Time for new lights...
 

Well, it's that time of year, kinda dark in the AM. I need new lights and I'm sick of carrying around dump-truck size batteries.

Anyone use any small rechargeables .. like this ?
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...3_10000_201454

How does it rate?

I haven't seen that one. I have a Light&Motion Vega 200. It was a little more expensive, but works really well.

Pretty weak for the price.

For that price, you could get a Magishine light with a P7 emitter. Slightly heavier but probably close to 10 times the output.

http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?...ark5kpr1q7v2k4

I use a NiteRider Minewt Mini USB. I have been very happy with it.

just ordered
 

I was debating all weekend which lights to order after worrying about it starting to get darker earlier.
I wound up ordering a Dinotte after flip-flopping on the Magic Shine-- which I think are sold out now.
I may wind up getting one in another month or so anyway if I can't see where I'm going in the dark
(the Dinotte I ordered is more for me to be seen in the dark and/or fog)

I also use the NiteRider Minewt Mini USB. Although, I get to work later and leave later, so it's for my night commute back. I charge it off of a Monster OTG with USB charger and it reaches full charge pretty quickly, but my commute is only about 50 minutes and it has 3 hr run time. This is also in the price range of the Cateye Single Shot that you linked.

FWIW, I also have a NiteRider Classic, which is brighter, but heavy. The Minewt Mini USB fulfills my current commuting needs.

There are multiple places to get the MagicShine. It's currently back-ordered at Geomangear, but they're expecting a shipment in early next week.

I'm waiting (not so patiently) for mine!

I plan on getting one of these soon

How long is your commute? For my 3 mile ride I use either 2 MTE P7's from DealExtreme or 2 Fenix O-lights (depending on which bike I take). If you have a relatively long commute maybe a light that provides longer run times than the flashlights I use would be better. Also, do you want "to be seen" lights or "to see" lights?

+1 for the Deal Extreme MTE P7 lights!

+1 on the MagicShine. I commute 17 miles, mostly in the dark, and this light is great. I'm a bit concerned about the "build quality", but it's inexpensive enough that I'll run it until it dies. If it lasts most of the winter, I've come out ahead of where I'd be with a more expensive (and higher quality) light set.

Good question. Commute varies - from 10 mins. to 1 hr., depending on the route. I'm mainly looking at lightweight rechargeables, I don't like to carry the extra weight for a couple hours a day max ride. I prefer using the light to "see" so I never use flashing mode.

I recently bought a CygoLite Rover II LED Ultra, 250 lumens, NiMH battery + rapid charger, on sale at REI for $110. Before that I used a Dinotte Ultra 5 AA (precussor to the 200L) for 2 years, I think my Dinotte is something like 150 lumens. Part of my commute is on a 2 lane road with no lights and low traffic, the Dinotte never really was as bright I would have liked for that stretch of road at night, and at best I would only get about an hour of run time from rechargable AAs.

The CygoLite headlight and battery are heavier than my Dinotte, but still not huge. I am loving the extra battery capacity.

I wanted to get a really, really bright headlight, like 400 lumens or more. However, I didn't want to spend a lot of money and LED headlight performance is changing quickly. So I decided to get something just good enough and use that for the next few years until the 400+ lumen headlights get below $150. Just my 0.02USD

I run that Light + Motion vega. I have the older black model, one piece design. Definitely a "see and be seen" light. It's a great light. The new model should be just as good (if uglier) and they're cheaper now too.

I don't own one , but on the Electronics forum, the MagicShine light kills everything out there for price / performance.

700+ tested lumens, 3hr runtime at this brightness, and a tiny form factor small enough to wear on a helmet. Saw 2 mtn bikers with it last night, and it was hella bright - blindingly so if aimed at you.

On a more "old-school" method, I currently use LED 2xaa flashlights that are FENIX-knockoffs - look on Batteryjunction for 2 x AA flashlights rated to 180-200lumens. Go for about $25-$28 each, and you can mount one on your handlebars with a lockblock ($3-5) and easily mount one on your helmet with a rubber band or a piece of inner tube with holes cut through the walls on the ends (incredibly stable - better than any commercial mount I've used). I rode home in the dark hitting 20mph without problem with this setup, and it's not blinding to oncoming cars.

I'd go magicshine in dark solitary roads, but my setup is really simple and sweet for road commuting - it would be hard to go cheaper and more convenient - you just drop the flashlights in your pocket within seconds after your ride.

+1 for the two-mode P7 lights...skip the multi mode...it's the most bang for the buck.

I have an L&M Stella...nice light, up to 5 hours of runtime on high, wife uses it for night rides now that my commute is much shorter.

I have an older L&M Vega...I use it as a backup/flashing/additional light with the P7

I hear good things about the Magicshine...but availability seems sporadic and durability too soon to know.
Plus I kinda like not having external battery packs anymore.

Another vote for the Niterider Minewt Mini USB, been happy with it so far. I wanted to try the Light and Motion Vega but the newer model I saw was so ugly I didn't want it on my handlebars.

Ditto the suggestion of the MagicShine P7 from geoman. It's $5 more than the light you indicated, and it's a HELL of a lot more light. Several times more light (someone here measured the MS P7 at 760 lumens or thereabout, that Cateye is maybe 80 or 100 at a guess?), LiIon batteries, longer run time (on high, only 8 or 9 hours on low, though its low is more light than the CatEye's high).

Up until this came out, I was considering a MiNewt USB, and had a Dinotte 200L, but the MS P7 is hands down the way to go now.

I recently got one of these for my first night ride a few weeks ago and am VERY happy with. The ride I was on had a lot of people and I actually had people come up and check it out since it was so bright. Very easy to charge and mount on the bike.

I am thinking about getting a second one with the helmet mount for more light on road rides and to wear on the mountain bike. Helps to have that to turn your head to see where you will be going and not just straight ahead from where the bike is heading. Can't say enough good stuff about this one.

You guys weren't kidding about the Magishine being hard to get. Backordered for multiple weeks? Not many places carry this that I can find.

Go to the Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets Forum and check out what others do for alot less money. You don't need to pay an arm and a leg for a lighting system.

Definitely the way to go on a budget and commutes less than an hour. So easy to take off the bike since it has no separate battery pack. It is brighter than my Dinotte 200L light which I hardly use now. Using the cheap Twofish lockblocks for mounting brackets I have mounts for every bike.

DealExtreme is also selling the Magic Shine...

I saved my pennies and invested in a dynamo lighting system. I think it's well worth the money, especially now that I don't have to worry about batteries. The bike makes its own light, so I ride it more at night with less hassle regarding batteries.

Two words...Magic...Shine. I am running two of them...that's 1800 lumens for $170. Awesome. Part of my commute is on a dirt road thru a National park at 5am...very,very,very dark. MagicShine lights it up nicely. Im glad I didn't waste my money for a pidley 400 lumen Niterider at $250.

He's selling them as fast as he can import them! Mine shipped yesterday, even though it wasn't supposed to be in HIS hands till the 6th. Can't wait for it to get here!