Lighting Scheme Poll
 

So, how many of you (that ride in the dark) use a light versus a headlamp vs some other lighting scheme?

My current set up is two fenix L2D's mounted up front, and a cateye TL-LD 1100 tail light.

I also usually have superflash on my back.

Very visible.

I use a headlamp, a seizure-inducing taillight and a blinkie clipped either to my shirt or the back of my bandanna/helmet strap

I have a homemade 4-LED light mounted on my handlebar, rear PB Superflash.

This has been enough for me at speeds up to 20mph. Blackburn X2. Handlebar mounted. Seems to be fine. Lasts up to 3.5 hours so good both to and from work.

Other?

During the summer day-time Planet Bike Blaze up front w/ Superflash rear.

I have a foul weather-winter bike. I am building a Lumotec IQ-Fly internal hub headlight, with B&M tail-light, Reel lights, Pedalites, and PB Superflash taillight on blink-mode.

Basically my goal this winter is to be lit-up like a Christmas tree during the dark.

Guess I'm in the "other" group. I've got two Coast L.E.D. flashlights on my handlebars. A Cateye EL 430 on my helmet that I keep set on flash, so that I can point it any direction needed to catch the attention of inattentive drivers. Out back I've got a Mars 2.0 on the seat post and a PBSF mounted to each rear strut. I also have one of those light-up bands (meant to be worn on the wrist or ankle) mounted laterally on the back of my backpack and a cheap blinkie worn on a D-ring on the front strap. Probably overkill...But better overkill than roadkill.

I have a MiniNewt.x2 in front, a cheap Cateye blinkie in the rear.

You should have included a "bike and helmet" category. I know many people, myself included, use both.

Then vote for both. Although we still can't tell how many use both.

DiNotte 600L mounted on the helmet.

I like being able to aim the beam wherever I want it...especially when I see drivers zooming in from side streets.

I tried it mounted on the bars and it worked more or less OK, but I guess I have too many "control issues" and prefer the helmet mount.

cygolite rover 2 led for my headlight and i have 2 super flash pb blinkies 1 on my trunk bag and 1 on my backpack.

I've got a total of four lights that I use in various combinations depending on conditions. Handlebar mounted light, helmet light, blinky on the rear rack, blinky on the seat pack.

what's the difference between a light and a headlamp (the first two choices)?

That's a screwy poll. How many of us use both, lights on the bar and on the body? I ride at night with my main light on the bar and a secondary light on my helmet. And that doesn't include the front flasher mounted to the stem.

Since the poll was only about front I assume, then no need to go into the rear lights.

Cree R2 on helmet and PB SuperFlash on shorts.

I have a Niterider Digital Evolution mounted on the bars and a cheapy LED headlight on my helmet that is a "be seen" light and cyclocomputer light. Oh and a Cateye Blinky on my hydraton pack handles rear gaurd duty.

Dyno hubs and B&M lights for me.

I'm a ninja until my P7 comes in. I'll mount it on the handlebars.

All of the above. Two on the bars and one on the helmet...with provisions to mount a third one on the bars but that would be silly:rolleyes:;)

All three of the lamps have the same output -1550 lumens - but I consider the helmet lamp to be the primary lamp. It goes where I point it and is far more useful than the bar lamps.

Daytime

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMGP1306.jpg

The lower profile lamp on the bars has been swapped to the helmet.

Nighttime

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMGP1311.jpg

Doesn't include the helmet and Camelbak mounted flashers

Lamp detail

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMGP1295.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMGP1293.jpg

Are you saying your setup is throwing down 1550 x 3 = 4650 lumens!!?? :eek:

That could put an eye out!


Are those Wilmas, or??

He specializes in homebrew overvolted halogen :) A lot of bang for the buck, as long as the bulbs haven't gone *POW* yet.

As for the poll, my usage varies. The bike itself must have a headlight to be street-legal for nighttime use, so I always have a bike-mounted headlight, which is the DiNotte 600L. I also have a Fenix L2D Q5 which I might use as a second bike-mounted light, or helmet-mounted (particularly off-road). Recently I also attached a weentsy keychain LED light to the visor of my helmet to illuminate my computer and HRM, since it's getting dark during my homeward commute now.

As for the rear... I have two commuting bikes. I attached a pic of the one I've been using more lately, an old 1982 Trek road bike. The other is my winter bike featuring the infamous Nova BULL emergency-vehicle strobe, plus more reflective surface than you can shake a tire lever at :)

With either commuting bike, I also wear an ANSI Class II reflective vest (fluorescent lime + AD OmniBrite reflective tape) and often clip another BRT-5 or SuperFlash to the rear of my helmet. And reflective legbands. And often a lighted Planet Bike BRT-STRAP legband. Did I mention that a guy actually stopped his truck, got out, waved me down, and went on and on in praise of my lighting setup the other day...? :)

Incidentally, if you look closely at the attached pic, you'll notice something on the side of the bike's head tube. That's the DiNotte 600L mount, mounted to the frame rather than the bars (the 600L is not mounted in that photo). It's much less sensitive to steering that way, which I prefer for road use.

Both x 2. Front and rear blinkies on helmet, front and rear blinkies on bike.

(and that still wasn't enough...)

Steve

Lights everywhere, I wear a helmet light, and have a bar light in the front. I have a blinkie on my helmet, and a 4x6 inch bilnkie on the bike for the back. I have 2 sets of spoke lights, one in each wheel for the side. I wear a green workes vest with reflective tape as well. I can see and be seen.

I use a simple removable headlight and a blinkie, but I'm probably going to have to get more systematic once I get into the winter commute.