Commuting - Front flashing stobe light

Looking for a front flashing light with high visibility.
Should be easy to mount and remove from handlebars.
Prefer standard batteries like AAA, no coin cells.
I found some online made by Knog (frog, beetle, toad, etc)
Any others I should consider?

Thanks

Here's a couple

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Headlight-Suplerflash-Combination/dp/B001G7Q24Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1280255321&sr=8-4
and
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blaze-LED-Headlight/dp/B0015R1NE4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1280255321&sr=8-7

hope they help

I use the Cateye Opticube. Not super bright, but more than adequate to "be seen". Uses 2 AA, slides on/off the mounting bracket pretty easily. I've enjoyed it for over two years, no problems.

Looking for something much smaller and easier to mount than that.
I already have a high output LED headlight to light up the road, this is just so cars can see me better at a distance from the front.

Looking for something much smaller and easier to mount than that.
I already have a high output LED headlight to light up the road, this is just so cars can see me better at a distance from the front.

I use the PB Blaze 2W as my full-time front blinkie and it slides off and on much faster than the mini-lights that aren't nearly as bright and require a strap that takes more time to fiddle with. Plus the PB mounting bracket takes up a very narrow spot on the handlebar.

My main light is the ever-popular Magicshine, and the 2W blaze is the only blinkie I've had that has enough umph to be visible. The MS is pointed at the road, the PB is aimed slightly above level.

I use the PB Blaze 2W as my full-time front blinkie .

+1. Good light and a very visible strobe. The Blackburn Voyager is ok too, but the Blaze is better

Looking for something much smaller and easier to mount than that.
I already have a high output LED headlight to light up the road, this is just so cars can see me better at a distance from the front.

I use a Blackburn Flea on my fixie because the shape of the bars doesn't leave much room for much else.. it's small and brighter than my bigger light on my other bike...actually it's blindingly bright if you look right at it. It's usb rechargeable. The charge seems to last a few hours.. so I usually recharge it every night. It just straps on with a velcro strap.

http://bhop73.com/stuff/flea.jpg

from http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-gear/blackburn-flea-light-review/

"The front Flea has 4 white LEDs and has steady, overdrive (slightly brighter steady) and flash modes. This Flea is right on the edge between a see and be-seen type of light. The beam it casts is slightly broader than a spot beam, with soft edges and a good amount of peripheral light. For asphalt riding it is good to about 12 to 13 mph before you start to out ride the light (where you can’t see far enough ahead to safely avoid road hazards). Off-Road the illumination it provides is acceptable so long as the trail has good contrast to the surrounding landscape. This time of year (late fall) when there are leaves both on and off the trail I had to slow down considerably. As a supplemental light to a good bright helmet light the Flea’s performance is flawless. When used as a be-seen light the flash mode does an outstanding job of calling drivers’ attention to a cyclist or something else out of the ordinary coming at them - it borders on blinding at under 20 feet at night. Even in full daylight the flash mode is effective to make drivers pause and think “WHADAHECKISDAT!” Run time for the front light is advertised at 6 hours in flash mode– my run down test yielded about 6 hours, 15 minutes. The front light weighs an even 20 grams with the mounting strap."

Please pardon the meta-question -- do you use these blinky fronts at night by themselves? Must be an acquired taste. I tried it, drove me absolutely bonkers.

I guess if you're blinking for extra visibility as icing on a lumen cake of MagicShine brilliance, the strobe effect is mitigated and less seizure-inducing. My little bit of experimentation is that I'd have to want to be seen pretty darn badly to blink in front at night. I've only used comfortably in fog, twilight, etc. with enough ambient lighting that I didn't feel I was at a disco.

Please pardon the meta-question -- do you use these blinky fronts at night by themselves? Must be an acquired taste. I tried it, drove me absolutely bonkers.

I guess if you're blinking for extra visibility as icing on a lumen cake of MagicShine brilliance, the strobe effect is mitigated and less seizure-inducing. My little bit of experimentation is that I'd have to want to be seen pretty darn badly to blink in front at night. I've only used comfortably in fog, twilight, etc. with enough ambient lighting that I didn't feel I was at a disco.

