Psimet2001 

I know this isn't the Road forum, but I still feel the need to throw out the following disclaimer:
I have read through (as much as possible) the stickies at the top of this forum, as well as spent a couple months looking into and searching for information on this topic. I am left with just some simple unanswered questions...time for a thread in Commuting.

Here's the plan. I have an approx 50 mile RT commute that I would like to do 2-3 days a week. I own 6 bikes, and not one of them is a commuter (go figure).

I will be riding my Flyte and/or my Giant TCR most of the time. My Flyte is setup with Campy Veloce, Mavic OP/Veloce 32 3X wheels I built myself, and riding on 25s (the largest I can fit on the frame). I have SKS(?) Blades fenders that I can, and have used as needed.

The route is down a MUP pretty much the whole way. That doesn't bother me. For the benefit of those of you in the Chicago area I can tell you I will be using the Fox River trail.

I already have a place to shower (joined and have been using a health club within 1-2 mile(s) of work). I have backup rides as needed, and I am also looking into the bus schedule in the area. I use steel toe shoes in the shop that I leave in my office already. The only thing I will be hauling besides tools/tubes/air, etc. will be my clothes.

Now for my biggest question...you know it's coming....light. I have looked through a lot of stuff, and honestly there is a reason I am a Mechanical Engineer instead of an Electrical Engineer. My concerns are that it is a 50mile trip - knowing my speeds on the trail it could take me up to 4 hours total, especially if I get a flat.

I want a good light. I don't want to hobble along on a bad one. I don't want to spend over $500. I want a quick charge time, etc. Basically I want it all.

I have seemingly narrowed the search down to a Niterider Rage unit using my own researching. I have never ridden with a good light, I have never been on the trail at 6am, etc. I just don't know if this is going to be overkill....any suggestions?

AndrewP

IF you are not riding 5 days a week why carry your work clothes? I think it would be more suitable to take your clothes on days you are not riding. Since you are usung a road bike, you are not likely to have a rack on the back - tools tubes etc can be carried in an underseat bag. I use 2 LED lights for my 17 mile commutes at both ends of the season when I have to ride in the dark - I accept a slightly slower riding speed. Commutung is not possible for me over the winter, because they shut the bridges to cyclists.

Psimet2001 

Mainly because my shower location is not at my office, and they do not permit overnight locks on the lockers. That and I plan on riding Mon., Wed., and Fri. which puts two of the commutes back to back. I just know I'll forget on Thursdays to bring something in.

ax0n

With that distance, look at a rack and panniers. You won't want to carry all those clothes, tools, tubes and stuff on your back.

For lights, the Blackburn X3 lasts 4 hours minimum. The X6 (which has 2 lights, one can be helmet mount, or both on the handlebars) lasts 3.5 hours minimum. Dimmed or flashing, they'll go up to 14-20 hours respectively. I've seen these in action and I've had good luck dealing with Blackburn (owned by Bell Sports) on their warranty. From the sound of it, you might only be riding in darkness for a while each trip. You might be able to go all week without charging.

The battery pack should easily charge overnight, and it's got a smart charger that won't overcharge the battery, so you don't need to worry about waiting X hours and unplugging it for fear of frying the cells.

Juha

Lights: 4 hrs of burn time is doable, as mentioned already. But you may have more options and lower price tags if you look at lights that provide 2hrs (your one way commute). Get an extra charger and re-charge the battery at work.

For backup and/or roadside repairs, carry a Petzl headlamp or similar.

--J

tsl

I've become a big fan of DiNotte Lighting. The lights are bright, small and lightweight. Run times for single light versions are 6 hours on high, 12 hours on low. In my experience, the quoted run times are a tad conservative.

Single-light models are also available at Nashbar at reduced prices from list.

However, especially in unlighted areas like MUPs, I recommend the dual-light version with run times of 7 hours low, 3.5 hours high.

The mounting system makes them perfect in a multiple bike situation. In less than a minute I can move them from one bike to another with no tools required. The O-ring system seems sketchy, but I've found it's more stable than the traditional screw-clamp mount of the NiteRider halogen I originally used, and still have mounted on my dedicated commuter. I point the DiNotte's where I want and they stay pointed there until I change my mind. Bumps, rain, snow make no difference.

