tail light visible in daytime
06-09-06 | 02:34 PM
#1
Thread Starter
cyclepath
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 1
From: "The Last Best Place"
Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho
tail light visible in daytime
I'd search but...
I'm new to commuting and am on a budget. I've decided on a Cygo Night Rover 16W for the front and am wondering how much I have to spend to get a rear light that is visible in the daylight. Any suggestions? I see Performance and Nashbar both have a $30 Cateye along with a bunch of cheapies. Do you suppose that's good enough? Or do I not even have to spend that much. Maybe the cheaper Cateye would do. Maybe nothing will do unless I build up some fancy thing. Thanks all.
I'm new to commuting and am on a budget. I've decided on a Cygo Night Rover 16W for the front and am wondering how much I have to spend to get a rear light that is visible in the daylight. Any suggestions? I see Performance and Nashbar both have a $30 Cateye along with a bunch of cheapies. Do you suppose that's good enough? Or do I not even have to spend that much. Maybe the cheaper Cateye would do. Maybe nothing will do unless I build up some fancy thing. Thanks all.
__________________
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
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"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
06-09-06 | 02:53 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 6
The Cateye LD-1000 is the best "production" standalone blinkie I know of (except that crazy DiNotte 3-watt one), and is daytime-visible to people who are in its "hot spot". The NiteRider ones are competitive with the LD-1000 from the direct rear view, but you'd need a NiteRider headlight system or else you'd have to wire it up to a 6-volt battery of your own.
I had some daytime photos from ~150 meters of the LD-1000 and NiteRider, but I seem to have lost them. Anyway, aim it very carefully so the hot spot is exactly where you want it. Use Alkaline or Lithium batteries for maximum voltage/punch (don't use NiMH, which have a feeble 1.2 volts and dim the light a lot). If the light seems to be getting dim, put new batteries into it... it doesn't seem to like low voltages very well.
Since it doesn't look like I'll need my LD-1000 anymore, send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send you my LD-1000 at no charge
If you eventually lose your mind and build a Nova like I did, then you can "pay it forward" to someone else. If you LMK early enough it can probably be on the way today.
I had some daytime photos from ~150 meters of the LD-1000 and NiteRider, but I seem to have lost them. Anyway, aim it very carefully so the hot spot is exactly where you want it. Use Alkaline or Lithium batteries for maximum voltage/punch (don't use NiMH, which have a feeble 1.2 volts and dim the light a lot). If the light seems to be getting dim, put new batteries into it... it doesn't seem to like low voltages very well.
Since it doesn't look like I'll need my LD-1000 anymore, send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send you my LD-1000 at no charge
If you eventually lose your mind and build a Nova like I did, then you can "pay it forward" to someone else. If you LMK early enough it can probably be on the way today.
Last edited by mechBgon; 06-09-06 at 03:03 PM.
06-09-06 | 04:04 PM
#3
Thread Starter
cyclepath
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 1
From: "The Last Best Place"
Bikes: 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0, 2001 Specialized Sirrus Pro, Kona Lava Dome, Raleigh hardtail converted to commuter, 87 Takara steel road bike, 2008 Trek Soho
Originally Posted by mechBgon
The Cateye LD-1000 is the best "production" standalone blinkie I know of (except that crazy DiNotte 3-watt one), and is daytime-visible to people who are in its "hot spot". The NiteRider ones are competitive with the LD-1000 from the direct rear view, but you'd need a NiteRider headlight system or else you'd have to wire it up to a 6-volt battery of your own.
I had some daytime photos from ~150 meters of the LD-1000 and NiteRider, but I seem to have lost them. Anyway, aim it very carefully so the hot spot is exactly where you want it. Use Alkaline or Lithium batteries for maximum voltage/punch (don't use NiMH, which have a feeble 1.2 volts and dim the light a lot). If the light seems to be getting dim, put new batteries into it... it doesn't seem to like low voltages very well.
Since it doesn't look like I'll need my LD-1000 anymore, send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send you my LD-1000 at no charge If you eventually lose your mind and build a Nova like I did, then you can "pay it forward" to someone else. If you LMK early enough it can probably be on the way today.
