landdnl

I'm already thinking about fall/winter commute upgrades, specifically for the commute home at rush hour. I commute 12 miles each way. Part of commute is pretty dark, and other parts have ambient light from signs, street lights, etc. with a decent amount of traffic and I straddle the line between shoulder and road. I'm replacing my Portland Design Works Danger Zone that succumbed to water after the first major rain shower it was exposed to. I guess I may have messed up by turning it off while it was still wet. Now it just stays on in one mode. I don't know if it was bad luck, or what. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive on this. I'm thinking about going with a triangle of lights with a Danger Zone pulsing on the back of the saddle, and 2 Hotshots(SL) or NiteRider Solas, both are 2 watts and set them for medium continuous beam for clear conditions, or continuous high for rain/fog/snow on the seat stays. Any input for the above lights, or the proposed setup, pro or con, would be appreciated. FYI I run 2 Light & Motion Urban 700's on the drops of my road bike on medium/low setting, which works out well because the amber light light up my handlebars/front end to make it more visible for cars who are at cross streets. I also run a Cygolite Metro 500 helmet mount. On a unrelated side note, last year I upgraded my front end lighting, and it did wonders as far as getting "respect" from traffic. I've also found after upgrading the front that I feel pretty confident going through intersections where I have the right of way that cross traffic sees me easily. This use to be my biggest paranoia. This might seem counter intuitive, but I've learned that it's better to cross these intersections at full speed(Trust, but always have an option available JIC the motorist pulls out in front of you.)because if a motorist sees you coasting, odds are they're going to pull in front of you. Also, if you're a faster moving target, you're more likely to be seen at night from cross traffic. The lime green jackets also are a god send.

Mr. Hairy Legs

I use Danger Zone on seat post, Hotshot on helmet. I am ridiculously bright, and both lights have held up well through many a monsoon.

fietsbob

Immersion water proof, or just rain on it?

landdnl

Just rain proof. I know one thing's for sure. The Urban series of headlights are waterproof. A month ago I had one of my Urban 700's in a side pocket of my cargo shorts. When I did laundry, I didn't check that side pocket, so into the wash it went. I didn't notice it until I got them out and my shorts had a bright glow from a particular pocket. So anyway, I let the battery drain down(I was afraid I might do more harm than good if I turned it off), and it still works great! That would be considered immersion proof!

fietsbob

Actual SOLAS ie safety of life at sea.. lights are made to go on your life vest or in cold oceans your Gumby suit .. whole body suit
since Hypothermia will kill you in :30 in a cold lake or sea..

many lights now have a labyrinth seal between the lens and body.. my old Vista lights have a gasket
\
My B&M Toplights on my rack are fine.. Oregon coast. Battery only or the Ones with a hybrid dynamo/ AA powered one..

spare_wheel

This is the kind of set up I would use if I were descending at 80 kmh on a logging road with lots of S curves.

jyl

I have a Knog Blinder 4 on one bike and a Serfas Thunderbolt on another. Both have held up through a couple of Portland winters and are plenty light for taillights. The Thunderbolt is also visible from the side and can be mounted on seatpost or seatstays; you could, for instance, have one on each stay.

In addition to one of those lights, I have a red light on my backpack. It might be a Planet Bike blinky, anyway it is nothing special but the pair of lights, one high and one low, are very noticeable. Add some reflectives on your shoes or ankles to convey a pedaling motion, and a driver will be very aware of the bike rider in front of him.

If you want to be even more noticeable, here are two additional lights I have. A pair of Tacx drop bar end lights, that illuminate red in back and white in front. To a car approaching on your 7 o'clock, the left bar end light is visible and gives some sense of your width. And I sometimes have those cheap coin cell blinkies, like Bontrager Embers, wrapped around the hubs. When those are on, they are a weird revolving light that has people gawking. I don't use those unless I really feel invisible, like on foggy mornings.

Finally, if you have panniers, then a big reflective panel on each is a great idea. That really reminds drivers of your width.

In front, I also think it helps to have two lights some distance apart. It gives you apparent "size". Like your pair of lights on the drops. I have a Nite Rider headlight on the stem flanked by the Tacx bar end lights. The combination looks like a motorcycle, and gets noticed. I have a helmet light too, but don't use it unless I'm in bad traffic or it is foggy or stormy or something like that.

Bike Gremlin

Cateye are very good and very weather proof. Any model.

landdnl

Exactly. This made a huge difference, having 2 lights spaced apart with the amber side lights illuminating the bars, plus the helmet light to direct at cross traffic vehicles just to make sure they see me. I know the lumen output is way overkill if you used these on high, but why not spend a couple of bucks more to make it easier on the commute into work(4am) to reduce the chance of hitting a buck. There's one stretch of road in particular deer love to be around.

fietsbob

the Line technology, fresnel lensing gives these an apparent width, Busch & Müller Toplight Flat S Permanent Bike Tail Light | Bike Tech

MauiWowwee

I'm currently using PDW's Aether Demon and Radbot1000. Haven't had any issues with them in the rain so far, and they're plenty bright

fietsbob

Here is another one its integrated into the seatpost.. ?27.2mm - LightSkin seat post with LED rear light - Black/White/Silver · EpicBike · Online Store Powered by Storenvy

Reynolds 

+1. I didn't have any problems with cheap Cateyes in heavy rain.

