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For the past year I have been running fixed "marker lights" on the front and rear for daytime and night-time general roadway use, and have a separate strap-on torch to light the MUP or dark roads at night-time. These lights do not fit the OP's budget, but FWIW, here they are:
1. Front and rear markers: Sparse.cc "fixed light" system 2. Light and Motion 500 lumen torch with a custom light-shielding cowl. The Sparse fixed lights are great as marker lights, because they are difficult to steal (2 years on my urban bike so far), so no need to fuss with taking them on and off, also they have various blinking and steady modes and are USB charged. The Sparse headlight is not good for lighting the road however, therefore my need for the separate torch. |
Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 19124409)
So what is your conclusion so far?
Personally I'm ambivalent. I'll run the headlight if I have it and I'm not saving the battery for later, but I don't sweat it if I don't. Today, I went to check out some rear lights at a pretty large LBS. As expected, the salesperson knew absolutely nothing about the thousands of dollars worth of lights on display in the middle of the store and suggested that I research them on the Internet. This is why I rarely ever actually BUY any of the things I ask about on these forums. One thing I noticed: Most of the rear lights have cheapo little clips now, rather than hardware to mount them on a rack. I'm wondering if I should just wait until I find the light I want on the side of the road. |
Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 19124872)
No real conclusion. That's my point in Post #98, I suppose.
Today, I went to check out some rear lights at a pretty large LBS. As expected, the salesperson knew absolutely nothing about the thousands of dollars worth of lights on display in the middle of the store and suggested that I research them on the Internet. This is why I rarely ever actually BUY any of the things I ask about on these forums. One thing I noticed: Most of the rear lights have cheapo little clips now, rather than hardware to mount them on a rack. I'm wondering if I should just wait until I find the light I want on the side of the road. |
Originally Posted by DiabloScott
(Post 19106554)
They are blinding, and annoying, and dangerous to other riders. And annoying. And painful if you're on the MUP at dusk.
Users think they really grab the attention of oncoming traffic; true, but they make it hard to see anything else. |
Originally Posted by cyccommute
(Post 19107479)
Well, they are. I agree that they have no business on a MUP at night but then I feel that bicycles...well not bicycles per say but lights in general...have no business on a MUP at night.
In my area many MUPs are closed at night anyway but people still use them. Pedestrians that are walking on the MUP without lights but under the benefit of "real" night vision are immediately plunged into darkness when exposed to any light...low intensity or otherwise. And it takes from 30 to 45 minutes for them to readapt their night vision to the level it was before. It may take 15 to 20 minutes to be able to see well enough to stumble along. Even if you are running a light that puts out 50 lumens...which is really, really dim...you've ruined the night vision of someone who isn't using lights. More light doesn't change that equation, so I avoid using MUPs at night time. It's the courteous thing to do. [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] Perhaps the Denver metro area is darker than other cities but I really doubt that based on my experiences in other parts of the US. That said, there are enough dark places on my commute to and from work along "lighted" streets, that having a "flashing light pointed...at the road surface" would mean that I'd have significant stretches of dark riding and pothole surprises. On the other hand, if I'm riding in a well-illuminated area, I want to be noticed by the drivers. I'm not worried about their night vision...they don't have any...but I want to stand out against a sea of other light sources. I have no problem with confusing drivers into thinking that I'm another car or a truck or a train off the tracks. When I'm approaching them, I want them to think twice about how big this thing coming at them is and stop to think about pulling out in front of it. It's kind of the puffer fish approach to riding at night so, yes, my lights are a kind of force shield. |
Originally Posted by rhm
(Post 19107605)
On the bikes that have a switch on the dynamo light, I leave it on all the time. On others, such as my commuter bike, there isn't a switch, so if the front wheel is turning, the lights are on.
I don't think helmet-mounted lights are much help for making the rider visible at night. I see them only as a disembodied light that doesn't make sense. Not so bad in the daylight, though. |
Originally Posted by Leebo
(Post 19131518)
Helmet lights are great for providing a higher light, like say over the roof or hood of a car. Also for the rider, the helmet light can turn with the head to see the turn before the bars do. A light on the bars and helmet make for better depth perception on road bumps and holes. And finally the helmet light can " get " the attention of the idiot drivers. YRMV.
