Bike lights

Nebulous2

SidneySmutt said:

Nebulous2 said:

SidneySmutt said:

Here is the link to that £350 front light. I emailed the retailer asking if it was a typo. But alas, no answer!

Exposure-Optix-All-Terrain-E-Bike-Front-Light_128107.

I can't post links, so edited it to show the name of the light.

£350, paah- that’s nothing!  (Link as above).

I can’t see it at the moment, but I think I’ve seen an £800 one. Those really expensive lights tend to be for mountain bikes off-road, where you really need to see where you are going. 

I do long- distance endurance road cycling, and as I said earlier a dynamo tends to be used by most participants. We don’t really admit, even to ourselves, what we spend on kit. Light output isn’t the most important thing. Beam shape is a big factor for road use. German regulations demand the light is cut-off at the top, to prevent blinding oncoming drivers, a bit like a dipped headlight. The best lights for most people meet those standards. While stuff like that is very common on the continent it is of more limited appeal here, partly because our laws don’t demand it. 

Blimey almost £500 for a bike light! But thanks for the link. 

I watched the vid in your link. Those people must be mad hurtling down a mountain in the dark. Even with a good light! 

Part of my journey to/from work is riding down an unlit heavily tree lined potholed mess of a road (old railway spur). So a decent light would be a wise investment. Or I could go down the cheaper root and just buy a large tube of Savlon!

I’ve probably (definitely)  spent more than £500 on my setup, but that includes wheels. They’ve gone up slightly since I bought them. https://www.huntbikewheels.com/collections/dynamo-wheels/products/hunt-superdura-dynamo-disc-road-bike-pack-cx-wheelset-120kg-rider-weight-1939g-24deep-25wide

You need lights and a wiring kit above that. 

Here’s a useful link for comparing lights. You can pick two to compare and move the slider to see the difference.  https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/best-2019-2020-front-lights-cycling-40-light-beam-comparison-plus-how-212914

They’ve tried to standardise the testing as much as possible. There’s a lot of clever tech goes into some of the lights with lenses and reflectors to shape the beam, to be considered as well as light output. You want a reasonably focused beam to see immediately in front of you for potholes, but you also want a bit of light at the side to see the verge. 

I really like descending quickly and overnight on a twisty descent I’ve never been on before it’s quite hypnotic watching this little patch of light and hanging on for grim death. Although I’m going slower than I would in daylight, it doesn’t feel like it. 

Apjs87

any lights From cateye or lezyne are good for the budget conscious. Check those makes out. If you visit wiggle, generally lights with a high number of good reviews you can’t go wrong with.

TripleH

Can I just ask what the point of those bike lights with almost a 'strobe' effect is?
I understand that flashing lights are useful. but at dusk time, I find the 'strobe' effect quite unpleasant and distracting (I have mild photosensitive epilepsy) and my concern is that surely this is an accident waiting to happen?
(If you are seizure free and have DVLA and medical approval you can drive)

SidneySmutt

Very useful info everyone. A lot to research between now and Autumn. Thank you.