lighting combination and make recommendations

[jnb]

Another ignorant question ...

What's a good recommended combination of lights and any particular recommended makes / models of lights that I might put on my cycle?

Most of my riding will be on road, but on unlit country lanes, so I want to see as well as be seen. My instinct would be to put two sets on (redundancy and one can flash while the other's static or does the fixed light make the flash unnecessary) but is it better to spend more on a single better light system.

Any suggestions?

 

[Mad at urage]

Flash attracts attention, fixed is easier to identify as to 'where' it is. Flash stands out from any background red lights (cars in the distance for example) and says "bicycle here", fixed locates the precise here. Fixed will exhaust batteries quicker, and if it goes out you will still have the flashing one there (you are not looking at your rear lights and may not notice the fixed light has failed). You then have the option of switching from flashing to fixed (and still having a fixed and a flashing if, like me you ride normally with two flashing and one fixed).

 

[rb58]

Another ignorant question ...

What's a good recommended combination of lights and any particular recommended makes / models of lights that I might put on my cycle?

Any suggestions?

Depends on your budget. I use the Exposure Joystick on the front and Exposure Flare on the rear. And have been very pleased. Many on this forum use the Hope 1 which comes at a really good price.

 

[Zoiders]

The Exposure and Hope range are good lights but it really is jumping in at the deep end budget wise, the Joystick is also pretty much the worlds most over priced AA torch.

Fenix torches make good lights for seeing with on unlit lanes or also look at the Magicshine or P7 light from Deal Extreme on the tinternet.

Rear lights there is so much choice, but Smart offer some of the best bang for buck, just remeMber that you want to run at least two on the rear and possibly carry a spare as well, you can back that up with umpteen amounts of cheap red blinkies from various places, wilkinsons do a good front and rear set for about £15 which is fine for lit areas.

Also - get a head torch, a bog standard petzl or an Alpkit Gamma, which ever is cheaper, you would not belive how much of a diffrence to your visibility above car bonnet level a good head torch makes and how usefull they are on and off road at night.

 

[cyberknight]

I ride on unlit country lanes with fast moving vehicles and i currently have this set up..


On the front i run..
This as the light for the unlit sections.
My link

This as a back up/ light for normal roads, i run it on flash .

My link

On the back i run one of these on the rack(or seat post)

My link

With one of these on each pannier

My link

I cannot remember the last time i had a close overtake in the dark.

 

[jnb]

Ta for the suggestions. Based on that and what the shop had in store I now have these ...

http://www.discoverc...-light-set.html

Didn't get them from there as I was expecting to need them real soon and I didn't see that price until after I'd bought them but I did get the guy to chuck in a free innner tube (just as well as I found that I've had a slow puncture since I got my new bike).

Lights have improved a bit since I last looked at them Last time I used a bike the lights were more like a tallow candle in a box, you could dazzle drivers with these things! ... and the guy in the shop said he did have some brighter ones (but I balked at spending £60 for a single light)

 

[BSRU]

(but I balked at spending £60 for a single light)

Lucky you did not investigate buying a Dinotte, you would have fainted at the prices, then add in the VAT charge and Royal Mails rip off handling fee..

 

[jnb]

Lucky you did not investigate buying a Dinotte, you would have fainted at the prices, then add in the VAT charge and Royal Mails rip off handling fee..

in fact I'd even go so far as to say Some of those are near twice what I paid for the bike!

 

[upsidedown]

Ay-up on the front with Knog frog backup. Flare on the back with Smart 1/2 watt as backup.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Just put a linky in the bargains section for some good lights. Unless your spending a chunk of money you'll always be buying lights to be seen rather than to see. For a tenner though you can get a good set here.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/c/q/bike-lights/led-bike-lights

 

[cyberknight]

(but I balked at spending £60 for a single light)

Lights can be expensive but to get a decent amount of light for unlit roads you really need to look into a certain amount of investment , i have built my lights up over a few years and i tried all sorts of "cheap " combination's and found them wanting for my route ...
Imagine this during the winter when its picth black..

My link


I hope your lights give the light you need for your route, as others have said you can spend hundreds on bike lights, the ones i have are definitely in the budget section but offer plenty of bang for your buck.
This is a picture of another users Magicshine light.

 

[jnb]

Imagine this during the winter when its picth black..

My link

Ahhh! a motorway, this would be my commute

 

[Sleeper]

wow! that magicshine is a monster!! I'll add that to my list for late trips home down the lanes.... :-)

 

[cyberknight]

Ahhh! a motorway, this would be my commute

Check your link you go down the same road as me?? i have never seen you

 

[Scoosh]

Check your link you go down the same road as me?? i have never seen you

That's 'cos he hasn't had any lights

!

+1 for checking linky