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01-15-11, 10:37 PM
This is an addendum to Colleens very thorough review of the Gemini light
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/705700-Mini-review-of-the-Gemini-Titan-light-with-beamshot
After reading her great analysis and opinion on the product I decided to take the plunge.
I have been using a Bell Platinum LED light you can buy from Walmart and an Energizer halogen head lamp. At best we're talking 150 lumens. Both lights are a wash with against the Gemini light. This is the first light I buy of this caliber and have just started to ride (almost 2 months). I've been looking for something that gets peoples attention as I cross dozens of intersections on my usual route, plan on starting to commute to work (12mi) and want to start riding in the street.
Today was my off day for weight training so decided to double up my usual distance (25mi.) I ride on paved bike paths (shared with pedestrians) with areas that have good street lighting, and other sections that have only stop lights as the only lighting.
The battery pack came charged at 7.8V. I let it charge for awhile (didn't keep track of the time, over an hour or so) and walked out the door with it showing 8.2V. My ride took 2hrs and the battery back was showing 7.4V when I came back. The light never kicked into low mode.
It goes without saying that I'm really impressed with the product. It lit up the path VERY well. I had no problems seeing 100+ feet in front of me, even with rolling hills, and noticed a few objects that I had never seen before. I was careful on how high I had the light tilted up as I was afraid of blinding oncoming traffic. It definitely caught peoples attention at the intersections, which is what I was looking for in a product. I could also see people walking on the paths that didn't have reflective gear on clearly coming down the road. I've been surprised a few times, which is another reason I was looking for better lighting.
I'm very happy with the product. There are 5 other cyclists at work and can't wait to show them the light. I'm thinking of trying to find a red tint lens so I can use one as a tail light.
My only apprehension in buying the product was the fake UL listing on the charger. I would easily pay an additional $10 for the charger that Colleen pointed out. With that said, I'm a mechanical engineer and work with a lot of electrical engineers. I figured at worst, for $130 I could get the light and figure something out for a charger and batteries. I would still be ahead compared to some of the $400-1000 lights out there. :eek:
Pics are definitely coming!
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/705700-Mini-review-of-the-Gemini-Titan-light-with-beamshot
After reading her great analysis and opinion on the product I decided to take the plunge.
I have been using a Bell Platinum LED light you can buy from Walmart and an Energizer halogen head lamp. At best we're talking 150 lumens. Both lights are a wash with against the Gemini light. This is the first light I buy of this caliber and have just started to ride (almost 2 months). I've been looking for something that gets peoples attention as I cross dozens of intersections on my usual route, plan on starting to commute to work (12mi) and want to start riding in the street.
Today was my off day for weight training so decided to double up my usual distance (25mi.) I ride on paved bike paths (shared with pedestrians) with areas that have good street lighting, and other sections that have only stop lights as the only lighting.
The battery pack came charged at 7.8V. I let it charge for awhile (didn't keep track of the time, over an hour or so) and walked out the door with it showing 8.2V. My ride took 2hrs and the battery back was showing 7.4V when I came back. The light never kicked into low mode.
It goes without saying that I'm really impressed with the product. It lit up the path VERY well. I had no problems seeing 100+ feet in front of me, even with rolling hills, and noticed a few objects that I had never seen before. I was careful on how high I had the light tilted up as I was afraid of blinding oncoming traffic. It definitely caught peoples attention at the intersections, which is what I was looking for in a product. I could also see people walking on the paths that didn't have reflective gear on clearly coming down the road. I've been surprised a few times, which is another reason I was looking for better lighting.
I'm very happy with the product. There are 5 other cyclists at work and can't wait to show them the light. I'm thinking of trying to find a red tint lens so I can use one as a tail light.
My only apprehension in buying the product was the fake UL listing on the charger. I would easily pay an additional $10 for the charger that Colleen pointed out. With that said, I'm a mechanical engineer and work with a lot of electrical engineers. I figured at worst, for $130 I could get the light and figure something out for a charger and batteries. I would still be ahead compared to some of the $400-1000 lights out there. :eek:
Pics are definitely coming!