Originally Posted by
robertlinthicum
Beware the "mission creep" purchase pattern, common with bicycle lighting: Long ago, I started with lousy lights, then got not bad lights, then got good lights, then got excellent lights, then got state-of-the-art lights. Shudder to think of the waste in buying in that manner.
Hey, that's where I'm heading, too. Started with a cheap Cateye, AA powered thing. Made me feel a little better about being seen, but one day I headed onto the MUP with it after dark... just about ran over a guy walking his dog. I could barely see to stay on the path. In fact, I found myself accidentally taking the wrong turn and ending up off the MUP, which was just as well given that I was riding pretty much blind.
REI had the Cygo-Lite Night Rover on sale for $60 or $80. Decent light, great price, but I didn't know how good until I went on the MUP again this past weekend. Tree cover and no street lights reaching me, but the Night Rover kept me on my route. Still, battery issues are a pain, and I'm guessing replacing the battery when the time comes will cost as much as the whole thing cost me the first time around.
My current plan is to get a dynamo hub with a light set up. Then I'd like to mount the Night Rover on my helmet. But I have to agree with robertlinthicum, spend what you can, especially if you're using the lights to see by and not just be seen.