Further, the O-ring mounting lets me mount the lights in the same space as other things on the bars. On my commuter rig I mount one under the cyclometer and the other under the bell. Mounting one in the same space as the cyclometer is especially handy on my road bike's drop bars, where space is already at a premium.

buelito

batteryspace.com has a good HID light for around $300... works pretty well-- very bright, and will give you the 4 hours you need.

train safe-

fender1

How about a dyno hub or is that not enough light? I have the schmidt and Supernova 3w led as well as a wired tailight. I never have to think about batteries/charging etc. One less thing to manage.

ax0n

For illuminating the ground in front of you the way you'd expect to see from auto headlights, Dynohubs won't provide adequate power.

fender1

True but you are not moving at auto speeds say 40 mph +. I understand the need for brighter lights on an unlit path and it all comes down to user preference but that would be a heck of a ride to do if by chance you forgot to fully charge your battery and lost your light.

ax0n

Trust me, when you're going 20 miles per hour on an unlit path, you'll want to see further ahead than a $30 or $40 halogen or LED light will shine. Those make good backup lights. You should always have a "plan B" so to speak. They're also good on roads or sidewalks where there's overhead street lighting and you just need a light to stand out in traffic.

I don't ever ride in total darkness. I stay on illuminated roads at night, and all I use for a headlight is a Blackburn Quadrant, which is an inexpensive option with 4 LEDs.

CBBaron

The 3W LED lights like the L&M Vega or DiNotte provide enough light for riding on a dark path but if I was going to do this much I would opt for an HID.
A total 4 hour run time is getting pretty large on the battery requirements for a bright light. You will want to have a light rated for at least 20% more than you expect to need. Over time the batteries will degrade and cold weather conditions will cause lower capacity. Recharging at work might be a very good option or carrying two batteries. A large hydration pack will probably be a good solution for carrying your needed supplies which frees up your bottle cages for two batteries if neccessary.
Craig

tsl

So how does this make you qualified to advise the OP who states, "The route is down a MUP pretty much the whole way"? Ax0n, you give good advice when it's based on your experience. I generally agree with your views in those circumstances, and even when I disagree, I respect your viewpoint in those instances. This, however, is one you should sit out.

Psimet2001: As you're beginning to see, most of us have strong opinions about lighting systems, bordering on the same religious fervor found in the Shimano vs. Campy and other similar threads.

Putting a lower limit of $300 to $400 on the sub-$500 range you specified, it's likely that every lighting system in that range will provide adequate illumination. At that point, run time, charge time, and convenience will be the determining factors.

ax0n

I was throwing out an option that I *HAVE* used. I test drove a System X3 from my LBS for about an hour on the nearby completely un-lit trail over in winter when it was pitch black by 7:00 at night. It worked very well at a good pricepoint. Sure, I only used it once, and I didn't put it through its paces to see if it really had 4 hours of run time at full power, but it doesn't sound like the OP needs 4 hours of light.

I was stating that with 100% certainty your run of the mill dynohub-powered light, 4AA-halogen/led lights, and pretty much any other sub-$100 setup will be sorely lacking in the OPs situation. I have yet to run across a straight and well-lit MUP. The setup I tested worked really well at 20 MPH on straightaways where there was absolutely no ambient light to help me see. I wouldn't push it much faster than that, as I like to see about 50% further than my stopping distance at any given speed.

I guess I'm just not elite enough to talk in light threads. I'll stick to talking about used LBS bikes, wearing street clothes to commute in, and whatnot.

rhm

I too vote for the dynamo, assuming you're willing to make one of your bikes a dedicated commuter. Here's a system that would get you started very nicely; you won't even need to rebuild your wheels, and you'll have money left over for some battery-powered lights if you want them too.
https://cgi.ebay.com/Spanninga-Safety...QQcmdZViewItem

narr33

I use a 32W night rider classic for a commute thru both urban areas and park. While most of the time this is overkill the times I have ridden at night in a downpour I have been so very grateful for the extra wattage. I have used a 10W evolution HID and 1W LED and they were fine during good conditions but did not provide enough light during fog, rain or to see ice during the winter. I also carry a cheap ($30 from amazon) Priceton Tec Eos mounted on my helmet as a backup light. With the nite rider the bulb lasts for about 4 months (5 days a week at 40 minutes a day use) and are about $20 to replace. Always carry a spare bulb and backup light to get you home. Also don't forget blinkys (at least 2) and spoke reflectors (Rivendell sells nice spoke and ankle reflectors). I also use a dynohub with a LED which again is fine in good weather but in bad weather I need to turn on the helmet light.

fender1

I think you meant me! BTW it all comes down to user preference. I don't think I am going that fast 20mph on average, so the dyno hub works well. The three watt light is from a company in Germany that makes lights for Mountain biking. The light I have is for 24hr/Endurance races I think. Anyway it is plenty bright and built very well. The hub is also from a Germany company (Schmidt) and built into a 700cc wheel. Those Germans seem to take the lighting pretty seriously! Lets not kill each other over lights. The OP needs help determining what will work for him/her. Ultimately, you have to try something to see if it works. Dyno hub is an option due to the lenght and frequency of the commute. If the OP needs brighter lights, skip the dyno hub and get something else.

tsl

Agreed. And it's reasonable to assume the OP had already rejected such lights when he specified a $500 limit on price range.

ax0n

I guess I also should have read the sentence "Basically I want it all."