I do, but I live in a city with street lights, so 'seeing ahead' isn't usually necessary. Just 'being seen'. When I do pass through a dark street, I just switch it to steady mode and slow down so I can see any potholes until the street lights show up again (usually a couple blocks at most).

+1. Good light and a very visible strobe. The Blackburn Voyager is ok too, but the Blaze is better

I can get the Blaze 1W a lot cheaper than the 2W. I assume its bright enough in blink mode.

There's a Knog front light that I kinda like. Bought it just to be seen, and it's low-profile and completely removable without leaving a bracket behind.

http://www.knog.com.au/gear-lights/boomer.phps

Bought the headlight-taillight pack, too. Both have several flash modes that rival the PBSF's eye-catching flash, IMO.

I have an MEC Shark, 4 AAA, visible to 900 meters, about $10. Plus I can use it as a flashlight - it's just as powerful as my 2 AA LED Maglite.

Planet Bike Blaze is an awesome "be seen" light, I have the 1W variety. Not only the power, but the unique strobe pattern is very eye-catching. Easy on and off the bike.

Please pardon the meta-question -- do you use these blinky fronts at night by themselves? Must be an acquired taste. I tried it, drove me absolutely bonkers.

I guess if you're blinking for extra visibility as icing on a lumen cake of MagicShine brilliance, the strobe effect is mitigated and less seizure-inducing. My little bit of experimentation is that I'd have to want to be seen pretty darn badly to blink in front at night. I've only used comfortably in fog, twilight, etc. with enough ambient lighting that I didn't feel I was at a disco.

Yeah, I use MagicShine on steady, sometimes with an additional blinkie offset far enough so it's visible. A blinkie alone would make most people feel sick at night, that's normal.

Dinotte sells what you're looking for but they are $$$.


do you use these blinky fronts at night by themselves?I use flash mode during day/dusk and then use normal mode @ night.

Blinkys are illegal in some Cycle using countrys.

Two Fish makes a 90 degree rubber block with 2 velcro straps, you can use any LED flashlight then.
I have a AA maglight with a 3 diode bulb conversion.

Of course you can get a 1 or 2w PB light and their clip to HB is a slide out affair , they are brighter .

those small Coin shaped batteries are expensive and are not rechargeable ..

My MTE P7 flashlight sure makes driver look , almost seizure inducing.

Planet Bike Blaze is an awesome "be seen" light, I have the 1W variety. Not only the power, but the unique strobe pattern is very eye-catching. Easy on and off the bike.
Yup, I agree. My wife also have the 1/2 watt version on her bike (it came in a set with a Super Flash) and it's plenty bright enough to be seen by in the strobe setting. The PB Blaze lights are small and easy to attach/remove and the bracket seems to hold them securely. They also seem quite durable as mine has survived the inevitable drops to the pavement. My 1W has a "high beam" setting which is passable for unlighted streets, but I wouldn't want to rely on it if the majority of my route was dark. I think PB nailed the city commuter's needs with their Blaze and Super Flash lights; at least in my city.

Personally I love the Knog Skink. Bright enough to be seen, very small, easy to mount/take off, and uses just 2 aa batteries. Downside is that they are not cheap, changing the batteries can be tricky, and depending on which way it is mounted water can seep in. Unfortunately someone stole both my front and rear set so I know how that is.

Blinkys are illegal in some Cycle using countrys.

Two Fish makes a 90 degree rubber block with 2 velcro straps, you can use any LED flashlight then.
I have a AA maglight with a 3 diode bulb conversion.

Of course you can get a 1 or 2w PB light and their clip to HB is a slide out affair , they are brighter .

those small Coin shaped batteries are expensive and are not rechargeable ..

I find those coin batteries very light weight and good as backup emergency lights. Don't discount them to have a red and white one in the purse or for you guys that have it on the seat bag.

