Front Light Setup?
 

I was out driving in the suburbs and I couldn't believe how many bikes were out, let alone without any lights! So now I feel I should have another front light :P. I don't do much night riding, but I'd like to have a decent setup when the occasion should arise. Currently I'm using a Cateye TL-LD130 set on flash (all three LEDs flashing at the same time). What else should I have? I don't need an actual headlight as it's bright as day in the city at night, ..just something that catch driver's attention. Any recommendations?

FYI- I'm using an older model Trek Disco Tech and a Planet Bike SuperFlash in the rear, so I think I'm set back there.

cateye opticube HL-EL135/410 is what I use for being seen.

410 you can strap on your helmet and uses 3xAAA, but 135 uses the cheaper 2xAA batteries.

Nearly any LED light with a flash feature. I also like one that can be pointed to the left or the right when you're particularly weary of people turning left or pulling out from a side street. I've got a Blackburn Quadrant that meets this description.

I'm a big fan of using one "see stuff" light and one "be seen" light when riding at night.

I use a Knog Toad as my flashy be seen light. That pretty much lives on my handlebars all the time. Then when it's getting on towards actually being dark I put my Dinotte 200L on the handlebars. Amazing little light, expensive but worth it.

The Cygolite Dualcross is another excellent light and about $60 cheaper than the Dinotte.

*plays with his Fenix force Q5 set-up quietly, while waiting for cyccocommute to enter thread...:twitchy: to show y'all how it's done.

I have one of these guys, Sigma Sport Tri LED Front Light . It has good visibility and is enough to limp home at night. Also it does not have a separate mounting bracket so it is easy to stick on any bike.

I also just got a superflash rear light. That thing is BRIGHT!

Looking at Florida's laws, you probably do need an actual headlight that emits a steady light, if you want to be street-legal at least. For a self-contained, removeable light with enough power to get noticed, I'd probably reach for my Fenix L2D Q5 and strap it to my handlebar with a LockBlock, which is about a $65 setup if you already have rechargeable NiMH AA cells to feed it. A front blinkie in clear or amber would make a good addition, providing some side visibility and the eye-catching blinkie effect.

Dinotte
 

+1 for the Dinotte set up I have a tail light in addition to a 200 up front on my road bike you can set up the flash modes to suit your situation.
Another big PLUS is the customer service at Dinotte.

Jon

Dinotte
 

+1 for the Dinotte set up I have a tail light in addition to a 200 up front on my road bike you can set up the flash modes to suit your situation.
Another big PLUS is the customer service at Dinotte.

Jon

Get a cateye fazer put it on flash bright and will catch anyones eye.

dinotte 200L is not bad at all, but be sure you have reflectors (sticker, spoke and/or sidewall) since they don't output lights to the sides.

One problem in the city at night is that it gets hard to see where your wheels start and end coming up from the side. I would have plowed into a few people's wheels had I not been using a Dinotte 200L to light up my path.

I'm not too concerned about being 'street legal', I think I'll be fine with a couple of front flashing lights going. Cops don't pull over cars driving without their head lights on...can't imagine I would be suspect to ticketing.


Good point. I do have a pair of tires w/ reflective sidewalls on my to get list.


Now that you mention that, I wonder if it's a better idea to have one of two lights on constant (other on flash), as it might be easier for others to see exactly where I am and how fast (or slow :P) I'm traveling...

I really like these lights:
http://www.niterider.com/prod_minewtx2dual.shtml

I use these in the day as well as the night, the flash mode is awesome and having two light makes me look more like a vehicle/motorcycle at night.
Chris

I've got a CygoLight NiteRider or some such thing. It's handy, rechargeable, and lets me see my way if I end up on a MUP away from city lights, too. But, as I found out yesterday, it can also die very suddenly, leaving me a couple of miles from home on the darkest part of my commute (still in the city, so still not very dark, but it is the point at which I click on the 2nd light). I may need a back up battery light to keep in my trunk. Long term plan is to go with a dynamo so that batteries aren't a concern. I did pass two stealth riders at a particularly dark intersection on a relatively high traffic road. Hopefully they go for some lights some time soon.

Buy American-made - Dinotte. I have the 200L (AA version) and I think that, on the high setting, the light level is just about perfect.

I'm big on LEDs for their efficiency and their durability - for the most part, there is no bulb to break or wear out.

Since you wouldn't be using it regularly, may I suggest using rechargeable NiMH batteries with low self-discharge, such as Sanyo Eneloop or Rayovac Hybrid. They retain their charge for a long time so are ready to go with little or no maintenance - and are even ready to go out of the package. You will get about 2 hours of 200L run time with them when fully charged.

+1! They're great, small and light. But you use the flashing mode?? :twitchy: That's harsh, these light are very powerful, using the flashing mode is super annoying. Someone coming towards me while having these lights flash would either have an epilleptic seizure or come kick my ass! I vowed to only use the flash mode in an emergency.

That said though having 2 lights allows configuring how the light is projected. In deep dark I like to have the lights one on top of the other to shine way ahead and the road. I lower it when someone comes towards me; I found out how blinding they can be! In city light I project them low in front of me (~4m) but spread laterally.

I use flash mode during the day, on busy roads, and steady bright at night on the roads, steady low at nigt on the MUP (pointed downward and to the right as much as possible.)

I have two of these OEM Lights for $5.00: http://ledshoppe.com/Product/ledp/LP3019.htm

I believe they are the OEM of the Topeak White Lights: https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/11631

They're pretty bright and I can see them at least 3/4 down my neighborhood block. However, the straps are cheap and I already broke one (now taped to my fork).

I currently use a Light & Motion Arc on my mtn. bike, and a Inova T5 on twofish lockblock on my road bike. I'm probably either going to get a dedicated bike light for the road bike or else a smaller flashlight that wont move near as much as this does.

I only use the flashing mode in daylight, which is when I commute right now. In the dark I would use the steady setting. I ride on some pretty busy roads and can use all I can to get noticed!
Chris

Nite Rider is also American, right here in San Diego.

I have this ... cyglolite. 16 watts - works nice - battery is good - could be better (when I say this - it's cause I use this set-up for off-roading for long periods of time - and I wear the battery out after a while - like couple of hours or less depending on if I have the high beam on) - had a better set up on the last bike that was stolen - forget what it was but the company went out of business anyway - I just make sure if I'm hitting late nite trails on my mtb that it's charged - as it wears fast.

Plus I rather miss the separate lights - nice to focus one on the wheel, another out in front.

And this set-up does not include a "blinker" - which is nothing so - I attach another one of the many to the front of the bike when I know it's going to be funky weather. There are times when that blinker versus a solid light seems to catch people's attention during rain, etc.

http://amlingscycle.com/merchant/676...troverxtra.gif

Niterider Sol
It's small, lightweight, bright, 4 hr run time and recharges quickly.
And the most important thing... It didn't cost more than the bike I put it on.

Good news! I'll check them out. Thank you.