His lighting budget is more than I've spent on all the bikes and accessories I've ever owned.

newbojeff

I'm a fan of Night-Sun. Look at the Team Issue, which I've used for years. Get the better battery and and extra charger (one for work, one for home). I also recently purchased their HID and it is bright, but I haven't given it a good test in the pitch-black.

What ever you decide...good luck. I'm already jealous of your commute.

Psimet2001 

I figure this would be like a Campy v Shimano v SRAM thread....

I'm pretty sure I don't want anything in the $100 and under range that "may be capable". Much of the commute may be in daylight during the summer, but it's long enough, and the weather around here changes by the hour so I just want to be safe.

After 20 years of riding I know the benefit of good gear, and have no problem paying for it....it's just that when I get around $500 I start thinking of new bikes I could have instead....

At some point, if I enjoy doing the commute, I will probably gear up from the ground up, but for now I want to stick with a simple light thrown on and backpack/messenger bag.

The Night-Sun looks interesting....

DScott

You just have to read this blog (from a BF member here) about the various new Dinotte lights... I'd bet one would fit your needs to a "T".

https://acidinmylegs.blogspot.com/index.html



edited to add:

I've got the 5W/3W Dinotte AA lights and use them both all the time. They're well made, well-designed, and have been a good solution for me (mixed use in pitch black MUP/street lighting). They're quite bright, and I find together they work well. Each one isn't bright enough by itself, IMO, unless I'm only out for less than an hour in the dark and/or just need the flash function.

BTW, the 5W on flash is guaranteed to cause at least one driver on your route to have a seizure, which may not be such a bad thing if they're driving poorly enough. Maybe it'd be a good weapon in our war against stupid drivers?

The AA choice was made to allow use of fast/easy to charge batteries, to use store bought lithium batteries in a pinch, and so I could keep using better/higher amp rechargeables as they come out. I'm running 2700mah now. My quick charger is small, light and gets to a full charge in 1-2hrs. Charged, they run about 2hrs at full power each, but then you have a longer run time at lower power, and a very long run of flashing mode if needed. You could have a charger at each location, top them off at work, then have plenty for a 2-3 hour ride home.

All told, I do wish I had access to the one of the new ones, like the 500L, just so I could have one unit that's bright enough. Also, I'd probably have gotten the lithium rechargeable option as well, just for the longer run times.

I highly recommend the company, and have had very good service from Rob. Contact him directly for any and all questions.

Phantoj

I think the Light & Motion ARC li-ion Ultra would be the way to go... you might find one at your price with savvy shopping.

Michel Gagnon

Psimet,

What type of roads and paths are you riding? Are the paths completely dark or is there some path lighting? Or do you have to fight against neighbouring street lights or car headlights (on a neighbouring street) in your face?
And are the paths winding or straight? With winding paths, you won't be cycling fast, but you will prefer a wider spot. With straight paths, you might be cycling faster so you'll prefer a narrow spot. And if your route is relatively flat, (i.e. no 40-60 km/h downhills), you don't need too much light to see the road, especially if you don't compete with others.


May I suggest a 2-step lighting programme.

At this time of the year, days are getting longer, so the likelyhood of riding in the dark is minimal. I would suggest for now:

- Two taillights. Either the Planet Bike SuperFlash or the Cateye TL-LD1000. Here in Canada, the Superflash has a very limited distribution, but is 40% of the price of the Cateye. Install them on the bike – not on you – so they stay straight, and aim them properly.

- A battery headlight such as the Cateye EL-520 or 530. It's not bright enough to cycle comfortably, but it's good enough to limp back home and it's bright enough to be seen. That should cover you until September. At that time, you should get some serious lighting. While it sounds strange to act this way, the EL-520 will always be useful as a backup, if your high-end headlight breaks, looses its power, etc.

Get yourself a small charger and rechargeable batteries and you'll be OK.


Once you travel your route enough and ride a bit at night, you'll know what you prefer:
– A dynohub, which is best because it's always there and never has dead batteries. With a good headlight, I find that 3 W is plenty, providing I don't ride in adverse conditions. I don't do fast downhills at night anyway. If you go that route, the Schmidt hub is 225 $ approx. and the Shimano DH-3N71 is a little under 100 $ – you build your wheels for free + 20 $ of new spokes. Add a headlight (from 40 to 100 $ – Lumotecs are very good, Schmidt E-6 is great) and you're in business.
– A higher-power LED headlight, which will be roughly the equivalent of the above, but under 100-150$ and is transferrable from bike to bike. Same speed limitations.
– An HID headlight is the best... except for those coming into you. Great light, a bit an overkill and really expensive. But once you pay 400-500 $ for a headlight, you're able to ride fast downhills with that kind of light.

tsl

Hey, what about Suntour?