Koga
Senior Member
- Location
- the road to nowhere
You are completely missing the point of what I wrote, which is your prerogative. But it makes it pointless to continue responding to this.
Some good lights for night cycling in country lanes suggestions please
- Thread starter BigonaBianchi
- Start date
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Glenview09
Active Member
suggest you look at http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/ website for some comparisons of light intensity and spread.
I bought the 4xR5 1600 for about £79 last year and the beam on the top setting is good for 30+ mph downhills on unlit back roads. I ride 12.5 miles each way and get 3 days (~6 hours) on (mainly) the low setting which is adequate before it glows red for 25% left, it is easy to flip between intensities between slow and fast bits and it doesn't ever index to off like the old smart lights.
On single lane back roads cars stop in lay bys to let you through, (I often put my hand over part of the lens to protect them from being blinded).
Fortunately/ unfortunately LED lights are now so bright that they will prompt legislation for bike lights to be dippable/ shielded.
Torchy sells as the big_f_d_d on ebay.
He also sells mounts which seem rather pricy at £9 (for what they are) which allows me to transfer the light in seconds between the mtb/ hybrid/ cyclocross/ tandem depending on my mood (and my poor maintenance regime).
My prev light was a Niteflux 12W Photonmax that cost £300 that was great when it worked but went back to Australia 3x because it never woke up after the summer layover. My only gripe on the Fluxient is that the flash mode uses the high power setting. I preferred the Photonmax mode of 25% brightness when flashing.
I also carry a XML-6 12850 single rechargeable cell in the pannier just in case (not that I have ever run out on the main light) and loads of Blackburn Mars (3s and 4s) on my back, bike and spares in my panniers. (And a handlebar end lights- for redundancy and in worse weather).
Good luck in your quest, ......
I bought the 4xR5 1600 for about £79 last year and the beam on the top setting is good for 30+ mph downhills on unlit back roads. I ride 12.5 miles each way and get 3 days (~6 hours) on (mainly) the low setting which is adequate before it glows red for 25% left, it is easy to flip between intensities between slow and fast bits and it doesn't ever index to off like the old smart lights.
On single lane back roads cars stop in lay bys to let you through, (I often put my hand over part of the lens to protect them from being blinded).
Fortunately/ unfortunately LED lights are now so bright that they will prompt legislation for bike lights to be dippable/ shielded.
Torchy sells as the big_f_d_d on ebay.
He also sells mounts which seem rather pricy at £9 (for what they are) which allows me to transfer the light in seconds between the mtb/ hybrid/ cyclocross/ tandem depending on my mood (and my poor maintenance regime).
My prev light was a Niteflux 12W Photonmax that cost £300 that was great when it worked but went back to Australia 3x because it never woke up after the summer layover. My only gripe on the Fluxient is that the flash mode uses the high power setting. I preferred the Photonmax mode of 25% brightness when flashing.
I also carry a XML-6 12850 single rechargeable cell in the pannier just in case (not that I have ever run out on the main light) and loads of Blackburn Mars (3s and 4s) on my back, bike and spares in my panniers. (And a handlebar end lights- for redundancy and in worse weather).
Good luck in your quest, ......
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
Do you have a Clas Ohlsen shop near you? I got a couple of their bike lights last year for £9.99 each and they are great. They have a just on mode and a flashy mode. I can see for a goodly distance too. They are very bright.
I have one pointed slightly downwards to the road surface, the other one a bit more level so when a car comes towards me I just poke the button to turn that light off - thus dipping the lights - and then turn it back on again when the car has passed. They are really bright and run on 2 little batteries, which seem to last for ages.
I have one pointed slightly downwards to the road surface, the other one a bit more level so when a car comes towards me I just poke the button to turn that light off - thus dipping the lights - and then turn it back on again when the car has passed. They are really bright and run on 2 little batteries, which seem to last for ages.
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
Head torches are completely useless if it gets foggy, or even thick mist.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
WHY BIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A 911 CARRERA 4
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
i do know a rider who has a porsche etc, sold his pharmaceutical company a while back and his club run bike is a pinarello dogma with eps.
Easytigers
Guru
+1 for the Cree. I only get about 110 mins on full but that does my 20 mile (round trip) commute. It's a great light and I don't mind if it goes south as it's easily replaceable at £20. I know people say that the light quality might not be good but my rule of thumb is...I can see everything on the road as far as I need it (on unlit roads) and EVERYONE notices you...so it's good for me! Have had many people commenting on how bright it is (some complaining but I'd rather be seen).
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
fair enough
I have a Cree T6 on my road bike and on my mountain bike and on my commuter. Total cost for 3 lights 57 GBP. Its a SIGNIFICANTLY brighter light than the Exposure Maxx D. I know because my MTB buddy has one and we have compared beams (oo er). Yes the build quality is not the same, but for 19 GBP its 10 times cheaper, for a brighter light.
The road bike and MTB lights are going strong after 2 years, and I am on my second on the commuter. The predecessor lasted 3 winters commuting every day.
shouldbeinbed
Rollin' along
- Location
- Manchester way
I have a dealextreme set up, torch,mount, 2x 18650(?) rechargeables & charger. Cost me £26, 4 years ago and has been used consistently since. Its still going nicely albeit the batteries are beginning to discharge a bit more quickly, 2+ hours on full beam rather than 3+. Its been my to see by light on completely unlit rural roads & through countryside parks in the dead of winter from 5am to 10pm.
my only gripe was the 6 week shipping time
my only gripe was the 6 week shipping time
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
I have never heard of Cree before but they seem to be good value and have good ratings, might be worth a punt after my Nitrider's died after the summer lay off 
Ex EnergyMan
Active Member
- Location
- Near the flat bit of Lincolnshire
Lumicycle are brilliant (but not cheap) and British !
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Worth a go Skud, we need more light on the TPT now @fossyant is back on itI have never heard of Cree before but they seem to be good value and have good ratings, might be worth a punt after my Nitrider's died after the summer lay off
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Go for a solarstorm twin light. Great. I also have another tiny one, but it's more expensive. Well impressed with both.
If you want a high quality, super bright, all-in-one, USB rechargeable then the Cateye Volt 1200 at around £135 is pretty hard to beat. A bit pricey, but a true 1200 lumens and much more convenient than those with separate battery packs. The hyperconstant mode is great in traffic and the dynamic mode (full power) is superb in the dark lanes.
