Unlit Road lights

[jethro10]

Hi,
firstly I'm not yer typical biker. It's just exercise for me, been at it since February and thoroughly enjoying it. 48 yr old
Planning ahead, I live in a little village and all routes for week night exercise will be mostly unlit country road.
I'm mountain biking and average 10-11mph with road tyres. My bad back is a no-no for a road bike I'm afraid.
What area are we talking of for front lights, do I need to start saving?
I assume the Halfords £40 type are no use for seeing, rather than being seen and will be looking at £150 ish type light.
My aim is to feel comfortabel and safe, if I'm not comfortable, I'll stop doing it more than likely.
Can anyone expand on this for me?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[beancounter]

My winter lights consist of a Tesco 3watt torch (say £10) attached via a Twofish lockblock (£6 from memory) and a Bspoke 1/2 watt rear (about £12). Definitely ok for better than 10-11 mph.

You can certainly spend £hundreds on lights if you want to, but I didn't want to.

bc

 

[jethro10]

You can certainly spend £hundreds on lights if you want to, but I didn't want to.

bc

I don't want too either, I just want to be 100% sure I'm safe.
I'll have a look at these then, at this price I can buy and try, and scrap if it doesn't work out.

 

[beancounter]

I don't want too either, I just want to be 100% sure I'm safe.
I'll have a look at these then, at this price I can buy and try, and scrap if it doesn't work out.

Quite right, although the rear light will be fine, and if you don't like the torch, well, you've still got a spare torch.....

bc

 

[RedBike]

Get two rear lights. Don't even think about skimping on the main rear light; your safety depends on it. The second light is there as a backup, a cheaper £2 jobby from your local supermarket will do.

As for the front light. The smaller fenix torches offer great value for money, there's nothing to compete with them in the bike light market. The torches will be fine for 10-11mph on the road / an hour or twos ride but If you want real flood lighting power and good run times then there's no substitute for those £200 bike lights.

 

[andrew_s]

I'd go for a B+M Ixon IQ (£82.5 incl batteries & charger)
Alternatives are the Fenix L2D torch (£43) and the Hope Vision 1 (£100)

For a rear light, the Smart 1/2 W (£13) is good. Two lights is also a good idea as you don't notice if one runs low or goes out.

I personally use a hub dynamo, as I then don't have to remember to charge the batteries and so I've got light if I get unexpectedly delayed.
Suggested light: B+M Cyo (£75, similar brightness to the lights above)
Hub (£55) or wheel (£105)

 

[HJ]

If you want light to see where you are going get a decent set see this review for a few suggestions...

 

[jethro10]

Thanks folks.
I was thinking last night, that although I average 11mph, there is one long run, perhaps 1.5m that is a gently down hill at almost 20mph, plus another 20mph bit for 3-5 mins, so probably something brighter.
I'll go look and report back for further info.

thanks
Jeff

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You can certainly spend £hundreds on lights if you want to, but I didn't want to.

I didn't want to either, but I did. Sucker for small light sexy tech.

Ay-Ups. I have seen the light.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Get two rear lights. Don't even think about skimping on the main rear light; your safety depends on it. The second light is there as a backup, a cheaper £2 jobby from your local supermarket will do.

Get six rear lights. At least. MY first three are main (on rack) , failsafe (on mudguard) and backup (on rack boss down by mech). The backup has a flashing facility that I use during the day when I want to be conspicuous e.g. when it is raining or dull or if my commute involves blind bends in green tunnels built from lovely trees like it does every day

The last three (one on rack bag 2 on panniers) flash like demented things & are just there to piss the drivers off. When they try 'smidsy' after nearly rear ending me then the moral high ground those extra three give me allows me to set aside my vow of non-violence whilst I beat the tossers to a pulp.

Oh, and helmet LEDs don't forget them. and aperatif has some lovely LED handlebar end plugs.

The correct number of rear lights when commutting on unlit country roads is n+1

 

[jethro10]

Get six rear lights. At least. MY first three are main (on rack) , failsafe (on mudguard) and backup (on rack boss down by mech). The backup has a flashing facility that I use during the day when I want to be conspicuous e.g. when it is raining or dull or if my commute involves blind bends in green tunnels built from lovely trees like it does every day

The last three (one on rack bag 2 on panniers) flash like demented things & are just there to piss the drivers off. When they try 'smidsy' after nearly rear ending me then the moral high ground those extra three give me allows me to set aside my vow of non-violence whilst I beat the tossers to a pulp.

Oh, and helmet LEDs don't forget them. and aperatif has some lovely LED handlebar end plugs.

The correct number of rear lights when commutting on unlit country roads is n+1

you seem to have a light fettish

jeff

 

[Dan B]

People say nice things about the Ayup also, if that's still being imported here (don't know much more about it).

The fenix has been good for me at any speed I can reach on the flat (20ish), though admittedly pretty much all my night riding is also lit by the full moon or by streetlights

 

[benborp]

I like my Ayups that I had imported recently. They have been very effective on solo night rides at good speeds (20mph +) through dark, overhung lanes. The whole package is quite impressive with the number of mounts, fittings and charger options that arrive in little purpose made neoprene pouches. The only problem is that import duty has to be paid and that bumps the price up by almost another £50.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

People say nice things about the Ayup also, if that's still being imported here (don't know much more about it)

you have to buy direct from Oz, they closed the UK distribution deal down. That said I got a replacement battery frmo Oz just as fast as I could have done from the UK

 

[GrumpyGregry]

you seem to have a light fettish

jeff

undoubtedly. it goes with both the leather bar tape fetish and the staying alive fetish