What rear light?

[Bigsharn]

I'm currently looking at ebay for a new front light and have found this, as it is at the moment I only have one rear light so would like another, not-cheap-as-chips-in-a-pack-from-Argos to go with it. I don't really want to spend more on the rear light than I did on the front, so any suggestions? (Preferably with links).

I did find this rear light (same seller), with a direct comparison to the Smart Lunar R1, but I aren't sure whether to get that or the R1 for reliability's sake

Help?

 

[diapason]

I use one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item45f6bc6932

I've heard that the American Dinottes are fantastic, but I can't find anyone selling them over here.

 

[Tyke]

I use one of these: http://www.ebay.co.u...=item45f6bc6932

I've heard that the American Dinottes are fantastic, but I can't find anyone selling them over here.

I got the Cateye from Evans and it is still going strong after three full winters and I can't see any reason for it not doing a few more. Also a very bright light that can be used in two modes at same time or half on half off due to having two switches in one unit.

 

[Tynan]

astrum

not much more than £10 if you shop around, bloody bright, three good patterns, small and light and a decent mount

 

[chris-s]

Blackburn Mars has done me well.

Chris

 

[PpPete]

I got the Cateye from Evans and it is still going strong after three full winters and I can't see any reason for it not doing a few more. Also a very bright light that can be used in two modes at same time or half on half off due to having two switches in one unit.

The cateye LD1100 is big & bright, but not anywhere as bright as a Smart 1/2 watt....and very expensive... and a stupid number of odd random flashing patterns to cycle through before you get to off.

I have a two Smart 1/2 watts - one Polaris and one Lunar.... can't fault them.

 

[Fab Foodie]

The Smart 1w rear is fabulously bright, but ... Friday night I followed on of these and this is now on my shopping list:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/pdw-radbot-1000-1w-led-tail-light-prod24081/

The pulsed mode is very effective and distinctive.

 

[zacklaws]

I have a two Smart 1/2 watts - can't fault them.

Likewise, excellent lights and well recommended

Oddly enough, I'm trying to track a rear light down that I saw on a road bike this week.

I was driving into town in the car and approx 200 yards in front of me was a cyclist and quite distinctively I could see his rear light flashing, what was unusual about it was that it was daytime, driving towards a low bright sun, yet this rear light stood out like a beacon. I bet it really stands out on a night for miles.

When I overtook them, I tried to see what it was, but all it was, was a small black circular light with a bit of silvery stuff around the lens about 3/4 of an inch diameter, an inch and half long clamped to the seat post, no wires out of it and not even big enough to fit AA or AAA batteries in it.

It was'nt either one of these Knog lights or anything similar held on by rubber bands.

Any ideas anyone?

In fact, following the link from above at the bottom of the page I spotted the following light and it looks identical:-

Exposure Flare Rear Light

 

[Norm]

Any ideas anyone?

In fact, following the link from above at the bottom of the page I spotted the following light and it looks identical:-

Exposure Flare Rear Light

Damned good lights. I've got a pair of them and a Flash front light and use them pretty much whenever I ride, day or night. As you said, they show up whatever.

 

[gaz]

Blackburn mars 4.0

 

[slowmotion]

The Dinotte that I rode behind a few months ago was actually painfully bright. You get "image burn-in".....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterimage

I don't think that that level of brightness adds much to your safety in the dark. It might actually be counter-productive.

No criticism of the rider, BTW.

 

[lavoisier]

Bigsharn, I would be very interested to find out how you get on with the front light off e-bay you mention.

PM me if it's easier.

Thanks

Paul

 

[Tyke]

The cateye LD1100 is big & bright, but not anywhere as bright as a Smart 1/2 watt....and very expensive... and a stupid number of odd random flashing patterns to cycle through before you get to off.

I have a two Smart 1/2 watts - one Polaris and one Lunar.... can't fault them.

I agree they are over priced, but very reliable. The Smarts are also good I have them on my road bike but you can get them cheaper as other brands, still the same light.

To turn off the Cateye hold the button in and after a few seconds they go out, saves going through all the modes.

 

[G-Zero]

Blackburn mars 4.0

+1 more http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=29543

Very bright with excellent daytime visibility in low, bright sun, amber side LEDs for extra safety

 

[anyuser]

The Smart 1w rear is fabulously bright, but ... Friday night I followed on of these and this is now on my shopping list:

http://www.sjscycles...ight-prod24081/

The pulsed mode is very effective and distinctive.

I have one of these and in terms of visibility it is very good. I have had lots of comments from other cyclists asking me what it is. However I would not buy another one for the following reasons:

1 Although mine is the newer model supposedly that does not turn off over bumps it still does occasionally turn itself off on rough roads.
2 It also will switch itself off when the batteries get down to 1.0V each, 2.0V total. This is a design 'feature'. It is impossible to tell how close to this cut off you are when switching it on, at least my Cateye's go dim.

unfortunately both of the above 'turning itself off' issues have resulted in me riding with only my backup rear light , which kind of defeats the object of having the radbot. So I have now bought a Exposure Flare to complement the radbot as I cannot rely on the radbot to be on for the whole of my commute.