Front Lights to 'see' with

[rusky]

How about one of these http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15691

Battery life is less than great but the batteries are cheap!

Stupidly bright!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Funny that... I've been using two Cateye EL530s to cycle the unlit rural lanes of Norfolk with no problem for a couple of years. Even one on its own is fine for an unlit country lane in my experience.

If I was buying lights now and had the money, I'd be buying some AyUps.

But seriously, whilst there are brighter lights out there, if you can't see where you're going with EL530s, you need to get your eyesight checked. Or eat a lot more carrots...

+1 to that. Mrs A and I use them all the time on the unlit Lincolnshire lanes with no problem. They also saw us cycling around the Isle of Man last year.

 

[lazyfatgit]

Has anyone tried the underwater torch from Lidl? 4 LED, 6W, they're quoting 20hrs from 4xAA? Waterproof to 30M.

 

[Tynan]

is 6W bright?

 

[lazyfatgit]

Well, the tescow one is 3W afaik. My Lumotec is 6W i think and puts out 16/17Lux which is great to be seen by, and lights up signage well, but not enough to be going along full pelt with.

 

[fossyant]

+1 to that. Mrs A and I use them all the time on the unlit Lincolnshire lanes with no problem. They also saw us cycling around the Isle of Man last year.

But the EL530's are very expensive for the output - got two 510's and yes they are bright, but shove the 510/530 against a descent light (e.g. a Hope), that's just £20 more, is made of metal........no comparison. I like cateye lights, but they are so far behind in technology....and flimsy in comparison to other lights.

 

[HJ]

Or you could always try making your own, as 02GF74 (of this forum) did...

 

[marinyork]

But the EL530's are very expensive for the output - got two 510's and yes they are bright, but shove the 510/530 against a descent light (e.g. a Hope), that's just £20 more, is made of metal........no comparison. I like cateye lights, but they are so far behind in technology....and flimsy in comparison to other lights.

510&530 < EL-600& 610 <<< Hope Vision 1.

 

[TheDoctor]

Has anyone tried the underwater torch from Lidl? 4 LED, 6W, they're quoting 20hrs from 4xAA? Waterproof to 30M.

It's not been quite that rainy where I live...

Seriously, though, something doesn't add up there. 4 batteries gives you 6V. Running 6W from 6V means you're pulling an amp from the batteries, and an AA won't supply 1A for 20 hours.

 

[Tony B]

Just bought one of these , review to come.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12325

 

[rusky]

Just bought one of these , review to come.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12325

Has it arrived yet??

 

[Tony B]

Has it arrived yet??[/quote

Just ordered today, it normally takes 2 weeks to come from DX

 

[Origamist]

Thank you

The cycloblock by TwoFish is sturdier and better suited for heavier/wider torches than the lockblock.

 

[Rezillo]

I started some nighting riding in country lanes in Suffolk last winter with a 530 but found on my first few trips that I couldn't see potholes in time going at any speed. A pair of Tesco 3w torches transformed the ride.

I then got one of the Dealextreme all singing all dancing ones which lit up the road like a motorbike headlight BUT a word of caution - the beams are are not designed for road use and even with the torch pointing well down, I found myself being flashed by drivers.

When I checked by propping the bike up in the lane by my house and walking down the road to look back at the light, it was obvious the top side of the beam (which was not visible on the road) was dazzling unless the torch was pointed so far down as to be no better than the 530.

I ended up making a small angled shield to go across the top of the lens cover, which improved things no end.

John

 

[John the Monkey]

.... a word of caution - the beams are are not designed for road use and even with the torch pointing well down, I found myself being flashed by drivers.

That seems to be a problem with high power bike lights in general (imo) - they seem to be designed for lighting up trails etc (where you need the flood to see branches &c around you as well as the road).

For me, that's what makes lights like the B&M Ixon so appealing - their reflectors are shaped to throw light in a pattern more suited to road riding.