Fifty Plus (50+) - Driving lights

Yeah, I know. There's another discussion group for electronics and such. Those threads are so populated with kids who are often not so practical, that I need the mature and subjective opinions found only with the 50+ crowd. :thumb:

What do you suggest for the best value and most effective in night time bicycle lighting?

Wooo...tough one to which yer gonna get responses that all over the map!

All I can say is the more candle power the better.............

I don't know about Value in Lighting but effective---Yes.

I bought my light in 2006 when I was offroading. Night time rides as we had to get the rides in and we started off Basic. Two Cateye lamps of 1 watt each and one was a spot and the other a flood. Could be seen in towns with street lights but we could not see well with them and they were no good for offroad. SO- I went for probably the best LED lamp availableat that time in a USE Exposure. Cost £300 and it light up the trail no end. Only problem was that our rides lasted 3 hours and at Max power we had less than 2 hours battery life. Had to use as much on low power so we could still have max power for the downhills or technical bits.

Road riding and I now use that lamp but find it sufficient on low power. That gives about 3watts light and that is what I would suggest as just enough. You can never have too much light when night riding.

Couple of my mates have 3w LED lamps and they are not bad. Cost around £50 ($75) and they have Rechargable L-Ion batteries. Looking around and the price of lamps is going down but 3W is the minimum I would suggest but just as important is the Lens. Some lamps have just a Spot light that will light up the road/Trail 100 yards in front of you but nothing close to the bike.

But one lamp is not enough. They do break down or run out of battery power so a second lamp is always a good idea. Even better if that lamp is a helmet lamp. You can get them in varying power and some of the better ones are more powerfull than My USE. A helmet lamp will get noticed by other road users and is very handy for looking round corners- instead of just lighting up where the bars point--- and ideal for any hands free map reading or bike repairs you may have to make.

But The main thing is that you can only ride within the capability of your lamp. If you have a 1w lamp then you cannot see as far ahead as a 3w so speed will be cut to suit. And a 3w does not compare to a 5w. And as for the latest megabuck street searchlights that are around------------

I use a Magicshine 808 "900" lumen light for early morning riding. It's not really 900 lumens, more like 650, or so I am told. On high it's bright enough to descend a dark mountain road at 30-35 mph. Cost me about $90. It and lights like it are probably the best value but if I was going to do a lot of riding in pitch dark I'd have even more illumination. There's a new "1600" lumen model out now, that might do it.

It would depend on where you ride and for what purposes.

I ride early am - like this am - on our trail system in the dark at slow speeds. I have 2 bikes equipped with lights. One has two $10 53 LED lights that show the trail like with a flood light - just fine and show the deer and rabbits. But, I would in no way ride on the road. The other has two Cateyes - much more focused, but don't have a "flood" caracity - they were about $35. Again, I would not use these for riding in traffic, but they do OK on the trail.

An important factor is to let others see you. The other morning, another rider approached with no lights - even though it was lightening a bit, I could not see him until he was quite close. I also have rear lights.

Uh yes, you are going to get lots of responses to this. Anyway:

If the budget is really strict, I'd suggest the Planet bike 1 Watt Blaze headlight and superflash tail light combo. Amazon sells it for $50.77. AA NiMh rechargeable batteries do work well in this headlight. The superflash mode is quite noticeable in urban high traffic situations. Before anyone mentions it, yes, I do know that Planet Bike's lights are manufactured by a Chinese outfit called Smart. But, the build quality is quite impressive.
If you're a night time off-roader, you will want something stronger.

As I've mentioned before, I dislike proprietary batteries, or "battery bags". Just a personal thing with me, your mileage may vary.

It depends, of course, on the nature of your riding, your eyes, and what you consider to be "value".

My night riding is commuting in the city. Night-blindness runs in my family and it's hit me pretty hard. And I don't have a problem with spending money so I can see. My glasses have $720 lenses.

