[rich_hendo]

Hi,

With the light fading and the weather starting to turn, I have realised that it is time to upgrade my rear lights.

I currently commute daily for 11. 5 miles on unlit, country roads. Most of the way, the speed limit is 50mph (well, that’s what the signs say…) and the roads feed the M40, so are busy but free-flowing with other commuters. As such, I think I need to be taking more precautions to make sure I’m seen.

At the moment I use a couple of cheap rear lights – which do the job – but I think it’s time for me to upgrade. I’m just unsure on what to get.

Here are my criteria;

1. Money – I am happy to spend a bit of money to get the right light(s)

2. Waterproof/resistant – I don’t have mudguards or plan to stop cycling through the winter so I want the light to be tough enough to take everything the weather can throw at it

3. Fastenings – I guess this is a similar point to above but I have read some reviews about bad fastenings and I don’t want to worry about my light falling off

4. Bright – Last, but not least, I want to get something bright enough so that I am clearly seen from a long way off, especially in bad weather when a sleepy driver is approaching

So far I have been looking at three models: Exposure TraceR, Cateye Rapid X and Knog Blinder. They all look good but also seem to have varying issues around fastenings, charging, brightness, etc.

Which would you recommend? Should I be considering something else?

Thanks for you help (and reading to the end of this!)

Rich

Topic

[60136 Alcazar]

I have a couple of USB
I have a couple of USB rechargeable Smart R2s. Got them while they were half-price at Start Cycles in Newcastle (£14.99) – had my battery operated R2 pinched off my bike on a train from Carlisle in August. Rechargeable lights are just as bright with an extra pulsating mode.

[parksey]

KiwiMike wrote:I’d guess

KiwiMike wrote:

I’d guess you’ve attached it wrong – I did at first. The wee rubber tab sticking out of one end is supposed to go between mount and bike to stop exactly this.

Interesting… That little rubber tab with the Lezyne logo printed on it definitely sits between the seatpost and the back of the mount, but I still get a bit of play. I re-fixed it (without the additional rubber insert) to be doubly-sure before heading out this morning but still no joy, after mere minutes of riding the light was already starting to work its way around the seatpost.

My seatpost isn’t particularly narrow and is a normal round shape, but typically, in trying to pull it one tighter this morning, I then snapped the outermost band, so looks like a new strap is on the cards now anyway. Still a good light, mind!

[matthewn5]

+1 for the Smart Lunar R1
+1 for the Smart Lunar R1 rear light. I use it in daytime in the steady bright mode, and drivers see you from a long way off. The main light is far too bright for group rides or commuting so best for out-of-town forays or daylight. Also has a low mode that you can use for around town. About £12.50 at well known online stores.

Around town I use a Cateye TL-LD600. I see a lot of these, it’s bright, sits vertically behind the seatpost, and is visible from the sides too. I charge the batteries about once a year. About £13.50 online.

Both have been used in all weathers for some years without problems.

[KiwiMike]

parksey wrote: Lezyne Micro

parksey wrote:

Lezyne Micro Drive… I had a slight issue in that the silicone mounting bracket wouldn’t secure quite tight enough on the seatpost to prevent it from slipping round as I cycled, but it’s been mostly cured by adding a rubber insert between the bracket and the post. I still need to keep an eye on it though.

I’d guess you’ve attached it wrong – I did at first. The wee rubber tab sticking out of one end is supposed to go between mount and bike to stop exactly this.

Anyway, HUGE +1 for the Micro Drive. Having used a pile of lights this one is hands-down the best out there if you want:

USB cable-free charging
‘Stupid-bright’ daylight/dappled shade
Usable night-time/chain gang modes – the pulse one is very good
Small
Light
Easily removed.

Genius.

[parksey]

Oh, and just picking up a
Oh, and just picking up a point in the OP, my Lezyne has seen me through plenty of very wet commutes/rides without issue.