1nterceptor

Waterproof? Checkout my testing method at the 15 minute mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G74...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

GriddleCakes

I've a Hotshot that has held up through two full years of all weather commuting, rain and snow, parked outside during the workday. It does sit right under the seat, so it gets some cover, but then again I had it on my fenderless Pugsley all through last breakup, where it (and me) was constantly barraged by a 4 inch wide plume of ice melt, slush, and a winter's worth of road grit.

I had a PDW Radbot that quit after an especially wet month a couple of summers ago, and have burned through three Planet Bike Superflash taillights. The PDW Aether Demon on my wife's bike has made it through the summer, rack mounted and parked out in the rain during the workday. My Knog Blinder Road taillight is crazy bright and unfazed by rain, but it sits below the seat on a full fendered bike, and provides no side illumination, which I find to be a disconcerting design flaw, but I have wheel lights for side visibility, and the Knog just looks so cool.

The Hotshot and Aether Demon are both excellently bright taillights with great side visibility, and the Aether Demon has some pretty catchy flash modes. My Hotshot is an older model, and when I went to buy another, I was disappointed to see that the manufacturer had omitted the fading pulse mode, which is my favorite (fully bright and eye catching without possibly inducing seizures), which is why I picked up the PDW Aether Demon instead.

GriddleCakes

I should also point out that all of the lights I mentioned (Knog Blinder Road, Cygolight Hotshot, PDW Aether Demon) are bright enough that I only use the flash or pulse modes during the day, and run them on steady at night.

landdnl

+1. I definitely don't want to use these in flash/pulse mode unless visibility is poor. That's why I'm thinking about a 1 watt taillight for flash mode.

gregjones

I just got back from the Light and Motion website. I got all the way through the cart and shipping info to get a 180 Hi Vis taillight. They wanted $14 shipping. I have an ass ready for them........pucker up.

Now, all I have to do is go back and remember what my second choice was. I'm thinking Serfas Shield and NightRider Solas. Together they are less than a L&M. Both USB, highly rated and can be ordered without being insulted.

landdnl

Amazon: $100 and free shipping.

landdnl

Which one did you get? I ended up getting one Solas and one Hotshot. I like the Solas much better for my application(1 on each seat stay) because of it's small footprint. I'm thinking about the Thunderbolt on the chainstays because this is still my biggest paranoia. Riding through an intersection with the right of way and cross traffic doesn't see me. That's why I have the Urban 700 on my drop bar ends to illuminate my bars and front wheel, the Metro 500 has a little light from the side, and the Solas and Danger Zone has good illumination from the side. I guess I'll order another Solas & keep the Hotshot on another bike for daytime recognition.

bmthom.gis

I have a Knog blinder that seems to hold up pretty well - and is super bright. Charges with a USB port, so it seems like it is pretty water tight. Just have to remember to charge it ever other day or so. Also have a small Knog Frog as an extra that hangs out at the end of my rack. Again, seems pretty darn water proof. Not as bright as the blinder, but a good secondary, or even back up.

ItsJustMe

I think the Axiom Pulse 60 from Performance bike, at $35, is about the best deal going right now and it seems totally waterproof to me.

It's a lot better than the Hotshot.

I have a Knog Blinder 4V and it's OK but mounting options are limited and the charge doesn't last long enough.

In the winter when I'm full-on always-in-the-dark riding, I strap on the Magicshines front and back - the headlight up front and the MJ880 in the back (I think that's the right model number). Both run off one battery pack with a Y adapter. Very bright and mine has been working fine for 4 years now. $30 if you buy just the light and the Y adapter (if you already have a light with a compatible battery).

Leisesturm

Ah yes, the shipping cost imbroglio. I don't know... I've done my share of secure site SCRAM maneuvers... but... you know what I've found? They always get you in the end, they pucker now or you pucker later. You may find a lower shipping price somewhere else but a higher item price. You might find free shipping and a reasonable purchase price but a site minimum for the free shipping to take effect. They have it, you want it. They can wait you out. I don't think $14 shipping on a $1000 light is that bad a deal. If it was $14 shipping on a $14 light that would be another thing entirely. But Greg, seriously... MagicShine. That's all you need to know. The Action LED site has them. You can find clones of them on Amazon. L&M, NiteRider, Cygolite, CatEye... ... they can't hold a candle... ... for a tail-light you can either get the ubiquitous Planet Bike superflash, or my personal fave the commuter combo pack from Ascent. Has a 4AA headlight that makes a very nice front blinky. It is useless as a see with light! Usually retails around ~$14.

H

scoatw

I use two Planet Bike Superflashes. They do great in pouring rain and in sub-zero temperatures. Run time on rechargeable batteries is good too.

Before I shop online I'll check out my LBS first and see if they can get it cheaper or for the same price, minus the shipping. A lot of times they can go thru QBP or someone like that and have it in less than a week. I've done that a few times. You save money and the hassle of ordering online and you support your local small business.

joeyduck

I support this assessment. I used to use rechargeable until I lost them and the lights they were placed in, I was more upset losing the batteries.

I also always carry four extra batteries just in case some die. I use multiples in the winter . Two flashing, one solid.

I am still working on my best front lighting. I use a high visibility vest and a bright colored shirt as a top layer.