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Light Question
I see there has been another thread on building your own light system but I
need to buy one and want some suggestions based on how I'll use them. Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I was a little nervous as this trail is along a riverg I would like to have a system that can easily be removed from the bike and possibly stored in a bag until needed. There are so many different types and I'm not sure what the pros and cons are for them. Any suggestions on buying a good lighting system that won't be used too often? I'll be going to the LBS later this week and would like to have some idea on what to purchase. I would like to stay below $100 for the system. Am I going to be able to purchase a good system in this price range? TIA Beverly |
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#2
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Beverly wrote:
I see there has been another thread on building your own light system but I need to buy one and want some suggestions based on how I'll use them. Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I was a little nervous as this trail is along a riverg I would like to have a system that can easily be removed from the bike and possibly stored in a bag until needed. There are so many different types and I'm not sure what the pros and cons are for them. Any suggestions on buying a good lighting system that won't be used too often? I'll be going to the LBS later this week and would like to have some idea on what to purchase. I would like to stay below $100 for the system. Am I going to be able to purchase a good system in this price range? Yes. Of course the simplest is a small, AA-powered handlebar light like a Cateye Micro, or the new Cateye EL500. These sell for $15-40. However, for dark roads and trails I don't think they give enough light. The next step up would probably be a 10W system with a separate battery pack. You can definately get these for under $100. The cheaper ones have lead-acid batteries which are heavier, but better for occasional use, especially if they come with a "smart" charger. More expensive systems come with nicad or NiMH batteries, which are much lighter and more compact, but don't take as well to occasional use. Most systems have a quick release mount for the lamp, while the battery is either in a little velcroed-on bag, or a hard case that slips into your water bottle cage. So they can be unmounted and slipped into your bag in seconds, rather than left unattended. Here's one: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...&estore_ID=113 Great value, smart charger and all. Performance has as good a selection as any, so browse around a little. Don't forget a taillight too! Matt O. |
#3
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Mon, 01 Nov 2004 01:40:43 GMT,
, "Beverly" wrote: Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I was a little nervous as this trail is along a riverg I would like to have a system that can easily be removed from the bike and possibly stored in a bag until needed. I'd recommend a fork-mounted integral headlight and generator. Something like these http://bikelite.com It's not removable so wouldn't be in the bag you need it on the bike. The batteries wouldn't be flat. . . ever. -- zk |
#4
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Beverly wrote:
I see there has been another thread on building your own light system but I need to buy one and want some suggestions based on how I'll use them. Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I was a little nervous as this trail is along a riverg I would like to have a system that can easily be removed from the bike and possibly stored in a bag until needed. There are so many different types and I'm not sure what the pros and cons are for them. Any suggestions on buying a good lighting system that won't be used too often? I'll be going to the LBS later this week and would like to have some idea on what to purchase. I would like to stay below $100 for the system. Am I going to be able to purchase a good system in this price range? Here are your choices - three broad categories: 1) "Flashlight" style units, clip onto handlebars, batteries in the unit. Typical cost is $10 to $30. Typically 1.25 to 2.4 watts. The newest designs have LEDs instead of halogen bulbs. These are OK for occasional use, but marginal at best for anything over, say, 15 mph unless there are lots of street lights. 2) Generator lights. Typical prices are $15 to $50. Almost all are 2.4 to 3 watts. No battery worries, and usually lots better optics than any other type of light. Good for almost all riding, except night mountain biking. But installation is more difficult and semi-permanent. Good up to 20 mph, at least. 