Originally Posted by ryanspeer
I ride in to the train to get to work, which means that I hit the road at 6:00am and then hit the road on the way home at 5:30pm. It'll be dark by 6:00am by mid-September, and so I'm trying to think ahead about what kind of light I need to get. Any feedback on the lights below, or alternatives to look into would be great.
Just for the record, I'll be on a fairly busy but not terribly well-lit street for a large portion of the 6-mile trek each way. I want illumination not only so that others will see me (in addition to two blinking headlights and no less than three blinking and/or steady rear lights), but so that I can keep my speed around 20mph without needing to slow down to <15mph.
First the sunrises at 6 am in your local on August 12. By mid-September, the sun doesn't rise until around 6:45. To see when the sun rises and sets in your area go
here. For anywhere else on the planet go
here.
Originally Posted by ryanspeer
Here's what I'm considering:
NiteRider Classic
NiteRider TrailRat
CygoLite Hi-Flux
CygoLite DualCross
Basically, the more light the better. Mounting for the battery doesn't concern me much (water bottle-style battery, strap to top tube, etc.). I used a friend's NiteRider 15W light (NiteOwl??) last winter and loved it.
Hints/suggestions/alternatives? $150 or less would be fantastic.
For the lights, I'd go with the Niterider Trailrat, unlike most of the other Niterider line, this one is very simple. A battery, a lamp and a switch. No electronics other than the charger.
BikeSmart is selling them for a lot less than Performance. At $90 per unit, I'd buy 2 (a little more than $150 but worth it) and mount one on my helmet and one on the bike. If something goes wrong, you have a back up. And the helmet light is invaluable both on and off- road.