My point was something else. Namely that, regardless whether you wear a helmet mounted light, your bike should wear the standard lights that make it recognizable as a bike. The helmet light cannot reliably do that. |
Originally Posted by rhm
(Post 19131544)
I agree that a helmet mounted light is excellent for helping its wearer to see things, and of course, as you say, the wearer can use it --almost as a weapon-- to get someone's attention. That's all to the good; certainly a useful tool.
My point was something else. Namely that, regardless whether you wear a helmet mounted light, your bike should wear the standard lights that make it recognizable as a bike. The helmet light cannot reliably do that. |
From the OP:
OK, so let's say you just received a $50 Amazon gift certificate for donating red blood cells and you plan to spend it (and not a penny more) on a new rear blinkie that will attach to your Topeak MTX rack and will provide kick--ss daytime visibility. In as few words as possible, which rear blinkie do you order? |
Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 19145110)
From the OP:
OK, so let's say you just received a $50 Amazon gift certificate for donating red blood cells and you plan to spend it (and not a penny more) on a new rear blinkie that will attach to your Topeak MTX rack and will provide kick--ss daytime visibility. In as few words as possible, which rear blinkie do you order? BTW, I'm familiar with blood transfusions...did you really get a $50 gift certificate of donating "red blood cells"? I believe paid donors have been forbidden for decades now, though I think you may be able to get paid for plasma for non-transfusion purposes. |
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 19145269)
BTW, I'm familiar with blood transfusions...did you really get a $50 gift certificate of donating "red blood cells"? I believe paid donors have been forbidden for decades now, though I think you may be able to get paid for plasma for non-transfusion purposes.
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Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 19145269)
FYA, I just spent about $50 for a new rear blinkie, posted about it, and got lambasted, even before I used it. Nonetheless, I’m happyabout the purchase, and look forward to posting a rebuttal, after I have usedit (in a couple days).
BTW, I'm familiar with blood transfusions...did you really get a $50 gift certificate of donating "red blood cells"? I believe paid donors have been forbidden for decades now, though I think you may be able to get paid for plasma for non-transfusion purposes. I did an "Automated Red Cell" donation, as I do every few months without any sort of compensation. This time, they asked me which $50 gift certificate I would like - Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, or Dunkin' Donuts. Knowing I wanted to upgrade my blinkie, I didn't argue. |
Originally Posted by American Euchre
(Post 19107177)
I have the Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 rear red LED. It's pretty easy to find at or under $50 online.
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I'd probably buy two lights, an Axiom Pulse 60 ($30) and a Blitzu 168T ($19).
One rear light is NOT ENOUGH. Put the Axiom on steady down load and the Blitzu blinking on your helmet. This is what I'm running currently. I've been through a lot of lights and most of them are retired now. I do have the Fly6 on the back, blinking away too, but it's not a primary light. |
I wish everything didn't have to be so damned difficult. Cygolite makes a blinkie model called the Hotshot Pro 150 USB for about $43 on Amazon. They also make a bazillion other models, including other Hotshots with the numbers 50, 80, etc after them (which I assume is the lumen rating?).
I want something really bright for daytime riding, but it doesn't have to be brighter than "bright enough." More importantly, I want one that can be mounted to my Topeak Explorer rack, which I know will require some kind of mounting accessory. Without suggesting lights other than the Cygolite Hotshot, can somebody help me make up my mind and be done with this stupidity already? |
Just buy something.
I guarantee that no matter what you buy, you will at some point wish you bought something else. Eventually you'll be like the rest of us and have a dozen taillights and 4 or 5 headlights. You will NEVER get any kind of consensus here because some people think there's no such thing as bright enough unless you're lighting shrubs on fire as you ride by, and others are afraid of offending light sensitive vampires on the MUP. |
Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
(Post 19147725)
Just buy something.
