NiteRider

There's nothing truly innovative about the Niterider Solas rear light - it has plenty in common with other modern tail-lights, but it does its job well and is carefully thought out.

The Solas is a modest sized light in the Smart 1/2w mould - you've probably seen a million of them by now. Translucent red casing for 180 degree visibility, vertical clip (nicely curved in on itself with a retaining noggin for added security) and a clear plastic circle over the LED. Unlike some others, the Solas just has the one LED which pumps out a healthy 2W of power.

Niterider have introduced the Lumina series to replace its older MiNewt offering, which we liked a lot last year. The Lumina 500 I'm reviewing here sits in the middle, between the 650 and the 300. You'll have worked out that those numbers stand for the light's lumen output.

The Lumina is a self-contained light; the battery is in the light unit, and recharges through a micro USB cable, which is included. It weighs 174 grams, including the bracket.

At £40 and with two AA batteries kicking out 200 lumens for 7 hours the Niterider Mako 200 front light looks like it should be a cracking little light. Sadly the truth is that it's crude and underwhelming.

What we have here is quite a chunky commuter light in sturdy black plastic. The whole front end unscrews, no bolts or screws required, to reveal the batteries. That's neat and very easy to use, even in the dark with gloves on.

Much to the relief of the macho types and, I suppose, goths Nite Rider's Lightning bug 3.0 also comes in black, as well as white, red, blue and green… and the pink version tested here. Indeed a black one has alternated between helmet peaks and the Univega's prodigious WTB drops for the past twelve months, rescuing us when more sophisticated see-by systems got the sulks.