Bright ideas for lighting the way on the bike

[MollyJ]

How do you light your bike?

Front lights, rear lights and lights on the helmet.

Now talk about a dazzling and baffling array of products.

It took me _Forever_ to work up my nerve to ride on the road because in one summer when I worked in the ED I took care of two car-bike fatalities. One I vividly remember.

And then I read the book _Over my Head_ a really good book about a woman's rehab post head injury. She was riding a bike, too. Life changing event for her.

So this is a very important question.

Step right up and tell me your thoughts.

[radacrider]

I believe there are some good threads here on what lights different people use.

I use:
Headlight = Busch & Muller, IXON-IQ, very bright for being seen and for seeing
Tail Light = DiNotte 120R, very bright, set to pulse/steady mode. I get comments on this all the time.
Wheels = I have Lightweights for Wheels on my spokes.

If I use my panniers, the Ortlieb's have big reflective patches. My clothing has reflective strips and patches. If I'm feeling overly non-visible, I also sometimes where a runner's reflective harness - bright yellow with reflective stripes.

Much will depend on your budget and your type of riding.

Good luck with your search.

[redrhodie]

I think you're right to be concerned about riding in the dark. It requires a lot of focus, in addition to lots of lights and reflectors. You can't let your guard down for a second. The thing that concerns me as much as visibility to traffic, is hidden ruts or rocks in the road. Easy to take a header when you least expect it. That said, it can be a really Zen experience, when it becomes you chasing that beam of light. It's pretty cool.

I use a helmet with an integrated system that has a headlight, and 3 tail lights. I also have a Minewt light for my handlebars, and another red blinky on my seat post. I have reflective strips on all my jackets, and on my tires. The thing I like about the helmet light is that it moves with you, so you're lighting where you're looking. I can then aim the bar light further ahead than I would if that's all I had, which means I can safely ride a little faster.

I don't ever start a ride in the dark, but it might be totally dark by the time I'm done. If I have a mechanical, I'll call for a ride. I'm not going to stand by the side of the road fixing a flat in the dark if there's an alternative. Most of the roads I ride in the dark on are well lit state roads, not winding country roads. It's what I'm comfortable with at this point.

[ny biker]

For headlights, there are two basic kinds: notice-me lights, and brighter lights that enable you to see in the dark.

I generally don't ride in really dark conditions, but often when I ride after work it will be near dark by the time I finish. So I just have some notice-me lights. But they are LED lights so they are very noticeable.

I have a basic Bontrager headlight (6 LED bulbs, I think) with two modes -- blinking and steady. Also a basic Bontrager tail light that can be used blinking or steady.

I also have small head and tail lights (1 LED each) that attach to my helmet with velcro straps.

In addition, I have these reflective ankle straps.

http://www.roadid.com/Common/LearnMore.aspx?PID=10

And I wear a white jersey and/or high-viz vest or jacket.

Years ago I used to go mountain biking at night. I had a helmet headlight for that. If I did lots of nighttime riding I would get another very bright helmet light, because they illuminate what you're looking at, not what the bike is pointed at.

[MollyJ]

As always, you all are helpful and have good advice. Thanks!

[Velocivixen]

I have a NiteRider MiNewt.250 cordless LED bike light with a rechargeable Li-Ion Battery. It has a low-med-high setting or a strobe setting that I use during the day (even when it's sunny) to get people's attention. In the back I have a Planet Bike "Superflash" which makes a crazy random type wild light pattern that is attention grabbing. I don't ride at night much, but even during the day lights (like cars whose running lights come on automatically), I use them. You can never be too careful.

[owlice]

I have (and use, and have given as presents, and like, and get a lot of positive comments on) these on my wheels. Sometimes just one on the back wheel, other times two on each wheel.

I have this headlight on my bike, this taillight, this headlight on my helmet, these front and back on my bike, and sometimes one of these wrapped around part of the frame.

I also sometimes wear these on my ankles, and sometimes wear an inexpensive reflective vest similar to this one. And in my handlebar bag, I have a set of $6 LED lights that strap easily onto things, such as handlebars, just because they were really inexpensive, small, and looked useful. (One white for a headlight, the other red for a taillight.)

I often ask people as I ride around the lake in the full darkness if they saw me coming. They always answer yes (and then laugh, which is why I ask). If I rode more trails at night that I don't know as well as the trails I ride at night, I'd get a brighter/better headlight, but for the riding I do, what I have works well enough.

I'm always surprised at the number of people I see out on the trails -- in the woods, in the dark -- who don't have any lights/reflective anything on them.