head lights and tail lights

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Willis on October 21, 2010 at 9:57am

I use a planet bike 1.5 Watt front light and a super flash rear. I also use wheel lights by Anviling that get a ton of attention by just about all that see them.

Anvii site - http://www.anvii.com/

my wheels with said lights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjEv1gGCsJc

I used these on my GF's bike and they did better than I expected - http://cgi.ebay.com/2-LED-SPOKE-LIGHTS-RED-LED-BIKE-WHEEL-LIGHTS-NI...

I have not done a VID of the ones above yet but I can If you are looking at buying them.

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on October 21, 2010 at 12:41pm

good thread as CDT is approaching (more dark riding - ugh).

I can add a few things :

I bought relective spoke covers (they are barely visible in daylight btw) that light up nicely.
$15.00 at Rapid Transit (shameless plug)

I bought a roll of 3M Scotchbrite red reflective tape - apply it to the milk crate, helmet, seat stays
and rims (not on the braking surface though)

I attached (3 zip-ties) a (2 AA) mag light to my helmet (I also have a blinking headlight btw). the nice
about this is when you look at a car - the light points right at them. you can also order an LED upgrade
for any mag lite so you never have to worry about bulb replacement (and the batteries last longer) and
it is a lot brighter.

DB



Joe Willis said:

I use a planet bike 1.5 Watt front light and a super flash rear. I also use wheel lights by Anviling that get a ton of attention by just about all that see them.

Anvii site - http://www.anvii.com/

my wheels with said lights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjEv1gGCsJc

I used these on my GF's bike and they did better than I expected - http://cgi.ebay.com/2-LED-SPOKE-LIGHTS-RED-LED-BIKE-WHEEL-LIGHTS-NI...

I have not done a VID of the ones above yet but I can If you are looking at buying them.

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on October 21, 2010 at 1:10pm

i've been using a Busch und Muller CYO-R+ LED headlight powered by a Sram i-light dynahub. The headlamp has a "standlight" -a capacitor-powered backup that stays lit when i'm at a standstill. It throws a good wide beam that lights up the road for a about 100+ feet ahead. i'll be building a SON-28 dynohub wheel and putting the Sram on another bike. Both of these dynamos are low-drag and won't slip like tyre-driven generators in the rain.

i'm liking the dynamo light because i don't need to worry about charging batteries that may funk out at a bad time. Also some of my night rides are longer than the 4 hour or so battery life of many of the brighter lamps out there.

For the rear i'm using two Superflash tail lights (BRIGHT!) on steady -flashing lights tend to cause a "moth effect" with impaired drivers and also are damned distracting to any riders behind. i also have a fender mounted LED/reflector.

The B&M headlight came from Peter White Cycles. Look them up. Lots of good info on their site and some entertaining reading in general.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie 13.5185km on October 21, 2010 at 1:25pm

Mike, I assume your headlight is permantently installed. If that is the case, are you at all concerned about theft of the light?

mike w. said:

i've been using a Busch und Muller CYO-R+ LED headlight powered by a Sram i-light dynahub. The headlamp has a "standlight" -a capacitor-powered backup that stays lit when i'm at a standstill. It throws a good wide beam that lights up the road for a about 100+ feet ahead. i'll be building a SON-28 dynohub wheel and putting the Sram on another bike. Both of these dynamos are low-drag and won't slip like tyre-driven generators in the rain.

i'm liking the dynamo light because i don't need to worry about charging batteries that may funk out at a bad time. Also some of my night rides are longer than the 4 hour or so battery life of many of the brighter lamps out there.

For the rear i'm using two Superflash tail lights (BRIGHT!) on steady -flashing lights tend to cause a "moth effect" with impaired drivers and also are damned distracting to any riders behind. i also have a fender mounted LED/reflector.

The B&M headlight came from Peter White Cycles. Look them up. Lots of good info on their site and some entertaining reading in general.

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Permalink Reply by Kelvin Mulcky on October 21, 2010 at 1:37pm

I really wanted the CYO, but "settled" for the Magicshine due to cost. Eventually I think i'll invest in a dynamo set-up...

I think that two superflashes, on steady, is the way to go!

mike w. said:

i've been using a Busch und Muller CYO-R+ LED headlight powered by a Sram i-light dynahub. The headlamp has a "standlight" -a capacitor-powered backup that stays lit when i'm at a standstill. It throws a good wide beam that lights up the road for a about 100+ feet ahead. i'll be building a SON-28 dynohub wheel and putting the Sram on another bike. Both of these dynamos are low-drag and won't slip like tyre-driven generators in the rain.

i'm liking the dynamo light because i don't need to worry about charging batteries that may funk out at a bad time. Also some of my night rides are longer than the 4 hour or so battery life of many of the brighter lamps out there.

For the rear i'm using two Superflash tail lights (BRIGHT!) on steady -flashing lights tend to cause a "moth effect" with impaired drivers and also are damned distracting to any riders behind. i also have a fender mounted LED/reflector.

The B&M headlight came from Peter White Cycles. Look them up. Lots of good info on their site and some entertaining reading in general.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 21, 2010 at 1:38pm

I use that technique. It gets the attention of distracted drivers nearly 100% of the time for me.

Also, if I'm on a narrow 2-way street and an approaching driver is too far over into my lane, I turn my head towards where the car SHOULD be, and it usually goes there. :)

Tommie said:

Lights on your helmet really get the attention of motorists. Wherever you're looking your light is pointing--if you don't think they see you, just look at them.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 21, 2010 at 1:38pm

Wow! Now THAT's bright.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

I ordered a Magicshine light earlier this week. it was $77 with free shipping from deals extreme. Can't get a better deal than that!
Here's a photo of the light in action:

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Permalink Reply by John on October 21, 2010 at 2:36pm

The Magicshine is a GREAT headlamp. It has both high and Low steady modes and a couple of flashing modes. Great value for the money (900 lumens), uses a rechargeable battery pack and the lamp attaches with a rubber O-ring for easy removal. Recommended for trail riding as well.

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Permalink Reply by Holly on October 21, 2010 at 6:26pm

I am missing a screw (hee hee) for my light's mount. The mount fits well on my cork wrapped bars w/o that screw, but not on my upright bars that aren't wrapped. I'm riding that upright tonight.

I concocted this just now after reading this discussion. It's a headlamp meant to be used for camping. (I also use it for grilling at night.) I pulled the tight elastic band over my helmet and then tightened my helmet to fit. It's a little weird feeling, but it should work because it seems really solid and stable. I'm fairly slow on my upright Schwinn anyway.

At least I they should be able to see me. Here's a photo I took minutes ago. It wasn't even that dark in my office and I think I look really well lit.
Rear light is a cheap blinky I clip to my skirt's waistband!

I want better lights, too. Winter's coming.

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Permalink Reply by Holly on October 21, 2010 at 6:35pm

Holly said:

I am missing a screw (hee hee) for my light's mount. The mount fits well on my cork wrapped bars w/o that screw, but not on my upright bars that aren't wrapped. I'm riding my upright tonight.

I concocted this just now after reading this discussion. It's a headlamp meant to be used for camping. (I also use it for grilling at night.) I pulled the tight elastic band over my helmet and then tightened my helmet to fit. It's a little weird feeling, but it should work because it seems really solid and stable. I'm fairly slow on my upright Schwinn anyway.

At least they should be able to see me. Here's a photo I took minutes ago. It wasn't even that dark in my office and I think I look really well lit.
Martini helps.
Rear light is a cheap blinky I clip to my skirt's waistband!

I want better lights, too. Winter's coming.

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