Lights

coof, thats way expensive. And the front light is not of a very durable quality. I've owned that same front light before, and wanted to give it away in the end. The 3 watt front light deal that I mentioned previously, is better, and much brighter, and much cheaper. Same retailer. Check post at the top of the page.

Got paranoid about the return of winter commuting hours and pimped my helmet with dx bits:

Nite Ize Bicycle RideLit 2-Mode Red LED Safety Light
SAiK SA-8 Cree Q4-WC 3-Mode 180-Lumen LED Flashlight
Universal Nylon Mount for Flashlights and Lasers

Flashlight is a bit brighter than the Cateye EL-530 on the handlebars (fresh eneloops in both). No rattling or cut outs and it doesn't get overly warm. It is fairly heavy but manageable. The red rear is just a diffused flasher.

I've since moved the front light further toward the rear for balance and aim. Even then it's usually highlighting a spot about 6ft ahead of my front wheel.

it's a poor man's joystick :/

^ I trust this is your secondary light set up?

Primary is an EL-530 on the bars and a Mars 3.0 on my backpack.

what are the opinions on this
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=13953&f_FullProductVersion=1&f_SupersetQRY=C417&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c012372c012369

^thanks t-4003

I saw the set and was tempted but I wasn't convinced by the mount and also the lack of side flare. I want to be able to transfer the front light quickly and easily between bikes. Might opt for led torch and mount as shown previously in the thread. (and get multiple mounts for quick transfer between bikes).

Check out moon gem 3.0. For city use, the best. No mount either. Rubber strap a la knog, but without the shit quality of knog.

was thinking of getting the cheap CREE ebay light (here)

anybody have further thoughts on it's durabilty? and how fast it eats batteries?

i've read lots of good first impressions, but nothing after that..

Mine is still going, must be nearly a year old now. They're a bit hit and miss regarding quality; if you're lucky enough to get a decent one it should last.

I recharge around every 3 hours (on full beam). You'd get a bit longer with better batteries.

i am rolling with the cree as a front and rsp astrum as a rear. the rear light that comes with the cree is ok but not the best. issue is that the cree is only visible from straight on - any suggestions for a secondary front ?

If I had drops I'd definitely get a pair of these:

http://www.thebikelightshop.co.uk/Ventura-LED-Handlebar-Rear-Lights.aspx

There is an ad in the CTC mag which gives a 10% discount on all stuff on the Bikelightshop.co.uk site - you just have to put in CTC2011 - I just bought some!

To anyone that made mention of lights being too blinding to motorists, and to other cyclists and road users, all I can say is, that you really needed to have cycled on the OKR this morning at 7am. The fog was the thickest I have ever traversed through. Visibility in some places of only 50 metres in the worst areas heading towards Deptford. I am so glad that I put my lights on with the fresh batteries in them. Blind someone? I was just fucking lucky I was visible!

My 275 watt lumens light goes on the front right now, to join the other two lights on my handlebar. Thats 3 lights on the front and 2 on the rear. That fog was plain scary.

SAiK SA-8 Cree Q4-WC 3-Mode 180-Lumen LED Flashlight

That listing says it takes 3x AAA, 2x CR321As or 1x 18650...

I have some 18650s here :-)

I'm using the AAA adapter with eneloops

Just started using my £7 delivered eBay lights. 270 lumens, comes with a rear to :). Mounted the front stealth style under the bars it looks pretty good and works perfectly, big winter gloves can still change the modes and turn them on and off easily.

Perfectly good enough for road riding IMO :D, I might get a bigger one for night mtb rides and me and a mate were on about doing some road riding in the pitch black of night, doubt I'd need more light for the road but..................

To anyone that made mention of lights being too blinding to motorists, and to other cyclists and road users, all I can say is, that you really needed to have cycled on the OKR this morning at 7am. The fog was the thickest I have ever traversed through. Visibility in some places of only 50 metres in the worst areas heading towards Deptford. I am so glad that I put my lights on with the fresh batteries in them. Blind someone? I was just fucking lucky I was visible!

