Lumicycle lights

Alan Moffatt said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional
bracket now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without
having seen the units.

I've had no problems with teh cable-tie fitting, but I have fitted the lights with permanent ties
and left them in place (mostly).

What problems have you heard of? The only issue I've had is teh bracket that is screwed to the light
and through which the cable tie goes came loose a couple of times, but some threadlock on the screw
seems to have fixed that.

I use the bottle, not teh bag, so can't comment on that.

regards, Ian SMith
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"Alan Moffatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional bracket
now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without

having

Quoted message said:

seen the units.

Thanks in advance.

They are fantastic lights, the company respond to queries. Try and get a reply from any of the other
manufacturers. They recently helped sort out a problem with my lights.

I like the cable ties. They are useful for moving the lights whilst on the move. Don't bother with
the bracket IMO.

Also, I have the opinion that the bottle is better than the bag. Not having used a bag, it's
difficult to justify why.

Just make sure you buy the expensive charger. Couldn't live without it.

In article said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional bracket
now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without having seen
the units.

Thanks in advance.

Some quick shots at littondale.dyndns.orgLumicycleOpen ↗ My judgement is mixed. Need to try some
more windy lanes. In town, against headlights, the 12W and 20W combined light about 6m up the road
in front of me, with plenty of light from the 20W in a pool in front of my front wheel.

- Richard

--
_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.

elyob said:

Also, I have the opinion that the bottle is better than the bag. Not having used a bag, it's
difficult to justify why.

The bag is much easier to fit in a pocket or a Camelbak. Useful if you mount the lights on a helmet
and would prefer to have the battery attached to yourself rather than to the bike, or if you use
them on a unicycle that doesn't have space for a bottle cage.

With bike mounted lights, having a battery bag strapped to the top tube means you can use your
bottle cages for carrying water.

It should be fairly easy to take the battery out of the bag and slide it into a bottle, so if you
get the bag you can have the best of both worlds.

--
Danny Colyer (remove safety to reply) ( juggler.netdannyOpen ↗ ) Recumbent cycle page:
speedy5.freeserve.co.ukrecumbentsOpen ↗ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." -
Thomas Paine

Alan Moffatt said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional bracket
now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without having seen
the units.

OK, I've just got a set, and I'm very impressed.

I don't have the cable-ties so I can't comment on them. The clamps which you can get instead (yes I
know they cost more) are very nicely engineered, hinge open and lock closed with an adjustable cam
lever, just like a quick-release skewer. Likewise I don't have the battery bag - I have the
bottle-cage battery, and it's very nicely made.

For road use they're definitely overkill - your own personal light pollution menace - but for doing
singletrack in the dark they're wonderful.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

do not sail on uphill water
- Bill Lee

In article said:

For road use they're definitely overkill - your own personal light pollution menace - but for
doing singletrack in the dark they're wonderful.

Which bulbs do you use?

- Richard

--
_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.

"Alan Moffatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional bracket
now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without

having

Quoted message said:

seen the units.

I got the bag battery as I want to use it on three bikes, one of which has only one bottle cage (for
the necessary bottle of drink) and one of which has a pump along the underside of the top tube. The
battery bag can fit in the spare bottle cage on one bike (with the straps round the downtube) or
underneath the top tube on the others. It is the best of both worlds, if a little more fiddly to
attach. It is also lighter and smaller than the bottle battery.

The new QR brackets are superb.

Regards Simon

"Alan Moffatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional bracket
now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without

having

Quoted message said:

seen the units.

Thanks in advance.

Have recently started using a single 12w on my commute, then switched to a
20w. Very impressed with the light output, and the build quality seems good so far. The battery bag
slides down the top-tube on my road bike, but not a huge problem. I agree with the charger
comments, get the smart charger it is invaluable. Haven't got used to where I should be
pointing the light yet and the quick-release bracket doesn't like being adjusted on the go, but
I'll get there I suppose ! All in all a great light if it survives the roads here in Scotland
it must be good.

Graham

"Alan Moffatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional bracket
now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without having seen
the units.

Thanks in advance.

Just fitted a pair (20w flood/20w spot) after several (scary) weeks of commuting down a potholed
60mph road in the dark with only leds and a battery lamp for company - given all the advice from the
groups I had the camlock clamps & fast charger and am well pleased. IMO they're worth the money &
the glow rings are a sound plan for being seen from side turnings.

