Lighting?

[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.

[Tri Girl]

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.

A 56 LED taillight? Holy moly! That must be one bright light!

I'm looking into getting this light after daylight saving's time and the mornings get dark again:

http://www.rei.com/product/795699

It recharges by plugging into a USB port- which is easy to do at work. Plus, it's more than twice as bright as my current Petzl light, small, and needs no batteries (I'm all about using things that don't need batteries).

I need to look into those pedal lites.

[mizzbananie]

i am just dealing with night riding for the first time, and my lighting was insufficient.. back to the drawing board.

[pfunk12]

I'm very happy with the light that I recently purchased. It's the Light and Motion Vega 120. I struggled last year to find the right light for me but this one is perfect.

[Ja Da Dee]

The Magicshine 900 lumen Lightset is a pretty sweet light for a really good price. My husband uses these for night riding on the mtn bike trails. They have a high, low and strobe mode.


http://www.geomangear.com/