Cycling Equipment · Public discussion

Headlight

Started by Paul Bobby · · Last activity · 9 posts · 715 views

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Cycling Equipment
Published
28 August 2003
Last activity
31 August 2003
Original author
Paul Bobby
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  1. Spent my first summer commuting regularly on two wheels and would like to continue into the fall.
    Unfortunately, my commute starts early.....it's starting to get a little bit dark out there at 6AM.
    Recommendations for a front lighting system?

  2. That depends a bit on your commute. Is your object to see or be seen? Can you leave the light on the
    bike or do you have to take it off to keep it from getting nicked? Do you mind recharging batteries?

    Personally I have a helmet mounted NiteRider. It started life as bar mounted, but I got tired real
    fast of attaching and removing it from the bike all the time. Now, I don't have to worry about
    removing the light and battery each time I lock up my bike, I just take my helmet with me. Since I
    commute mainly on well lit city streets I use it to be seen rather than to see. And because it's
    attached to my head, I find it very easy to aim it at a driver to be sure he sees me. This is
    especially useful for the most dangerous situations visibility wise- someone approaching from a
    street on the left or oncoming traffic turning left. I can aim it at them and because of the power
    of the lamp, I'm sure they see me. Can also be aimed at rearview/side view mirrors of car to be sure
    they know I'm next to them.

    "Paul Bobby" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message news:
    [email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Spent my first summer commuting regularly on two wheels and would like to continue into the fall.
    Unfortunately, my commute starts early.....it's starting to get a little bit dark out there at
    6AM. Recommendations for a front lighting system?

  3. I've got a Cateye Luminux fitted to the bar. It gives a reasonable light about 3 metres in front of the bike, but not fantastic. Main purpose is to be seen by those pesky motorists, riders without lights and pedestrians on cycle paths.

    Also get a good rear light. You don't want to get rear ended!

    I also use reflectors in the spokes and wear irridescent straps on my legs when riding at night. I'm lit up like a Xmas tree in the headlights of a car, from any direction. But it's better to be safe than squashed.

  4. I used to use rechargeables for commuting, but the 5 Led cateye is so good and lasts so long (4aa
    30+hrs) I reserve my old light for fast road riding and off road as it is brighter. Tom
    --
    Bruni Bicycles "Where art meets science" brunibicycles.com
    410.426.3420 Paul Bobby <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Spent my first summer commuting regularly on two wheels and would like to continue into the fall.
    Unfortunately, my commute starts early.....it's starting to get a little bit dark out there at
    6AM. Recommendations for a front lighting system?

  5. Thank you, all, for the advise. My commute is about an hour, on city streets, pretty well-lit. Main
    purpose is to enhance visibility

    Paul Paul Bobby said:


    Spent my first summer commuting regularly on two wheels and would like to continue into the fall.
    Unfortunately, my commute starts early.....it's starting to get a little bit dark out there at
    6AM. Recommendations for a front lighting system?

  6. Paul Bobby said:
    Quoted message said:

    Unfortunately, my commute starts early.....it's starting to get a little bit dark out there at
    6AM. Recommendations for a front lighting system?


    My commute is about an hour, on city streets, pretty well-lit. Main purpose is to enhance
    visibility

    In that case you don't need a "seeing" light, and one of the modern crop of small blue-white LED
    lights such as the Cateye EL-300 will be perfectly adequate.

    Naturally rear lights and reflectors and reflective clothing are of greater importance much
    of the time.
    --
    David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!

  7. Paul Bobby <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Spent my first summer commuting regularly on two wheels and would like to continue into the fall.
    Unfortunately, my commute starts early.....it's starting to get a little bit dark out there at
    6AM. Recommendations for a front lighting system?

    You can build one pretty cheaply.

    14W sealed beam $7 5AH or 2.5AH sealed lead acid battery $15 Battery charger $14 Xenon strobe $9

    You can go up from there with NiMH batteries, brighter bulbs, etc.

    For details, see: "nordicgroup.uss78"

    Try to avoid the LED lights, back and front. These are not bright enough to be useful. In dark
    areas the toy lights let you be seen, but not see much. In well lighted areas the toy lights don't
    let you be seen.

  8. David Damerell <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Paul Bobby said:
    Quoted message said:

    Unfortunately, my commute starts early.....it's starting to get a little bit dark out there at
    6AM. Recommendations for a front lighting system?


    My commute is about an hour, on city streets, pretty well-lit. Main purpose is to enhance
    visibility

    In that case you don't need a "seeing" light, and one of the modern crop of small blue-white LED
    lights such as the Cateye EL-300 will be perfectly adequate.

    Naturally rear lights and reflectors and reflective clothing are of greater importance much of
    the time.

    If you don't need a seeing light, then combine one of those front LED lights (to be legal), with
    front and rear Xenon strobes (to be seen).

    "store.yahoo.comligprofbikst.html"

    You still need to be seen from the front in lighted areas
    (i.e. cars turning in front of you).

  9. "Paul Bobby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Recommendations for a front lighting system?

    This site: roadbikerider.compr4.htm has a generally favorable review of a Cateye
    LED light.

    mike

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