Richard Corfield said:

In article said:

For road use they're definitely overkill - your own personal light pollution menace - but for
doing singletrack in the dark they're wonderful.

Which bulbs do you use?

To be honest I don't actually know, but I think it's 5w spot + 20w flood - anyway it's the default
lumi setup. Makes any other cycle lamp I've ever used (including dynamos) look positively feeble.
Dammit, it makes 2cv lighting look feeble!

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

do not sail on uphill water
- Bill Lee

Alan Moffatt said:

Has anybody got any up to date opinions on these lights? I've picked up quite a few adverse
comments about the cable tie fitting and the poor battery bag. I know there is an optional bracket
now, but is it an improvement? I'm a bit reluctant to spend that sort of money without having seen
the units.

Thanks in advance.

Got a bag with 10w Flood 12w Spot and a smart charger.

The lights are superb, I use them for commuting, where its great to know that you ar visable in a
sea of car lights and on quiteish roads at night where its great to see where you are going and know
you can bee seen from a distance.

The bags ok, a bit fiddly to put on but not bad.

The cable tie fittings are superb, they can be loose enough to let you move the lights by hand but
they don't move around. The light/bracket interface needs roughing up a bit and the screw tightening
to stop them getting loose around a vertical axis.

I also got the rear light, which I like because you can attach it to those clip loops on bags and it
dosnt bounce out. Its also very bright and has a neglibale drain the the battery.

Get the smart charger.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

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AndyMorris <[email hidden]> wrote:

: The cable tie fittings are superb, they can be loose enough to let you move

I was starting to think that I was the only person that really rated the cable tie fittings. I find
them really good and very easy to swap from bike to bike.

Arthur

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Arthur Clune [email hidden]

Thanks, everyone, for the advice and opinions.

Just one other question: I really only want one lamp for road riding. Would you recommend flood or
spot? 7 degrees for the spot seems a bit narrow for just one lamp. Would the 20w mid be the best
compromise?

Alan

"Arthur Clune" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AndyMorris <[email hidden]> wrote:

: The cable tie fittings are superb, they can be loose enough to let you

move

Quoted message said:

I was starting to think that I was the only person that really rated the cable tie fittings. I
find them really good and very easy to swap from bike to bike.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune [email hidden]

"Alan Moffatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks, everyone, for the advice and opinions.

Just one other question: I really only want one lamp for road riding.

Would

Quoted message said:

you recommend flood or spot? 7 degrees for the spot seems a bit narrow for just one lamp. Would
the 20w mid be the best compromise?

Alan

I have just started using Lumicycle lights and I reckon you'll find that the spot is wide enough for
road use. I have tried both 12w and 20w, and it's too early to tell which is best for me.

Graham

Quoted message said:

"Arthur Clune" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AndyMorris <[email hidden]> wrote:

: The cable tie fittings are superb, they can be loose enough to let you

move

Quoted message said:

I was starting to think that I was the only person that really rated the cable tie fittings. I
find them really good and very easy to swap from bike to bike.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune [email hidden]

Alan Moffatt <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Just one other question: I really only want one lamp for road riding. Would you recommend flood or
: spot? 7 degrees for the spot seems a bit narrow for just one lamp. Would the 20w mid be the best
: compromise?

12W spot works fine for me for road riding.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

In article said:

Just one other question: I really only want one lamp for road riding. Would you recommend flood or
spot? 7 degrees for the spot seems a bit narrow for just one lamp. Would the 20w mid be the best
compromise?

I find the 7 degrees fine on the road and wouldn't want a flood.

As for buying one or two - I worked out that it was cheaper to buy 2 now and go for the cheaper
fittings than buy one and upgrade later. The cable tie fitting works well. I've had no problems with
it on road.

12 or 20 - hard to tell the difference in use. Its only if you directly compare you really notice
which is which. I got a 5W spare bulb so I could experiment, and have the 8.5 hour run time if I
needed it, so now run that and the 20W 10degree lamp. With street lamps, the 5W and glow ring gives
a reasonable sense of being visible, and the 20W gives you a bit more light on the non-street-lit
sections. No glow ring on the 20W means I can tell which is which without having to switch them on
or mark the lamps.

- Richard

--
_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.