Advocacy & Safety - Can you help me choose between three lights?

OK I know this topic comes up lots but I can't decide among all the choices, and it's hard to get a feel for what's good and what's not just by looking on the web.

As the days get shorter, I'll be spending more and more time riding in the dark before and after work. I live in the burbs, so I do need some light to see the road.

- Absolute top price is $110
- I think 10Watts is good, right?
- I want a small battery to fit in a jersey pocket - for two reasons: 1) The battery will last longer in the winter cold, 2) I don't want to use up a water bottle slot
- The battery should last at least 1.5 hours
- I want to be able to take it off the bike easily when I go for long rides on the weekends.
- I think I need a way to make sure the light is up and above the shifter and brake cable loops on the front of the handle bars (I don't have a bar bag there or anything)

I was looking at the Niterider Trailrat and the Light and Motion Commuter Headlight, and also the Performance Viewpoint Pro Single HB blahblahblah. So are my criteria all whacky? What would you recommend?

Thanks!

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17412&subcategory_ID=4320

10 watts, $80, helmet mount. Otherwise the light & motion looks like it has a relatively flat battery.

http://www.petzl.com/petzl/LampesProduits?MotRecherche=Quick+Search&Langue=en&Gamme=45&Critere=&News=

I'm happy with NiteRider Digital Evolution, the big brother of the TrailRat. I probably would've gotten the TrailRat, but I like the 15 w. FLASHING mode of the DE. It's very attention-getting, even during daylight.

That being said, the DE cables are fragile, have to be handled with care. The TrialRat is analog, does not have the cable fragility problem that I am aware of.

First, don't go digital. Extra stuff that can go wrong and it is unneeded for your purposes. The NR Road Rat or the Performance light listed above should be fine

Second: if you are mounting the light on the bars, you do NOT put the battery in your jersey. Most bar mounted lights don't need to use the bottle cage. If you want to use the battery in your jersey, run the light on your helmet.

The niterider digitals get some pretty low reviews on mtbreviews.com

My experience when backpacking was that in below freezing conditions, battery longevity dropped by a third, if not half. I always used to keep my flashlight in a pocket that was a couple layers under my outerware to prevent its freezing.

Does this happen with bike light batteries? (They look like they would just freeze up if they're just hanging from the top bar.)

Hey, and on the performance site it says that the helmet mounted light is on sale for $80, but then there's the "Suggested Accessories" which has the battery for $129. Do you think that means the $80 doesn't include a battery?

I recently combined the two main high power LED lights on the market (Planet Bike Super Spot and Cateye EL500) and find the result to be quite satisfactory for riding at night on the road. The Cateye has a very tight bright spot and the superspot has more of a wide spread of light. Together they are as bright or brighter than my 10W system and throw the light where I need it. Oh and battery life is 30 hours. Anyway, just had to chime in as I am stoked about my new light setup.

Super Spot = $35
EL500 = $50

My Nite Rider Trailrat 2.0 arrived at work today - I am so chuffed with it :D ! The battery is about the size of 2 ten packs of cigarettes - it's tiny. The plugs that connect the bits are well knarly and look rain proof. Compared to a Cateye thing I had a while back it also so neat, no spiralled wires, just nice, neat short straight ones. The battery has a concave top along it's length that is rubberised so it velcros to the front underside of the toptube and hardly takes up any room.

I can't wait 'til 7.30 when it's finished charging to take it for a spin :D. Only downside is the dumb 9 hour charger. There is a charger called the Nite Rider Brute which is intelligent and means you can't overcook the battery and it is about 3 times faster as well - worth looking into.

Last but not least, all the British MTB mag's give it best buy and say it is way brighter than most other 10 watt rigs...

AND it runs for over two hours :D.

AND it was only £100.

AND, sorry for all the :D :D :D :D :Ds!

The early ones had thin, weak cables, the internal wires broke. The thicker, tougher cable, which is a newer build, seems to be holding up ok. But I'm treating mine with some care.




The niterider digitals get some pretty low reviews on mtbreviews.com

- I want a small battery to fit in a jersey pocket - for two reasons: 1) The battery will last longer in the winter cold, 2) I don't want to use up a water bottle slot
- I want to be able to take it off the bike easily when I go for long rides on the weekends.
- I think I need a way to make sure the light is up and above the shifter and brake cable loops on the front of the handle bars (I don't have a bar bag there or anything)

Helmet-mounted light. Very nice to have the light follow where you're looking, too.