Cateye Micro vs. new LED models?

Matt O'Toole said:

I need to replace my Cateye HL-500 II Micro. Should I just get another, or buy
one of the new LED models instead -- the EL-500 or EL-300?

Matt O.

I don't know the Micro, but _four_ EL-500's at once is tolerably bright,
perhaps equal to a single HL-1500 or a little more, but less than two HL-1500's.

On the other hand, you get a lot of hours out of the EL-500 before AA
NiMH's need recharging, so I don't have to husband power on rides like I
had to with the HL-1500's.

A single EL-500 isn't very bright; you could use it but probably would be
pretty unhappy.

This morning, though, I rode 25 miles at 3am with all the front lights off, by
moonlight; I'd flip them on if a car came by but none did. So requirements
vary. (early morning trip to Kroger.) A single EL-500 would be more than
enough then.

I had my eye on an airplane that was lined up for approach to the local
airport, because typically I make it the 5 or so miles to under the
approach path in the same amount of time that it takes a very distant
airliner to get there; but it turned out to be Venus off in the East
on the horizon.
--
Ron Hardin
[email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Quoted message said:

I need to replace my Cateye HL-500 II Micro. Should I
just get another, or buy one of the new LED models instead
-- the EL-500 or EL-300?

I don't know about the EL-500, but the Micro is definitely brighter than
the EL-300. I use two of these:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=12783

--
"Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much
to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes,
it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877)

Used my EL-500 for the first time last night and altho not the brightness of my
NightRider, it was plenty bright enough for my 3 mile commute back home.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Used my EL-500 for the first time last night and altho not the brightness of my
NightRider, it was plenty bright enough for my 3 mile commute back home.

I think the general test is whether you can see the road surface with an oncoming car
on brights, to find the road edge and perhaps see potholes. That in turn will
depend on whether the edge is bright (a nice white edge line, for instance) and
whether the road in fact has potholes, unless it's a pretty bright light on its own.

More congenial circumstances lead to varying evaluations. And of course you may ride
in those circumstances. It's a nice light in any case.

Carry extra batteries if you use NiMH, or have a second light that won't die at the
same time; it goes unilluminating very fast when it goes, on rechargeables; though
you get quite a few hours before that happens.
--
Ron Hardin
[email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

I use two Cateye Micro Halogen lights (HL-5ooII model).
Two lights provides redundancy as well as 2x the light.
With NiMH batteries, they work great for my commute which is mostly on
unpaved bike paths.
Not sure how this setup would rate with the 'oncoming car test' described
below.

"Ron Hardin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Used my EL-500 for the first time last night and altho not the

brightness of my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

NightRider, it was plenty bright enough for my 3 mile commute back home.

I think the general test is whether you can see the road surface with an

oncoming car

Quoted message said:

on brights, to find the road edge and perhaps see potholes. That in turn

will

Quoted message said:

depend on whether the edge is bright (a nice white edge line, for

instance) and

Quoted message said:

whether the road in fact has potholes, unless it's a pretty bright light

on its own.

Quoted message said:

More congenial circumstances lead to varying evaluations. And of course

you may ride

Quoted message said:

in those circumstances. It's a nice light in any case.

Carry extra batteries if you use NiMH, or have a second light that won't

die at the

Quoted message said:

same time; it goes unilluminating very fast when it goes, on

rechargeables; though

Quoted message said:

you get quite a few hours before that happens.
--
Ron Hardin
[email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.