Opinions on headlamp

[Eden]

I have a Minewt x2 for commuting. I like it a lot. It's small, bright and easy to mount. Right now I only have to use it in the evening, so I only have to charge it once every couple of weeks. It's bright enough to see by even when there's no street lights, but no, I wouldn't go charging around with abandon. I tend to slow down quite a bit. In general, unless it is complete darkness I use it on its low setting.

[Becky]

FWIW, my TriNewt battery is the same width as my MiNewt's, but almost twice as long. Just in case that matters....

[divingbiker]

I use a Dinotte 200L for commuting. I tried the Minewt, but the flash setting on it was too flickery for me; the Dinotte's flash is slower. I never ride with it in solid mode, because I don't need it to see, only to be seen. But it's plenty bright, and very easy on and off the bike. It uses 4 AA batteries, so I always have spares, even if my rechargeables go dead.

[pinkbikes]

You may like to have a look at these.

http://www.ayup.com.au/index.php

They have taken the Oz market by storm because they are lighter, brighter and easier to mount than nearly anything around. Weighs quite a bit less than the MinNewt but throws out 320lumens+. (MiNewt 110+)

I have used them on the road (one set) and MTB (helmet and handlebars) and wouldn't use anything else. Plus they come in damned pretty colours, which is always important!

They have quite a good export market in the USA - and the dollar is probably looking after you at the moment compared to ours, so that may bring the price to somewhere reasonable. Not sure on the pricing relative to the NiteRider products in the USA, but here in Oz it is the best bang for your buck that you can buy.

[Eden]

One thing about super bright lights.... If you will be doing a lot of riding where it is truly dark, then you may want one like that. If its pretty well lit and you need it for the dark parts in between or to be seen with, then super bright lights can be a bit obnoxious... you really blind people with them, especially if you are bike path rider - be sure to aim them very well. If they are on your bars, point them at the ground. If you have your light helmet mounted, be sure to look away from other riders. By all means, use a helmet light to alert drivers, but don't blind them either. A quick flash should be all it takes.

[PscyclePath]

I'll put in another plug for the Dinotte 200L, this is a nice, bright light (200 lumens) but also very small, compact, and versatile. Plus, they've got a sale going on at Nashbar ;-) As divingbiker mentioned, they run on 4 (rechargeable, preferably) AA batteries, and will run 2 3/4 hours in bright mode on a single set of batteries.

One of my riding buddies just upgraded from an L&M Vega to the Dinotte, and is really happy with it. I'm currently running an L&M Stella 200N, and the Dinotte is just as bright and a little more flexible as to where you can mount it. On the other hand, the Stella has a little wider beam when you get out in the really pitch-dark places.

Me, I'm extremely happy with the Stella. It was about $30 more than I could get the Dinotte for, but also gives me a 5-hour run time, full-on, on a single charge. I ride a lot at night, and that was a big deciding factor for me, at least...

[crazycanuck]

Pinkbikes, it's great to have another ay-up convert here!

[pinkbikes]

Pinkbikes, it's great to have another ay-up convert here!

Ooh yeah! I'm with you all the way crazycanuck! I just love them! I actually first got them to start riding trails at night before my first Dusk 2 Dawn race. I was a bit worried I'd scare myself silly riding trails at night but after the first half hour with everything I owned clenched up tight, I actually found I was enjoying myself. And the Ay-Ups were the reason. They were just so confidence-inspiring to ride behind!

DH actually bought the first ones they had (the Luxeons) not long after they first started making them (supporting the local manufacturer and all). But shortly after that they upgraded to the Crees and offered a sweet upgrade deal to recent buyers, so he upgraded and I inherited! Since then I've done a few races they've sponsored, so I have had access to buying their secondhand (only raced for 12 hours by funny people on mountain bikes) lights at reduced prices, so I upgraded the lamps only at a pretty savage discount. I have pretty gold on my helmet and racing green on the handlebars. Sometimes wish I'd waited until they started making the loud pink ones!

I did nearly blind my riding mates the first time I wore them and stopped for a chat though! It's hard to get out of the habit of looking people in the eye!

Can't believe I used to ride behind a horrid old Cateye lamp with two D-cell batteries in the bad old days! What was I thinking!?

[crazycanuck]

Last friday I went out to play with my lights in preparation for the 12hr next weekend. I had one on my helmet & one handlebar mounted.

I found the helmet mounted light on its own is plenty!!! I even had another chick comment that she could see my lights from a distance.

Never again will I buy another set of Cateyes!!!