Lights

http://content.competitivecyclist.com/images/items/1200/EXP/EXP0008/ONECOL.jpg

On what sort of roads? Open or a repeated circuit? How much ambient light?

I use and recommend Exposure lights but they might be a bit out of your price range unless you find a used one or make do with a smaller unit.

There are tonnes of options in the cheaper price brackets and other peeps on this thread probably have a better idea about them than me. I also sometimes use a Hope Vision 1 which is nice as it uses AA batteries, say if I'm not near a recharge source or if I don't want a massive front light like my Six Pack.

I just bought Lezyne Femto Duo, it uses those little flat batteries so you could easily carry a few. So far so good. Only produces a little light so no good as a major. Use Lezyne for my main front light too. Im a big fan.
Premature post. Sorry.

I heard something about you riding for a little while.

repeated circuit of 28km on tarmac in rural area with no ambient lightning except in the villages.
If I have to rise my budget to get something decent I might be ok with that.

Yeah, I use an Exposure Six Pack and/or Maxx-D for my 24hr races. TCR was dynamo lit with a Supernova and I take the smaller Hope Vision 1 as a backup or just when I don't reckon I'll need the bigger Exposure lights.

Lezyne 1500XXL might last long enough. Has a few different modes so you can have on a low mode when you just need to be visible and not to see by it.

The thing about repeat circuits is you learn where the potholes, hazards are so you can go fast without need so much light thrown down the road. So you can save money and buy a smaller light.

Their road-specific lights:
http://www.exposurelights.com/cycle-lights/front-lights/exposure-strada-800
http://www.exposurelights.com/cycle-lights/front-lights/exposure-strada-1200

Didn't mention that: I did that race before and used 3 different lights with around 300 claimed lumens after each other (an old Moon Meteor, and something from Knog and Lezyne). And yes one gets to know all the little surprises the roads have set up for you.
Last year I got into smaller groups over the night, which helped with the little light I got. This year I plan to stick to my pace more. So more lumen then last year is appreciated and less switching of lights, which only costs time.

Some data Lezyne provides about the light.
Blast (1000 Lumen): 2:10 h
Enduro (600 Lumen): 3:30 h
Economy (250 Lumen): 9:00 h

For my purpose it misses a mode in between Enduro and Economy. Also the beam"pattern" seems to send to much light into the air, which would be great for trails (as it is with so many powerful lights out there), but is lost light and energy out on tarmac roads.

The Exposure looks ideal, dream light, but expensive

@robman what event is it?

Also looking into lights and keep wondering if I should go for the spendy Exposure or some cheap aliex lights. Something like this with a couple beefy batteries should also work out, no? Any similar more tested options available?

Thing is, I want to mount the light under my Garmin in one of those gopro dual mounts on some tri bars. Battery packs can be stashed in handlebar bag/ under tri bars. A battery heavy torch would be too intrusive and dont think I have room left on bars anyway.

I got one of these a couple of weeks ago. It allows me to run my main front under the garmin mount and gives me back a lot more space.
http://www.profile-design.com/product/accessories/ucm-ucm-xl/

Smallish event in the north of Germany called 24h of Nortorf. Limitation to 200 participants and no teams allowed make it lovely.

In fairness, I have an exposure with a clamp like that, never had an issue, in maybe 25,000miles.

I've got the 1500XXL - Economy mode is surprisingly good - I commute in pitch black with it daily. Beam pattern is wide but decent, doesn't throw too much away. You're right that for racing you'd likely want something in the middle though.

Just a word about Exposure... my Diablo pinged off my bike today, and was prompted run over by the Discovery that was behind me. It pinged the light about 50m away into someone's drive.

Couple of scratches, works absolutely fine. Those things are made RIGHT

I'm pretty sure my joystick has been run over too, and has flown off the mount at speed on more than one occasion when I haven't put it on properly. It still worked afterwards.

Although my battery has failed now, I've been meaning to send it back for ages.

Any suggestions for a front light:

Preferably £50 or under
No separate battery pack
Rechargeable (preferably USB and no special cables)
Some kind of battery indicator
Decent mount with additional mounts not too pricey
Powerful enough to be used on unlit roads (this will only be occasionally)

Cheers

BBB Strike 300 or 500 ?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/lezyne-macro-drive-800xl-loaded-front-light/rp-prod152254?gs=1&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Chain%20Reaction-UK-PLA-PLA-All-MB-SE-Shopping%20QLB%20Manufacturer%20Mobile&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid%7CsjObqYlTP_dm%7Cpcrid%7C161810673982%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cprd%7C554625UK

Lezyne macro drive XL is pretty decent. I've got the 600.

I have the 450, battery life is reasonable only - would recommend something with more punch like the 600. It's O.K for being seen but can only just cut it on unlit roads.

Cheers, I did look at that but wasn't too keen on the mount. Rubber ones I've had in the past have been awkward to take on/off with full finger gloves, how do you and @hanford find the mount on this?