The 'first hour of your ride'? Yikes, how long is your ride?! Will you need light at the other end going home? I'm thinking an external 4 (x 18650) battery pack would be necessary. I doubt you are a candidate for non-rechargeable (AA) battery power. Nor are you a good dynamo candidate because you don't have one. Lights on helmets are aimable. This is great for shining light around corners and into dark crevices and can be used in conjunction with a bar mounted light or alone. I am night blind and need a lot of light at night and in the dark. A standard MagicShine 808 on a helmet mount supplies plenty of light. Another on the bars and I am good for rain and/or unfamiliar rural routing. I get mine from Action LED. Do not buy MagicShine knock-off's on Amazon, you will be dissapointed. For rear use in the dark almost anything works. I've used Ascent flashers (nice because the clip slide is horizontal, bumps do not knock it loose), Planet Bike Superflashes, and other things sold as rear blinkies.