Recommend me a bicycle light

Tobster86

With the end of BST looming I'm looking to fit a new front headlight to my ancient mountain bike for my two mile bicycle commute through a village and along a bit of rural single carriageway.

Budget is £10-20 (maybe more for something particularly good). Must be fixed to the bike, I don't want something that straps to my head.

Ideally something that will most usefully disperse the greatest amount of light. I don't mind if it gets through a few batteries.

Also, ideally something that casts a low field and doesn't dazzle other road users. I'm finding more & more often these days I'm being dazzled by cyclists when I'm in the car.

A 'flash' function that will allow me to [STRIKE]warn drivers of the scamera van that occasionally parks up in the villiage[/STRIKE] let other road users know I'm there would also be useful.

What can folk recommend?

marmitedog

Is it to see or to be seen?

thelawnet

Get something like this

http://dx.com/p/p7-water-resistant-ssc-p7-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82734

ventureuk

thelawnet wrote: »

Get something like this

http://dx.com/p/p7-water-resistant-ssc-p7-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82734

A great light but way over budget.

An X2000 flood to throw would be my budget choice. I cannot speak more highly of this torch for cycling, it has adjustable optics which allow a very narrow tight beam, or slide the head and the beam opens right up and will illuminate a dark towpath at night.

Run it off 3 AAAs or buy the version which takes a specific LiOn battery but this adds to the overall cost.

I doesn't flash but as someone who owns a number of bike torches, a bright flashing light is best avoided imo.

Link here.

http://dx.com/p/x2000-flood-to-throw-zooming-glass-lens-cree-p4-led-flashlight-3-aaa-13732?item=1

mrbadexample

I think you'll struggle to get anything really decent for £20. The best set of reviews I've seen is here.

There should be something there you can stretch to.

art_for_arts_sake

ventureuk wrote: »

A great light but way over budget.

An X2000 flood to throw would be my budget choice. I cannot speak more highly of this torch for cycling, it has adjustable optics which allow a very narrow tight beam, or slide the head and the beam opens right up and will illuminate a dark towpath at night.

Run it off 3 AAAs or buy the version which takes a specific LiOn battery but this adds to the overall cost.

I doesn't flash but as someone who owns a number of bike torches, a bright flashing light is best avoided imo.

Link here.

http://dx.com/p/x2000-flood-to-throw-zooming-glass-lens-cree-p4-led-flashlight-3-aaa-13732?item=1

Aldi sold something very similar last year which I fitted to my hack bike with a universal light bike bracket off eBay. It easily outperformed my Smart Lunar but I kept both fitted for increased visibility. Their version did an SOS flash, not at all suitable to use on the road but I'd second the comments about flashing lights, drivers' eyes adjust to the light levels when the light is on making you invisible for the time the front light is unlit. Most front lights with the Cree chip will throw out some serious light, but a 'proper' front light will have have 'notches' on the side or a translucent band at the front to improve your visibility from the side to other road users. Google or eBay search "Cree torch" for other suggestions.

discplayer

You should be able to get a Smart Lunar 35 in budget. Will adequately light your way - better than many commuter lights, not as well as seriously pricey sets.

Handsome90

How about this one? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cateye-EL-130-Front-Bike-Light/dp/B002ZCE6ZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351200062&sr=8-1

The cateye light sets that I'm using now are pretty good.

ventureuk

mrbadexample wrote: »

I think you'll struggle to get anything really decent for £20. The best set of reviews I've seen is here.

There should be something there you can stretch to.

Astonishingly bright lights are available for less than £20, I know because they are fitted to my bikes. £20 will get a light to rival a HID car headlamp, in the depths of winter if I take the towpath home after dark I can turn night into day.

The OP needs to decide if they wish to use the light to illuminate their path or merely be a position marker for oncoming traffic.

art_for_arts_sake

discplayer wrote: »

You should be able to get a Smart Lunar 35 in budget. Will adequately light your way - better than many commuter lights, not as well as seriously pricey sets.

The Smart Lunars aren't a bad little light at all but put them against most of the Cree lights out there and they seem woefully inadequate. OP hasn't mentioned rear lights but the Smart Lunar 1W rear light is seriously impressive and just as important as a good front light IMHO.

Johnmcl7

Rather than start a similar topic it makes more sense to ask in here, I currently use the following front light:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cateye/el600-single-shot-front-light-ec011595

The amount of light it produces is fine, I mainly use to be seen at night but it's bright enough to cycle in the dark without streetlights. The problem is the battery isn't replaceable and battery performance is inconsistent so I'm looking for a similar light that is AA/AAA powered so I can easily change the batteries. I've looked through some of the recommendations above but it's not clear what power would be suitable, I was concerned looking at one of the Kree lights that warned it may blind drivers which clearly was too powerful.

Any thoughts appreciated,
John