Headlight Shopping

[Miranda]

I hate trying to buy a new piece of gear I have no experience with. Sifting through the research gives me a headache. I have searched and read some old threads on here. Good start. But, I need some more help. (btw, if you remember of a great thread on here, please help guide me to the link)

I want to add lighting to my biking to extend my riding options. I can't say I'm dead set on how I want to use it, as part I have never done before. From what I gather, lights for added safety at dawn and dusk, are one type of light. Lights to really do true night riding, are another. I've been caught out when it got dark before (no lights/safety gear), whoa, no fun.

I ride my road bike on county rual roads. No street lights. I do also have some single track wooded trails I found recently to take my mtb to. Plus, I would just like to do a nigt neighborhood spin with the kids on my old refurb bike I use for that. The subdivision has some lighting with yard post lights (no street lights). For that situaiton, I would like to get something less expensive to put on my kids bikes as well for visibility.

What I own now in terms of night or safety gear is a FireFly red tail light (LED) bought from RoadID's web site. I have two reflective ankle bands they make also. FireFly's can be added to the ankle bands.

I was hoping my FireFly is enough tail light for cars to see me? The headlight I orginally was thinking I would spend up to $150. Then, I started reading about HID lights, and a comment that stated "for 'true' night riding, if a person reaaally needs to be able to SEE, this is the way to go..." = cha ching, $400+. If I really found I loved night riding, I would figure out a way to work towards this price. I'm thinking if I left within a hour before daylight, I could get a spin in alone before DH left for work (kids summer break is a struggle to find real riding time, beyound their lesiure group spin).

The couple lights in the $150 ball park I read positive comments about on here were: Dinotte 200L, and Niterider MiNewt. I assume on my road bike and lesiure, I would handle bar mount it? I read a different comment about being able to easily remove the light, that a helmet option is best for mtb trail riding? Not sure what the advantage is of wearing your light on your head, vs your handle bars (well, weight on the head of course, but I mean functionality suited to the type of riding, trail vs road).

OK, my brain is spinning as you can see. I will stop typing now. TYIA for any guidance.

Miranda

[Velobambina]

Lights and Motion Arc Li-On. Well worth the investment.

[Zen]

That costs more than my bike

[Delta7]

Dinotte 200L works great is visible and I can see when riding in the dark. It's light weight and easy to mount. I also have the tail light. Cheers!

[Zen]

Have you read this?
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/plight.asp

[Becky]

I adore my first-generation MiNewt for early morning commutes and I've read that the MiNewt.X2 (second-gen) is twice as bright as mine for the same price. Also, NiteRider's customer service is top-notch!

[maillotpois]

Have you read this?
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/plight.asp

Wow. He's the Sheldon Brown of lights.

ETA:

I have used:

1. The older version of: http://www.serfas.com/product.asp?ProductID=296
For $30 - WOW. This is THE light for a pre-dawn start to a long ride. Or just to have on the bike "in case" you go later than expected and need something.

2. This: http://www.niterider.com/prod_moab.shtml

I use this as a headlamp - used it all night (quite literally) on my 600k as well as MOST of the night at DMD. It is a freaking flame thrower. I used the medium - low setting on the 600k, not having experience/confidence in the battery. The battery will last 12 hours EASY on the medium setting. Amazing light.

3. Two of these: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schm....asp#schmidte6 With a dynohub. For brevets, long non-hilly doubles. Early morning rides. Whatever. The self-sufficiency of a dynohub is wonderful. I would have used this on my 600k instead of the nite rider, but did not have them.

4. I always use: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HVP5A2 On the rear if I will be out in dark. 2 of them.

[Miranda]

Thx for your responses thus far. Any others, please feel to chime in.

I think I am starting to see the difference between helmet mounting the light, vs handle mounting it. Handle bar mounting it, focusing it lower towards the road like a car's headlight, has less chance of blinding oncoming drivers. If the light is worn on the helmet, say on a mtb trail, you don't have a road driver to blind.

I assume part of my thinking regarding the two places to mount the light is correct?

[Eden]

I have a mi-newt and I love it - but my night riding is mainly in pretty well lit city areas, so I don't need a super bright light - I care mostly about being seen over needing to see. This light is an LED, we had an older one that was a regular bulb. I thought I might not like the LED, as the blueish light tends to look flat, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the light is plenty bright and pretty neutral. I don't have any problems with the contrast.

[Becky]

In the interest of keeping information somewhat consolidated, I've elected to bump this old threadrather than start a new one.

I love our first-gen Mi-Newts. But neither DH nor I were comfortable with the idea of winter commuting (e.g. dark both ways) with them. We were outrunning them in the darkest sections of our commute last fall.

Solution? Buy Tri-Newts.

We took them out for a short spin around the neighborhood tonight. Holy macaroni are they bright! Mind-numbingly so. They're almost 500 lumens and 3:30 hours on high, 300 lumens and 7:00 hours on low.

I like that they're LED and Li-ion, and, to some extent, interchangable with our Mi-Newts. The extension cords, batteries, and chargers all appear to seamlessly work together. (If anyone has knowledge to the contrary, please let me know!) So I now have two extra chargers that can go to work with us just for back-up- a comforting thought. I've had good success with NiteRider customer service too, so that definitely played into the decision.

So far, the verdict is a positive one. About a month from now, it will be dark dark in the morning, and they'll get the true test.

EDIT: I'm not sure about the interchangeability (is that a word) of the batteries yet. I intend to call NiteRIder on Monday and will ask. The extension cord definitely works.

[Zen]

holy carp.
It better be a great light for that price.

[Becky]

holy carp.
It better be a great light for that price.

Hehe...working for a NiteRider dealer has its privileges.

[Becky]

Just in case anyone was wondering....

Per NiteRider, the Mi-Newt and Tri-Newt charger and extension cord are interchangeable. The batteries are not interchangeable.

[sundial]

I'm breaking out the NiteRider MiNewt for our evening rides and I still am pleased as punch with it. If you are still considering what's on the market, I read in Mountain Bike Action their review of lights and the NiteFlux won hands down for being the brightest--50 Lux! It's 12 watts/800 lumens.

www.niteflux.com

[Miranda]

Thx ladies for adding onto this thread. I'm still mulling over the the NiteRider lights.

I ended up going with two lights thus far, pros and cons to both. I got the HID L&M w/the cub ion battery for less $, and less run time trade off. Wow, is it bright. But, I think I don't like the weight of the lamp on my helmet. It's a beautiful product, don't get me wrong, but I have some neck/back disc issues and I can see it bothering me in this position after a while. Bar mount is ok.

I like the idea of the NiteRiders as they appear lighter (meaning more of a practical helmet solution in my case). I have a smaller multi-mount commuter light I bought off TE. It's pretty bright for the price, but not a HID obviously. I like it's lightness on my helmet, but recently used it camping and it's not bright enough in pitch black. Example: spinning the camp roads with fires burning = ok... traveling a cut through path between camp sections that's wooded, no external light except stars = not ok.

Also, I now understand what someone means about "making the light go where you need it". With bar mount, I found it bothersome in trying to turn my head to see and I could not. Like for a wild animal road side, dog, etc.

I wouldn't want to think too much about tipping my head down not to blind drivers with a HID on my helmet, so... I think I will do a combo as days shorten. HID on the bars, and lesser light on the helmet for the quick head turn. I've been doing more trail riding lately, and there obviously you don't have the issue of cars. I can see a bright helmount mount working there ok. For me, it's just needs to be pretty weight/light.