Last year I tried the 900 lumen MagicShine headlight. I was amazed and pleased. It's sufficient light for me to see at my cruising speed of 17-19. It's large enough and bright enough that drivers and peds treat me as traffic, not as "some guy on a bike". Some people balk at the triple-digit price. Compared to many "real" headlights, the MagicShine is a real bargain.

I liked the MagicShine so well that this year I bought two more. If I put two on one bike, I can run them at medium and have a nice, broad flat field of view. (Younger riders seem to need only one light at medium.) But the idea was for each of the bikes I typically commute on to have its own MagicShine, and they do. When there's only one on a bike, I have to run it on high.

My wife uses a Nite Rider "Minewt" light for commuting. It is amazing. I think the cars flash their lights at her; wanting her to turn of the "high beams";)

My wife and I use Light and Motion. This one. http://www.bikelights.com/vis360.html It offer great visibility to be seen by cars but needs some additional ambient light. So we use these if we are out and coming home at dusk or for winter riding in the mountains with low light and fog in the daytime. IMO, there is not enough light in total darkness although, we have used them once and it was marginal at slow speed. The other lights they have are much more powerful and provide the necessary brightness for night riding.

Bought one of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ssc-p7-3-mode-900-lumen-led-headlamp-bike-light-set-4-18650-50947
and was so impressed I ordered another one.

Planet Bike SuperFlash Turbo is a great rear light.

I understand that we go off daylight saving time this coming weekend. So that means it will get darker one hour earlier for most of us. I'm thinking that there must be something that shows up road hazards like potholes, rocks, etc. that are sometimes a challenge to see in the daytime. I suppose a trick is having a bright light source set off from our eye level enough as to cast shadows. That would probably be handlebar mount lights?

I've read over in the electronics forum that folks have had problems with MagicShine's battery packs. Surely, they should be fixing that problem by now. Night Rider? Blaze? Light & Motion? the others...?

I'm thinking that you folks here in the 50+ forum are smart enough to recognize a good product. And considering the wealth of experience you all have, I'm sure someone here knows the #1 top product.

I'm 64, turning 65 in a month. My night vision has always been great - as a licensed pilot making night time landings, I never had any real problem seeing in low light situations. But now that I'm officially in my mid-60's, I'm thinking maybe my night vision isn't what I remember it being. Which is another reason why I'm positive you guys here have the secret to safe and happy night time bicycle riding.

Bought one of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ssc-p7-3-mode-900-lumen-led-headlamp-bike-light-set-4-18650-50947
and was so impressed I ordered another one.

Planet Bike SuperFlash Turbo is a great rear light.

I see there's been a change in the battery connector cords and plugs, and they aren't interchangable. I'm fearful that the manufacturer (China?) will keep jacking parts around so as to not make the lights serviceable for repairs later. But the price is certainly attractive.

I have a Magicshine 900L. For the price, it's a very bright light. The quality is so-so, and if you do some web reading, you'll find stories of problems with this light. My wife uses the Magicshine 900L on her bike and it has worked fine for the last two years, with ocassional use. I also bought her a Magicshine taillight, which is also inexpensive and bright. The first one we received failed after a few weeks, and the good people at Geoman Gear promptly replaced it with a new one which has been working for about a year now.

The original battery for the 900L was recalled by the US Distributor, Geoman Gear. The original battery was a piece of S*!t. the replacement battery I got from Geoman Gear looks like a well engineered and well built battery. The connectors on the new battery are compatible with my existing 900L light and taillight.

I bike commute to/from work 5 day/week, year round, so bright, dependable, long-lasting lights are important to me. Therefore I run a Dinotte headlight, Dinotte taillight, and in the summer months a Dinotte daytime running light. Dinotte lights are very high quality but also very expensive. VERY expensive, especially compared to the Magicshine lights. But reliability and longevity are paramount to me, so I am willing to spend the extra cash. All my Dinotte lights are three years old and after almost daily use, they are going strong with ZERO problems.

