Southern California - Whatcha thank? Adequate Lighting for Niterides?

I picked up a lil Planet bike lite for $25. Then saw a Cateye on sale for $39. Gina said buy that one too! I liked the idea of having several hours of lite from the batteries. One states 200 hours from a single serving, 4 AA's. I checked out some of the other lites, charge overnite for 2 hours of lite? Sheesh, hardly seems worth it. That was the $150 range plus had to use one of the bottle holders for the battery. I'm not about to drop $500 for the amount of niteriding I do.

I had a bud that did nite mtb rides often. He had a $300 system and hated it. Had a $60 special and loved it! I rode with him and it worked great. So I figure the lil lites I have should do me good for the money. Don't ride at nite much but some of the rules for certain bike rides state that in order to participate, the riders need to have enough lite to make themselves visible from 300 feet.

Think this looks adequate? I need opinions before I send Gina out on a 100 yard windsprint to check if I'm visible from 300 feet. These pics are taken during the day. Haven't had a chance to ride in the dark yet!

Just a guess, would they be visi from 300 feet?....yes I'm bored!:p

Head on
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/albumnumbertwo/lite2.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/albumnumbertwo/lite1.jpg

little from the side
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/albumnumbertwo/lite3.jpg

Beanz, If you bought the Cateye EL530 I would crack that thing open (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5508378&postcount=6)and slap a SSC Seoul P4 (U-bin) SW0 Bare Emitter (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2026)in that sucker and double the lumens.

^^^^ Yep, I see the boys over in the electronic gadgets forum are making similar mods.

It's a Cateye EL510. Wow, big difference!

Beanz, If you bought the Cateye EL530 I would crack that thing open (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5508378&postcount=6)and slap a SSC Seoul P4 (U-bin) SW0 Bare Emitter (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2026)in that sucker and double the lumens.

how is it on the road and the run times on high?

how is it on the road and the run times on high?

The EL530 only has on and off. The run times are not affected by the brighter LED because the EL530 uses resistors to limit the amps, something like 280mah. If you were to drive the SSC P4 to 1 amp the battery life would go quick and you would have like 220 lumens:D

Oh and it's great on the road.

I use a pair of EL530 lights on the road, and they work great.

I have a Planet Bike Alias (halogen) and a Cateye EL530 on the handlebars of my commuter bike. The Alias is my main light and the 530 is my backup. I originally had a Cateye 530 and 500 (before i got the Alias) but the problem with those lamps is that the light is way too focused. It's adequate for getting around at night but i didn't feel they were enough for me (and not enough for trying to get to work in a hurry after getting off the train at Union Station). :lol: Halogen is still the best value around for being able to see (and be seen).

The Alias only has a 2 (maybe 3) hour runtime so it might not be adequate for a long distance night ride but perfect for commuting.

And now for some gratuitous bicycle pictures:

(alias battery pack is strapped to the downtube)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v178/psydotek/Bicycle/th_P1010034.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v178/psydotek/Bicycle/P1010034.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v178/psydotek/Bicycle/th_P1010036.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v178/psydotek/Bicycle/P1010036.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v178/psydotek/Bicycle/th_P1010037.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v178/psydotek/Bicycle/P1010037.jpg)

For those of you using niterider minewt's ....... is there a BIG difference in the older version that doesnt pack 300 lumens??? They both have the double lights and the newer version seems to last 30 minutes longer. However outside of the increased time ....... is the lighting substantially brighter or really not that big of a deal?
Thanks.

Beanz, If you bought the Cateye EL530 I would crack that thing open (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5508378&postcount=6)and slap a SSC Seoul P4 (U-bin) SW0 Bare Emitter (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2026)in that sucker and double the lumens.

Flashlight geeks. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

At least they're not as bad as toaster geeks. (http://www.instructables.com/id/Mod-a-toaster-and-have-retro-art-toast-for-breakfa/)

Flashlight geeks. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

At least they're not as bad as toaster geeks. (http://www.instructables.com/id/Mod-a-toaster-and-have-retro-art-toast-for-breakfa/)
Pffft, this is nothing... You should see my car. :lol: 550w of retina scorching powah! (with the potential for quite a bit more) :D

Flashlight geeks. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

Don't be a hater, just cause you can't see in the dark;)

I'm into commercial grade toasters and blenders.

I'm into commercial grade toasters and blenders.

Then you'll love this:

http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=chuck

:lol:

You want flashlight geeks? Go over to www.candlepowerforums.com

Then you'll love this:

http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=chuck

:lol:

Funny video!......but our blender has only one speed. (just like my bikes...:p)

You want flashlight geeks? Go over to www.candlepowerforums.com

I did. I noticed that most of the pictures of improved/modded beams are taken inside, presumably because the posters are not allowed outside.