I have updated my bicycle lighting systems web page at
http://bicyclelighting.com
..
This is a web page that details how to construct a low-cost, high
performance, bicycle lighting system. It also includes sections on generator
lighting, horns, myths and facts about lighting, and a variety of other
related information.
Not a lot of changes in this go-round.
Specialized and Trek Discontinue their Wide Angle LED Flashers
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The discontinuation of the only two wide angle LED flashers (from Trek and
Specialized) is a disappointment, though they were never widely available so
few people were even aware they existed. These two models solved one of the
major design problems with LED flashers, the lack of wide-angle visibility
(on most LED flashers the LEDS point only to the rear). I've left them up on
the web page just in case someone is able to find one somewhere.
Cat Eye LD1000 Wide Angle LED Flasher
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The Cat Eye LD1000 is available from Harris Cyclery. This is the only
flashing LED rear lamp with wide angle visibility, that is available in the
U.S. (http://harriscyclery.net/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1578). The B&M 4DT
provides wide angle visibility, but it is not a flasher.
B&M 4DT Wide Angle Rear LED Light.
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The 4DT is not a flasher, but it does offer the wide angle of visibility.
The good thing about these B&M rear lights is that they are available both
in battery powered, and dynamo powered/battery backed up, versions; this
means that dynamo aficionados finally have a decent rear lamp available. As
far as I can tell, they are sold only by Harris Cyclery (Sheldon Brown),
though one version is sold by Peter White Cycles.
This is difficult to find on the Harris web site
(http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/shimano.html)
At least in the U.S., the 4DT should be used in conjunction with a Real Lite
18 LED flasher, since a flashing rear light has become the defacto
identifier of bicycles.
Can someone explain why there is only ONE shop in the entire country that
sells a decent LED flasher? Is the shop that Sheldon Brown is affiliated
with the only one in the entire country that understands anything about what
makes a rear LED light good? Or is it that the other shops feel that the
higher-end rear lights are too expensive so no one would buy them?
Xenon Strobes Remain the Best Option for a Rear Light in 12 volt systems
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Xenon strobes remain a better solution for 12 volt homebrew, battery
powered, lighting systems. This is due to their much greater brightness,
inherent wide angle of visibility, and of course their significantly lower
cost.
LED Headlights are Still Pretty Bad
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LED headlights continue to disappoint in a major way, but there may be a 5W
Luxeon LED not too far off. The problem with these higher power single LED
lamps will continue to be the relatively short time between LED replacement
(similar to the short life of HS3 bulbs used on dynamo systems); the
multi-LED headlights continue to be lacking in their ability to focus into a
single beam.
Dymotec S12 Remains the Only Option for High Brightness lights with a Dynamo
Powered System
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The only good dynamo system remains the very expensive Dymotec S12 with its
12 volt/5W headlight. There are rumors of a 12 volt Schmidt SON dynamo, this
is not available yet. There is information on the Schmidt web page regarding
how to get increased light output at higher speeds (page is in German only,
and is at: http://www.nabendynamo.de/12vinfo.htm). A hybrid battery/dynamo
system would also be possible, but this may be more trouble (and expense)
than its worth.
HID Systems Remain Very Expensive
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There has been little movement in the prices of HID bicycle lights. The
least expensive model is the Cygo Z-Force with NiCad batteries, at $300, and
the top-of-the-line Light & Motion ARC H.I.D. with Li-Ion batteries sells
for a staggering $430. IMVAIO, the advantages of HID are elusive, when
compared with over-voltaging standard halogen lamps.
"For commuters, the best front light is the very bright rechargeable lamp."
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The late Ken Kifer's statement continues to be true. Why is it "the best?"
Simply because a high visibility lighting system makes it much safer _and_
enjoyable to ride at night. It's especially noticeable how vehicles do not
cut off bicycles with very bright lights (I believe this is because they don
't actually realize that it's a bicycle, they think it is a motorcycle, or
some other sort of motorized vehicle).