[parksey]

I’ll +1 the Lezyne Micro
I’ll +1 the Lezyne Micro Drive. After some time using just cheap rear lights, I saw sense in getting a decent one and went for that. I would’ve possibly preferred the Cateye Volt 50 (purely to match my front light and be able to swap batteries) but the underseat mounting bracket meant I wouldn’t be able to carry a seat pack as well.

The Lezyne is decent. Like most of their products, it’s well engineered and feels good quality. I had a slight issue in that the silicone mounting bracket wouldn’t secure quite tight enough on the seatpost to prevent it from slipping round as I cycled, but it’s been mostly cured by adding a rubber insert between the bracket and the post. I still need to keep an eye on it though.

The light itself performs very well, such that a single light does me for commuting. Standard output is 30 lumens on a variety of constant and flashing/pulsing modes, with a couple of 70 lumen modes intended for daytime riding only. They are proper retina burning stuff, probably too bright for use in an urban setting, but handy if you’re on faster, unlit roads where your visibility is key.

I use mine for a total of maybe 30 minutes daily (short commute!) and charge them no more frequently than once a fortnight. USB charging too, the light handily plugs directly into a USB port, so no messing about with separate leads, couldn’t be simpler. I paid £40 in the LBS for mine at the end of last year (I had a gift voucher), but you can get one for more like £30 from all the usual online suspects.

[Sidi 700c]

Stay away from Moon products.
Stay away from Moon products. In particular the Moon Comet.

Not only does water get in there way too easy but the actual “under the seat” mount is designed in such a fashion that the ONLY way the light unclips, is by forcing the light straight down. Meaning you hit any pothole and the light just drops straight down out of the mount and you lose it if you do not hear it.

I bought one and the battery refused to charge after about 15-20 hours of use. So i got a replacement from the shop and the second one did the same thing.

During use the on/off button would sometimes get stuck in the on position and refuse to go to off. The only way to get it to stop being on is to loosen the allen screws to back off the pressure on the rubber grommet used to cover the on/off button.

Terrible product

[Shades]

I’ve got a Blackburn rear
I’ve got a Blackburn rear light that has lasted well, although I really like Fibreflares at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for the Smart R2
Another vote for the Smart R2 here. Great light.

[panyagua]

The other advantage of the
The other advantage of the Smart lights (apart from being reliable, bright and inexpensive) is that they have a clip that enables them to be mounted on bag loops etc, and they also come with a seatstay mounting bracket. Too many rear lights seem to be ‘seatpost only’ – no use if you use a saddle bag or large wedge pack.

[rich_hendo]

Thanks everyone. There’s so
Thanks everyone. There’s so much great information to take in here.

So it seems that the price tag doesn’t represent the best light (as it the case with so many things – especially in cycling). I like the sound of the Smart lights, probably worth getting one of these whatever.

Thanks again everyone for all your help.

[MKultra]

This
http://www.decathlon.co.
This

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/vioo-usb-rear-bike-light-black-id_8224154.html

Backed up with a couple of Smart Superflash clones

Soon to be replaced with this

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/newfor2014/city-slicker-series-back.html

[fullers1979]

Simple! Get an Exposure
Simple! Get an Exposure TraceR……it’s a brilliant light!

[BBB]

Pair of RSP Astrums or a Moon
Pair of RSP Astrums or a Moon Shield.
Both way brighter/visible than most of expensive lights.

[willythepimp]

I have lezyne micro drives as
I have lezyne micro drives as my ‘be seen’ lights. 70 lumens on the back, 200 ish on the front which is enough light to get you home on unlit roads. Usb recharge and as waterproof as I have needed in the rain. I had a smart r2 and although it is flashier, the light that it produces comes nowhere near the microdrive. Nowhere near. Even on the dimmer steady mode it casts a red glow onto the road behind you and lights up all of the street signs. A coleague folowed me into work the other night and said that he had seen my light from half a mile back. He blinked a bit and said that he could still see it!

[Author]

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