Check discount stores or we have www.mec.ca here which has them for a cheap price for the batteries. Just get a pair of batteries, and stick a slip of paper into the light contact so it does not drain the battery. Ready for use in an emergency!

I would like to revive this thread to ask a related question.

I already have an acceptable hub dynamo headlight (DLumotec Oval 1 watt LED) for seeing the road, and mainly ride in urban areas with amble streetlights. I also have a PBSF and a wired dynamo taillight (B&M DToplight). I play to upgrade the headlight to a IQ Cyo (3 watt LED), next winter.

However, I would like a small battery-powered headlight to mount on the handlebars, for improved visibility to oncoming and crossing traffic at twilight and at night. I currently have a Planet Bike Beamer light. I like it, but the beam is very focused on a 10 degree circle straight ahead; I have that covered with the lumotec headlight.

I want a AA or AAA powered headlight, with the ability to flash, but with a very wide beam angle, at least 45 degrees to each side. The beam straight ahead should be somewhat stronger, but I don't want it to drop off precipitously at 10 degrees. I also don't want a 2 watt Planet Bike Blaze on strobe / superflash mode, because I think that would be too distracting and dazzling to motorists (and me!), and I want to save my money for the IQ Cyo

The Planet Bike Sport Spot (http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bicycle-Handlebar-Mounts/dp/B000HTYZUA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) might work, but I don't really need the headband or helmet mount, and $30 seems a bit expensive for 4 small LEDs.

Are there any other small AA or AAA headlights like this, with a very wide beam? Has anyone tried the Sport Spot?

Are there any other small AA or AAA headlights like this, with a very wide beam? Has anyone tried the Sport Spot?

Your Beamer isn't that bad for side visibility (assuming it's like the ones they sell these days, with the cutouts on the sides). I'd think that the Sport Spot has less dispersion, although if you wear it on your head, you get to aim it wherever you look.

You could aid your Beamer's dispersion by putting some matte Scotch tape on it, too.

Check out the comparison for the Sport Spot here:
http://planetbike.com/page/learn/lightfinder/

You don't specify which Beamer you have(1,3,5). I would go with the Beamer 5:

None of the products mentioned so far are actually strobes. Strobe has a specific meaning, and most LEDs are not strobes unless they're on for only a thousandth of a second or so. Strobes put out a hell of a lot of light, like hundreds to thousands of lumens, for a tiny, tiny fraction of a second. Photographic flashes are strobes.

This is a strobe:
http://www.lightmanstrobes.com/lightman-xenon-strobes

None of the products mentioned so far are actually strobes. Strobe has a specific meaning, and most LEDs are not strobes unless they're on for only a thousandth of a second or so. Strobes put out a hell of a lot of light, like hundreds to thousands of lumens, for a tiny, tiny fraction of a second. Photographic flashes are strobes.

This is a strobe:
http://www.lightmanstrobes.com/lightman-xenon-strobes

Eh.. It's pretty obvious to anybody that what this thread means by 'strobe' is a flashing light..

In my work we always start before daylight. Between that and staying out after dark fishing, it's a rare day that I don't have one of these on my belt all day long.

http://www.maglite.com/AA_Cell_LED.asp

I think it was around $25, maybe a little less.

On overcast afternoons when I ride home I strap it to the handlebars with a bungee loop and run it in flash mode. From the actions of motorists I seem to be more noticeable on overcast days running this light than I am on bright, sunny days that I don't use it.

I use a white Firefly blinky. It does use a CR2032 battery, which has lasted for me over 2 years!

You can also clip it to a bag or your shirt/jacket. It's super light, but super bright!

163831

To prevent opening another thread, I'm thinking of getting that Planet Bike 1 watt Blaze and Super Flash Stealth set. I'm thinking for the $50 it runs, it's a decent deal. Anything else I should look at for just a good legal light set? Doesn't have to be the greatest, just the best bang for the buck.

I hope you enjoy your lights, Carl, but i have no idea how they're going to prevent anotbe thread. ;)