joakley

I am looking for a decent light that uses readily available store bought batteries for long distance rides.

socalrider

define long distance - how many hours of burn time needed.. You can go aa but using 18650 cells give stronger - long lasting options.

znomit

Its a flèche so likely 24hrs.

You don't wan't to be stopping every hour to change AAs.
Get a dedicated bike light, theres plenty that run off quad 18650 packs (maybe get a spare too).
Depends on your budget.

Captain Blight

If you live in the upper midwest, get to a Menard's. They sell a couple of different AA-powered flashlights with 1w Cree LEDs that put out 150-160 lumens in a good beam pattern; I have one taped to my handlebars and am quite pleased with it. It's not waterproof enough to stand up to immersion, but more than sufficient for a fairly heavy rain. Burn time is something like 5 hours.

davidad

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/b&m.asp

Burton

So what output would you consider 'decent'? And how much run time do you need?

mrtibbs_here

Quark 2AA lights from 4Sevens are excellent and make very good bike lights (held on with TwoFish lockblock or even with bands made from spent tubes...). I like Quark's with *tactical* interface best for biking - you have a broad selection of levels that you can set, but then there are just the ones you've set, no unwanted levels that you must cycle through .

Having said that, I think the Shining Beam XM-L (or XPG) S-Mini flashlight is an even better bike light, but runs on 18650 batteries. Its got more light for longer and is as light or lighter,...basically a win, win, win. If going this route, it pays to get the better and more expensive 18650's, like the Redilast or Eagletac rebranded Panasonic 3100mah 18650 batteries (can run $16 to $20 per cell Vs. getting 2 cells for under $10 from DealExtreme ,...the expensive cells run longer and last longer and pay for themselves in the end...). Shining Beam has AA based lights that you could check out if it really is a must to use everyday batteries...,.

mechBgon

Be aware that AA-based lights will not give good performance on alkaline AAs. You would need lithium primaries like the Energizer E2 Lithium Ultimate AA, which would be carried at stores like Target, K-Mart, Walmart, Fred Meyer as a camera-type item. Not cheap, but they can actually get the job done, unlike alkaline which cannot handle the sustained high-current scenario for very long. Or just carry extra NiMH rechargables.

Point in case:


Instead of AA, I'd recommend 18650 or else dynamo. If you pick the S-Mini, the Medium output is enough to ride in pitch darkness and it'll go for 5-6 hours on one cell. I recommend the XP-G variant of the S-Mini, which has a more center-weighted beam than the XM-L. I also recommend tightening the pill and the switch ring very firmly with a good snap-ring plier before the event, since the light can go out if they loosen up.