Really bright lights?

[Paulq]

Hi All

I am after some new lights and have often seen cyclists (who look far more 'pro' than me) at night with lights on their bikes that are really visible and bright as they flash; much brighter than the current CatEye ones I have.

They also flash front and rear.

Does anyone know what these are?

Cheers

 

[Fab Foodie]

Some help:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/whats-a-lumen-and-how-much-to-pay-for-good-lights.86446/

Product Here:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/t6-smo...te-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82507

There are many many brand of very bright lights, some are very pricey too. Bike lighting is quite a subject especially when you get to all-night/Audax type riding. Commuting is easier.
There are many bright flashing rear lights from Cateye, Smart, Blackburn and many more.

 

[Hacienda71]

Rear lights tend to be considered very bright if they are 1/2 Watt and above. Smart are a common brand, but there are many other brands with serious fire power as well.

 

[jonathanw]

For the rear, you won't go far wrong with one of these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=29543

I use two of them on the rear and am constantly asked what they are because they are so bright

 

[Paulq]

What about this?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_736219_langId_-1_categoryId_165636

 

[albion]

CRC, Smart Lunar 35 Lux Lightset £21 deld.
Cant go wrong though for being seen rather than seeing.
The RRP is a mind blowing £55!

 

[Fab Foodie]

CRC, Smart Lunar 35 Lux Lightset £21 deld.
Cant go wrong though for being seen rather than seeing.
The RRP is a mind blowing £55!

This is an important point, being seen is one thing, seeing where you're going is another.
The light I quoted is better than car headlight bright, fairly focused but will allow you to ride at 20mph on a pitch-black country lane without worry. Mine took 10 days to arrive and cost £30.
Agree with rear lights, anything with a 1 watt LED is good rear fire-power.

 

[VamP]

This is an important point, being seen is one thing, seeing where you're going is another.
The light I quoted is better than car headlight bright, fairly focused but will allow you to ride at 20mph on a pitch-black country lane without worry. Mine took 10 days to arrive and cost £30.
Agree with rear lights, anything with a 1 watt LED is good rear fire-power.

Is it any good for night time off roading, and would you say the claimed battery life of 3-4 hours at 100% setting is accurate? Looks almost too good to be true

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is it any good for night time off roading, and would you say the claimed battery life of 3-4 hours at 100% setting is accurate? Looks almost too good to be true

The claimed battery life seems true.
The beam is fairly tight and centered and for off roading you'd probably want a wider spread as well, ie one with a dimpled crown. I think the 900 lumen Magicshine or copy has this. Elsewhere I've read (on yacf) that it's possible to get a diffuser as well.
For nearfield sight I have a Petzlt Tikka+ on my head which allows me to check the hedgerows for imminent badger attack and small voles in a last minute suicide dash.
The flashing setting is a bit strobey, but I only use it in extreme traffic conditions.
To be honest most of my night rides unless on pitch moonless nights I use the low power setting only switching to high for 30+ mph twisty decents. For the price it's definitely worth a punt. You'll need a little £3 adaptor for the charger and a bit of gaffa tape helps strengthen the battery. The case I tie-wrapped under the stem. Most of our clubmates use them now. The problem is when you look over your shoulder, you're blinded!

 

[dellzeqq]

for commuting or night rides on roads Cree 3W front light from 7dayshop for a fiver. http://www.amazon.co.uk/7dayshop-Po...PPEO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1332518858&sr=8-8 Or, to be more exact, £4.99. The flashing mode is pretty darn powerful. A really decent mount, far better than Cateye.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is it any good for night time off roading, and would you say the claimed battery life of 3-4 hours at 100% setting is accurate? Looks almost too good to be true

The life seems accurate.
I reckon you'd want something with a wider beam as well. There's a 900 lumen version with a dimpled crown. The beam is a bit focused and centred maybe for off-road. I use a Petzl tikka+ on my bonce for nearfield duties, imminent badger attack and suicidal voles. A diffuser is available for a few dollars, I've seen this on yacf.
But for £30 it's great. OK a bit of gaffer-tape beefs-up the battery pack and cable ties are useful to fit the pack under the stem, but that's fine for massive lighting at little money.
Flashing mode is a bit strobe-like. In reality, most of the time on night-rides I'm only using it on low power mode on the road unless it's completely pitch dark and moonless or I'm on a fast twisty descent then Full mode is employed. Most of my clubmates use them now for roadie duties, if you're at the front and look back you're blinded!

 

[Fab Foodie]

for commuting or night rides on roads Cree 3W front light from 7dayshop for a fiver. http://www.amazon.co.uk/7dayshop-Po...PPEO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1332518858&sr=8-8 Or, to be more exact, £4.99. The flashing mode is pretty darn powerful. A really decent mount, far better than Cateye.

Wow that's good. 3Watt Crees are brill.
I have a couple 3w Cree tesco torches and 1 is just enough for night riding on a shoestring and a pair is brill but you need spare batteries for a whole night, but the Magishine copy beats them for total illumination.

 

[VamP]

The life seems accurate.
I reckon you'd want something with a wider beam as well. There's a 900 lumen version with a dimpled crown. The beam is a bit focused and centred maybe for off-road. I use a Petzl tikka+ on my bonce for nearfield duties, imminent badger attack and suicidal voles. A diffuser is available for a few dollars, I've seen this on yacf.
But for £30 it's great. OK a bit of gaffer-tape beefs-up the battery pack and cable ties are useful to fit the pack under the stem, but that's fine for massive lighting at little money.
Flashing mode is a bit strobe-like. In reality, most of the time on night-rides I'm only using it on low power mode on the road unless it's completely pitch dark and moonless or I'm on a fast twisty descent then Full mode is employed. Most of my clubmates use them now for roadie duties, if you're at the front and look back you're blinded!

Wow you wrote that twice! Nearly, but not quite the same text Cheers.

 

[the_mikey]

On ebay: Rutland cycling have RSP asteri 3's (3W rechargeable LED front light) with rear flasher for £29.99, excellent front light, I use a pair of the asteri3's on one of my bikes.

 

[PpPete]

For serious front firepower in a torch format this is worth a look:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000-Lume...re-501b-brighter-than-900-Lumen-/290678086136
I got a similar one from the same seller a while back. Nice "hot-spot" on the road, and enough side-spill to see the hedgerows.
On strobe it would probably be illegal/epilepsy inducing/scare seven bells out of most motorists.
On steady at max power I've still had a SMISDSY though.