I am a long-time night-rider, so I can actually add something to this thread. Mostly I will add endorsements.
Originally Posted by
Grasschopper
I'd suggest 800-1000 lumens of light. I have a Light and Motion Urban 800
These are great lights. I Really like the variable power setting. I really don’t like that I have tio physically break the light open to put in a new battery when the original wears out ... though I hear you can send them back to be refurbished. Never had to yet, so I don’t know. Really great lights. Run on low, they last for ... maybe eight hours? It is ridiculous.. and they charge in one or two hours.
Originally Posted by
f4rrest
Fast descent at night, definitely need 2 lights. One broad beam on bars. Other narrow, long throw beam on helmet , so you can see in the distance wherever your head is pointing.
I agree, if you are going fast, two lights are necessary. I don’t wear a helmet, so I have them on my bars. One is aimed out, the other close. You can see something far away and be ready, and when it’s close, know exactly what it is and know what’s appropriate.
One light is fine, but there will always be a hole, either far out (no good, because you need the reaction time) or close in (not good because you want to know if it is a stain on the pavement or a seven-inch-deep pothole or an armadillo or raccoon or something.)
Originally Posted by
u235
I rode roughly 400-500 miles in the dark last winter (too lazy to dig through to get an exact number). I use two cheap flashlights that take 18650 batteries. One aimed low and wide and when needed, I turn on the second and it's aimed higher. The main light starts to get a little dim but can make it the 1.5 hours but I a carry a spare battery just in case or just use the other one. Simple, cheap. Pitch black rural road and bike path route that I've done a 100 times before, that being said, it is still unpredictable, I stay under 20ish. I ride with one at all times every ride regardless of season or time as a flasher if needed. In the perfect world, I'd have a helmet light but I can't stand any additional weight on my helmet. I don't want wired battery packs and I want the ability to swap batteries
I just bought two 1000-lumen CREE lights for six dollars, and another couple bucks for mounts. For situations where I am only running one light, or really want to be safe (certain downhills I avoid at night because I am afraid I will get stupid and hurt myself) I think these will be excellent ... plus I can carry spare, fully charged batteries. The lights can be focused wide or long and tight, another plus. I wish they had a dimmer function, but for six bucks a pair, ....I can manage.
I do a ton of night miles—with my job, getting off for those sweet daytime hours when the weather is good is almost impossible. After work it is either too hot, too cold, or too late ... so lights are really important.
When I commuted six days a week, I did at least an hour sometimes two every night five or six days a week.
But I am cheap, I spent a couple hundred on a pair of Urbans, and a couple Cygolite hotshots ... and I don’t regret it. But I can also get some red plastic and glue it over the 1000-watt $3 flashlight (which has a flashing mode) and outshine my Cygolite, and a pair up front are if anything, Too bright for most applications.
I understand the appeal of the really finely crafted stuff, but money on the lights is money not in the frame or running gear (or, worst crime of all, not spent on the wife.) So I will keep my 6800 and 5800 groups, my reasonably happy marriage, and a handful of 1000-watt budget flashlights with removable rechargeable replaceable batteries.