Lighting?

[Becky]

During the winter, I use a NiteRider TriNewt headlight, and Cateye LD1100 and Planet Bike Superflash taillights. I also recently added a FibreFlare side light that I obtained from Australia with a friend's help. They'll be available in the U.S. in another month or two.

It sounds like a lot of lighting, but my commute is poorly lit and has heavy vehicle traffic along most of the route. I'd rather err on the side of caution.

[blackhillsbiker]

I forgot to mention all the reflective tape (DOT certified for trailers/boats/etc.) I have on my fenders, helmet and rack, as well as large front and rear regular reflectors. I decided to err on the side of being seen.

Deb

[Grog]

Recently bought a Mity Cross light by Cygolite. I'm very satisfied. It has all the modes I need (high, med, low solid beam, flashing, SOS), and it lights my way very well. (I ride through a totally dark road with no lights at all, and high-speed traffic.)

When I was just riding across town on semi-lit roads, I was fine with a small solid beam and a Planet Bike front light, just to be visible.

I have at least two or three rear lights for some reason.

[Looeez]

My commuter has dynamo lights that it came with - I think the headlamp is Lumitec brand. I'm happy with it but it's positioned low down the stem and if I put anything in my front basket some of the light is blocked. I'm currently looking at the Knog Toad or Skink to put on the handlebar as a "be seen" light.

I also added these lights to my wheels which I love - I don't know how much more they help me be seen from the side, as I've never seen them on another bike but they certainly get lots of comments!

The other item I've been eyeing up is a bicycle helmet with rechargeable lights integrated into it. Not bright enough to light your way but good to be seen by.

[hoffsquared]

Thanks everyone!

So far I have a Superflash on the back (I ride with this on all the time). Some sort of blinkie that hangs off my pannier. An inexpensive headlight that I set on flashing mode whenever I ride. I also have reflective tape on my helmet and bike spokes. They are lightweights.

I'll take a look at these suggestions and make sure I have enough lighting 'omph'.

[Maxxxie]

I use Ayup (http://www.ayup.com.au/) lights and swear by them. The first time I rode with them, it was like night and day (ha ha, get it?) compared to my original lights.

On my first ride out with them, I was able to discern the presence of a Path Ninja at 100m. At 50m, I was able to determine what exactly it was (Path Ninja = pedestrian wearing nothing but black, in the middle of the night, with no lighting whatsoever), and take steps to avoid them. With my other light, there’s no chance I would’ve seen them.

On that same ride, on the tail end of the ride which goes through a shopping centre, cars actually gave way to me. These bright lights command respect, yo.

With a handlebar light directed about 10m in front of me, and the helmet-mounted light giving me visibility whereever my head happens to point, these lights are a winner.

The lights are very bright indeed. Ayup have just released a flashing battery pack, but unless you want to induce seizures in other road users, I do not recommend using these lights in flashing mode. Even those little blinkies sometimes do my head in (literally).

Now, I know what you’re thinking.. this is an Australian product! You want to buy local! Well.. I hear ya. I’m sure there are alternative products that are local to you. On the other hand, don’t let geography limit you.

Check out their YouTube samples

As for the back.. I use a Basta superflash. True to its name, it's super-bright. It does the job, but now that I'm going to be commuting, I think I'll need to get another rear light or two - particularly something that can attach to my backpack.

Max

[newfsmith]

After 8 years of riding with battery powered lights I finally adapted to the reality of my work. I often get caught staying late at work in the summer months, when I'm not always charging my batteries every night and having my main light die on the way home. This summer I decided it was time to go to a generator/dynamo so there is always a full powered lighting system. I have a Shimano hub generator with a BM Lumotec IQ Cyo N Plus LED headlight and a BM D toplight taillight. These are always there, and both have capacitors that keep them running at stoplights.

I'm a strong believer in redundant systems, so I also have Petzl Myo RXP mounted on my helmet, in flashing mode usually, as well as a Planet Bike Superflash, also in flashing mode on the back of my helmet. This gives me both a steady and a flashing light front and rear, plus all of the reflectors & safety triangle. For side lighting I have Pedal Lites that shine white to the front, yellow to the side, and red to the rear. These are also magnetic generators and require no batteries.

My investment in my dynamo & it's lights was $330. I am quite satisfied. My light would not do for singletrack or technical riding, but it is at least as good as my old 30W halogen system, and almost as good as my Princeton Tec Switchback 2. Admittedly, the tail light doesn't put out nearly as much light as my old home-built 56 LED taillight, but it weighs 10 pounds less.