LanceMach

Help me spend my money!

I have a short (3 mile) commute to the BART train station here in the SF Bay Area. I ditched the car (well, at least for my commute) a few weeks ago and am loving it. However, I leave for work very early and I need to upgrade my headlight (I use a cheapie LED light that uses AAA batteries and decided that it's time for something that works. I almost ran over a black cat the other morning - wait, that's not a cat, what's that white stripe up it's back?

I'd like to find something that has a rechargeable battery and can detach quickly. I don't need a light that can last for hours - probably takes me 20 minutes on a slow day. I don't want to spend too much more than $100, if possible, but I do want something that will last.

So, what do you have and what's good (or bad) about it. Oh, I did do a search, but I didn't really find many recent recommendations.


Update - I see that Performance has a Light & Motion Vega on sale and I have almost enough points saved up to get it. Any thoughts on this one?

Thanks!

Lance

n4zou

I use a Mag-Lite Mini-Mag 3-watt LED flashlight. It's bright enough to actually see where you're going and has an adjustable beam pattern. This is a very nice feature as you can set the beam pattern wide when navigating a parking lot or other places where you need a wide pattern and you can narrow it for road use allowing you to see further down the road. There are two versions available, a 2 AA and 3 AA battery version. I prefer the 2 AA version as the barrel is short and lighter in weight. It will run continually for 2.5 hours on standard Alkaline batteries and 7 hours on disposable Lithium "camera" batteries. I detest rechargeable batteries! Just one battery going bad in the pack takes out the entire battery pack requiring you to purchase another (expencive) pack. It's just so much easier to purchase cheap disposable batteries. I used an old blinkie clamp and an EMT conduit hanger with small bits of inner tube rubber glued to the internal clamp surfaces to protect the flashlight from scratches. The flashlight is also nice when working on the bike at night unlike most bicycle specific lights which are large and don’t allow you to hold them in your mouth. It's also a nice flashlight for use around the house or work. Wal-mart is clearing out the 2 AA versions for $19. I hear Mag-Lite has a 5-watt version, which will go on sale when the 3-watt versions are gone from the shelves.

Grun

I really think that you should skip the Vega. It only gives out 85 lumens.

You should instead mount a pair of Fenix P3D's on your bike, at 160 lumens each, you will be pulling out 320 lumens to light your way!

https://www.fenix-store.com/product_...647043fcdab8c3

Grun

check this out to bro:
https://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/315846-fenix-l2d-ce-quick-release-mount.html

neilfein

How do you have that mounted?

Psydotek

Planet Bike Alias is pretty good, though it's a bit over $100... I was lucky and got it on sale for $90.

Inthe10ring

Way too many more convenient options here... I am an owner of both HID and LED headlights (high power), and would have to say that halogen is a FANTASTIC option here... Usually run times are one of the biggest concerns with halogen use, but with only 20 mins each way, he's got a week and a half with most systems... I would check out ( in the following order )

1) Light and Motion Solo- about $100, cheap enough, great build quality/warantee/cust service. I buddy has one, and it's his primary commuter light, even though he has hid on the helmet if he wants. Usually dosen't need it. Very nice flood beam.

2)Nite Rider Trail rat/Road Rat- about $75-$85 bucks. Very similar to above mentioned system. Though beware, while you can get a great deal on these guys, a lot of the older (i.e cheaper) models will have an old, big and heavy water bottle shaped battery...

3) Cygolite/Marwi/Nite Hawk, all three of these brands have some very reasonably priced lights between about 70-90 bucks, most though are 6Volt, which will yeild lower light output than a 12V System.

I would say stick with at least the Trail Rat 2.0 if you can, the build quality on this system and the Solo are much much better than the later mention brands. FWIW, I saw a trailrat 2.0 system on Jensonusa.com for $89 bucks... Go for it and good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions...
Ryan

Ngchen

Check out the Sigma Sport Ellipsoid/Cubelight with an upgraded bulb. I posted the details earlier, but anyway the light is cheap, and good enough to see by without having to deal with external chargers and battery packs. As for the fenix light, it looks good to me except for the fact that it uses expensive nonrechargeables, and I doubt you'd want to do that except in an emergency.

ryanz4

I use a regular old flashlight, that I have mounted with an old lock holder.

JohnBrooking

I'm no expert, but I know that I really like my Cygolite Rover. Two 6W beams, wide and narrow, that can be used alone or together. Rechargeable battery clips easily to the top tube (there is also a water bottle battery option), and life between charges is 3 hours on one beam or 1.5 on both. I'm sure it's not the most powerful out there, but I've happily ridden a totally unlit MUP with it. I forget what I paid, but I'm pretty sure it was < $100.

n4zou

I used a 1/2" EMT conduit hanger as a clamp to hold the flashlight. I cut and glued 2 small peace of inner tube rubber to the interior parts of the steel hanger to prevent scratching the flashlight and it provides a firm grip. I drilled a 1/4" hole in an old blinkie handlebar clamp to hold the conduit hanger using a 1/4" screw and nut. I also replaced the screw that came with the hanger with a thumbscrew so I don’t need tools to unclamp the flashlight. This makes it easy to remove and install the flashlight as required.

snowranger

I bought a new Cree LED light ($23) that runs on 1 AA battery. It probably puts out close to 60-80 lumens and lasts for 2 hours on a rechargeable battery. It has 5 or so light level modes and flashers. I mounted it to my helmet with some sticky velcro.

https://www.dealextreme.com/feedbacks...ws.dx/sku.2944

LanceMach

I ended up getting a Light and Motion Solo this past weekend: REI had one left on clearance and I had a gift certificate that I used to pay for virtually the whole thing (plus I'll get a dividend at the end of the year). The flashlight solutions sounded good (certainly less expensive), but I need something that pops off the bike in seconds and I also like using a rechargeable battery.

Today was my first commute with it - I'm very pleased: it gives off plenty of light for me. The difference is like night and day (you knew that was coming, didn't you?).

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Lance