Lighting recommendations needed

[Geonz]

If you want something simple that would be really useful the rest of the trip, get a head-lamp that you can just put on your head. I carry one in case I'm out lightless (from SteepandCheap) and it works great. I like being able to point where I want to see, and I can have it on low-wattage or bright.

I have two lights that I'm really pleased with, though I should say that doing two Cateyes is also excellent (one of our riders does that). I generally used just one and was happy with it ... not this model exactly but close
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It would probably be fine for tunnels as long as you realize you might be going from light into **dark** and the eyeballs have to adjust. Of course, being seen from behind is critical, too.

My Gazelle came with a rim-mounted Busch&M&#252;ller generator light - amazing German engineering. http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt-headlights.asp has info on the latest models. I love that I don't even have to think about batteries and the lens design that gives me a bright beam out to the front *and* light bounced off to the sides, too. I don't love that when it is rainy and especially snowy, I guess since the rims are wet, there isn't enough friction and I have to have the headlamp backup. If you're not riding in the rain, that doesn't matter.

I just got my Xtracycle rigged up with a new wheel with a hub-generator, and a Busch&Muller light that is even niftier (and works in yukky weather) and brighter. I don't know how much it cost yet 'cause I haven't paid for it yet . I don't have to worry about batteries, and it also has a "stand light" feature so it still glows even when I stop. You can buy them with a Sensor feature so that, supposedly, if you go into a tunnel they go on... welp, I think I can handle a switch! (Except that right now it's in the shop because the switch doesn't work so it is on all the time which is why I haven't paid for it yet.) I don't even notice the difference in riding effort, tho' I got the chain lubed at teh same time I got it installed
I feel like I could ride this bike any time, any where (enough that I'm thining to sell my car to my brother in May and take my sweet time replacing it). Between the Free Radical from Xtracycle that means I can carry anything (tho' I haven't done the key lime pie yet) to the fenders and lights, it is allpurpose. (For our little town night riding, I've found I need more than head and tail lights... a few strings of 4 AA powered Christmas lights do great.
The other light I have is a Planet Earth 15-watt Insight bike with NiMH battery. It's big and very very very bright but it is heavy and I gotta take it off the bike and plug it into the wall.

Here's a cool page that *shows* different brightness of the planet bike lights... I think there are some other guys who have done this with other brands. http://www.planetbike.com/page/learn/lightfinder