Originally Posted by
squidrow
As I ride longer and end up further and further from home, getting back before low light conditions take over is becoming more and more of a challenge.
For example, left yesterday 3 hours before sunset with a goal of my first 40 mile ride.
As I approached the 20 mile mark and prepared to turn around, the sunlight was replaced by heavy dark clouds. As I completed the trip it was just about dark and I was quite nervous about it.
So, I am looking for recommendations for lights that are bright enough to ride in the dark as well as let all cars know that I am there.
(for the record I hit my first 40+ mile ride yesterday in 2 hours 42 minutes and ended up at 42 miles!)
You're riding a Trek 8.3 DS?
8.3 DS - Trek Bicycle
That MSRP is like $659. I would imagine you want to stay in a budget. You're averaging somewhere in the 15 mph range in Charlotte NC. Unless you go further west, its mostly flat. Is that right so far?
Maybe later on, you might get a road bike or a cross bike. For myself, I chose a manufacturer that is right here in the U.S.A. Lucky for me there are several in California. So I narrowed it down from there. So as far as the German cutoff and such, its not the tipping point for me. What's important for me is the beam spread, since I ride where there is very little lamp posts on the inner roads.
As far as distance and time in the dark, I already chose to carry an extra battery. Lithium ion is what I have. I charge them frequently as an early morning ride is over one hour. And I always use the brightest settings for both front and back.