The Ixon puts out very good light, but has serious design faults. The mounting is conceived in such a way that the weight of the unit is not equally balanced on both sides of the handlebar clamp, with the inevitable result that vibration from uneven surfaces will affect the alignment of the lamp. No amount of hand tightening is enough to cure this.
The electronics are also temperamental - if the power supply is cut due to faulty battery contacts (as supplied, the spring contacts are loose and need to be bent by hand to remove slack), the lamp will not restart immediately on pressing the "on" button, but only after a delay of a minute or so, which means that a stop is almost unavoidable. That's not fun when it happens in traffic on an unlit road.
From what I have read on the German cycling group <de.rec.fahrrad>, the newer model Ixon (with the black housing) has improved light output and focus, but still has the mechanical and electronics problems.
Having just returned an Ixon IQ for these very reasons, yes the light output is excellent but the design is rubbish especially with regard to the battery connections, could anyone recommend a good mid range high output LED front light?
I'm after something suitable for unlit county lanes but without getting into the £100+ area. Ideally something with internal rechargeable batteries.
...I've had a look at the batteries and on the + end only the raised 'nipple' is metal - the rest of the surface is non conductive. I'm wandering if that's partly to blame.
Well, the metal part that is the - end is actually a metal can that's all one-piece with the side of the battery. The + end is that nipple you're talking about set in the middle of a non-conductive button which then is crimped in place to seal the battery. Peel off the (usually) colorful shrink-wrap and you're dangerously close to accidentally shorting the battery out.
I'm after something suitable for unlit county lanes but without getting into the £100+ area. Ideally something with internal rechargeable batteries.
Having had the second EL530 bite the dust with terminal effect this season, I am now seriously tempted by the Ay Up which, whilst coming in at just over £100 for the cheapest kit, can be got for less if you just get the parts you want. Details at http://www.ayup.com.au and their UK distributor comes on line on Monday, allegedly.
I'm thinking that these will prove to be better value in the long term than cheaper lights.
A hi vis waistcaot (eg £1-50) and ankle bands are very effective also and I leave the reflectors on my bikes or add more. They are like free lights.
No, they're not. As soon as you move out of the beam of a car's headlights, you could wear all the hi-vis you like and still be invisible. Many road users, perfectly legally, carry no lights.
A hi vis waistcaot (eg £1-50) and ankle bands are very effective also and I leave the reflectors on my bikes or add more. They are like free lights.
No, they're not. As soon as you move out of the beam of a car's headlights, you could wear all the hi-vis you like and still be invisible. Many road users, perfectly legally, carry no lights.
A hi vis waistcaot (eg £1-50) and ankle bands are very effective also and I leave the reflectors on my bikes or add more. They are like free lights.
No, they're not. As soon as you move out of the beam of a car's headlights, you could wear all the hi-vis you like and still be invisible. Many road users, perfectly legally, carry no lights.
Oh yes they are.
Please don't be so tedious as to think that a simple (and ungrammatical) 'Oh yes they are' is a means of engaging in rational debate.
In what way does your hi-vis work then? How does it emit light in the darkness?
A hi vis waistcaot (eg £1-50) and ankle bands are very effective also and I leave the reflectors on my bikes or add more. They are like free lights.
Reflectors are excellent value for money and weight at making you visible in car headlights. Bugger all use for actually seeing where you are going in the dark though, so not a substitute for actual lights if you are going to cycle in the dark (or just want to be legal in a street lit area).
Please don't be so tedious as to think that a simple (and ungrammatical) 'Oh yes they are' is a means of engaging in rational debate.
Oh yes they are.
IMHO a hi-vis jacket (or equivalent) at night is as good at making you visible as a standard set of blinkies. They do provide a large area for the eye to lock onto, making it easier to see where they are than a point light source. Also they tend to be higher than most bike lights, apart from cyclists pretending to be Daleks.
Of course a hi-vis or pretending to be a Dalek is no substitute for having lits on your bike.
Quoted message said:
In what way does your hi-vis work then? How does it emit light in the darkness?
If there is any UV around, then the hi-vis will fluoresce.
My major gripe with hi-vis jackets is the price some cycle shops sell them at e.g. 20+ukp, when a diy shop 200 yards away is selling them for 3 quid.
Please don't be so tedious as to think that a simple (and ungrammatical) 'Oh yes they are' is a means of engaging in rational debate.
Oh yes they are.
IMHO a hi-vis jacket (or equivalent) at night is as good at making you visible as a standard set of blinkies. They do provide a large area for the eye to lock onto, making it easier to see where they are than a point light source. Also they tend to be higher than most bike lights, apart from cyclists pretending to be Daleks.
Of course a hi-vis or pretending to be a Dalek is no substitute for having lits on your bike.
Indeed. That is very different from Terry's point.
and allow me to point out ,for those who need to be told, that this stuff is not bulletproof, does not help you see in the dark, has no nutritional value and the use of it does not preclude the use of lights .
After this thread started I was driving to work in the pitch dark when across my path 50yds ahead went 4 tiny glittering things which turned out to be the only visible sign of a 'paper boy on his dark bike against a black background. I do not approve of his lack of lights (in case you were wondering) but his wheel reflectors were better than nothing.
and allow me to point out ,for those who need to be told, that this stuff is not bulletproof, does not help you see in the dark, has no nutritional value and the use of it does not preclude the use of lights .
It's that final point that you had been failing to make. I was disagreeing with you, as your statement that hi-vis, etc "are like free lights" could be seen to imply that they removed the need for lighting.
