Advice on Front Light Set-Up / Bike Light Etiquette...
 

Hi,

I'm fairly new to posting on bike forums, but have been an avid reader for awhile. Lots of great info here! I've been bike commuting for about a year, though I was lax about it last winter.

I have a Niterider Lumina 500 lumens light on my handlebar and Princeton Tec EOS light on my helmet (80 lumens). The helmet light is mainly to be seen by others. I feel like I need 1) higher lumens and 2) a light with a wider beam. My evening commute is mostly a mix of road and multi-use paths (MUP). One road is winding, hilly, has no lights and sometimes has joggers in the bike lane. One of the longer MUPs I take is very dark. I also have a short stretch on a freeway overpass sidewalk over a creek (it's the official bike route), with oncoming car lights pointed at me. It seems like this "cancels" out my lights and it is very tough to see. I also had two flats in a row (both on the evening commute home, in an industrial area) and I would like to be able to see the road debris better at night.

So I am wondering if any of you have any advice on how to improve my set up? I recently got a gift card for REI, so I am hoping to get something at their upcoming "garage" sale - ideally $200 or less. I'm considering the Cygolite Expilion 800 for the handlebars. Not sure if it would make sense to use two lights on my handlebars and have one pointed straight and one angled down? The Niterider seems a bit too large & heavy to mount on my helmet, but it's an option. I'm currently commuting on my road bike, usually about 9 miles each way.

The other issue is in regard to the various lighting conditions on my route. Should I be lowering my light beam or otherwise adjusting it when I get on lighted MUP's? There are two lighted MUP's on my route, one of them goes through a very brightly lit tunnel - where I encounter a number of cyclists/pedestrians coming in the other direction.

I have the light and motion urban 700. It's extremely bright, comes with a helmet mount, and is only about 130 grams. I highly recommend it.

Two different light on the handlebar is not a good option. It will probably cause asymmetric beam. It looks strange for human eye. I have two different light but they are mounted one below other. Thanks to that beam is symmetric.
I think 500 lm main light and 80 lm backup is good enough for commuting proposes. 500 lm pointed strait is already too much when used in the traffic.

I've been very happy with the light and motion 360 plus for my helmet. I run a light on the handlebars as well but I'd like to eventually change that to a generator driven light.

Two lights is fine. I run two on a light bar.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/TwoT6002.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti

Get one of these for a wide beam

http://www.amazon.com/Angle-MagicShi...ef=pd_sim_sg_1

I also run two light on a handlebar (mtb), but light have the same flux (same model).

I have run Three.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...eLights013.jpg

I recently had both headlights fail, an older Niterider Minewt and a Lumina 650. Replaced with two Lumina 700s, one on the helmet and one on the bars. Really like the light output, mounts and weight. Helmet/bars combo gives you a high/low light profile that readily identifies you as a bike. Helmet light works great for twisty trails where you need light around corners, and for getting the attention of cars. Props to REI for fully refunding the Lumina 650.

the multiple battery light kit has it's fans , obviously , in a more modest, simpler,
but always there Hub dynamo Powered LED head and taillight set ,
I have lights every time my front wheel turns..

back to the my lumens are bigger than yours one-up-man-ship,game..


Off road n night time trail riding the light up the forrest flood lights have their place.

just dont think its as crucial on the streetlight lit city streets, but others seem to find comfort there.

This is great advice. I'd use a helmet light with it too, but this setup would be a huge improvement over your current one.

Hey 10wheels, how well does that compass work? That's a great idea too.

I don't think there is a problem with two lights on your handlebar. I have done this, with a higher power light facing further forward (Niterider Lumina 700) and a lower power light aiming down. They lower power light I have been using is not quite bright as I would like, I think I will look at something closer to 200 lumen, like the Knog Blinder Road 2). I don't always use both lights this way anymore now that I have my helmet light. I change brightness between low, medium, and high depending on how well lit the area I am in is for the NR700.

I also use a helmet light more recently, the Light and Motion vis 360+ - this is a GREAT light, At 250 lumens the headlight seems almost as bright as my niterider 700, which is impressive. I point it further down to illuminate the ground in front of me in dark areas. In brighter areas I point it higher up to get attention of drivers. I typically use it on low for better battery life (3 days for me).

I got a L+M Urban 700 as a gift for a second bike, instead of swapping lights. I haven't tried riding with it yet but it seems really bright with a nice beam pattern.

My commute involves a couple MUPs, some sections are light but most is very dark. There are a lot of peds. I tend to keep my light aimed a bit further down on these, particularly the helmet light, and I often try to shield the light from peds with my hand as I pass.

You mentioned wanting a wider beam, but one thing to consider is you want a beam that is wide, low, but not one that throws to much light high and wide - this will be wasted light and in the eyes of peds, bikers, etc on these MUPs. I think beam pattern is often an overlooked difference between some cheap and expensive lights.

Thanks for all the replies! 10 Wheels: You've got some seriously well-equipped bikes. If the apocalypse comes, I would like to be on one of those bikes.

I do, or if I also have a helmet light I'll sometimes cover up the headlight with oncoming peds or bikes.

a couple of quick points:

1. This is the most comprehensive resource for information about lighting on the net http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tes.../index_en.html

2. People on BF believe that more lighting is better, which I strongly disagree with as it's a nuisance to other cyclists and motorists. I believe that a specific beam (like in an automobile) is far better in the short term (easier to ride with) and longer term (promotes proper legislation).

