Night Riding

[Cato]

I run a TriNewt LED on the bars and a Light & Motion HID on the helmet. My night vision sucks and two lights gives my vision some depth. Plus you can't see around corners with a bar light!

I've heard good things in the past about MagicShine lights, they're LED's, have great output and very affordable. Unfortunately they've had some problems with the battery packs and are on hold until they get replacement models.

[crazycanuck]

Ayups are awesome & worth the $!

[SheFly]

If you're just getting into it, the NiteRider MiNewts are a good investment. I have the double beam version (MiNewt 700 - these go for about $170-ish), and like them a lot.

That said, if you are riding ANYTHING TECHNICAL, these lights are not enough (although I have used them for night time cross rides on fire roads and moderately rocky/rooty trails). For technical riding, I prefer my NiteRider HID. This thing will BLIND you, and provides A LOT of light. It is also pricey - around the $300-$400 mark.

Night riding is fun, and the only way I can ride through the winter months...

SheFly

[LyndaW]

Another +1 for Ay Ups. They are small, light, bright and reliable. The batteries especially are the smallest, lightest and easiest to manage out of all the lights I have. If you have a 24 hour solo race on your radar Ay Ups will work nicely for that.

[Aggie_Ama]

After pricing other options I really am wanting the Ay-Ups. They are insane how bright they are and the people I know that have them have used other brands. So now I need to save or hit the lottery, the pack I want is about $450.

[MyRubyE]

I have the niterider as well. For road riding it's great and friends who use it for trail riding also mention it works well for them. They prefer the helmet mounts. I purchased the 150 lumens bar mount. For trail riding I woul go with higher lumens. The Cateye also makes trail lights.

[oz rider]

I rode a few hours a night through winter with AyUps. Awesome. Could you start with the smaller kit and add to it as funds permit? There's a sale on at the moment too. ;-)

[Catrin]

I have the niterider as well. For road riding it's great and friends who use it for trail riding also mention it works well for them. They prefer the helmet mounts. I purchased the 150 lumens bar mount. For trail riding I would go with higher lumens. The Cateye also makes trail lights.

I am debating this very thing - would a helmet light be better for my country roads - or a handlebar mount? Both? My primary concern is being able to see where I am going - though of course it helps to BE seen - but I know that a lot of bike lights being sold are to help you to be seen by others - not necessarily for riding unlit country roads. I need to see potholes far enough away to do something about it...