I guarantee that no matter what you buy, you will at some point wish you bought something else. Eventually you'll be like the rest of us and have a dozen taillights and 4 or 5 headlights. You will NEVER get any kind of consensus here because some people think there's no such thing as bright enough unless you're lighting shrubs on fire as you ride by, and others are afraid of offending light sensitive vampires on the MUP. As I said earlier, this is why I never end up buying anything -- and maybe why people don't buy as much as they used to. Hey, bike lighting industry...just give me two choices and I PROMISE I will pick one!!!!!!! |
Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
(Post 19147725)
Just buy something.
I guarantee that no matter what you buy, you will at some point wish you bought something else. Eventually you'll be like the rest of us and have a dozen taillights and 4 or 5 headlights. You will NEVER get any kind of consensus here because some people think there's no such thing as bright enough unless you're lighting shrubs on fire as you ride by, and others are afraid of offending light sensitive vampires on the MUP. I also have 2 front lights - same. No regrets. :) CatEye rear light - any that has at least 3 LEDs in it. Most are rain (and downpoor) resistant. Front light - on one bicycle I use a flashlight, on a flashlight mount placed on handlebars. Good light, rechargeable AA batteries. On the other, a dedicated bicycle LED battery light. |
Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 19145377)
The Cygolite Hotshot seems to be a popular one on this forum. But it won't mount to my rear rack, right?
https://www.amazon.com/CygoLite-Rack...ite+rack+mount |
Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 19147661)
I wish everything didn't have to be so damned difficult. Cygolite makes a blinkie model called the Hotshot Pro 150 USB for about $43 on Amazon. They also make a bazillion other models, including other Hotshots with the numbers 50, 80, etc after them (which I assume is the lumen rating?).
I want something really bright for daytime riding, but it doesn't have to be brighter than "bright enough." More importantly, I want one that can be mounted to my Topeak Explorer rack, which I know will require some kind of mounting accessory. Without suggesting lights other than the Cygolite Hotshot, can somebody help me make up my mind and be done with this stupidity already? The niterider has better side lighting, while some think the cygo is brighter straight on. Get both and get the best of both worlds. |
I am NOT a fan of the original Hot Shot. It has a lot of fans and when it was new it was one of the best, but IMO it's too spotty, and there are better lights out there now.
I'm currently a BIG fan of the Blitzu 168T, < $20 on Amazon. Given the choice between the two (I own both) I would take the Blitzu (in fact I do, every morning when I leave the Hot Shot at home). It has a 180 degree light spread, and I'm coming around to the view that a physically larger light makes as much difference as brightness. The Blitzu does both. I do use the Hot Shot as my low mounted, steady light if I forgot to charge or can't find the Axiom that I usually use there. If I had to keep the choice to conventionally shaped blinkies, I like the Performance Axiom Pulse 60, but it's not available on Amazon (Performance Bike sells it). The Portland Design Works lights always get good reviews too, if you want one that takes AAA cells. Blitzu also has a conventionally shaped light if that's what you're looking for. |
Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
(Post 19148820)
I'm currently a BIG fan of the Blitzu 168T, < $20 on Amazon.
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The Blitzu has a rubber band mount. This is great for mounting on most things (any bike tube, and it worked for my helmet by looping through vents) but it doesn't work on a fabric loop.
It'd be pretty trivial to 3D print a mount I suppose. I'll have to see if I can whip one up. |
I am a fan of non-flashing, dynamo lights. I use mine 24/7; they're just always on.
I know that is not your setup, but some of the good, Euro-style dynamo lights come in battery versions, as seen here. I like these lights for all-around use, particularly the Top Light Line version that I use because it makes a wide, steady light. Not a pinpoint light, it makes a wide, bright surface area of light, making it very noticeable, and very easy to gauge distance because the fresnel lens makes a line of light, not a dot of light. They're rack-mounted, and battery powered, made in Germany. May not be your cup of tea if you really want a blinking light, but I just go with one light all the time - a big bright one on the rear rack with a nice lens that spreads the light rather than making one bright point. Seems to work well. |
I too am a fan of dynamo lights (front and back), 24/7, 365. I never never worry about the batteries. In winter, I add a Vis360 helmet light for areas with a lot of driveways or cross streets for extra emphasis but the dynamo lights do the main work.
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