Currently, I'm running a MagicShine 900 on the bar and a Cygolite Expilion 250 on the helmet. This system provides plenty of light for MUPs or roads.

The 250 on the helmet allows me to illuminate a corner just before I enter it, and it allows me to get the attention of motorists at intersections if need be.

I've experimented with LED flashlights. They are a PITA to mount, don't stay aimed, and don't provide the light that my current system provides.

I'm starting the third season on my MagicShine and my second season on the 250.

I run a Magicshine 900 and a PB superflash + some cheap PB 3 led blinky in back. I've had the Magicshine for 1+ year and went through the whole recall thing. It didn't stop me from buying another. I feel both the MS and Superflash are pretty much a good value for the money. I buy the PB stuff when REI puts it on sale and buy a couple at a time.

What are you going to use it for? (Besides riding at night, I mean!)

For occasional use, I think the Cygolite line has some of the best values. Bright lights, decent optics, reasonable cost, solid mounts, good runtime. I run an older Rover II on one bike (still running), and bought one of their integrated lights, an Expelion 250, for my daughter this fall. She likes hers, too.

For longer rides, or regular commuting, it's hard to beat a dynamo hub and LED light. They're pricy; figure on $200-600 for a complete set. I got a decent outfit for about $300 when velo-orange had a Shimano DH-3N72 wheel available. The main benefit is that it's always there and ready to roll. No batteries to charge or discharge.

My IQ Cyo lights up the road quite well. It seems pretty waterproof, as I got caught toward the end of last summer in the worst downpour I've ever ridden through. The hub and light worked fine, although one of my battery-powered blinkies gave up the ghost. That was a ride I would not have had a light on if I'd ridden the other bike. The battery and light were still off because I was going to be home well before dusk, except that I took shelter until the worst of the lightning had passed, and so I ended up riding home in the dark.

I've read over in the electronics forum that folks have had problems with MagicShine's battery packs. Surely, they should be fixing that problem by now.

Yes.

Last year GeoManGear.com recalled all the MagicShine batteries they sold, about 20,000 of them, because three (yes, 3) caught fire. You may recall Dell and Sony Vaio laptops having similar troubles with lithium-ion batteries, only they had dozens of them catch fire, right in people's laps. :eek:

GeoManGear, a little three-person company, recalled the whole lot, while other MagicShine dealers did not. They commissioned a redesigned battery and have been replacing them for free to their customers. Without the deep pockets of a Dell or a Sony, it's taking them time because they're financing this out of their own cash flow, which naturally fell when they temporarily stopped selling MagicShines.

New batteries are shipping with new lights, and the rest of the recalled batteries should be shipped soon, being replaced first-come, first-served based on when the recalled battery was returned.

I have two lights with the new batteries. They seem to be well made, dispense with the battery bag, and come with a new charger. I'm also playing the 3:20K odds and have continued using the old batteries I got last year.

There's a lot of different perspectives on it so here's a minority one. Most of my night riding is commuting, and most of that is not on the streets in traffic, so it's more important to see where I'm going than to be seen. I'm using an "Ultrafire" LED flashlight from Deal Extreme (ships from Shanghai). The light, batteries and charger were about $35 and it's nominally 500 lumen. In reality it's likely about half that and throws a non-adjustable narrower beam than would a headlight. That's fine for lighting up the road but not so good for motorist visibility.

Since my cycling philosophy is to not spend on it that's just about the best value I could find for adequate lighting.

I think you need something like 200 lumens, give or take. That gets you in the same order of magnitude as a car head light. Then you have to decide how to power it. Options include throw-away batteries (probably not the best option), rechargeable (with separate battery pack or in a self-contained package) and dynamo powered (a charging system that stays with the bike).

