All things considered I prefer to ride during the day, but since it is going to be completely dark before I leave work in a couple of weeks, I don't have much choice. I ride home on some country roads that are not lit, so lighting is really key to me.

I have a reasonably bright CatEye Opticube on the front of my bike, it isn't good enough to really see anything in total darkness, but it works fine on lit paths and helps get the attention of cars. I usually use it in blink mode.

I have a super-bright headlamp that I wear on my helmet. It is blindingly bright and does a great job of illuminating the road/signs/etc. I much prefer it to an on-the-bike lamp because it lights up what I am looking at.

I attach as many blinky lights to the back of me & my bike as I can (I have a collection of them) and I have a timbuk2 bag with a reflective panel (like this one...though TE doesn't carry the one I got anymore). I went in search of the bag after I saw a guy riding with one at night, the reflective panel is huge and really bright. I get so many comments from both cyclists and motorists, day and night, about the bag.

I wear reflective leg bands too, the movement of legs draws attention too.

Anne