Headlights

On 20 May 2005 05:22:39 -0700, "Roy Zipris" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that helps
announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road.

Busch & Muller Lumotec coupled to a SON hub dynamo, with a Busch &
Muller 4D Toplight at the back. The SON is set up as a part-time 12V
installation, the other light is usually a SON E6 but sometimes I use
another B&M.

I always have dynamo lights on my commuter bikes because you can never
predict when you might get held up in the office. I've just ordered a
Brompton folder, also with a SON. I've got another bike with the
Shimano Nexus hub dynamo, that's pretty good, too, and has an
automatic light-sensitive switch for the ultimate in fit-and-forget
lighting :-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

Roy Zipris said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that helps
announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road. Thanks.
--Roy Zipris

I'm pretty pleased with the "Viewpoint Gen3" I got last year from
Performance. I see it's currently on sale for $45. It's very bright for
an LED -- maybe as bright as some 10W halogens -- light and compact,
and gets 8 hours (by my own count) from 4 AA nicad rechargeables. In
the winter I use it as a supplement to my 15W Niterider; during DST I
carry it in my rack trunk in case I get caught late at work. It's
bright enough that I'm comfortable using it by itself, though I prefer
more light when it's really dark.

On low power it works as a reading light on trips, too.

RichC

Roy Zipris said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that helps
announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road. Thanks.
--Roy Zipris

If all you are concerned with is making sure drivers see you, I would
think any of the myriad white LED lights would work fine. I use a
3-LED light from Planet Bike, which is very bright, small and
lightweight.

For an affordable and really bright headlight system, check out
www.bicyclelights.com. I've been really happy with mine.

Just zis Guy said:

On 20 May 2005 05:22:39 -0700, "Roy Zipris" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that

helps

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road.

Busch & Muller Lumotec coupled to a SON hub dynamo, with a Busch &
Muller 4D Toplight at the back. The SON is set up as a part-time 12V
installation, the other light is usually a SON E6 but sometimes I use
another B&M.

I always have dynamo lights on my commuter bikes because you can

never

Quoted message said:

predict when you might get held up in the office.

I agree with Guy about the generator lights, but you can't call a SON
hub dynamo "inexpensive." Worth it, maybe so - but not cheap!

But the SON is certainly not the only generator out there, even though
it is the best. After years of fussing around with different battery
lights, I just fitted generators to all the bikes I regularly use. No
more wondering about battery replacing, or charging, or "Did I bring
the headlight today?" or any of that. It works like the headlight on a
car; you turn it on, and it gives you light. It's always ready.

The only problems are these: Good generators can be hard to find in
the US (but there are mail order sources); and it takes a little more
mechanical and electrical sense to install a generator, compared to a
battery light.

- Frank Krygowski

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 20 May 2005 05:22:39 -0700, "Roy Zipris" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that helps
announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road.

Busch & Muller Lumotec coupled to a SON hub dynamo, with a Busch &
Muller 4D Toplight at the back. The SON is set up as a part-time 12V
installation, the other light is usually a SON E6 but sometimes I use
another B&M.

Then there's me doing my low-flying UFO impersonation with multitudinous
lights & acres of reflectives ;-)

Cheers, helen s

I quite like my Serfas SL200, which I've also seen sold under the names
Giant "Quark" and Jet "Ascent"--

:: 5 LEDs
:: Brilliant blue-white light
:: Steady and fast-flash modes, 1-button control.
:: Comes with 2 rubber spacers to accommodate different handlebar
diameters.

Probably the brightest and best visibility of all the AA / AAA-powered
headlights I've seen.

It's surprisingly small, sort of huddles on the handlebars. Hinged top
cleverly flips-up to access battery compartment (3 AAA).

LBS guy told me:
:: Don't overtighten barclamp thumbscrew.
:: Tape battery lid closed with piece of electrical tape, just for
insurance.

Picture: http://www.greggscycles.com/cartgenie/prod-2523.htm

On Fri, 20 May 2005 19:55:54 +0100, "wafflycat"
<waffles*A*T*v21net*D*O*T*co*D*O*T*uk> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Then there's me doing my low-flying UFO impersonation with multitudinous
lights & acres of reflectives ;-)

^^^^^

I thought it was down to a few square yards these days?

