Front Light for Really Dark Nights _ Any Recommendations??

So, just to tidy up by
So, just to tidy up by publishing the results of the enquiries I made concerning bicycle lights earlier:

The Cateye distributor in the UK (Zyro Ltd) responded acknowledging my query on the 18th Nov. promising a reply within 48Hr’s. They have not replied.

Lezyne acknowledged my query on the 16th Nov. and told me that, “your inquiry is very important to us” and that they will respond within 2-3 days. They have not replied.

Chain Reaction cycles replied on the 17th Nov. They informed me that my question has been approved and is very important to them. They asked me to resubmit my question on the 20th Nov as it did not meet their posting guidelines. I did not resubmit it.

I asked Halfords the same question about type approval of these lights,. The email was not returned as undelivered but I have had no response at all from them.

Wiggle replied to my question on 18th Nov. They say: “Unfortunately the manufacturer does not provide this information currently.”

To be fair Wiggle do also publish alongside their presentation of the light a brief overview of the law concerning them and give a link (as I did above) to; http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations

I think when one considers how powerful some of the lights now supplied for bicycles are and points such as the one Neil753 makes here;
http://road.cc/content/news/100827-more-hgv-safety-features-possible-rush-hour-ban-some-lorries-london-after#comment-217240 .
it is very important, both for our image as cyclists and for safety to make sure we do use lights with proper beam patterns.

I would contend that it is about time the shambolic UK laws concerning them is tidied up.

Hi Mostyn, you might like to
Hi Mostyn, you might like to read this web page: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/verlichting/index_en.html with reviews of lights and dynamos.

One battery light he reviews is the Philips Saferide 80. It seems German and Dutch lights are regulated to not blind oncoming traffic which is not the case in UK. I’m considering a Philips for that reason. A downside is that it doesn’t seem to have flashing mode.

http://eurolightcycling.com/p
http://eurolightcycling.com/products.aspx?id=1#

And there we are. £13 to be legal for front and rear (ditch those SPD’s people).

So your Magicshine 5000 lumen can then be your additional light.

bendertherobot wrote:They

bendertherobot wrote:

They don’t need to. It’s up to the owner to deal with it, not the manufacturer. They claim no compliance. Their brochure (I can speak for Lezyne) tells the owner to check their relevant laws.

Precisely so, bendertherobot, I’am sure you are correct.
This is usually (in my experience) a good indication that the products do not meet the minimal standards required to meet the laws within which the user is required to comply.

After all if the lights did meet the minimal low standard that the law required then, would you not think that they would be the first to take advantage of this fact in their advertising; surely?

Rather in the same fashion that helmet manufacturers market their goods as ” safety equipment for cyclists” when in actual fact they have not the slightest shred of evidence;
a) that cyclists suffer more head injuries than “normal” people engaged in other usual activities and,
b) that their helmets supply any effective prevention to head injuries in normal situations that cyclists suffer head injuries.

When in FACT the founding precept that their is any “unusual” danger is false and in FACT the entire industry is based upon this false precept.

Thus in a similar fashion founding an entire industry based on myth and paranoia, whilst absolving themselves of responsibility.

BTW, I have just had acknowledgment from both Lezyne and Cateye, that I have made an enquiry. I now await their considered response.
I have not yet had a response from the three cycle parts suppliers that I contacted.

That is quite so
That is quite so bendertherobot. However these lights do not comply to a BS standard either (as far as I can see). As you say you may have other lights in addition to BS and also to EU. BUT you must have at least one of either.

I have just contacted both Lezyne and Cateye directly informing them of my posts here and inviting them to expand or contradict me.

We shall see as we shall see….

I must add that I have not picked them out in particular, it is just that both are specifically mentioned in this thread.

It’s very noble of course.
It’s very noble of course. But the manner of your posting will likely make them laugh more than front up.

You also seem to ignore that a BS standard light is required to comply. Having an illegal Lezyne cycling light in addition is not illegal.

I must admitt that I’am
I must admitt that I’am making this post largely as an update to my “settings” which will now notify me of more posts on this subject.

I challenge LEZYNE and CATEYE to make comments or contradict me:

I say,” it is false to claim your lights are fit for road legal use in the UK (except as additional lights)”.

Quote:Where’s the list for

Where’s the list for those that are?

Unfortunately bendertherobot as far as I’am aware there does not seem to be such a list. It seems that it is up to you (the user) to find out i.e. as per UK law; you can do whatever the hell you like – so long as it does not break the law.
If you google either, “Gilespargiter” or “Giles Pargiter” you will see that I have made more detailed posts about the shambolic cycle lighting position in the UK on other forums.