I have two lights I ride with at night; one is a Bush & Mueller dynamo-powered light (on my commuter bike). This is a fairly expensive and inflexible option since I have a SON dynohub built into my front wheel of that bike.

The other is a CygoLite Rover II which I can switch out between my other bikes. It has a battery back that sits in a water bottle cage (which I'm not crazy about) and a light unit that clamps onto the handlebars. There were versions of the Rover that have battery packs that simply velcro to the frame which would be my preference.

I think some of the more recent offerings are self-contained light and battery units that can be charged off a USB port. I would look into that if I were in the market for a new light.

one is a Bush & Mueller dynamo-powered light (on my commuter bike).
I use a B&M headlight and taillight with a bottle generator. That lets me disengage the generator when I don't need it. Yeah I know, it has mechanical drag that a hub dynamo wouldn't have, but that has never bothered me because I typically use it for less than 20 miles and I could easily run it longer if I don't need to go fast. The beauty of a hub dynamo or generator is that you never have to worry about batteries running down. For example, I can run it while commuting on overcast days and not feel like I'm burning off battery life. It is probably not much heavier, if even as heavy, as good batteries and spares would be.

I have been happy using a MiNewt 350 for several months on my morning commute. It has the USB charger, and several brightness settings. I'll run it on low to not "blind" joggers if there are good street lights. When the trail is dark, I turn it on high and can see everything I need to see (potholes, deer, ninjas, etc.). I recommend you also have a second light with you for emergencies (although I've never needed one, it provides peace of mind).

I used to ride quite a bit at predawn.

There are 2 issues with lighting. The first is being seen by motorists and even pedestrians. The other is illumination of the road and its various hazards. If is sufficient street lighting on your route, you can easily get by with a system that merely alerts drivers of your existance. A front blinkie and 2 rear blinkies will generally show where you are. Oddly enough, if you ride in areas with a considerable amount of illuminated signage, you will need a bunch more lighting. It is easy for a rider to get lost in the dazzle. In a dark area, even modest lights make you stick out like a well beacon. If you need illumination, that comes at a higher price and is dependant on how fast you ride. If you ride over 20 mph, it is pretty easy to "out run" your head light. Even if you have a high powered light for illumination, I would strongly recommend having a blinkie on the front. A blinkie tends to attract notice of drivers more than a steady light.

I commute 11.3 miles each way..about 4,000 miles each year =/-, for the last 6 years. I leave at 6:10am and head home at 6:00pm.....so this time of year I am in the dark both ways....I use a Dinotte 140L for my taillight and Dinotte's 800 lumen headlight and am very pleased with them....This is the third year for the headlight and the 6th year for the tailight. I will be switching to Dinotte's 1200 lumen headlight this season....they may be expensive but the reliability and high level of brightness is worth it to me.

Yeah, I suppose that price doesn't mean much when you're looking at your own life and safety that's at stake in traffic or out on dark pavement on a trail. I just don't like throwing money away needlessly. And wasting good money is what we do when we buy inferior junk.

Some of you guys have been really putting your lights to the test for lots of hours for several years. Your advice bears heavy, and I'm appreciative. You've really narrowed it down for me.

I would think a light with a battery pack that goes into a bottle cage would be handier than one that straps to the frame. Is it because you want to keep your bottle cages open for water bottles, or is there another reason you like the strap-on batteries?

Some of you are mentioning MagicShine, from a place called GeoMan. Okay, I looked them up:
http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=324&zenid=27rl0efmvvpnu8gfj1g5h7ka81

So what's the feedback on this?

I would think a light with a battery pack that goes into a bottle cage would be handier than one that straps to the frame. Is it because you want to keep your bottle cages open for water bottles, or is there another reason you like the strap-on batteries?

It's a matter of personal preference. Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla?

I prefer to keep my bottles in my bottle cages, but since the lights I chose come in only strap-on, it's really not an issue.

BTW, mine are strapped to the stem to avoid paint wear on the frame.

