Tobias Greenich

Alright, so I usually commute home around 5, with the sun still up long enough to get my sorry backside home before things get dark outside. I have no lights on my bike yet, and I don't put a lot of trust in reflectors.

Today, I found my front tire flat when I got ready to go. Took me a bit to get things patched, and by the time I did, light was fading fast. I took the brightly lit streets along the way home, but I was still pretty terrified along the last two miles, which didn't have a bike lane and pretty shady lighting. I wear a bright orange shirt, but still.

So yea, come payday this week I'm gonna get some lighting, either Dinotte or NightRider. Scary stuff.

no motor?

A lot of us got inspired to get lights by riding without them when we shouldn't have. You'll know you did the right thing when you use your new lights for the first time.

Randochap

Good plan.

GTALuigi

I'll suggest P7 instead, low cost, and amazing performance.

Waves77

+1 for a P7. I've been riding with one for the last week or so, and these puppies are AWESOME!

Same brightness (or better) than a car headlight. Paired with a mars 3.0... (putting that on the helmet and replacing rear end with a Planet Bike Superflash soon).

I feel safer in traffic at night now than I do during the day.

JoeyBike

These words prove to me that you are not a Ninja. A true Ninja does not have the sense or the self awareness of the situation to be terrified. They are fat, happy, and stupid riding along invisible without a care in the world.

Enjoy your new lights!

ItsJustMe

As I posted elsewhere here, I just gave up on the flashlight path. I'm tired of messing with stuff that isn't really designed for the job. Bad mounts, junky switches, pushing the button 18 times to get the mode I want, and low run times just bug me. I was messing with Cree lights, I never tried a P7, because by the time I got the light, a decent mount, batteries and charger, I was up to fairly close to what I could get a proper bike light for anyway.

My Dinotte 200L should be here tomorrow. Once I get it, if I like it 1/2 as much as I think I will, I'll probably order their taillight as well.

Check out AcidInMyLegs' blog for excellent light reviews and beam pictures. They convinced me to move from the NiteRider MiNewt USB to the Dinotte 200L.

harleyfrog

I run a pair ofRominsen RC-N3 Cree Q5s. Only one mode, not 8 or 12. High output (about 215 lumens. And affordable at about $25 each.

thebeatcatcher

+1

head on over to the electronics sub-forum if you want more info

uke

Yup, I remember the days when I used to ride without lights. Didn't do it more than a few times, but it was awful. Couldn't see a thing. Now I never ride at night without 'em.

no motor?

When I started riding again, there were lots of things I didn't expect to need and lights were one of them. Now I wear tights, a high viz jacket and use several lights and realized everyone else uses these things because they work.

apricissimus 

More important is being seen by others.

Kiwitex71

I just mounted the Blackburn X8's - no complaints.

Tobias Greenich

I've lurked on the Electronics forum, and gone over all the reviews and whatnot during particularly slow times at work. *cough*

Anyways, I'm probably going to pick up the Dinotte 200L. Because it's shiny, it's the right tool for the job, and it's also currently on sale on Dinotte's website.

From what I've been able to gather, the Planet Bike Superflash is one of the top contenders for rear blinkieness.

Now, to get my hands on a paycheck.

Ibn

Very similar to what I have on mine. 200L in front, 140L in the back, with a PB superflash on my seat tube. I love the combo.

Allen

I saw two last night going against traffic on a four lane, riding side by side, no lights, no reflectors, and wearing full cammo.
Idiots.

ItsJustMe

I've got two SuperFlashes on the back, but I have a Dinotte 200L arriving today for the front, and I think the odds are very good that I'll have a Dinotte 140 taillight soon. I used to run with an amber xenon strobe on the back that I used in adverse conditions, but it's broken now, and as good as the SuperFlashes are in normal conditions, I am not truly comfortable even with two of them when it's dark and raining or snowing. The Dinotte taillight will make me happier again I think.

Even with it though I will still run at least one superflash; probably on my helmet. I will never trust just one taillight; I've gotten to work and realized that my taillight batteries died, or my taillight fell off, once or twice and realized I was riding with just my reflectors. Now, I have a LOT of reflective crap on me and my bike, but running with no rear lights still worries me.

JoeyBike

Does it make you wonder how they live through even ONE ride? I know if that were me, riding in my town..........10 minutes tops. That would be my lifespan.

Allen

I live in Nowhere Georgia, lighter traffic than Nawleans.

huhenio

Well ... I rode ninja in the EMTPY MUP for a good 1/2 hour just for the sheer pleasure of the road being lit by the full moon.