Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Which road lights are using on your commutes or training?

Been using the Hope Vision 1 which is my fave night to work etc but thinking something brighter.

Cateye TL-LD1100 LED Rear Light and with another cateye flasher on my jacket/backpack with a Tesco backup on the bike.

Been looking at the magic shine for £70ish for road rides but also checked Ay ups.

I don't reccomend Cateye HL-EL530 LED Front Light in unlit areas unless you just want to be seen.

What are you guys n gals using or reccommend?

Yeh:

IMAGE(http://www.bikeoutlet.co.uk/images/products/preview/hope%20vision%201%20led%20-%20light.jpg)

IMAGE(http://www.jdcycles.co.uk/files/products/CA475TL11006.jpg)

Meh:
IMAGE(http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/cateye-el530-med.jpg)

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

25 comments

Avatar
Chapo | 13 years ago
0 likes

Dinotte 3W front.
This ebay jobby at front.
(not as bright as 3W but excellent in flashing mode).
electron rear 7 LED rear.
single LED knog at the rear.

Avatar
northernrebel | 13 years ago
0 likes

Cateye 610 singleshot plus. Integrated rechargeable battery that gives 30+ hours in flashing mode for the bit of my commute along lit roads, then has a low & high constant beam for the country lanes where it gets proper dark. Claims 9 hours on low, 3 hours on high, but I only ue high when tanking it down hill or to politely suggest to drivers they might like to dip their headlights as even low illuminates a decent patch of road.
Got little cutouts to chuck a bit of light sideways to help you be seen, although I back it up with a cheap & cheerful 5 flashing LED clip on that is 180 degree visible.

Avatar
Chris | 13 years ago
0 likes

For commuting, we're all impressed with the Moon X 300 from Raleigh. Nice and compact, bright output from a single CREE XP-G LED, although the beam is quite narrow. Decent handlebar bracket, low power indicator, mains or USB charging and most of all, cheaper than other rechargeable lights of similar specs!
Lasts about 3 hours on full beam (longer than the 2 hour claim no the box) and charges quickly via the mains adapter (haven't tried the USB yet), so more than enough for a daily commute.
Down side - the one we tried doesn't hold it's charge too well, so if you charge it then don't use it for a week or so it runs down quickly. Not a problem for a daily commuter.
Plenty of shops have these on offer at the moment too, due to a good deal from the supplier.
Nice.

Avatar
MCLK | 13 years ago
0 likes

After reading through this thread I went for a Fenix LD20 on the front and a Blackburn Mars 4.0 for the rear. I gave them a try out last night, in the wet, on unlit country roads at the edge of the Peak District - very happy with the results!

Avatar
Fish_n_Chips | 13 years ago
0 likes

Hahaha!

Avatar
Fish_n_Chips | 13 years ago
0 likes

DaveP looking like that you can see in the dark  3

Avatar
trikeman | 13 years ago
0 likes

Hi All,
I use a pair of Minewts on the front with a Smart on constant at the rear with a Skully to back it up on flash. The Minewts have saved my bacon more than once on the lanes between WSM and Bristol for sure. On-coming cars acctually flash their lamps before coming round the bends - like if they think its a car on mains. The Skully really is a cracker, on flash you can see it hundreds of yards ahead - lasts well too.
Hope it helps.
Trikeman.  1

Avatar
DaveP | 13 years ago
0 likes

Got a Cateye EL450 on the bars and a Smart Lunar 1/2 Watt on the seatpost.. With a pair of Backupz spare. Oh and my Urbanise has front/rear LEDs.

When the going gets very dark I also run an old Specialized Solo light unit fitted with a Cree XR-E LED and and on-board 3.5v Li-ion battery:

http://likeherdingchickens.blogspot.com/search?q=cree

fit's on bars or helmet.

I put it together in '07, prob time to do something newer / brighter...  3

Avatar
vorsprung | 13 years ago
0 likes

I have no problems with batteries

I have a B&M IQ Fly powered by a Shimano generator hub on the commuter bike

Avatar
chris_road_cc | 13 years ago
0 likes

Yep. The batteries are a problem. A colleague's battery went poof as did mine after the first season. Mine turned out to be a broken wire. His required replacement of a resistor and cap in the charge/ discharge protection circuit. Fixes definitely not for the uninitiated - and only required when you buy from overseas on the cheap.

My commute includes lots of streetlight free riding. With my old 10w halogen I could manage half an hour of reasonable visibility. With my P7 I get about 3hrs daylight. I only need 70mins, but it's nice to be in credit on the steep hill home.

Cheers,

Avatar
Fish_n_Chips | 13 years ago
0 likes

Proper retro and don't fix it if isn't broken!

Saw that light from Spokes Shirts on DX too but how much woud we spend sending the thing back to Hong Kong as some people have had battery probs with the lcs battery life screen?

Think I'll save up and buy a troutie light!

Avatar
barogerl | 13 years ago
0 likes

I think you will find the Road Vehicles lighting regulations do NOT require pedal reflectors on all bikes. They apply to new bikes and those of a recent vintage.
Myself I prefer to put my faith in Mr Lucas's Silver King, of which I have two front and back. Admittedly mine is a vintage trike circa 1952 and the lights are appropriate.
I was passed once by two police in a car, who then pulled in, stopped me and then to my amazement complimented me on having decent rear lights ( the ones in question were 1925 vintage!!

Avatar
chris_road_cc | 13 years ago
0 likes

I recognise the spokeshirts light from the deal extreme website. I purchased a magicshine P7 (link below) from dx. Plenty of minor irritations - silly flashing modes - battery pack needs water protection, but the light output is brilliant and the battery life is excellent too. It cost me £50 plus a month waiting for delivery.

