Helmet lights
 

My evening commute is in the dark since std time took effect. I have had 2 incidents this week that make me think drivers are not seeing me as well as I would like.

I think I want to try a helmet light, especially for the front. Unfortunately, price is a MAJOR concern. The little bitty "spider" lights look pretty much worthless. Are there any suggestions for inexpensive helmet lights? How do they attach? Seems like something that straps under the slots in the helmet would be very annoying.

Ty wrap to helmet:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1600-...602000779.html

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...tLights003.jpg

I'm a strong believer that the rear light should be on the helmet. If it is on the seat post, the only cars that will see it is the one right behind you. If it is up high on the helmet, more than the car behind you can see it. Also, as a suggestion, use two lights in the front, one that flashes (so others can see you) and one solid beam (so you can see).

Ride safe,

Jeff

I use a PrincetonTec Quad LED, and I just zip-tie it by the base (which typically has an elastic strap for hiking/camping. 3-AAA batteries, waterproof, bright as all get-out, and weighs less than my Contour camera.
I think it cost about $30 at REI.

I'm also a believer in the "double up" theory.

I have my helmet light set to flash, and I use a generator driven headlight to see by.
In back I have a PDW Danger-Zone flashing taillight on my seat stay, and a wired, non-flashing taillight on my fender.

Yes, the itty bitty 'spider' lights are useless. Look here. $40 bucks isn't expensive and this light blow anything else in it's price range and lots of lights that are much more expensive. It comes with a head band but I would modify it so that you can mount the light through the vents of your helmet for a more positive attachment.

I use a PrincetonTec Fuel zip tied to the visor on my helmet set to flash. I think I've been seeing them on sale for $15-$19 although I paid $30 for mine. :( It's fairly light weight and pretty bright for such a compact light.

Most of us that try a helmet light like them so much we don't like to ride without them.

A lot of hi-powered flashlights, usually 18650 battery powered
will be less than $50. I just use some big rubber bands and a
pant strap to attach the light to my helmet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGpBHbEYqeo

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...DBBFBC4B5D.jpg

Head light is a generic Cree XML T6 based bike light, $38 at Amazon and elsewhere. Light straps to helmet using zip ties and some fiddling. Battery straps to rear the same way. Also two red lights on rear.

A helmet light is a very useful thing because you can aim it right at a car whose driver needs to see you. If the light is bright and focused enough, you will almost assuredly get his attention when his cockpit lights up or his mirror flares. Then he has to figure out what you are - reflective clothes, regular headlight/taillight, etc all help there.

I don't find zip ties or straps through the helmet vents to be noticeable. I guess it will depend on how neatly you do the straps and how fussy you are. This time of year, I am wearing a cap under the helmet anyway, for rain protection.

I like the zip ties. Might remove the velcro on my setup.

+1
I always run a double setup, with my dynamo driven "see" lighting and my battery powered "be seen" blinkies (one front, one rear). My "be seen" lights are Planet Bike Blaze 2w in front and Superflash Turbo in back.

Helmet blinkies can be an improvement, if you get the positioning right.

What is the other thing on the top of the helmet? The one with the clip on it that looks like it's designed to clip onto a sun visor. is it a garage door opener?

Yup, and not just only that, but I got carry away with my helmet setup. Here is a picture of my mountain biking helmet setup. I also use this helmet without the Olympia light up front when I commute. With both lights on, I get easily over 2000 plus out the front lumens and believe me, cars do notice. However not something I would recommend because anything from 300 to 1000 lumens on the helmet should work just fine :)

How heavy is that setup, and do you run 2x batteries (remotely) for it in a backpack or keep them in a jersey pocket?

I just got a couple Dinotte XML-3 lights, and they're around 1000L each. I'm intending to get out on the MTB trails this weekend to test them out; but yeah, I wouldn't go rockin' 1000L onmy helmet on full blast for my commute to work.

This is totally hardcore!! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13544046946244

Here is a breakdown of the light component weight.
Bikeray Speed II (blue light at back of helmet) = 120 gram
Gemini 3 x XML Olympia (grey light at front) = 80 gram
Replay 1080 XD = 85 gram

The total stuff on mt helmet is about 300 to 350 gram including the lights, light holders and wiring. The balance is almost perfect being that the heavier Speed II light is at the back of the helmet and the Olympia at front being the lightest light. This setup is about the same as most single light and battery mounted on the helmet since I do not mount the battery on the helmet.