3. Therefore, IMHO, the best battery-powered light on the market is here: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tes.../index_en.html

4. This opinion changes if you have/want a front dynamo hub ... but if you're US based, I would guess this isn't likely due to market(ing) forces.

I think what mklos1 was referring to was using two different lights on the handlebar. There could be some beam asymmetry between two different brands of lights. I don't think it's as bad as he suggests, however. I've run two different beam angles on the handlebars...a 35 degree flood and a 12 degree spot...without issues. I also had a 12 degree spot on my helmet which is a whole different angle of incidence on the ground. You get used to it.

For halcyon100: I'd suggest dumping the Princeton Tech on your helmet. Go to a higher output light there. Having a high intensity light on the gimbal that is your head has advantages. You can direct the light wherever you need it. This means that you can illuminate corners better and you can spotlight road hazards. Although I don't advocate riding bike paths at night because of the effects on other users, you can also direct the light away from people coming at you on a narrow path. A momentary...and small...turn of your head moves the light out of their line of vision. You can either power down your handlebar lights or turn them off and still have enough light to see with if you have a high intensity helmet light.

I don't know that I would go to REI for lights, however. There are just too many inexpensive (<$20) high output lights on the market and the lights are changing so quickly, that you'd waste your money at REI. Buy something else at REI but go to Amazon or Fleabay for lights.

Comprehensive only if you are considering dynamo lighting. Not so comprehensive if you are considering battery lighting.

Let's just say that I strongly disagree. On a roadway, a bicycle light is so narrow and so far to the outside of a motorist travel lane as to may any nuisance issues to motorists a nonissue. For on-coming cyclists on a roadway, it doesn't even rise to the level of "nonissue".

Bike paths are a different story which is one of the reasons that I don't ride them at night.

It's okay but has some limitations. The primary one is price. $200 is a lot to address a problem that doesn't exist.

We really aren't a third world country on this side of the pond. You can get dynamo hubs and dynamo lights from many, many sources. Many of us choose not to for very valid reasons just as some choose dynamo set ups for their own reasons.

Well, maybe an apocalypse lite, you know, one where the electrical mains stay up so you can recharge your batteries. :)

1. Not riding at night isn't an option at northern latitudes (i.e. Europe). Also, it's quite limiting if one is really using a bike as the primary commuting option.

2. Battery-powered lighting is being phased-out on a global scale. The US is it's last bastion of existence, similar to non-SI units. Personally, I think it will continue to exist there for a while, but I can't really state why, especially given that a Shimano dynamo-powered LED set-up can be had for far less $200. However, the US will probably buck the global trend, as is usually the case.

3. Nowhere near 200 USD, even less than 100 USD with shipping to your door in the US. Maybe even cheaper when purchased the US.

http://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8...;product=40657

edit: 79 USD in the US.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-BF48L2...ilips+saferide

I am in agreement, but I might be photophobic. When I pass another cyclist all lite up at night I have an irresistible urge to track bump. That said, I'll use twin headbeams on my bike, with a third USB/LED often set to flash. The two lights give a 3d effect to road hazards, I like the definition. But, I'll turn them off when I'm not in complete darkness. Most of my at night miles are ridden with a little LED turned down to low, it's plenty. If you ride on uncertain roads, in complete darkness, and want to be prepared for a breakdown, then having all those lumens make sense. But man, that doesn't mean you have to use them all the time. You'd be like one of those cagers driving around town with high beams on, superbrights, and hi powered fog lights. Give it a rest.

I agree. Subtlety is lost upon some people. I find this both with cyclists and motorists, although I seem to have more issues with cyclists than motorists.

I probably "interact" with a ratio of 10 "ninjas" to 1 "less than 1m clearance while passing."

I haven't seen wireless dynamo lights that mount on the helmet. When technology makes that possible, I'll consider using one. Also, for the dynamo fans, it's pointless to have electricity generating capacity year round, when in the summer months there are 14 hours of light. My cordless battery powered lights go into storage in the spring, and come back out in the fall. They mount wherever I need them. Don't see the great advantages of a dynamo hub for commuting.

Convenience. Zero maintenance. No failure points. One can't question the technology, only the cost.

As far as a helmet mounted light ... I don't see the value in a light source moving independent of the direction I am traveling ... seems like wasted energy.

Maybe it strengthens neck muscles :)

Try a helmet mounted light, and you'll see the great advantages. You can point it where needed at hazards and around turns, get the attention of cars, and the weight of is negligible. My Niterider Lumina 700 sits on top of my helmet, is perfectly balanced, can be aimed higher or lower with a ratcheting mount, and weighs 172 grams including mount. If I had to choose between mounting on the helmet or bars, I would choose the helmet every time. The only time it is bad is in fog, snow or rain, when too much light is reflected back into your eyes. Then it goes on the bars with the other light, or in my bag.

The helmet mounted light is an interesting concept that I haven't tried. Perhaps I can borrow one from someone on a group ride at some point ;)

Umm...:wtf: When did I say anything about not riding at night?

Dream on, Buckaroo. Generator lights aren't going to be replacing battery powered lights anytime in the near future. And, yes, you can get a generator LED set up for $200. But that's $200 per bike. Meanwhile I can get 3 battery powered lights for less then the cost of labor on building the wheel that have higher output and I can use on any bike I like.

You are correct on the price. However, that's still 4 times the cost of other available lights that aren't "be seen" lights.