On that particular light, I have no experience with it so I can't comment specifically. It's also a brand new model. I haven't seen any reports from other buyers yet.

I can give a couple of thoughts. First, in general, lights made up of multiple LEDs are not as bright as a single LED of the same rating. Think of four 25-watt light bulbs vs. one 100-watt light bulb.

Second, the reflector seems configured for a broader pattern as opposed to longer "throw". Think car low-beam as opposed to aircraft landing light. It's probably just the ticket for off-road where a broad spread is favored. It wouldn't be a good choice for my eyes (remembering my night blindness) on city streets. I need the longer "throw" to match my higher speed and sometimes limited choices for dodging obstacles.

Again, chocolate vs. vanilla.

I see these hand-held spotlights advertised, something like 1,000,000 candlepower. I'm going to cooking school and leave while it is still dark. Too bad they don't make a way to hold one of those little beauties on to the handlebars. In fact, I have thought about one of those aimed backwards in my car for the jokers that follow six inches off the back bumper with bright lights on.

First off the tail light is much more important that the head light, while you can (depending upon circumstances) get away with a weaker headlight, you need the brightest tail light you can buy to give the motorist passing you in your lane time to react. Dinotte makes the best IMO.

Head lights fall into two categories 1.) seeing and 2.) being seen. Being seen lights can be less bright than seeing lights.

To figure your needs for a seeing headlight, you need to factor in your speed (if not you could end up with a light that can't keep up with you), other ambiant lighting (riding in the city requires less light than unlit country roads), and personal taste. When you shop for those lights factor in the batteries (taking them in and out of a battery holder will wear out the battery holder), the charger (smart chargers don't over charge batteries), connectors (I have had problems with Night rider connectors coming apart when I least wanted it), the way the lights connect to the bike (if you fall will it break or just twist) as well as the beam pattern of the light (had one set with a black spot right in the middle of the light).

Keep in mind that you want to not only see the line you will be riding in but also the line to the right and the left so you can decide which way to go around an obstacle. Weight is a concern that not all riders share but if you are trying to keep everything as light as possible, you need to think about how much that battery weighs against the amount of time you will be riding. Water proofness is probably more important to commuters, but its something to consider. I use the Lupine Wilma headlight, after discarding five (cheaper) previous systems over that past fifteen years, the Wilma and I are very happy.

Some of you are mentioning MagicShine, from a place called GeoMan. Okay, I looked them up:
http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=324&zenid=27rl0efmvvpnu8gfj1g5h7ka81

So what's the feedback on this?

I have the MagicShine 900 lumen light. I got it from GeoMan. No problems. I'm starting my third season with it. Mine has the original battery, but it still works and has not overheated or caught fire.

When the MagicShine came out- several members here were raving about them. It was so cheap I reserved judgement. Battery problems and recall and although that problem may be solved- I thinK I prefer a Known lamp from a Known manufacturer. 6 years later and my quality lamp has never let me down and still works as good as the day I bought it.

Another two votes for Magic Shine. My rides often take me out into the wilderness and believe me its dark out there. I have one on my helmet and one on the bar. Its like taking your own street light with you. When I turn my head I can see great. I went through the battery recall but thats not a sigh of an inferior product. Remember Toyotas recall. Sometimes stuff happens, and at least they took care of it.
I give Magic Shine 5 stars.

Battery problems and recall and although that problem may be solved- I thinK I prefer a Known lamp from a Known manufacturer. 6 years later and my quality lamp has never let me down and still works as good as the day I bought it.
36 (or is it 37?) later and my generator has never let me down, never needed recharging, and still works as good as the day I bought it.

