Good lights on a budget

[gratts]

Hi!
I've started thinking about lights for my bike..
I'll be cycling down an unlit lane for about 2 miles, probably in the dark on the way back from work, so might need something with a bit of punch.
Butttt, I'm a student, so haven't got loads to spend!
Is it possible to get anything decent, front & back lights, for between 20 to 30 squid?
Any particular features I should be looking for?
I've got some decent NiMH rechargeables that should last well..

Cheers

 

[andrew_s]

given your price range...

For a front light the best option is the 2xAA 3W Cree LED torch that Tesco are selling for £10 (you may have to check more than one Tesco to find one). You'll need a mount - best is to pay £7 for a twofish lockblock holder, but you can use a v.thick rubber band of the type sold in camping shops for holding tents down.

For a rear light I'd suggest the Smart 1/2 watt (£12)

 

[naffets]

hi, in last months cycling plus did a review of front lights the niterider ultrafazer 3.0 came out with glowing (scuse the pun) write up rrp around twenty pounds but at the mo chain reaction are doing frt and rear for £22 free p&p

 

[gratts]

Thanks both..
Unfortunately the only Tesco around here are little Tesco Expresses. Big sized ones are beyond walking or bus distance (no car).
That niterider looks like a possibility.
I also stumbled on the Blackburn 3.0 combo, at around £24 which seems to get decent reviews.
Anybody got either?

 

[e-rider]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Cateye_EL510_Power_Opticube_Front_Light/5360019368/

Half price front cateye light for £20 free postage if you select it.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Cateye_TL-LD260BS_Rear_Light/5300004482/

40% discount rear cateye light also with free P&P

£28 in total and big savings - also get cateye quality!

 

[e-rider]

my mistake, the front light has 56% off!

 

[gratts]

Interesting, nice find!
Anybody used any of the ones mentioned that can give some input?

 

[RedBike]

I'll be cycling down an unlit lane for about 2 miles, probably in the dark on the way back from work, so might need something with a bit of punch.

I'm afraid most budget light set LED lights haven't really got what I would call punch. It's possible to use them down unlit lanes but they're best suited to street lit areas.

IMO you need to be looking at a 10w halogen or a 3w LED for the front.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SMART-10W-HAL...=39:1|66:2|65:1|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

At the rear you should ideally you should be looking at 2 lights. If your rear light fails for whatever reason (low batteries?) or is obstructed from view then you probably wont get notice by drivers until it's too late. I know you're on a strict budget but getting hit by a car for the sake of £3 doesn't make a lot of sense to me.


I would go for the very best you can afford.
like the Smart 1/2w rear / Cateye LD1100 etc.
And a cheaper second light like this: (haven't actually tried this one).
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-LED-Bicycle...=39:1|66:2|65:1|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[e-rider]

I've used both of the cateye lights and they are fine in urban areas. The rear one lasted about 4 years before giving up but for £10 or less that's pretty good. The front is still going strong and is fairly bright. I usually use 2 front and 2 rear light plus reflective clothing - as you get older you worry about this stuff more, especially after hearing a few horror stories - it pays to be safe even if you look stupid - better than being dead or seriously injured. Get your money out for lights and save money elsewhere!

 

[Mr Celine]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Cateye_EL510_Power_Opticube_Front_Light/5360019368/

Half price front cateye light for £20 free postage if you select it.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Cateye_TL-LD260BS_Rear_Light/5300004482/

40% discount rear cateye light also with free P&P

£28 in total and big savings - also get cateye quality!

I had the rear light mentioned. Nice and bright for the money but otherwise garbage. There is a hole in the body where it clips to the mount, which as it's designed to be mounted on a seatpost gets sprayed with road crap if you cycle on a wet road, and the light slowly fills up with water, salt etc.

 

[Tharg2007]

i just oredered myself 2 x cree 200 lumen little flashlights with cr123 batteries and charger for a grand total of £40 inc postage from hong kong.
Next is two lockblocks to mount them.

 

[Soltydog]

I use these smarts for riding on dark unlit country lanes & they are far better than anything else i tried, see comments in the east yorkshire night ride thread Not sure how much they are new nowadays, but might be worth contacting Catrike UK (CC user) for a good price

 

[HLaB]

I'd second the smart 1/2 watt superflash for the rear. For the front I recently bought a BSpoke light it was fairly cheap £25 its a good strong magnified beam but with me for dark country lanes its always been backed up by my EL410 helmet light, I don't know how it'd be on it own.

 

[e-rider]

IMO ordering from the far east is a bad idea - it's hard enough getting shops in the UK to sort out problems but if your lights should develop a fault you'll probably have little chance of getting it fixed and return postage will not be cheap, and you'll never see them again. Again, IMO!

 

[Tharg2007]

IMO ordering from the far east is a bad idea - it's hard enough getting shops in the UK to sort out problems but if your lights should develop a fault you'll probably have little chance of getting it fixed and return postage will not be cheap, and you'll never see them again. Again, IMO!

yes, its a risk, thats why i ordered with that in mind and wont expect too much, I only spent what I could stand to loose. If it works out then thats great. I will report back here with my purchase and if i havent been ripped off i will post pics on quality etc