Lights for dark lanes

[Cking]

Cateye EL 520 Power Opticube 1200+ CP Front Light

I would highly recomend this. Thirty quid, powered by 4 AA's. On dark country lanes it produces a spot the width of the road about four bike lengths in front of me and casts a sort of halo about a bikes length either side of the front wheel. I find it alright on my ride home at 01:00hrs!
Oh the battery life seems quite good. I have had ten hours out of a set of Duracels and they are still going strong.

Rgds Cking

 

[marinyork]

What's wrong the 530?

 

[BentMikey]

Both CKing's EL520 and marinyork's EL530 are dim guttering candles by comparison with the Fenix or tesco AA 3W torch. There is no comparison, one of my Fenix lights is bright enough that you probably couldn't even see any difference from adding either or both the EL520/530.

 

[marinyork]

Both CKing's EL520 and marinyork's EL530 are dim guttering candles by comparison with the Fenix or tesco AA 3W torch. There is no comparison, one of my Fenix lights is bright enough that you probably couldn't even see any difference from adding either or both the EL520/530.

Yes they definitely are. My point is the 520 is only 800 candela and the 530 is 1500 IIRC. Although I think Wafflycat's idea of having two next to each other is a good idea (elsewhere). Neither is as bright as my cateye on the front of mine, which is much less bright than a torch.

P.S. If you want proper country lane lighting for serious money, don't buy any single cateye.

 

[HelenD123]

Cateye EL 520 Power Opticube 1200+ CP Front Light

I would highly recomend this. Thirty quid, powered by 4 AA's. On dark country lanes it produces a spot the width of the road about four bike lengths in front of me and casts a sort of halo about a bikes length either side of the front wheel. I find it alright on my ride home at 01:00hrs!
Oh the battery life seems quite good. I have had ten hours out of a set of Duracels and they are still going strong.

Rgds Cking

I think that's the one I have and I don't find it very good for dark country lanes, and its not as if I ride very fast.

 

[historyman]

People are talking of a Tesco AA 3W torch. Presume this is different from the Tesco 3W torch here which takes 'D' batteries? (http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-8191.aspx) Is the latter any good?

 

[andrew_s]

There were AA, C and D versions.
The problem with the D version is that it's pretty big to mount on a bike - you won't be able to just strap it to the handlebars.

The larger versions also don't have all that much advantage as most cheap rechargeable C and D-size batteries are actually just AA in a bigger casing, and so don't last any longer. You can get proper full size C and D rechargeables, but they need a bit of looking for, and are comparatively expensive (and need a more expensive charger).

 

[historyman]

thanks andrew, that's very helpful.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I use a Cateye 530 and a 320 on the front which between them are OK on unlit roads / tracks in the woods: using two means I can get a wider spread and have a backup should one fail. I switch the 320 to flashing mode when on roads so I have one steady and one flashing at the front so as to try to get noticed.

I recently supplemented these with the famous Tesco 3W AA torch, helmet-mounted so as to light up where I'm looking when in the woods: I like to look through the bends. It is quite a bit brighter than either of the Cateye lights.

With all three running I am quite happy to rattle along as fast as I can along trails through woods. Not that I go that fast ..

 

[Sully]

Hi I have just this dilemma at the moment have you seen the ay up lights ? there sposed to be the dogs wotsits, im looking into it cant make me mind up tho.....

 

[marinyork]

Hi I have just this dilemma at the moment have you seen the ay up lights ? there sposed to be the dogs wotsits, im looking into it cant make me mind up tho.....

Not too bad in Notts and Derbs unless you're doing MTB off road at night. Midrange ones like the cateyes or other makes seem to suffice.

 

[Noodley]

Here is a very handy comparison of lights:

http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11751.0

Gets a bit technical for me after a while, but others may find it of help.

 

[Sully]

wow now I know Im a thicko...all I wants a light thats best value and will light up some cycle paths nr where I live......no I feel like I need a lie down

 

[marinyork]

For the NT and Newstead stuff I'd get at least a cateye el-530.

 

[Noodley]

Looks like my Dinotte light is on the way to dying on me so I am on the lookout for a rechargeable front light. This is the one I am currently favouring:

http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP4119.aspx?A=1&TRACK=DDI