Off out to try new front light.

[Brandane]

Can't let something as trivial as darkness and the prospect of long winter nights get in the way of the momentum I have managed to build up with regards to this new(ish) found addiction; so I bought a new front light. Nothing flash , just a BikeHut LED job from Halfords that gets good reviews and seemed to be good VFM.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_525193_langId_-1_categoryId_165636
Off out to try it on some dark paths. If I don't report back later, then it wasn't a huge success .

 

[Muddyfox]

Stay away from canal towpaths tonight

 

[Brandane]

Stay away from canal towpaths tonight

It was much more enjoyable than the Reading/Bath canal towpath if that's what you were referring to . There is something very peaceful about riding along deserted paths in the pitch dark , with only the occassional suicidal rabbit for company!

The light is good for my needs, but would be no use for 40mph downhills on unknown trails! There is one annoying design fault though. Some light from the LED's shines out the top of the lens, into your eyes and affecting your vision. It's only noticeable in totally unlit areas, and will be easily sorted with a piece of black tape, or paint; but a bit of bad design by somebody.

 

[the_mikey]

I've been trying many different lights, including budget ones, and needless to say, budget LED lights give you no useful light, they only serve to make you more visible. I then tried a CATEYE HL-EL220, which was better than the basic budget LED lamp, but still not enough light to give you much confidence, then progressed onto an RSP asteri 3 3W rechargeable light, which has proven to be much more useful, I've added also a 1W LED head lamp (£5 ish from TK Maxx) to my helmet which adds to the available light and gives you the added bonus of shining a light whevever you turn your head, surprising the number of dog walkers that venture onto the cycle path in the darkness without any torch or high-visibility jacket.

 

[jimboalee]

It was much more enjoyable than the Reading/Bath canal towpath if that's what you were referring to . There is something very peaceful about riding along deserted paths in the pitch dark , with only the occassional suicidal rabbit for company!

The light is good for my needs, but would be no use for 40mph downhills on unknown trails! There is one annoying design fault though. Some light from the LED's shines out the top of the lens, into your eyes and affecting your vision. It's only noticeable in totally unlit areas, and will be easily sorted with a piece of black tape, or paint; but a bit of bad design by somebody.

That little bit of light shining in your eyes is to tell you its switched on when you get under streetlights or when the sun comes up. It not a design fault. There should be some light getting out sideways as well.

I installed a P7 lenser at the weekend to replace the Tesco 3W lamp from last year. Both these have no sideways light. To provide indication they are switched on and running, I tape on a small piece of white milk canister so that it overhangs the lens slightly. The translucent white plastic lights up nicely.

The P7 Lenser, rated at 200 Lumens is about as bright as an old 6 volt moped lamp I used fifteen years ago before superbright LEDs became available in white.
The moped lamp was off a Jawa Babetta and was powered by a 6V PbA battery in a dummy water bottle. The bulb was a 15W dichroic. The whole kit weighed 1.2 kg.
The P7 lenser weighs 0.3kg and gives the same time duration with 4 x AAA 1000 mAhr NiMh cells.

 

[jimboalee]

In fact, I got flashed at this morning. That hasn't happened since riding up Knowle Hill toward Hurley, N Warks in about 1998.

 

[Kestevan]

What sort of Weirdo would flash Jimbo?

Hope his mac was clean at least

 

[jimboalee]

What sort of Weirdo would flash Jimbo?

Hope his mac was clean at least

Who said it was a 'he'?

 

[HJ]

Can't let something as trivial as darkness and the prospect of long winter nights get in the way of the momentum I have managed to build up with regards to this new(ish) found addiction; so I bought a new front light. Nothing flash , just a BikeHut LED job from Halfords that gets good reviews and seemed to be good VFM.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_525193_langId_-1_categoryId_165636
Off out to try it on some dark paths. If I don't report back later, then it wasn't a huge success .

Ride slowly...

 

[gmac190]

I used to have the LED light on my bike for the late rides home in the dark and on pitch black roads. I just did not feel safe at all. I opted for the Nuke Proof Reactor Eco which is claimed to be 900 lumen's. Whether it is or not I don't know but what I can tell you is that it lights up everything in front of you and I feel 150% safer on the roads.

Money well spent.