Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - New commuter, need my first light

Hi all,

I am a new commuter and it keeps getting light later and now I find myself riding in the dark. I need an affordable light set up that will provide enough light for my one hour commute to work, maybe be detachable so I can recharge it at my desk and provide enough light to ride home. Most of my commute is on a bike path that winds through trees.

My budget is less than a hundred $, if possible.

Cygolite Nimh xtra. 16 watts. $79 at beyond bikes. Best bang for the buck in my opinion.

I think its possible... And if you are winding around trees, i say use a OSRAM IRC 36deg 20w 12v MR16 lamp. Thats what i use for night time off roading and it works very well.

I am not sure about your location, so i dono what chargers and battery packs you can get... but most of the cost is in the charger and pack.

With this pack you can get 2hrs or more of light from the 20w osram.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2055

And you can keep the battery toped off at work (or where ever) with this.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3331

As for the actual light. I would recommend a home made light. Since most store bought lights don't use MR16 bulbs, and its much cheaper. I built my crappy light for like 7$

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/DSC_0786.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/DSC_0791.jpg

Daredevil, did you mean: Cygo Lite - Night-Rover NiMH Xtra 16 watt? I see that it has a water bottle battery, is that rechargeable? Looks like a nice setup for the price.

diff_lock2, I am not sure about rigging up something...no tools for that. Do they make a good bike mount for a flashlight? or should I go with a set up like above? How do you attach a battery that looks like a brick? (stick it in your pocket?) not trying to be smart.....if I was smart, I wouldn't have to ask these stupid questions.

Normally the batt packs attach to the frame in a pouch of some sort. I keep mine in a saddle bag, and run speaker cable around the frame up to the light.

My fav solution is a cage rocket (http://www.cagerocket.com/), but i haven't got my hands one one yet.

Oh and that 16w light DD suggested is pretty nice from what i can see. Just a little under powered. I think he is talking about the one with the 10w and 6w lights.

Daredevil, did you mean: Cygo Lite - Night-Rover NiMH Xtra 16 watt? I see that it has a water bottle battery, is that rechargeable? Looks like a nice setup for the price.


Yep that's it and yes it is rechargable. It's been a very good light for me going on the second year with it.

There is a 20% coupon for this, today only..
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19985&subcategory_ID=4320