Night Cycling - safety and lights

[HLaB]

I find night cycling safer than day cycling as cars seem to notice you more. But, you do need to invest in lights.

+1 You get noticed better and no one expects you to be in the gutter. I tend to ride with two lights when I know I'm going to be riding in the dark, one flashing, to get me noticed and a solid one to see by. And if I know I'm going through really dark areas I carry more.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I used a pair of Cateyes on the front for commuting during the winter evenings .. they light up the road well enough. I added a (helmet mounted) one of those Tesco torches to use in the bits where I go through the woods: the helmet mounting was so it lit up where I was looking, as I found it a bit limiting with the bar mounted lights only lighting up where I was going .. or at least where the bars were pointing. If you see what I mean.

The Tesco torch is good and bright .. a pair of them on the bars would be good. And cheap. Or you could go with one on the bars and one on your head.

You just have to remember to not look anyone you meet walking in the dark in the face as you'll dazzle them.

 

[phil120867]

I use a Hpe HID light for offorad riding where you really need to see everything very clearly rather than being seen by other people. I also use this light on my way home from work in the winter. iiteally lights up those country lanes but drivers tend to get a bit pissed off at me and flash their headlights becuse its too bright. I now dip the light (by pushing it towards the road) when I see oncoming cars. I also hear that these MTB lights are illegal so I also use an LEd backup on the handlebars usually flashing). I'm not sure the cops would do anything anyway as I'm not convinced they know the law themselves and they're too busy with other things.... Unless of courseyou hit someone.

 

[phil120867]

I've also used the Tesco Cree torch as a helment mount but I woke up next day with a stiff......neck

 

[threefingerjoe]

I like the Busch & Müller Ixon IQ.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I use a Lightspin bottle dynamo and B&M front and rear standlights. Absolutely brilliant (literally) on the darkest roads and never runs out of batteries. But it was expensive.

 

[Randochap]

I use a Lightspin bottle dynamo and B&M front and rear standlights. Absolutely brilliant (literally) on the darkest roads and never runs out of batteries. But it was expensive.

That's real lighting! However, Lightspin dynamos, though having excellent performance as far as resistance measurement, etc., haven't garnered great reviews as far as durability. I don't have personal experience, but the former Canadian distributor had "100% failure rate."

 

[willem]

Well, Litespin went belly up, so that is no longer an option (we have one, and love it). It does point to an important decision to make: where to get the electricity from? Batteries are one possibility, but I don't like them for serious cycling, as they run out, or you forget to recharge them. For their reliability and environmental advantages I much prefer generators. For a cheap setup that is really pretty good, get a B&M dymotec 6 (the S6 no longer exists) sidewall generator, and a round Lumotec front light. Use a B&M taillight. One step up in headlight quality would be the B&M IQ Fly headlight. One step up in generator quality would be the ultegra/XT level level Shimano hub generator. The (expensive) best there is would be a Schmidt SON hub generator combined with a Schmidt Edelux headlight.
We now have this last combination on two bikes, and it is awesome.
One reason this German stuff is so good is that they do indeed have standards. These also require lights to be focussed properly on the road, rather than shine in all directions and blinding oncoming trafffic in the process. Thus these lights also do not waste their output, but put it where you need it. Finally, these lights have good connectors and are mechanically much better than the cheap imports from the Far East.
Willem

 

[Slim]

Fenix PD30 works well - esp' on "full beam". They're dearer than the Tesco torches but a lot cheaper than the more specialist night lights. They will eat batteries though so you would need to invest in rechargeable CR123s.

 

[Davidc]

Agree with all those who emphasise the need for good lighting. I like to have a combination of dynamo and battery lighting. The dynamo keeps going for as long as its needed and is immune to going flat, the battery lights are brighter. If one fails you've still got the other.

I use a shimano hub dynamo (second hand but works fine) with B&M standlights (surplus stock off ebay) combined with battery Smart 1/2W flasher at the back and a 7W ebay torch (actually draws about 4 from its battery) at the front. I also have a bright LED flashing light at the front. This combination lets me see well enough for up to about 15 mph safely on unlit dark lanes, and the flashers help draw attention to me.

The old adage of see and be seen really applies 100% to bike lights. If you fell into a trench you can't really be seeing well enough.

 

[Randochap]

Well, Litespin went belly up, etc.

Yes, I know. All good points -- covered, incidentally, on my rando lighting page.

I'm concerned at the number of posts here recommending silly "torches" for bicycle lighting. They are not adequate. Better than nothing ... but inadequate for safe night riding.

As you say, willem, (and I do also on my lighting page) there are lighting requirements in Germany and so some of the best lighting originates there.

The dynohub is most certainly the best way to generate power for lights.

 

[dellzeqq]

well I'm still recommending the Cateye EL530 - at about £45 each. I know that the Hope Vision 1 is brighter, and I may switch in the end, but the EL530 seems bombproof, and, more to the point, waterproof. I use two, with one on in town and one on out of town. The batteries last for ever. Having two on the bike is worthwhile - it's like carrying a spare tube.

As for rear lights - the Electron rear light is a cheapy and really bright. Too bright for group rides.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

well I'm still recommending the Cateye EL530 - at about £45 each. I know that the Hope Vision 1 is brighter, and I may switch in the end, but the EL530 seems bombproof, and, more to the point, waterproof. I use two, with one on in town and one on out of town. The batteries last for ever. Having two on the bike is worthwhile - it's like carrying a spare tube.
<snip>

I'll second all that. I've got an EL530 and a 320 on the front, for that "just in case one fails" happy feeling .. the 320 has a blink mode which I use on the road to draw attention to me (530 is on steady all the time), switching it to steady when I go through the woods. At that point, the helmet-mounted Tesco torch gets switched on as well.

 

[numbnuts]

get yourself one of these and watch the cars slow down sold as a rear bike light I have one

 

[Fab Foodie]

Agree with the need for good lighting, I do most of my cycling at night, the roads are quiet, the air cool... Fab! But once out of town you need good illumination.
I now use 1 x Tesco 3 watt Led torch £9 (the 2 AA battery one), one flashing LED and a Petzl Tikka plus headtorch mounted to my helmet.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/petzl-tikka-plus-led-headtorch/COREEGFBE47P

The Petzl fills in the near ground in front of the bike, The Tesco torch the longer distance.
The Petzl is brilliant (literally), great beam, very long battery life and it moves with your vision. In combo with the Tesco torch 20mph country lanes in pitch black is no problem.
The Tesco on rechargeable has enough light-time just for an all-night ride.
Great and flexible lighting for under £40