I just tested a new light, Cygolite 400 usb, flashing before sunset, then on high for ride home.
Plenty of light, plus mounting options.

http://www.amazon.com/CygoLite-ExpiliOn-400-Rechargable-Headlight/dp/B005D7FXMA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320373263&sr=8-1

Got this tail light, works great.
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B00435IPFK/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_text_b

I just tested a new light, Cygolite 400 usb, flashing before sunset, then on high for ride home.
Plenty of light, plus mounting options.

http://www.amazon.com/CygoLite-ExpiliOn-400-Rechargable-Headlight/dp/B005D7FXMA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320373263&sr=8-1

Given my experience with the Expilion 250, I'm thinking that the 400 would be a super light.

Given my experience with the Expilion 250, I'm thinking that the 400 would be a super light.

With only one ride using the cygolite 400, I can tell you drivers see me much sooner in daylight on the flash mode.
I was impressed by the amount of light it throws out on a dark road, plenty of light for me, but I'm not riding 30mph either.

Wouldn't they be "riding" lights? I mean you don't drive a bike, right? Sorry another pet peeve of mine, especially in the motorcycle arena. Can't stand when someone says something about "driving" a motorcycle. You RIDE a motorcycle. :)

Wouldn't they be "riding" lights? I mean you don't drive a bike, right? Sorry another pet peeve of mine, especially in the motorcycle arena. Can't stand when someone says something about "driving" a motorcycle. You RIDE a motorcycle. :)

A tad off topic, but to me the term, "ride" implies passive behavior. "Driving" something means, to me, being active. I can ride in a car or drive it. I can ride in a boat or drive it. So, yes, being ON a bike rather than INSIDE it, might seem like you're riding it. But I'm too active on my bike to just be a rider.

- Just saying...

By the way: I have an endorsement on my DRIVER'S license for operating a motorcycle. The DRIVER'S license doesn't say a word about riding a motorcycle.

;)

The best place to look for comparisons and tech information is Peter White cycles. You can learn more from his website than anyplace I have seen. Personally I still like tire driven dynamos with a good LED. I don't ride in the dark daily, so I like the fact that they are cheaper and lighter than dyno hubs and also don't create any resistance unless they are being used. What I have is here. (http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/04/light-choices.html)

Marc

I am surprised that so few people are reporting the use of dynamo hub powered lights. Are there some general issues with these that make less less than useful?

I am surprised that so few people are reporting the use of dynamo hub powered lights. Are there some general issues with these that make less less than useful?

Probably the biggest issue is cost, with the secondary issue be lack of flexibility. One battery powered light can be used on multiple bikes, which is much harder, if not impossible with the generator versions.

I am surprised that so few people are reporting the use of dynamo hub powered lights. Are there some general issues with these that make less less than useful?
You can't just use any old wheel. You have to build up a wheel with a dyno hub.

I am surprised that so few people are reporting the use of dynamo hub powered lights. Are there some general issues with these that make less less than useful?

My guess would be availability. Every bike shop (and REI) in the country has neato-bandito battery-powered light displays. Plunk down the card and walk off with one. If you learn enough that you want a dynamo, then you have to figure out where to get it, and the light, and how to build the hub into a wheel... Plunking down the plastic is so much easier.

Another possibility is that some of us old farts remember the bottle generators from the 19X0s. Hooked up to a flashlight bulb, you could almost see the ground. That was before halogen bulbs, much less high-powered LEDs. (Probably LEDs, period!) Which is brighter, the flashlight bulb you remember from 50 years ago, or that searchlight of a triple LED in that display case right there?!

Personally I still like tire driven dynamos with a good LED.
Me too! Pick me! Pick me!


Another possibility is that some of us old farts remember the bottle generators from the 19X0s. Hooked up to a flashlight bulb, you could almost see the ground.
True enough. But those bottle generators provide plenty of juice for today's LED lights! My Union (I think it is) is over 35 years old and powers a B&M Lumotec IQ CYO (meant for a dyno-hub) and a B&M Topline taillight with ease. The Soubitez generator which came with our '82 Peugeot tandem also handles them easily. I think the Soubitez is lighter and smoother, and on the tandem we never notice any difference whether it is engaged or not, except that the lights come on!

