cyclinggerrydee

Hi All,

I wanted to ask what is your lights setup for daytime rides? I recently ditched my cheapo Aliexpress LED front and rear lights for some more powerful lighting to be seen.

Decided to go for the Knog Blinder Road Rear, which is super bright and has good lighting all around.

But for the front, I'm trying to decide between the Blinder 1 or Blinder 4 on my Cervelo R2. I'm trying to retain a simple cockpit on my bike and not have massive lights attached during the day. I'm wondering whether I should keep the Blinder 4 or stick to the Blinder 1. Both are very bright, but the Blinder 4 is physically larger, sort of sticks out aesthetically and looks like 'overkill' for a daytime ride.

Should I just stick to the Blinder 4 for my added safety, despite the Blinder 1 blending into the front handlebars better and looks much sleeker? What would you do? I'll try to post a picture later so you can help me decide, my fellow experienced cyclists.

Here's what the Blinder 4 looks like (mine is black not silver):
https://cdn.coresites.factorymedia.co...1-IMG_4355.jpg

And the Blinder 1 (I opted for the single round dot design):
https://cdn.mos.bikeradar.imdserve.co...v7k-700-80.jpg

ModeratedUser

I really like my 2-watt Micro Hotshot for day and night time riding. One of the flashing modes is a constant rather quick flashing. Really has to be difficult being behind at with mode, but there's others modes that is great for night time riding and two modes for when riding in a group at night. I have one that is a hook for saddlebag and another I could put on the seatpost. That doesn't mean I use two sometimes. I think it would be rather hard for me to find a rear light I'd like better.

Front light is rather open and many good options out there. I'd work on getting a good front light that you can see where you're going at night too.

Don't skimp on a good rear light. Your life is worth at least $30 yeah?

BTW, the lights you mentioned doesn't say what the wattage is does it?

slimyfrog

I think when it comes to lights, safety needs to tromp aesthetics. Safety is the whole point of lights in the first place. Still... I think the blinder 4 doesn't look bad at all, especially in black. I use blinder 1s (front and back) for daytime riding, but for the night commute I ended up with a Cygolite metro 550 in the front and a Cygolite hotshot 2W in the back. Leaves little doubt I'm visible.

ItsJustMe

Aesthetics? What's that? Nothing I worry about very much.

10 Wheels

Reflective tape on the back of the shoes works great.

vol

I just noticed your lights are not mounted on the handlebar. What are the rubber bands wrapped around? Can't see any bar-like things under the lights.

mapeiboy

This is what you need .https://store.designshinelighting.com/

ModeratedUser

Good eye! Yeah the right light looks real suspect. Like my compass better too.

seajaye

Either don't care about aesthetics and get nice lights (being seen/safe is more important than your bike looking cool).

OR care about aesthetics and get a new bike. Like a steel randonneur with integrated dynamo lighting.

That being said, if this is for daytime rides and just having *something* on, I usually put my USB lights on the lowest steady setting and forget about them.

1nterceptor

This will also have a low profile on your bars; but you'll have to deal w/ wires.
The trade off is that it will be brighter and run longer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G74...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

mr_bill

Of for god's sake.

Both knog blinders are be-seen lights. Slight daylight nod to the blinder 4 on the front, but just slight because it's a bit brighter and has a wider angle of view.

I use knog blinder 4's front and rear - they are very visible in traffic during the day, and the rear is good for night too. The front knog blinder 4 does *NOT* throw enough light at night for *you* to see much, you have to ride under city lights *AND* ride slow. (I have another knog for night riding.)

The knog blinder 1 does nothing at night but fulfill the letter, not spirit, of bike light laws if you bike *anywhere* without overhead lights. Even with overhead lights, it's not enough.

Now back to our regularly scheduled klieg light sessions.

-mr. bill

JohnnyCyclist

In my opinion, irregular flashing patterns are most noticed. So, I use a PlanetBike Superflash Turbo on the rear and a Blackburn Flea USB 2.0 on the front (both provide irregular patterns).

10 Wheels

This one is what is in the pic.
Amazon.com : The Topeak Bar Extender : Bike Multifunction Tools : Sports & Outdoors

This should Help

Chris0516

I have the NiteRider Minewt 600. It works great!!! NiteRider stopped selling it a couple of years ago. In favor of newer models. Here is a link to a review that Performance Bicycle did of the light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxHlifEXJo8

Here is a review also by Performance Bicycle of my taillight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpKNATGT-98

I bought my headlight from a chain bike shop several years ago. That sadly went out of business a couple weeks ago, after 44yrs. in business. I bought the taillight from Performance.

Here is a review by Performance Bicycle, of the NiteRider Lumina 750, that replaced the NiteRider MiNewt 600: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fs6jlPgGgk

bmthom.gis

If you don't want something crowding your cockpit, look for one that you can buy a helmet mount for. Me? I have a B&M Ixon IQ Premium mounted to my fork crown and a Cygolight Pace 500 on my helmet. MY B&M died on me last night and the Cygolight was fine for getting me home in the dark. On the rear I have a Knog Blinder and a much brighter Hotshot SL30.

The Cygolight and Hotshot came together from Performance for like 75 bucks. Hard to beat that IMO. Looks like the price went up a bit, but still a good deal
CygoLite Pace 550 USB LED Headlight and HotShot SL 30 USB Tail Light - Performance Exclusive

wphamilton

I mount mine under the stem, unobtrusive and out of the way. I think that's be best aesthetics, and less drag if that's important, without having to compromise on brightness.

ModeratedUser

Oooohhhhh yeah....... I see where lumens vs aesthetics is balanced.

ModeratedUser

Really for a headlight take a look at MTBR 2015 light review; 2015 Bike Lights Shootout - Mtbr.com There are some rear lights reviewed, but not many. Personally I've ended up with a Niterider Lumina 750 cause I found it at a REI garage sale for the ridiculous price of $30, slightly used. MTBR gives really good reviews on it.

no motor?

The OP obviously hasn't seen some of us. I use a Magicshine and the Viz360 on flash during the day.

mconlonx

You need all the lumens or you will die.

AlmostTrick

My favorite head light so far: Ion 700 R - | Bontrager

Lights up the entire road at night, attention grabbing flash for daytime use, self contained and lightweight. Looks good too.

kickstart

Tomorrow I'm picking up a Specialized Flux expert that is a true shaped beam headlight with high and low beams on two power levels, a strobe, dual intensity modulation mode, and "light horn", all accessible with a bar mounted control.

Not a lot of reviews available, but folks I've talked to love it.

AlmostTrick

I'm looking forward to your review.

Rollfast

I think all that daytime headlights do is make people notice that your lights are on. And since many newer cars only light one in that mode as I understand...it just means people think you have a burnt out light and they want you to know before you're impaired at night.

What can a tiny 1.5-6V light do to get you noticed, unless it's an eclipse?

rekmeyata

Exactly, aesthetics means nothing as long as the light is bright, batteries last reasonably long, and it's reliable I'll use it.