I had some daytime photos from ~150 meters of the LD-1000 and NiteRider, but I seem to have lost them. Anyway, aim it very carefully so the hot spot is exactly where you want it. Use Alkaline or Lithium batteries for maximum voltage/punch (don't use NiMH, which have a feeble 1.2 volts and dim the light a lot). If the light seems to be getting dim, put new batteries into it... it doesn't seem to like low voltages very well.
Since it doesn't look like I'll need my LD-1000 anymore, send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send you my LD-1000 at no charge
If you eventually lose your mind and build a Nova like I did, then you can "pay it forward" to someone else. If you LMK early enough it can probably be on the way today.
__________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
06-09-06 | 05:39 PM
#5
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
I also have an older clear case niterider tail light if you wanna splice the wires and rig up your own power system to it. It needs major voltage but it's up for grabs too, since my next tail light would most likely be a 3 watter!
06-12-06 | 10:26 AM
#6
Not a legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Truck taillight at https://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...?product=TRUCK. Product PT-R56 Truck Light - Red LED. Had to fab a bracket, but there's lots of light "surface area" and it seems to be well seen.
06-12-06 | 10:34 AM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by Praxis
Truck taillight at https://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...?product=TRUCK. Product PT-R56 Truck Light - Red LED. Had to fab a bracket, but there's lots of light "surface area" and it seems to be well seen.
WE DEMAND PICS! What do you power it off of, and how is the runtime for you?
06-12-06 | 11:30 AM
#8
Señior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Praxis, pix please. I bought that light months ago, but haven't mounted it yet because I can't figure out a good way to do it. Please take a pic close enough to see how you made the bracket.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
06-12-06 | 02:35 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
Praxis, pix please. I bought that light months ago, but haven't mounted it yet because I can't figure out a good way to do it. Please take a pic close enough to see how you made the bracket.
06-13-06 | 01:05 AM
#10
Team Katana
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, Fl
Bikes: None /cry
If you saw mechBgon's new "tail light" you would know why he doesnt mind parting with his LD-1000 wich happens to be the same one I just bought for simplicity's sake on sale at performance for like 25$... too bad I didnt ask ^^ thats food on the table for the 3 kids!
If they ever posses mech's bike for some reason or another they can turn it into a police vehicle with little trouble just add a few more lights and a siren and its reach for beach duty!
on a side note: I have the Dinotte Ultra 5 now... and OMG that thing is so small! I am very impressed with it so far, not sure if I will make a li-ion battery pack for it or not.
If they ever posses mech's bike for some reason or another they can turn it into a police vehicle with little trouble just add a few more lights and a siren and its reach for beach duty!
on a side note: I have the Dinotte Ultra 5 now... and OMG that thing is so small! I am very impressed with it so far, not sure if I will make a li-ion battery pack for it or not.
06-13-06 | 12:04 PM
#11
Not a legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
There's a picture of the whole lovely bike at https://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...7&d=1148186759 , but it doesn't show the bracket well. I'll get a picture when I can; it's heavy sheet metal cut, bent, and painted. Nothing fancy at all. I've got one of those Cateye reflector/blinkies mounted above it to satisfy the legal reflector requirement, and as a backup just in case. I power it (and an 12 20W halogen in an optronics housing) by a BatterySpace 3500 mAh pack (https://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=166). It's small, but My commute is only an hour total.
I think I may be in the wrong thread, though.
I think I may be in the wrong thread, though.
06-13-06 | 12:58 PM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by Praxis
There's a picture of the whole lovely bike at https://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...7&d=1148186759 , but it doesn't show the bracket well. I'll get a picture when I can; it's heavy sheet metal cut, bent, and painted. Nothing fancy at all. I've got one of those Cateye reflector/blinkies mounted above it to satisfy the legal reflector requirement, and as a backup just in case. I power it (and an 12 20W halogen in an optronics housing) by a BatterySpace 3500 mAh pack (https://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=166). It's small, but My commute is only an hour total.
I think I may be in the wrong thread, though.
I think I may be in the wrong thread, though.
How about a photo of what it looks like in operation?
you use lights in the daytime?
check the pic below and see if you have an easier time locating the bike when it's got a small LED police strobe on the back... 
