Headlight Shopping

[Zen]

Have you read this?
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/plight.asp

[Becky]

I adore my first-generation MiNewt for early morning commutes and I've read that the MiNewt.X2 (second-gen) is twice as bright as mine for the same price. Also, NiteRider's customer service is top-notch!

[maillotpois]

Have you read this?
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/plight.asp

Wow. He's the Sheldon Brown of lights.

ETA:

I have used:

1. The older version of: http://www.serfas.com/product.asp?ProductID=296
For $30 - WOW. This is THE light for a pre-dawn start to a long ride. Or just to have on the bike "in case" you go later than expected and need something.

2. This: http://www.niterider.com/prod_moab.shtml

I use this as a headlamp - used it all night (quite literally) on my 600k as well as MOST of the night at DMD. It is a freaking flame thrower. I used the medium - low setting on the 600k, not having experience/confidence in the battery. The battery will last 12 hours EASY on the medium setting. Amazing light.

3. Two of these: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schm....asp#schmidte6 With a dynohub. For brevets, long non-hilly doubles. Early morning rides. Whatever. The self-sufficiency of a dynohub is wonderful. I would have used this on my 600k instead of the nite rider, but did not have them.

4. I always use: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HVP5A2 On the rear if I will be out in dark. 2 of them.

[Miranda]

Thx for your responses thus far. Any others, please feel to chime in.

I think I am starting to see the difference between helmet mounting the light, vs handle mounting it. Handle bar mounting it, focusing it lower towards the road like a car's headlight, has less chance of blinding oncoming drivers. If the light is worn on the helmet, say on a mtb trail, you don't have a road driver to blind.

I assume part of my thinking regarding the two places to mount the light is correct?

[Eden]

I have a mi-newt and I love it - but my night riding is mainly in pretty well lit city areas, so I don't need a super bright light - I care mostly about being seen over needing to see. This light is an LED, we had an older one that was a regular bulb. I thought I might not like the LED, as the blueish light tends to look flat, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the light is plenty bright and pretty neutral. I don't have any problems with the contrast.

[Becky]

In the interest of keeping information somewhat consolidated, I've elected to bump this old threadrather than start a new one.

I love our first-gen Mi-Newts. But neither DH nor I were comfortable with the idea of winter commuting (e.g. dark both ways) with them. We were outrunning them in the darkest sections of our commute last fall.

Solution? Buy Tri-Newts.

We took them out for a short spin around the neighborhood tonight. Holy macaroni are they bright! Mind-numbingly so. They're almost 500 lumens and 3:30 hours on high, 300 lumens and 7:00 hours on low.

I like that they're LED and Li-ion, and, to some extent, interchangable with our Mi-Newts. The extension cords, batteries, and chargers all appear to seamlessly work together. (If anyone has knowledge to the contrary, please let me know!) So I now have two extra chargers that can go to work with us just for back-up- a comforting thought. I've had good success with NiteRider customer service too, so that definitely played into the decision.

So far, the verdict is a positive one. About a month from now, it will be dark dark in the morning, and they'll get the true test.

EDIT: I'm not sure about the interchangeability (is that a word) of the batteries yet. I intend to call NiteRIder on Monday and will ask. The extension cord definitely works.

[Zen]

holy carp.
It better be a great light for that price.

[Becky]

holy carp.
It better be a great light for that price.

Hehe...working for a NiteRider dealer has its privileges.