The generators weren't the problem back then, the lights were.

Just another vote for MagicShine - I have one of the 900 lumen models, and another on order. I have found one on high is great for seeing, but I like having more lumens on my helmet. Today I run a cateye on "blink" on my noggin, but will put the new MS on when it comes in. My plan is to run it and the handlebar light on Medium intensity in the dark, and both on flash mode in the daylight. I am totally convinced that the MS on flash mode has made my ride safer in the daytime.

I am new to dark commuting - but I think I like it better than twilight commuting. I have four lights (3 blinking, one steady) on the back, all red, and two headlights, and reflectors. Blinking to be seen, steady (in the case of headlights) to see.

Now just to see how much guts I got for commuting in the cold and wet...

...Some of you are mentioning MagicShine, from a place called GeoMan. Okay, I looked them up...So what's the feedback on this?
I'm echoing what TSL said, and will add that the people I dealt with at Geoman were unusually customer orientated - I have the MS 900 lumen light, and an MS taillight (comes with a Y-cord, so you only need one battery. Couldn't be more pleased. I only commute 5 miles each way, but it is through a construction zone, so lots of rough riding - so far no problems. I'm also considering buying another from Geoman. I imagine I could get my wife to ride at night with me, these lights are so adequate. If I can't, I might just pop a second system on my ride. The new Geoman battery pack has a truly awesome fixing strap - you can stick it anywhere and as long as you pull the velcro tight, it'll stay.

I am surprised that so few people are reporting the use of dynamo hub powered lights. Are there some general issues with these that make less less than useful?

I also have a dynamo hub on my primary commuter. There are three downsides to dynamos. They have always been so, and remain.

First is cost. My hub was $140, then I had to have a wheel built around it. Rim was $80, 32 spokes at $1.50 each, plus labor. Then you have to buy the lights.

Second is portability. It's easy to move battery lights from one bike to the other. While you can easily move a wheel from one bike to another, there's still the matter of lights and wiring.

Third is light output. Yes, the new LEDs put out tons more light than the old halogen systems. But they're still limited by the 3-watt output of the hub. People with younger and better eyes than mine, or those who ride slower than I do, can probably see pretty well with just the dynamo headlight. I can't.

While I was very impressed with the output of my Schmidt Edelux as compared to a buddy's halogen system, it's still weak and wimpy as compared to a MagicShine. My guess it's that it's 230 to 250 lumens--tops. In other words, a smidge brighter than my DiNotte 200Ls. And that's the light that with one exception (see below) is acknowledged as the brightest dynamo headlight on the market.

This year I faced the choice of trying the SuperNova E3 Triple--an unregulated dynamo light with three LEDs, allegedly two or three times brighter than my Edelux--or buy more MagicShines. I bought more MagicShines.

For less than the cost of the E3 Triple alone, I bought two more MagicShines. If I'd purchased the E3 Triple, it's incompatible with my B&M taillight. I would have had to buy SuperNova's taillight too, and replace all the wiring. I'd have also lost the reflectors that are part of the B&M taillight.

The other thing is that even with the Edelux and a pair of DiNotte 200Ls on my bars, I was still dismissed as "just some guy on a bike" by motorists and pedestrians alike. With just a single MagicShine, I'm respected and treated as traffic by cars and peds. That's worth it all to me right there.

I can be both sloppy and clumsy and have destroyed several batterypack and lighthead setups. I will ride quite a few miles both commuting and training after work in our very long Norwegian winter so I decided to buy some new lights this autumn. The one light that I have not managed to destroy is a Silva LX, not really meant for bicycling but it has served me well both CX skiing and cycling. However I need more light as the years go on and now I bought an Exposure Lights cordless setup with a Diablo on my helmet and a Maxx-D on the bars. No cables for me to wreck and the build quality seems very good. Lots of light !