Southern California - Commuting Light Question

What front lights do you guys use? I'm in Los Angeles, which is a pretty bright/light-polluted area. I'm looking at systems around $30. I know that's more in the "be-seen" than "see" category. What are people using? Thanks.

I have the Blackburn Quadrant/Mars 3.0 combo on one of my bikes. I like it. It's about $32.00.

The Planet Bike Superflash (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=PBBSF&tnum=2388829&c=3183254)is a great rear blinkie.

The 99 cent type stores are starting to stock some pretty good lights

I have a NiteRider Ultrafazer 5.0. I think it's the best $40 light out there.

In the "be seen" category, I find longevity and mounting options to be most important. My headlight can be mounted upside down to stay out of the way of my computer and HRM buttons, but still screws on tight enough to not move around on the bumpy section of my commute, and my tail lights have clips to mount on my seat bad and my helmet retention strap.

I do plan on getting a decent "see" headlight before daylight savings ends, for the dark sections of my commute.

I have the Blackburn Quadrant mounted so it is under the bar and out of the way.

I have this little Planet Bike light, (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3022.html)also. I like anything that I have tried by Planet Bike.

I see a lot of people using these Knog Frog (http://www.asylumsports.com/index.php?action=item&id=991)LED's , too.

I use this fixture on the hb's so that I can carry two lights. One Cateye straight ahead and one Planet Bike angled down at potholes.:D

I also wear anklebands with tri colored reflective strips. IMO, they atract the most attention at night with the up and down movement.


http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22874&subcategory_ID=4323

I use led flashlights mounted on the handlebar and helmet. A very bright light on the handlebar with a smaller helmet light is unbeatable. With flashlights, you can get a much brighter light at much lower costs than a bike light. LEDs are constantly improving. There are dozens of choices when you go this route.

The Lowe's Task Force is very popular as a handlebar light:

http://lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=225285-50584-FT-NS-2C%203W&lpage=none

One resource I like when choosing a light is this review; any of the highly rated AA or AAA would be great for a helmet light:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=199062

For mounts, I have TwoFish. However, the mounts I like the best are zefal:

http://www.xxcycle.com/doodad-plus-109,,en.php

Here is great page on helmet mounting with TwoFish:

http://www.ruscelli.com/biking_twofish.htm

Thanks everyone! I'm debating whether or not to just get a "see" light... the NiteRider Road Rat seems the most affordable. But using flashlights could work as well...

If you buy a Planetbike Superflash, just be sure to REALLY REALLY secure the light to the mount. Mine fell off. :( I have a dollar store blinky on right now that uses the same mount as the superflash, and I've used a cable tie to secure the light to the mount. When I can afford another superflash, I will do the same thing to keep it from falling off.

Oh, and if you can't afford one expensive light, go with multiple cheap lights. Right now my setup is two dollar store blinkies on the bike, one freebie Metro blinky on my bag/clothes, one free cateye headlight mounted on the handlebars (from a kind person here), and a $5 led light for my helmet. My lighting setup costs $7, but works just great.
:thumb:

I picked up two red blinkies at Target for like 8-9 bucks each, and put one on the front, one on the rear. I also got a reflective, blinking arm/leg band. And as far as headlights, I'm picked up a Task Force at Lowe's today--one of the new ones w/ the Cree lamp or whatever. Thing is BRIGHT.