My 275 watt light goes on the front right now, to join the other two lights on my handlebar. Thats 3 lights on the front and 2 on the rear. That fog was plain scary.

In fog you need it, no question, but I think the main problem is the people going around with very bright lights on epileptic mode, which is just plain annoying/ distracting. Flashing is good, but not with anything to strong. Also, in clear conditions I'd be inclined to incline my front light downwards if I had something more than 2-300 lumens.

You're light must be very bright with 275 watts :)

Ooops. That should have read LUMENS. I shall correct it.

Also, I agree with you, and I don't actually even consider using my 275 lumens light unless fog is present, or snow flurries, or very heavy rain (combined with dark clouds above).

This flickr photo (not mine) gives exactly the conditions I witnessed, and it was taken within the last 24hrs.

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Spotted in Uxbridge

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Check out moon gem 3.0. For city use, the best. No mount either. Rubber strap a la knog, but without the shit quality of knog.

Got a Moon Gem 2.0 yesterday, and for £13 light years better than Knog Frogs as a blinky

Whoever is using Knog lights in this morning's London fog, I'm hoping that you rethink your lighting strategy.

I'm actually surprised that they've not been removed from sale. There are a few people running them round my way and frankly a decent reflector would be of more use.

I was coming out of my driveway, and a guy cycled past me with one of these between his fingers, as his sole front light.

There doesnt really seem to be an inforced light law up here.

I nearly got taken out by a bus last night. I was pretty pissed off at the time. But when I got home I realised the off-road stretch had disabled my rear light. Like an idiot I only had one fitted at the time. I've ordered the Magicshine rear, and will be mounting a couple of my Sigma Cubes to the legs of my rear rack. I hope to work out a way of securely mounting the magicshine to the back of the rack.

So, I need a new rear light. Well I still have another one but I got bored to change the fixing straps everytime I choose to ride the other bike :)

Whatyaguys think about this?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=74760
Blackburn Flea Rear light USB

Any experience?

Also,

There was a super offer that I recommended on here recently, and many forumengers have bought it. It might suit you also, and the bonus is that because its a 2 light combo, you get a spare rear light. This can prove very handy. Only £12.95 too, so it doesn't break the bank.

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/rsp-r...t-id61900.html

3 watt front light and 1/2 watt rear light.

So what's worth 1/2 watt for a rear light? I wouldnt mind get a more powerful front light at the same time at that price. But my main priority is still the rear light

Any experience or recommendations ? I'm cycling usually around London, and maybe the darker that I experience riding is going through Hyde Park. So no 'big deal'...

Any experience or recommendations ?

Fleas are good, cheaper at
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/16037/Blackburn-Flea-2-0-4-LED-Rear-Bike-Light-USB.html
if you need anything else to make your order up to £20 to get the free postage.

Looking at them side by side, I'd say the Flea is a bit brighter than the RSP/Smart from jejames* but there's not much in it. The Flea mount is very basic, and might not stay in the right place in the pitch axis. I mount mine at the bottom of the seat post so the light rests on the seatpost clamp to stop it from tipping downwards. On the other hand, some people have raised questions about the sealing of the RSP/Smart lights

*Also available on its own for £9.50
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/7155/Smart-1-2-Watt-LED-Rear-Bike-Light.html

For Flea money, you could have a Mars 4, which is powerful enough to do home LASIK
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/10899/Blackburn-Mars-4-0-Rear-Bike-Light.html

I've been using a rear flea (usually clipped to my jacket as a secondary light) since last christmas and I'm happy with it.
The usb charging means that it is sealed up and less likely to let water in, my mars 4 leaked at the seal and ruined the contacts.
Mars 4 was great for visibility but keep the receipt, I think they have a warranty (which I didn't keep).

I'm considering one of these http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LISMRTR2/smart_lunar_r2_rear_light to go with the flea.