Originally Posted by
MarvelousMark
I also don't see the average cyclist or commuter need a 200 lumen light. I got a Cygolite Luxeon light (150 lumens, maybe), that is more than enough for anything, save maybe off-roading in the dark. The main thing you need for commuting is "be seen" visibility. That includes the tail-light, reflectors, reflective clothing, etc.
Most of these flashlight costs you're quoting don't include the battery cost. Last I checked, 4 AA's + Charger is still around $20 or more. Add that cost to any flashlight if you don't have the batteries bought already.
This is true. However, consider that this is a one-time investment, and you can get a high-quality charger + 4 AAs in a kit for $25ish. The entire lockblock/light+battery setup at 200 lumens is still < $60, and you can get 400 lumens for $28 more with a 2nd flashlight on your helmet. This is for US dealers, as well - if you go DealXtreme, you can get 2 x P7s with 18350 chargers for exactly the same price - for at least 800, if not 1000 lumens.
If you run the P7s on "medium", it will STILL be brigher than your Cygolite 150lumen and run for hours. And it will still cost lower than your Cygolite. I also am not sure you can use the Cygolite charger on other lights - hopefully you can, or else you've just taken another loss there.
The Cygolite actually is actually a reasonable deal for a bike-specific manufacturer at <$100 for 150 lumens, but still, it's almost an afterthought compared to the examples I've given above that cost exactly the same, if not less.
The Dinotte is probably the most "useable" bike-specific light IMO, at it's $150 for 2 hr runtime at 200 lumens - still a far cry from dual P7s running on medium.