Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

forum
road.cc bike forum

light for safety

by chris_82
Mon, Nov 23, 2015 10:57
9

Hey guys,

I am a newbie. I purchased the bike just in summer. I have some bike accessories, but I think it is not enough.

Sometimes I have to come back after work, when it is dark. I am afraid to ride in the evening. I use the headlamp but it is for my safety. What can I use to be visible for others in the dark?

PS: I have not purchased any bike lights, so please advise something budget friendly. 

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

9 comments

Avatar
Daveyraveygravey | 9 years ago
0 likes

Don't rely on just one light at the front and one at the rear, even if you don't have all four on all the time, you never know when one will be out of charge or a bulb go kaput or a elastic retaining strap break, etc etc.  Some people find flashing lights hard to judge distance to, so I would always haveone  constant and one strobing front and rear light.  

Avatar
Simon E | 9 years ago
0 likes

A good set of lights will last years. I'd spend a bit more than £5, though perhaps the Aldi ones are better than most in that price range.

Front:  I'd aim for something like Cateye Volt 100 or Lezyne Hecto 300XL. Lezyne KTV Pro (review) looks effective and inexpensive while their Femto is handy as a backup blinkie but isn't bright enough as a main light to get you noticed in amongst traffic.

Rear: far better to get one good dazzler than even 2 or 3 faint pimples. Cateye TL-LD600 or LD610 is superb value, their Omni 5 or TL-LD150 do the job.

Fit some scotchlite spoke reflectors like these on ebay, at least 8 per wheel. They are far better than valve caps.

Avatar
brooksby | 9 years ago
0 likes

Seconded on the Cateye Volt 300.  I have that as a headlight (to see where I'm going, as I don't do too many long dark lanes), plus I have Lezyne Zecto drives flashing front and back, and a Cateye something or other (3 LEDs) on steady on the back of my rack.  Oh, and a supermarket special 3 LED on blink clipped onto my bag.

Avatar
Podc | 9 years ago
0 likes

For being seen, I don't think the Cateye 300 Volt can be beaten.

I had one of the massively bright front lights off ebay and had two incidents in one day when drivers didn't see me!

When driving I had noticed some cycle lights really catch the eye and these are ones that are always on but flash as well. I found out that the Cateye 300 Volt has this mode and purchased a couple - one for seeing (on bright mode) and one for being seen (on with flash mode).

 

For backlights, its worth having a couple - again one on flash and one on all the time. And having two, if one fails you are still lit.

Avatar
Cumisky | 9 years ago
0 likes

If you have an Aldi close by, check out if they have any lighting, usually they do.
At 4.99 for front and rear it won't break the bank, and both my local stores are currently discounting to 3.49
I buy two sets for each of my bikes, on the front I set one to strobe and the other to fixed headlight, at the rear, both strobe.
With this setup I am very visible from both ends, even on the dimmest of roads, and the front setup is bright enough to light the unlit sections of NR6 that go through woodland and country parks on the outskirts of Manchester.
I ride around 50km a day, usually pre dawn, and have been using them for weeks now without changing the cheap batteries that they come with, with no discernable dimming.
I also use them in all weathers.

People are often quick to diss cheap lighting, but I honestly can't fault the Aldi stuff.

Avatar
fenix | 9 years ago
0 likes

You're cycling at night with a headlamp but no bike lights ? How little do you value your life ?

As has been said - reflectives very cheap. You can even get black tape that looks well black in daylight but reflects white under headlights.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-Scotchlite-580-Reflective-Tape-Full-Colour-...

Make sure thats on your pedals or cranks or both - reflectives down at that level and moving scream out bike. 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-Bike-Bicycle-Car-Wheel-Tyre-Tire-Valve-Cap...

Go on the tyre valves for visibility from the side.

 

On the rear - I'd go for two of these.  I'd never feel safe with just one light. What if the batteries fail or it breaks -  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smart-Lunar-R1-1-Watt-3-Led-Bicycle-Bike-Rear-...

 

As has been said - these cree lamps get good reviews :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Geniue-SolarStorm-2x-CREE-U2-LED-Mountain-Bike...

 

 

 

Avatar
chris_82 replied to fenix | 9 years ago
0 likes

fenix wrote:

You're cycling at night with a headlamp but no bike lights ? How little do you value your life ?

 

Apart from the headlamp I use the rear red light from this set. https://www.mrosupply.com/lighting/emergency-lighting/flashlights/175032.... My brother gave me it. 

I will definitely buy additional bike light and tire valve caps. 

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
1 like

Don't scrimp on quality, poor lights could cost you dearly, not just in your pocket!

Lots of reflective material on legs and torso. Bright yellow clothing for dull days

Avatar
J886atv | 9 years ago
0 likes

Budget always an issue but I use one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5000Lm-XM-L-2x-CREE-LED-Bicycle-bike-Light-Fla...

Comes with a separate battery pack (which I mount underneath the handlebar stem) - lasts about 3 hours (on one of the lower settings - 2 hours on higher).  If you are looking at saving weight, then not for you - but for the budget - perfectly useable and gives a good enough light that I use on backroads

Latest Comments