I run an cable from the back of the helmet to a flat battery pack which I put in my vest pocket. I have one of those Fly Fisherman vest with a gazillion pockets which is perfect for my external pack. I don't use an OEM battery pack since they do not perform that well. I use this semi semi DIY battery pack using this holder and panasonic NCR unprotected 18650. The batteries is capable of providing 3+ amps and so does the holder PCB circuit. The pack allows me to remove the batteries so that I can balance them out which will provide me with consistent performance. I usually just balance them out like every 4 or 5 month or when needed, otherwise I just plug a charger into the pack. I did have to use Trail Tech wiring for the extension and Y adapter since they are the heavier 18ga wire instead of 22 or 24 gauge wiring used by most OEM wire like Magicshine. The lighter wires from Magicshine are too small in size to handle the large current load and the voltage drops too much.

The throw from the Speed II in combo with the flood of the 3 x XML Gemini Olympia is about as good as I can find for the time being. I can use just the helmet setup only if needed since it is so bright off trail but I usually run also a handle bar light like the Gloworm X2 light.

How inexpensive? I put a BLINDING $70 LED flashlight onto my 11 yr old's helmet for his commute to middle school. Runs on a single 1850 battery (battery and charger were another $30). I know a c-note is not anyone's idea of inexpensive, but it's a fraction of the cost of an ambulance ride never mind ER even before you get to imaging (x-rays, mri's...)

Thanks. There is a Two Fish holder directly just under the lens bezel of the Speed II light (blue light). It is there so that in case my extension wire or battery pack failed, I can easily remove these light and strap on my backup flashlight to my helmet. Very much spoken so correctly by noMotor:

I just cannot find my self ever riding without a helmet light.

Jee, how can anyone ride with 1000+ lumens without being sorry for other people on the road? I've tried to look at my Magicshine from the distance during daytime and it's painful! Clearly, at night it makes people blind..

I do have a helmet light, simple Petzl Tikka, and it's enough to be seen. I also run a combination of focused dynamo light and a Magicshine, but usually i cover the latter with my palm when a car or anyone else appears in front... Something you can't do with a helmet light.

It's not just the lumens, it's the beam pattern. Car headlights are in the 1,000-lumen range, but much less blinding than the typical bike headlight, because car headlight beam patterns are strictly regulated to keep the high-intensity part of the beam aimed down at the road, not up in the eyes of oncoming traffic.

Some bicycle headlights have reasonable beam patterns, but most use cheap round flashlight-style reflectors that throw at least half the light places it isn't useful.

Of course, helmet lights point the light where you're looking, so it's a bad idea to put a dazzlingly-powerful light on a helmet. But you don't need that bright a light to be seen by motorists. Put the powerful light on the bike where you can control its beam responsibly, and put a smaller light on the helmet for conspicuity.

I find the opposite. My helmet light is a narrow, spot beam. When I'm in normal riding position it points at the ground about 40 ft away. To light up a driver or a mirror, I have to lift my head. So the light is not in people's eyes, unless I want it to be.

The situation where my helmet light is too bright is on a dark path, especially where cyclists or pedestrians are coming toward me. I turn it off there. It is really meant for riding in traffic.

It is a small video camera in a ziplock bag. I either Velcro it to the helmet as shown, or clip it to the underside of my cap visor. I got this to experiment with helmet cameras, and like it enough, that I'll be adding a purpose built helmet camera (GoPro or other) soon. This little camera will likely end up rear facing, under the saddle.

I have http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...sh-G-R5/Detail on my helmet. I have another flashlight on the bars. The bar light has a wider beam. For me, the ideal helmet light is lightweight and is under 4" long and under 1" diameter. I like a bright helmet light so that I can shine it anywhere I want, including edges of the MUP where critters are waiting, down side streets, around tighter corners. I reject any light with an external battery pack. Flashlights that use 18650 batteries are the brighest flashlights. OK. I guess people have started using 26650 lights, but I find them a bit larger than I prefer.

I have this on the front of my helmet though I didn't pay nearly that much for it (I got an open box unit at a garage sale) http://www.rei.com/product/845392/cy...ont-bike-light. I also have one of these on my handlebars: http://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Lumi...rds=nightrider. Someone else commented that he is a firm believer in "double up" -- and I am too. I have the red ones of this set on the back of my helmet since having the light a bit higher up helps the cars notice you from farther away: http://www.rei.com/product/769615/pl...spok-light-set in addition to having 1 superflash on each of my seat stays. I have been told that I look like an ambulance from the back and a UFO from the front, but no one has ever accused me of being difficult to see. :) If you really can't get a good deal on a proper headlight, try one of these: http://www.rei.com/product/826319/bl...-spot-headlamp. At least you can use it to get the driver's attention.

+1 same theory as the high center brake light requirement on newer cars. A light is only as good as the distance at which it is visible!