3) "Big" rechargeable battery units. Separate battery, almost always powering a headlight based on an MR-11 or MR-18 lamp, as sold at your hardware store. Typically 10 watts to 35 watts. Typical prices are maybe $75 to $200. Brightest of the lot, but worst optics of the lot, so you're paying big bucks for the priveledge of lighting the trees overhead. The batteries have finite life (maybe a few years), and are expensive to replace (maybe $50). You can find extremes in each category, but those are typical. For your use, if it's really just occasional, I'd get a Type 1 light (the Cateye Micro II is about the best - see Andrew Muzi at the Yellow Jersey online, or Peter White Cycles online), plus a rear LED blinky, and I'd ride slow. If this became a habit, I'd install a generator. They last forever and are always ready. (Well, you may have to replace the bulb someday.) If you plan to ride twisty dirt paths at night, or plan to exceed 30 mph regularly, or are a "more is always better" type of person, then get the Type 3 light. Don't ever mess up your recharging regime, or you'll either be riding in the dark, or shelling out for another battery. I've long thought that there should be a unit that uses the headlight shell from a generator set (with their typically excellent optics) with a (say) 5 to 10 watt bulb, to save the battery life, and allow a smaller & less expensive battery. This would be for people who prefer tending (& replacing) a rechargeable battery to installing a generator, or for people whose night vision is bad. I can't understand why the priciest lights have the worst optics! -- --------------------+ Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com, replace with cc.ysu dot edu] |
#5
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Zoot Katz wrote:
I'd recommend a fork-mounted integral headlight and generator. Something like these http://bikelite.com It's not removable so wouldn't be in the bag you need it on the bike. pardon the cynic in me, but yea .. it'll be on someone else's bike. in mpls everything that wasn't taken with you was eventually stolen. The batteries wouldn't be flat. . . ever. true. -- david reuteler |
#6
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01 Nov 2004 05:30:17 GMT,
, David Reuteler wrote: \snip The batteries wouldn't be flat. . . ever. true. That's what makes dynamos ideal for cyclists who use their lights only occasionally. It also makes them ideal for cyclists who rely on their lights daily. -- zk |
#7
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On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 01:40:43 GMT, "Beverly"
wrote: Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I was a little nervous as this trail is along a riverg I would like to have a system that can easily be removed from the bike and possibly stored in a bag until needed. And what makes you think that, had you bought such a system, it would not have been tucked away in its little bag last weekend? ;-) Guy -- May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk 88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University |
#8
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"Beverly" wrote in message .. .
I see there has been another thread on building your own light system but I need to buy one and want some suggestions based on how I'll use them. Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I was a little nervous as this trail is along a riverg I would like to have a system that can easily be removed from the bike and possibly stored in a bag until needed. There are so many different types and I'm not sure what the pros and cons are for them. Any suggestions on buying a good lighting system that won't be used too often? I'll be going to the LBS later this week and would like to have some idea on what to purchase. I would like to stay below $100 for the system. Am I going to be able to purchase a good system in this price range? The Performance Viewpoint Gen3 sounds like it would be a good light for you. It's on sale for $45 and runs on 4 AA batteries. You could also use AA NiMH rechargables if you used it often. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18633&subcategory_ID=4320 |
#9
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"Beverly" wrote in message
... Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I'd get the Cat Eye Opticube HL-EL 300 Headlight (~$35.00). It's cheap, and the batteries last *forever*. I used one for wintertime commuting and never had to change the batteries all season. It's fine as an emergency light, or for when your route is familiar and has street lighting (like my commute). Another possibility is the Cat Eye HL-EL 500 Power Opticube Headlight (~$50.00) which claims the same battery life, and 1000 candlepower, but I have no experience with it. -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
#10
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"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote in message ... On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 01:40:43 GMT, "Beverly" wrote: Most of my riding is done on bike trails during day light hours. I never considered buying lights until I misjudged how long it would take to return to the car last weekend and had to ride the last few miles in the dark. I was a little nervous as this trail is along a riverg I would like to have a system that can easily be removed from the bike and possibly stored in a bag until needed. And what makes you think that, had you bought such a system, it would not have been tucked away in its little bag last weekend? ;-) Guy I should have been a little clearer. I intend to keep it in the bike bag. Everything is kept in this little bag and I just remove everything but the essentials needed for the current ride. I'll never take those lights out when I'm going for an afternoon rideG Beverly -- May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting. http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk 88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University |
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