visibility in dark commute

[redeyedtreefr0g]

I'm currently using a flashlight mounted to my handlebar with an innertube. Its remarkably sturdy and a very good way to have a light. But, soon I'll have to replace the batteries in the flashlight. I also don't have a rear light, which concerns me. I figured I should just buy another bottle generator- the cheap plastic one I got for free off a free mountain bike quit on me- it had seemed pretty abused to start with, but I loved it while it did work.

So, any suggestions for a generator light set? I think LED bulbs might be brighter or last longer, and I've heard some sets have a way to keep the lights lit as you stop pedaling to wait for a red traffic light or something, so I'd prefer those features I think.

Edit: I also have some spoke lights! Two green ones, since that is my favorite color. They are simply circles and you twist them to turn on or back off. The only time that becomes a pain is when its raining and they are wet- i might cut little notches int he edges to give some grippy texture to them. I mounted one on each wheel opposite from the reflector. I've only seen one other bike with wheel lights like these, but s/he looked fantastic! My roommate was driving us and he saw the bike a long way off and we had no idea what it was at first. It made me so happy to realize that my cute little happy lights might be so much more useful than I'd thought.

[Melalvai]

In addition to lights, try a different lane position. If you are being hidden by parked cars, you may be riding too close to them. That puts you in the "door zone" and you can be hit by an opening door or run into an opening door.

I love my generator hub, but it doesn't help with side visibility. I have monkey lights & a downlow glow for that. I had a helmet light a few years ago, but it kept slipping off my helmet. It wasn't a cheap light either, so I would think it wasn't just a matter of quality. I was really disappointed because it sounded great for side visibility. But maybe they've improved the design since then.

[tothepeak]

I do a lot of night mountain bike riding, so have good lights from that, but I actually love them for commuting as well...I used to just use a few blinky lights, $20.00 bucks or so from the local bike shop...but I recently bought a few Exposure lights for night riding, and my night commuting has gotten way more fun...my bar light is the 1200 lumen Toro and helmet light is 1100 lumen Diablo...I also use a rear blinky just for extra lighting. It might seem excessive, but I think there is nothing better than being 100% confident that I am seen and I have a lot more fun, and feel that I have more freedom to ride around at night...they are pricey, but definitely worth it to me