window at me, though, it was "Got enough F**in LIGHTS?!?!?" ... Welp, I guess so, you saw me :D

[tulip]

Headlight: Nite Rider Trail Rat. Great light, not cheap (but not as high as they come!)

Taillight: Cateye T-1000. Very bright and flashy.

Also reflective ankle thingies, extra blinkies on my panniers, and reflective/hi viz jacket and shirts. I commute through the winter, but avoid night riding as much as possible because of my vision problems. My evening winter commutes are 1 mile to the Metro near my office on a lit street, and two miles from the Metro to my house on well-lit residential streets, but it's still important to be as visible as possible. But the morning commute remains 14 miles because it's light, at least most of the way.

[Tater]

I too, have the Blackburn Quadrant for the rear end, and a smaller Cateye clipped onto my backpack. I have a small Cateye (forgot the make and model) on the front, but will be upgrading that this weekend, as it is DARK here at six in the morning. :eek: I am also one of those who likes to be lit up like a Yule tree and be seen.

[SalsaMTB]

Currently I use the Nite Rider Trail Rat. It's mounted on the helmet (can be on handlebars also) and is a really bright light, nothing compared to the HIDs though. I use it for night trail riding and also night road riding. The battery is smaller and is stored in my hydration pack, I could fit in a jersey pocket though. It has I think 2-2.5 hours of life. Overall, I'm really satisfied with the light, but it is around $150 I think (I've had it awhile, can't remember exact cost).

I have been on road rides where I've passed people with commuter lights. Honestly, I could hardly see the people. I'm sure it gave the rider enough light, but definitely not enough for other people to see them. If you are just looking for a light to get you through the last little bit of the ride when the sun is setting, and not full blown night riding, it's probably OK. If you're looking to do serious night riding though, i.e. a good hour or two, on the road or trail, in the dark, I would go for a higher performance light. Also, reflector are much easier for cars to see than lights. Get some reflective tape and put it on various places if you plan on doing night road riding, in the road.

I've been on rides where people have HIDs and they make me jealous. HIDs are soooo bright! If I could afford one, I would totally get a HID.

[Gray Gato]

While it doesn't help me be seen, Yellow lenses in my sunglasses help me see better at dusk. My DH and I ride a loop (fondly called the Booty Loop) after work and use yellow glasses. It's incredible how they improve our vision. Almost too well. Sometimes it's darker than we realize when we stop our rides.

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone!

Thank you all for telling me about all the different choices out there!!

I still have a little bit of time (just a teeny bit ;) ) to research, but the days are getting shorter.......

I'd like to outfit our bikes for < $100 - $150 (each), if at all possible. I'll keep my eye out for the sales.

Again, thank you all for your help!

Have a peaceful day.

Denise