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

rdclark said:

I'm pretty pleased with the "Viewpoint Gen3" I got last year from
Performance. I see it's currently on sale for $45. It's very bright for
an LED -- maybe as bright as some 10W halogens -- light and compact,
and gets 8 hours (by my own count) from 4 AA nicad rechargeables.

I also bought one of these to take with me on trips to the Caribbean, where
it gets dark by about 6:30. It also came in handy when on Bonaire when the
electricity went out. For my bike here I have a dynamo generator.

Since my current camera doesn't use AAs I didn't take a charger. The
alkaline batteries I took lasted more than enough for the trip.

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

US$35 5 LEDs, 100 hours on 4 AA batteries HL-EL300

http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=19&catId=7&subCatId=2

Roy Zipris said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that helps
announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road. Thanks.
--Roy Zipris

Low tech works for me. I first bought a more expensive NiteRyder (sp)
unit with a rechargeable battery pack. I followed the charging
instructions but the battery pack failed within a month. I switched to
a CatEye Opticube that uses AAs and have gotten much better service. I
carry extra batteries in my seat pouch.

catzz66 said:

Low tech works for me. I first bought a more expensive NiteRyder

(sp)

Quoted message said:

unit with a rechargeable battery pack. I followed the charging
instructions but the battery pack failed within a month.

I had a similar failure with a NiteRyder 15W helmet-mounted light at
the 6 month point. Brought it back to the Performance shop i purchased
it at and they traded me for the orig. 4xAA battery pack fir one
twice as big 2x(4xAA), for free, no hassles.

For being-seen, any of the newer LED lights work well, although i like
the ones which modulate their output.

..max

Quoted message said:

Roy Zipris said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that helps
announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road. Thanks.
--Roy Zipris

I just bought some lights for my older bike. I plan on using it once
or twice a week for a somewhat short commute. On nice nights, I may
extend the ride home.
I found what I think is a real good deal. I just got them and the rear
blinky is really nice. The front is quite bright, although it has one
limitation, that is a 2 hour run time. That isn't a problem for me,
it comes with charger and the rechargeable batteries.

Nashbar often has 10% off online coupons, so search for one of those.
I got mine with another special, for $16, but $20 isn't bad. I'm even
thinking of buying a second one. I'd use the blinky on my LeMond and
the headlight alternating with the first one.

Here take a look:
http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=1085&category=121&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1&pagename=

Even though it says the batteries aren't included for the blinky, they
do come with it.

Life is Good!
Jeff

Just zis Guy said:

On 20 May 2005 05:22:39 -0700, "Roy Zipris" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Among the current options, what headlights do folks recommend for
riding at dusk? I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive light that helps
announce my presence to cars, not to illuminate the road.

Busch & Muller Lumotec coupled to a SON hub dynamo, with a Busch &
Muller 4D Toplight at the back. The SON is set up as a part-time 12V
installation, the other light is usually a SON E6 but sometimes I use
another B&M.

Excellent suggestion but hardly inexpensive.

Quoted message said:

I always have dynamo lights on my commuter bikes because you can never
predict when you might get held up in the office. I've just ordered a
Brompton folder, also with a SON. I've got another bike with the
Shimano Nexus hub dynamo, that's pretty good, too, and has an
automatic light-sensitive switch for the ultimate in fit-and-forget
lighting :-)

I agree that with a commuter/touring type of bike, you really
can't do much better than a generator driven light.

I have the Lumotec Plus driven by a Dymotec generator. The power
of this 3W light (I've opted to keep a battery powered VistaLight
in the back) is surprising. Very nicely focused beam that belies
it's 3W power.

But I also have a Cateye HL200 on the bike (in fact all four of
my bikes) as well. It makes a very good flashlight and is easily
detachable for those times you need to fiddle with the bike in the
dark, drop something on the road, or whatever.

These AA battery driven LED lights can be run a very long time in
flashing mode and provide just enough light to be seen at dusk
even though they're somewhat lacking as effective headlights. Use
rechargable batteries and it might be an option.

