Lights

I don't get it with expensive rear lights - there's no justification for it. You get summat with a bunch of bright LEDs and huge battery life off ebay/Deal Extreme for bugger all, and if anything doesn't look totally waterproof, a bit of 0.001p tape sorts it out.

come and ride with me here on the kent borderline. you'll think different, im almost certain.

though the dinotte is a tad overpriced in my opinion, is it not?

The Dinotte should be expensive. Its like the sunshine coming out of your arse. Well, a sunset then, happy?

come and ride with me here on the kent borderline. you'll think different, im almost certain.

though the dinotte is a tad overpriced in my opinion, is it not?

It's totally dark where I live, but I gave up with paying silly money for rear lights years ago - it's just not necessary. Look here. I have one of these on the back currently, at it's brighter than both of the pricey Cat eyes I have (the long think 5 led ones I got from a bargain bucket). It cost £2.50 or so. Worked perfectly for 2 winters so far in all weathers.

1 Attachment

^well, all good then. i paid a bit more that 3 quid, but would stay clear of a 100+dollar light for now.

@ga2g: i thought the sun is free. silly me.

i liked the look of balki's mars but when it comes to brightness, i never saw one single light beat the BLT Fantom X9 yet.

I tried to buy the BLT Fantom but they were all out of stock at the time and I was desperate. I reckon its great value and bright as hell, but the mounting options are too limited.

sadly yes, that's why i look forward to check out the exposure one. its a tiny tad more pricey but i bet the build quality is way better. the clamp seems to be what the BLT needs to be alright, too.

Blackburn Mars Voyagers are aces - Bright as fook, great attachment system to the bike ,surweet

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55549

^with the lenses sticking out like that, are they quite visible from the side? Or is it just because they're buttons?

^ Much nicer design than the last models too. Tasty.

Yes. DiNottes are spenny as fuck and not strictly necessary in London's famous London, but nice for peace of mind when it's misty or the rain is hammering down like a motherbitch.

Good find BDW. I'll be adding that to the list tonight. Its impressive looking.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/blackburn-blackburn-mars-click-rear-light-prod23430/

1 Attachment

Getting on alright with Cateye Loops alright over here. They don't radiate the most amount of light but they're a nice quick fix and if you're tubings thin enough they fit around your headset / seat tube. The fronts are no good for lighting up in front of you though. Remains to be seen how waterproof they are.

Blackburn Mars: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Blackburn_Mars_30_LED_Safety_Rear_Light/5360020250/

Small, bright, "Knighrider" scan mode, flexible mounting, cheap.

Beware it's rubber seal is not the greatest and will/could degrade after a years useage- depending on how kind you are.
The Cherry Bomb is to my mind brighter- cant speak for it's duarability...yet.

That's a BRIGHT REAR light
ftfy

Can confrim that they held up pretty well last winter, going to see how it flare again this winter.

It got a pretty good weather sealant due to it's simple construction which sold it for me (as well as the brightness).

Please please tell me this bike specific thingy shoots stuff?!
(beyond lumens)

unfortunatley not, festus.
i don't really understand the need for a swivel light holder on a bike

Looks like it locks in two positions 90deg to each other. In much the same way your stem is 90deg to your bars. ;)

scrap that, it turns all the way around like police light.

...want.

Blackburn Mars Voyagers are aces - Bright as fook, great attachment system to the bike ,surweet

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55549

Aha! exactly what ive been looking for! Nice one Waynos Maximus!

EDIT: I just managed to get Chainreaction to price match here as well if anyone is ordering

http://shop.2wheelsonly.co.uk/blackburn-mars--voyager-lightset-click-front--rear-combo-set-720-p.asp

Cheer MrL, am ordering now. Nice!

… but for blinky light city riding, where the beam pattern is not so important as blink frequency and brightness, i love those cheapo alloy torches like the just sold UltratFire WF-5028 or my favourite the UltraFire U4-MCU with a CREE Q5 led at around 15 to 20quid.

I quite like CREE torches too, but please tell me you don't use the strobe mode as a blinking front light in town (or anywhere).

It's a fucking attack/disorientation device. Only any good if you want oncoming vehicles to freak the spazz out and probably lose control and crash headlong into your face.

^with the lenses sticking out like that, are they quite visible from the side? Or is it just because they're buttons?

what is cool is you switch it on by pressing the lens in, so all the switching is at the back, internally and there's no button to let water creep in, absolutley fine in last nights downpour

My personal feeling with rear lights is quantity not quality. But then I dont commute on a ultra clean looking fixer in the winter. I have panniers, MTB mudguards, saddle bag etc. etc. to obstruct the lights from different angles.

I've ordered these for around town since I broke my Dinotte (it still works but is a bit flakey) and got tired of charging batteries on bigger light setups.

1 x Cateye HL-EL135 LED Black Front Light Black
1 x Cateye TL-LD610 LED Rear Light Black

Review pending..