Lights

Added LUMENS ratings to the powerful front lights section.

It will be getting dark early soon......so better to be prepared.

Just added the stupendously priced 750 Lumens torch, available from Tesco.
Sold out at the moment, but worth a look if back in stock.

750 Lumens for only £70.00; almost unbelievable.

Active LED 750 Lumens (X-Glow Cree 750) £70.00 [750 LUMENS]
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.208-0131.aspx

One for Max, he was asking about these, my new line of lighting.

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/15971/Skully-Front-LED-Safety-Light.html?referrer=newsletter

so what are the best lights to get from deal extreme? under bike lights there are just a few models but there are a zillion torches listed.

i can't decide between something with 230-400 lumens which effectively replaces my cateye doubleshot (battery only lasts 40 mins now) or my hope twin led mkI (both batteries and the charger borked) or a couple of the slimline torches that are cheap but 2 of them flashing will be a nice driver blinder.

anyone purchased anything from them recently?

Seriously impressed by reeen's BLT Fantom mounting post. Have wanted a rear light mounted this way for a while. But surely the rivet nut would have to come through the top of the seat, meaning you'd have to take off the 'upholstery', so to speak?

Are there any decent rear lights that mount to the seat without mods (not that I'm adverse to modding, it just means having to buy tools I may not already have)?

Vision 1 owners you may not know about Scott's Vision 1 mod - using an exposure bracket to mount the light under the bars in a much more permanent way than the original hope bracket but with very quick mount/release:

a few of you who went on Oliver's triple crown ride to Brighton asked about this, it's well worth buying the exposure bracket.

Just added the stupendously priced 750 Lumens torch, available from Tesco.
Sold out at the moment, but worth a look if back in stock.

750 Lumens for only £70.00; almost unbelievable.

Active LED 750 Lumens (X-Glow Cree 750) £70.00 [750 LUMENS]
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.208-0131.aspx

And........Tesco have pulled the adverts for both torches I listed....only ONE day after I listed them. Coincidence?
Seems like they must have had quite a few enquiries, and therefore pulled the adverts, because they don't have any more stock.

I'll hunt down similar torches.

That xgow looks good, but those cr123A batteries aren't cheap.

Anyone tried/seen the Luu efforts? 900 lumens seems pretty epic.

getting ready for the looonnnnggggg daaarrrrrrkkkkk nights ahead and have found this on ebay......looks really good but am I going to blind any poor unfortunate coming towards me??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-CREE-XR-E-Q5-LED-CYCLE-BIKE-LIGHT-TORCH-STROBE-/320571391482?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights

Does anyone have one of these?

looks good but yo would have to be careful not to dazzle oncoming drivers / riders. An over kill for London I think.

good point, anyone have this?

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/LICRNRX30/crops-nrx30-3w-led-headlight

Thanks andy

In London, you just need to be seen by other, there's plenty of light on the street to able to see ahead with the exception of streets with broken streetlight.

but try not to go for those tiny knog frog light, they may appear fine but almost useless to be seen by other, I was surprised at how invisible the missus is with one after she cycle 15 metres away from me.

Multi_grooves and I both had pretty nasty accidents with unseen potholes, here in London. I ended up in hospital with stitches to the top of my head. Sometimes even here in London, the street lights don't illuminate the road sufficiently to pick out these things. My accident was practically outside of Harrods, a very well lit main road, and I could still have benefitted from a powerful, slightly downward pointing light. But I suppose, at lower speeds, London lighting is quite good (as said above).

Also, ever since New Kent Road was resurfaced, its pretty good to cycle on, even when its 6am on a dark morning. It used to be a real horror story though.

Ive got a magicshine that I got for 75quid. Great light

Like this one.. the highest setting is overkill in London but you get 3 settings and a disco strobe

@bigfink: i own one of these, though the ebay offer is not the best you can get as it comes in 7 pounds heavy. the light is awesome and i would recommend it. well build and for longer runtimes, one can dim it down a notch.

@ed: it is not just to be seen, it is to see all the shitholes (i don't only mean the street condition). with this light, or the likes, one would be seen in fron of a car from oncoming traffic and the strobe mode really makes folks aware of your presents. everything less bright ... "sorry mate, didn't see you!"

and I could still have benefitted from a powerful, slightly downward pointing light. But I suppose, at lower speeds, London lighting is quite good (as said above).

You just need your light to set a lots lower than just pointing downward says on the fork.

this way it create a lots of shadows on the road, even show shadow that's of no threat to you, but still safer than sorry.

this method is very popular for randonnees who have to cycle in poor road condition with their touring bike;

Of course you don't really need to set it too low in London's famous London, but low enough to make shadows out of potholes and crack.

reeen, it's no secret that you'll be harder to spots at night time, just set your light in flash mode to warn people and ride accordingly.

so has it been worked out if the CREE's are road legal, I might buy one.

I don't think legality will be an issue.

Thanks reen I think that I'll find it cheaper and give it a go, I go from Ealing to Deptford 5/6 days a week some nights leaving Deptford at 21:00 as anyone that does that route knows there are a lot of pot holes!

Flashing lights aren't legal anyways and I'm not aware of any wattage limit, I'm sure plod will let me know soon enough.........

I also asked the seller on ebay :- this is her response-

Hi,
That is a question my colleagues have asked me after driving past when I've been cycling!
To be honest, I don't know.
The important thing to me is that I know that cars will see me approaching and reduce the amount of near misses that I have. I use the strobe function on a dull day and believe me the cars never pull out of a junction due to not seeing me coming! You will also find that approaching cars will slow down or even stop as they don't know what is coming down the road in front of them. BE SAFE, BE SEEN.
Kind regards,

So make of it what you will!?

In practicality, a bright flashing light on a bike is easier noticed by oncoming cars, from further away...as the changes in brightness is what catches the attention first.

As for legality; most lights will fit the criteria.

Front Lamp [C.T.C.]
One is required, showing a white light, positioned centrally or offside, up to 1500mm from the ground, aligned towards and visible from the front. If capable of emitting a steady light it must be marked as conforming to BS6102/3 or an equivalent EC standard. If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit *at least 4 candela*.

I stand corrected!

I think that the cree just about covers it then.....

flashing light is still fine, it's those law that the police doesn't feel the need to enforce, much like requiring reflector on bicycle.