If one really rides often at night or dusk hours, you can either
go with a low end 10W SLA battery unit for under $50 or bite the
bullet and get a quality generator. A good bottle generator will
cost you probably $75+ (my Dymotec was about $100).

SMH

In article <l6Ije.15237$Y36.8576@trndny05>,

Stephen Harding said:

These AA battery driven LED lights can be run a very long time in
flashing mode and provide just enough light to be seen at dusk
even though they're somewhat lacking as effective headlights. Use
rechargable batteries and it might be an option.

I've got a Planet Bike[tm] 3 LED unit that I'm quite
happy with. I use it as a standlight to supplement
my generator headlight (leaving it on continuously
during the ride, on flash mode.)

If one is going to use LED headlight & taillights,
I suggest trying to get both that are powered by
AA cells, instead of one that's AA-powered, and
the other, AAA-powered. Buying a 4/6/8-pack of AAs
is less painful to the wallet than buying combinations
of AAs and AAAs, and IME AAs are generally more useful
around the house, for other gadgets. I expect this
would be even more economical and convenient if one
goes the rechargable route.

Quoted message said:

If one really rides often at night or dusk hours, you can either
go with a low end 10W SLA battery unit for under $50 or bite the
bullet and get a quality generator. A good bottle generator will
cost you probably $75+ (my Dymotec was about $100).

My Tung Lin bottle generator cost about $28(CDN),
c/w fancy headlight and taillight. The generator
itself appears to be about equiv in quality to the
venerable Union ones, with noticably less drag.
My only problem with it has been the soft rubber-like
drivewheel wearing down too quickly. I replaced it
with a metal drivewheel from an old Union unit, and
it now continues to live happily ever after.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

[email hidden] (Tom Keats) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

My only problem with it has been the soft rubber-like
drivewheel wearing down too quickly. I replaced it
with a metal drivewheel from an old Union unit, and
it now continues to live happily ever after.

If it is on your sidewall Tom all you have done is change from
sacrifical drive wheel wear to sidewall wear.

On Sat, 21 May 2005 15:04:49 GMT, Stephen Harding
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<l6Ije.15237$Y36.8576@trndny05>:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Busch & Muller Lumotec coupled to a SON hub dynamo, with a Busch &
Muller 4D Toplight at the back. The SON is set up as a part-time 12V
installation, the other light is usually a SON E6 but sometimes I use
another B&M.

Quoted message said:

Excellent suggestion but hardly inexpensive.

Hey, you should see what I do consider expensive!

Point taken, though, but I noted the Nexus as well. That is really
good value.

Quoted message said:

But I also have a Cateye HL200 on the bike (in fact all four of
my bikes) as well. It makes a very good flashlight and is easily
detachable for those times you need to fiddle with the bike in the
dark, drop something on the road, or whatever.

I always have at least two lights at each end of the bike. And
actually I keep a micro Maglite in the bike bag with some spare lamps.

Quoted message said:

A good bottle generator will
cost you probably $75+ (my Dymotec was about $100).

Sheldon's selling the new Nexus hub for $90.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mike Latondresse mikelat@no_spam_shaw.ca said:

[email hidden] (Tom Keats) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

My only problem with it has been the soft rubber-like
drivewheel wearing down too quickly. I replaced it
with a metal drivewheel from an old Union unit, and
it now continues to live happily ever after.

If it is on your sidewall Tom all you have done is change from
sacrifical drive wheel wear to sidewall wear.

That's all right. The tire is just a sacrificial
cheap-o IRC Metro.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

you know? said:

Quoted message said:

A good bottle generator will
cost you probably $75+ (my Dymotec was about $100).

Sheldon's selling the new Nexus hub for $90.

Plus much higher installation costs.

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

(Tom Keats) said:

If one is going to use LED headlight & taillights,
I suggest trying to get both that are powered by
AA cells, instead of one that's AA-powered, and
the other, AAA-powered. Buying a 4/6/8-pack of AAs
is less painful to the wallet than buying combinations
of AAs and AAAs,

AAAs are never a good choice. AAAs have half the stored energy, yet cost
the same as AAs.

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).