Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - NiteRider MiNewt?
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The guys in my LBS recommended this light to me today. 110 lumens, weatherproof, small (which I like). It's about $100. There's also the more expensive $130 model with the helmet mount. I'll be commuting 6-9 miles each direction, possibly 2 nite commutes per day, not real fast either, under 22mph most likely. I saw the P7's for about the same price, but looks a little big. I want to be able to remove this light when I go into school and the NiteRider seems more practical.
As far as helmet mounts...given the choice between this and handlebar mount if you only had to pick one, which would you choose for city commutes?
Oh I almost forgot, I am looking for a light that I can see with, not just to be seen.
Not the Slowest
08-19-09, 11:32 AM
Buy the Dinotte 200L AA, gives 200 lumens with helmet attachment.
Uses 4 AA recharable batteries, last over 2 hours on hight mode, has flashing modes for BEING SEEN. Costs $119 without battery & charger or $149 with them.
http://store.dinottelighting.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=dinotte&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=848217189&Count2=765357613
The advantage is that if the battery on the Nite Rider goes and sooner or later it will the new battery will cost you big time. Also once you have the AA's you can through extras in your bag for long nite rides. In a pinch you can use Lithium AA's. Another factory is re-charge time. If you get home and forget to charge the unit it may be dead for the next day/nite ride.
What about the P7's, good question. My play on it is not the size, I have a Romison Flashlight and Fenix on my bikes, with a dinotte on the way. The issue I have with the P7 is hit or miss quality with them. SOme people get them and all is fine, others get lemons that need some type of fixing/repair. Seems the better choices of the P7 are ones with fewer modes, say 1-2-3.
dwilbur3
08-19-09, 05:30 PM
I have both a MiNewt and a P7. The MiNewt seemed great until I got the P7, now I wonder how I made it with that dim little light.
Well I sprung for the NiteRider Minewt handlebar mount and I just got back from my first night commute with it, and it was also in the rain. I found that it is adequate...not like sunlight but adequate for my needs. There is some street lighting on my commute, but when I get into those patches with no light it works great. I ride the local bike path through the woods for a bit for part of the commute and it lit it up nicely. The rain soaked streets however looked black, but it looks like that even with car headlights. I'm sure it will be even better in dry commutes.
A definite plus is the ease of removing it, it's small size (I tend to pack lots of stuff) and charging flexibility.
A minus is the lack of a flash function, but I have an older blackburn LED that's too dim for night riding but great for flashiness.