lightbulbjim

The Urbans look nice, and I did take a look at them. Specifically the Urban 1000 FC. Am I correct in thinking though that each time you switch it on you need to choose race mode? Or does it remember whether you were last in race or normal mode and go back to where you were?

Yeah, true. We're spoiled for choice really .

znomit

Stupid question... how much light do you need on a unicycle?

PS, Zebralights are programable and make great helmet lights.
H600w Mk IV 18650 XHP35 Neutral White Headlamp

lightbulbjim

Depends how well you want to see...

My current light puts out 600 lumens and I find that to be a comfortable amount. I'm not doing any high speed descents (it's basically a low-geared fixie from that point of view) but I do ride plenty of unlit areas.

The Zebralights do indeed look nice. I haven't found the need for a head mounted light yet, but to be fair, I've never actually tried riding with one. I've certainly wished that I could look around corners in advance sometimes, but I'm also a bit wary of washing out ground shadows. I may give it a try one day.

lightbulbjim

Are the Zebralight runtimes legit? I was just looking at them and they put many cycling headlights to shame. Of course it's hard to say what capacity battery they have in mind when quoting runtimes...

znomit

The high modes are PID controlled so the power gets reduced as they heat up, hence the long runtimes.

daoswald

If you press the power button once to turn it on, you get normal mode. If you hold it for a few seconds to turn it on, you get race mode. So yes, you have to select each time, but the selection is a matter of simple muscle memory.

The Urban 900 does not allow for simultaneous charging and use. The 1000 FC might -- it's a different charging system. In practice I roll with the medium level most of the time, and on a two hour ride the charge indicator notifies me of 50% charge at about the 90 minute time. I've never run it down completely in night riding, but the manual says I should get about three hours in medium mode. Medium is supposed to be 450 lum. It's more than adequate for my needs, but YMMV.

01 CAt Man Do

Last night was the first time I ever used the program mode on the Raveman CR-900. Usually I'm good to go with just the medium since it gives me the most usable run time and I can still see fairly well. The program mode on the 900 is kind of screwy. Unlike most lamps that allow programming this one doesn't do it by step. It does a fade in /out sort of thing where you just have to judge relative brightness then after it stops you can look at the listed run time and decide if that is what you want. I set mine up ( from a full charge ) to have the run time indicator start out at 1.5 hrs. Definitely brighter than the medium mode so I'll probably try to do that on a regular basis since most of my local rides are between 1-1.5 hrs in the dark. I found out that it does actually save the setting as long as you don't change modes. Turning it on or off has no effect on the programmed mode. That makes things somewhat easier but would be so much better if you could change modes and still save the setting of the programmed mode. Not a big issue when on the road but if on an MUP I occasionally will encounter other people and need to lower the output. Personally I don't worry too much about run time as I always have a back up but it would be "Oh so nice" to be able to run an external battery for the longer rides.

lightbulbjim

That sounds like an annoying way to program the levels in.

Something that I've noticed with most of the lights with shaped beams (like the Ravemens) is that the optic is asymmetric so it can't be installed upside down. Kinda makes sense, but sucks if you want to run the light hanging under the handlebars. It would be nice if there was a shaped beam light which allowed the optic to be flipped for this scenario.

noglider 

Dynamo, man.

TimothyH

I own the Urban 900 and was not aware of the race mode feature. This will be very handy for me. I should have read the manual but I work in IT.

Thanks a bunch!


-Tim-

KraneXL

Same. In fact, I had two flash functions I didn't know I had until over a year later.

daoswald

Also to correct my previous post: The intensities are 900, 450, 150, and daylight strobe (more of a sine-wave). Previously I stated 900, 350, ....

So in race mode the options are 900/450, not 900/350. Runtimes are 1.5h/3h

01 CAt Man Do

Yes, it is annoying. Found out the other night that when you charge the unit it doesn't save the programmed mode. I did take the front lens off one of my Raveman's once hoping I could adjust it ever so slightly to compensate for my tapered handlebars. Good news, bad news; I couldn't adjust it "slightly". However, you can flip the outer lens ( uses a two-part optic ) and that would enable you to use the lamp upside down. I did this just now to my CR-500 and it works just fine. Not sure if the CR-900 is exactly the same but probably is.