Given the light output/ price point - a no-brainer really!

Home:
http://www.dealextreme.com/

Nice Battery - US PSU
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.44459

Mine - UK PSU
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30864

Nice Battery - Different can - US PSU
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.44676

Avatar
dave atkinson | 13 years ago
0 likes

yeah, the off-to-high thing isn't ideal at all, at least the button is lit up in the dark  1

the medium setting is 30% which runs for a claimed 9hrs which is all the way through the night in theory, could be good. we'll see...

Avatar
stuke | 13 years ago
0 likes

Exposure Joystick all year round day or night on strobe powering a Red-Eye on the seatpost. Been using an Exposure Race for the last 2 winters for the country lanes of the commute but just ordered a mk2 Exposure Toro. Fibre Fare under the top tube for side visibility and a Niterider Cherry Bomb on the seatpost also during the winter months.

All this actually doubles the value of my commuter  4

Avatar
dave atkinson | 13 years ago
0 likes

my front lighting of choice is:

1) whatever the torch du jour is
2) a cateye loop light on the headtube, on flashing, for all round visibility

 1

Avatar
Simon E | 13 years ago
0 likes

I've seen the Cateye EL-520 in action and couldn't even manage to be underwhelmed. A poor buy IMHO.

I used to have a Cateye EL-320 on the front but since upgrading to a Fenix LD20 & Twofish Lockblock (£55) the Cateye has been relegated to a box in the garage. The LD20's beam is better and it has much greater output from its 2 AAs. In town can whip it off and keep it in a pocket and it won't turn itself on. The multiple power options and the ability to use it as a hand torch make it far more practical too.

For output the Fenix gives the Niterider Minewt a run for its money. I've ridden unlit lanes with a mate who has the latter and there's not much difference. Neither has particularly wide spill but offer plenty of light where it matters. Also there's precious little side visibility so I'm wondering whether to add the cheap LED I used to think was OK for town use (those days of blissful ignorance!) for extra visibility.

A Cateye LD600 does the job well on the back, no complaints there, and the 2xAAAs last ages. I am tempted to fit a second cheap rear light just for peace of mind.

Avatar
Fish_n_Chips | 13 years ago
0 likes

I found a website to fix the poor 530 Cateye by chopping/cracking the lens and replacing the LED with a P4.

Thanks for links guys (checking them now).

I've just found this light similar to the magic-shine:
http://www.spokeshirts.co.uk/product.php?productid=16399&cat=0&page=1

900 lumens which is probably 700 lumens but wish it had an intermediate setting like 500 lumens.

£90. Anyone know about it?

Avatar
dave atkinson replied to Fish_n_Chips | 13 years ago
0 likes
Fish_n_Chips wrote:

I've just found this light similar to the magic-shine:
http://www.spokeshirts.co.uk/product.php?productid=16399&cat=0&page=1

900 lumens which is probably 700 lumens but wish it had an intermediate setting like 500 lumens.

£90. Anyone know about it?

i know that even as we speak there's one undergoing testing on my bike  1

Avatar
Fish_n_Chips replied to dave atkinson | 13 years ago
0 likes
dave_atkinson wrote:
Fish_n_Chips wrote:

I've just found this light similar to the magic-shine:
http://www.spokeshirts.co.uk/product.php?productid=16399&cat=0&page=1

900 lumens which is probably 700 lumens but wish it had an intermediate setting like 500 lumens.

£90. Anyone know about it?

i know that even as we speak there's one undergoing testing on my bike  1

Nice one Dave, I managed to inspect one on Saturday but it was in the day time lol, looked small and compact -hope you post some pics at night. Also comment on the switch as it seemed to go from bright-low-flash-off. I don't like the idea of it switching off to get back to high beam! but the price reflects this.

If it had a medium setting and hold the button for off for 2 seconds etc then it would be brilliant!

Avatar
TheHatter | 13 years ago
0 likes

I have the cateye rear mentioned above and it's great, really all round visibility. I also have a fenix at the front though this year I purchased a Cree torch with bike fitting for £15 on eBay and it's been great so far and feels as solid as the fenix.

Avatar
timlennon | 13 years ago
0 likes

I use the Fenix torch (http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix-ld20-r4.html) It's £53 for torch and mount, and is eye-burningly bright. It lights enough of a path for me to proceed happily through a pitch-black Richmond Park. Its flashing mode is a little bit fast, mind, but you'll certainly be seen with it.

Uses 2xAAs, and I tend to carry some spares, since it's a bit power hungry. Mind, I use rechargeables so they last a little worse, but are far cheaper in the long run.

Avatar
Jon Burrage | 13 years ago
0 likes

I too use the Hope vision 1. I have 2, I only use the two combined when on night rides (one on bars, one on helmet).

I find them to be fine for pretty much any ride I could do - though they do drink the power.

On the front and rear I also have 2 cheap led flashers from Hong Kong, £2 ebay jobs - they have lasted a year so far.

Avatar
dave atkinson | 13 years ago
0 likes

I can heartily recommend the RSP Asteri 3 for an all-purpose front light:

http://road.cc/content/review/15798-rsp-asteri-3-led-front-light

you can get one for less than £50 online and for that kind of money i reckon it's more or less unbeatable. great beam and it runs forever.

Niterider MiNewt USB is good too, you can have one of them for £80 if you shop around:

http://road.cc/content/review/9505-niterider-minewt-usb-led-front-light

Currently testing the Supernova Airstream which is a very fine looking light indeed, but not really in the right price bracket  1

Latest Comments