[Bicycle] Which lights to buy?

Adasta

[Sorry if this is in the wrong forum (is there a forum for bikes?)]

I bought a second hand bike the other month: an almost clapped out thing for £30. It still works though and isn't rusted over so that's good enough for me.

Basically I'm looking for a good set of lights, perhaps a dynamo or something. I've already got a helmet (25% off, thank you eBay), a sturdy Kryptonite U-lock, and a luminous jacket (which was free!), so I think I'm all set for the roads.

Does anybody have any suggestions for aforementioned lights?

vikingaero

Get a set of LED lights. You want to avoid filament lights as they are more prone to failure and eat batteries compared to LEDs. You can buy cheap LED lights from places like Poundland. Whatever you buy have one rear light fixed to the rear of the bike and one attached to your helmet or rucksack. The more you stand out the better.

It is true that you get what you pay for and it is possible to spend £500+ on a set of front lights. Cateye lights are well respected.

BillScarab

Definately LED at the rear. They're bright and the batteries last for ages. At the front be careful of cheap LED lights as they don't actually illuminate the road, they just make you a bit more visible to drivers.

I'd second the recomendation of Cateye lights. If you ant to see where you are going and will be riding int he dark a lot something like this is good but pricey.

I think this is the one on the back of my bike and when I got it this was the only LED rear light that met British Standards (it may still be) and was therefore the only one that was technically legal.

hewhoisnotintheknow

goto dealextreme free delivery, so cheap buy a couple of sets

hewhoisnotintheknow

also buy a high viz vest, usually spot them long before bike lights at night

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Depends what you want to spend. I have a Hope Vision twin LED at the front of mine. Its like a car headlamp.

Supermarkets have some good value lights, they won't illuminate the road but you'll be quite visible to everyone else.

TiTheRev

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Depends what you want to spend. I have a Hope Vision twin LED at the front of mine. Its like a car headlamp.

Supermarkets have some good value lights, they won't illuminate the road but you'll be quite visible to everyone else.

Hope vision twin LEDs? You must be a true night trail rider!?

Im just getting into MTB stuff myself, with a still shiny Q720, but have only only been out a couple of times so far, the rest of its use has been work commute! :rolleyes:

I would second the Cateye recommendation. The LD610 rear light is only about £15 and apparently can be seen almost a kilometer away. Front light is where im struggling too though as I want something that will light my path (so to speak), but not blind oncoming drivers and not cost too much! The hope series are serious lights, and have checked out AyUp, fenix, ultrafire and cateye plus probably a few I cant remember now!

Pew-pew, if you have any half decent recommendations for me too, i'd appreciate it but in the ethos of the MSE board make cost a criteria

Sorry to highjack the thread!

MenstrieBen

some other tips -

at the back have a mix of flashing red lights and a constant one - the flashing ones get attention (and are now legal) but a constant light makes it a lot easier for a driver to place where you are and how fast you are going. i prefer a constant light at the front.

dont feel it has to be dark before you turn your lights on - better to have them on sooner rather than later.

if you are off road or riding on sections with no lighting a light on your helmet as well as your handlebars is handy - its suprising how often you handlebar light isn't pointing where you want to see

and finaly i believe that you can't have too much reflective stuff - i'd rather have someone think "what does he look like" then run into me cos theh haven't seen me.....

enjoy!

TiTheRev

^^^ Some good tips there too.

BillScarab

One thing I use for riding on the road at night is some hi viz ankle bands with flashing LEDs built in. They were only £3 in Aldi and really stand out.

chorlton

Smart Polaris range are well worth looking at, this is a good deal:-

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mc/Cycle/7/Smart/Lights_-_Sets/

you might even find cheaper if you shop around!