Cateye Bike lights?

[nigelb]

Hi

I'm a novice, commuting ~7 miles each way to work, and need some lights that work.

I've spotted http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Cateye_EL530_And_LD1100_Light_Set/5360025771/ which is a Cateye EL530 and LD1100 light set.

From a fellow cycler here, I gather the front light is certainly very effective, at £46 it sounds affordable, anyone have any thoughts/other suggestions?

For reference, my commute is ~50% on mixed cycle/pedestrian paths, the rest on roads, both lit and unlit, so I need to be seen, and I need to see potholes and debris even when a car is coming towards me.

Nige

 

[Cking]

I do about five miles on a similar route mix. I use a 1500 cateye and I swear by it. BUT read this

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=24943

It works alright for me on my cycle home at 01:00hrs after a late shift and at £30ish it works perfectly for a cheapskate like me!!!

Rgds Cking

 

[marinyork]

The 1100 is a very good rear light, although I'm coming round to the opinion it's overpriced. The 530 is a good front light, however relative to the torches and rechargeable systems knocking around comes out very feeble in comparison. Relative to complete budget ones, yeah it's great. It depends how much you're willing to spend really.

 

[BentMikey]

Personally I'd get a Fenix L2D or a Tesco AA 3 W torch instead of the Cateye EL530 if it's for unlit roads. There will be no comparison with brightness.

 

[LondonCommuter]

I only commute on lit roads (as you'd expect for a Londoner!) and I think the lights you're looking at (which I've got) are fine. However, I don't (with background from street lighting) notice much light on the road from the front light so I doubt it would be adequate for unlit roads/paths. I rely on it to be seen not to see. And having had a car pull out on me catastrophically just before xmas I've now reinforced the front light with a bright flasing one too.

 

[marooncat]

I got the EL530 at the start of the winter and while the light it puts out is great I found the "beamwidth" to narrow for the unlight parts of my route. I upgraded to the EL610 which I find is much better for lighting the track (as well as being re-chargeable so I can charge it up at work rather than spending heaps on batteries )

 

[historyman]

In 2004 I bought a £10 set, in 2005 a £20 set, in 2007 a £30 set (a Cateye EL320 And LD600 Light Set, which I found reduced from £40)... Now I'm eyeing up a £60 set. I looked at the EL530 but various experienced members of this site gave less than favourable verdicts. I may go for EL600 or 610, combined with a Smart 1/2 Watt rear light.
NB Nearly all my night riding is in urban, mostly well-lit areas.

 

[HJ]

If you are willing to stretch the budget a wee bit I would say that the Cateye EL600 Single Shot or the NiteRider MiNewt Mini USB would be a good choice, at the end of the day the brighter the light the better.

 

[nigelb]

Thanks for the feedback and ideas, I'll get a Tesco 3W AA torch, strap it on the handlebars and see how I get on :-)

Concensus seems to be the rear light is good?
Maybe get one of those as well, anything to help reduce the chances of me being rear-ended!

Nige

 

[Will1985]

Definitely get the Cateye TL-LD1100 rear - very bright and gets lots of comments to that effect.

 

[elvisparsley]

I'd agree- my old EL530 was great for its time (about 1956) but is hideously overpriced nowadays for what it does. I have a budget own-brand LED from Edinburgh Cycles that is a great commuter light for under £20. At the other end of the scale, for £20 more than the EL530 you can get a Cateye Single Shot Plus as mentioned above, or a NiteRider MiNewt, for real seeing power, albit with shorter run time.
There are a few decent pieces of kit here http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/commuter-lights-show-down-18560

 

[marinyork]

The single shot is very poor and overpriced. The battery needs charging up all the blinking time.

 

[Will1985]

Search around on here and BR for reports of the Singleshot bracket breaking. It seems to be the only model which does it. Rears are still good and reliable.

 

[marinyork]

The singleshot uses that H34 that people grumble about in general?

 

[Will1985]

It isn't so much the bracket that is the problem in this case, but the mouding of the mount on the light. Part of it is prone to snapping off which lets the light fall to the ground.

See this thread.