Personally I wouldn't want to use the 900 upside down because then you wouldn't be able to see the digital run time indicator. Of course if you just wanted to run the lamp below the bars you could always use a small "L" shaped bar extension and the remote should still allow you to change modes without too much problem..

lightbulbjim

I just rediscovered Ding headlights. I'd come across them before but had forgotten about them. They don't seem to be particularly well known.

They're interesting because they have a shaped beam and are designed to be mounted underneath the handlebars (my preferred style). No programming though and nine (!) modes to scroll through.

KraneXL

Under/over handlebar mounting should really be universal at this point. If I ever need to get another light this will be one of my first requirements. Side illumination being the second.

Although my present light sphere is wide enough to be seen from the sides when moving I wouldn't mind the extra piece of mind of a side beam when stationary.

01 CAt Man Do

Certainly the Ding light looks like it is the most visible light as far as being seen from the sides. At least that is my take after viewing the Y-tube video. That said the primary function of any front light is to let the rider see where he is going. I took a look at the video over on youtube and while it's not bad I'm not sure it has the distance throw of other typical front lights. Would certainly seem to make an interesting choice for urban use though.

Not sure why people feel the need to mount a lamp under the bars seeing that no matter under or on top, the lamp is still taking space up on the bars. When mounting under the bars you have to deal with whether or not your cables or shifters are in the way ( if using flat bars ). Not to mention it would seem counter intuitive that being under the bars would make it harder to change modes ( although in case of the Ding the buttons are on the back. )

More info is available on the Ding. Back in 2015 they were only listing these with a 2500mAh battery which is somewhat lame. Looks like the side light is provided by a COB panel under the lamp, hence the need to mount under the bars. Heck, if that's all they are doing you can buy a 100 lumen white COB light and just mount it so it shines downward...WTH. Anyway, I'll stick with my wheel lights and Planetbike amber side light for getting seen from the sides. The Ding is okay but I'd rather the side light be aimed directly to the sides

lightbulbjim

Each to their own. See my picture earlier in this thread showing my unicycle handlebar and why I hang the light underneath. There's simply no way to mount it on top. I do appreciate that most of you are duocyclists so this doesn't apply .

On my (drop bar) bike I also like to mount the light underneath as it gets it out of the way. It's true that it takes up the same amount of bar space, but it makes things feel less cluttered. It also minimises the chances of light shining on my out front computer mount.

KraneXL

More mounting options are always better than fewer. There are all type of handlebar mounting accessories (phones/GPs, cameras, etc.) so you can't always be sure when one might not interfere with the other.

Having more mounting options to keep them separate are always better than not having enough. I might add rotation and level since my hybrid handlebars are not completely straight. My present light mounts level, so it sits horizontal on the same plane as the handlebars. Also keep in mind the aesthetics some might want to consider.

Of course, something like that is best for maximum versatility and viability. However, on the cons side it also add more cost and extra attention since you have more light to worry about e.g., charge, adjust, keep track of timing, etc.

SHBR

Use two lights.

One as a standard beam, and another for additional light.

KraneXL

Lower your light. The full beam pattern (circle) should be on the road. I noticed it immediately even before the oncoming cars flashed you.

Nice vid.

lightbulbjim

Yeah, that light looks like it's aimed uncomfortably high to me too.

SHBR

Actually, none of the oncoming vehicles flashed me. (the one on the bridge was going over a hump and his lights appeared to flash, but only lined up with the camera)

Its an older video, I corrected the light angle months ago, even still my light output is nothing compared to most car headlights.

People in China flash high beams ALL the time, especially if you don't use lights.

01 CAt Man Do

Indeed, both you and LBJim have definitely put forth good arguments. Yep, once you start mounting things like, out front computer / nav. units or stem or bar mounted phones, things can and do get quite cluttered. On my flat bar road setup I have seven different things mounted to the bars. They are; two remote switches, one small matchbox sized computer, a bar extension which holds a lamp out in front of the stem, a mount for my self contained Raveman CR-900, a newly acquired BT speaker and lastly a stem mounted phone holder which over-laps the bars ever so slightly.....Yeah, that's a lot of stuff. Things would look so much better if I could get rid of the speaker and the phone. Currently I am considering another type of speaker that won't be mounted on the bars. The phone holder...meh, I don't really need it most times but since using the speaker I like the option of being able to control what I'm listening to while in the saddle. That said I have other options when it comes to the phone.

Yes, having wheel lights means more things to fuss with and more things to charge. My wheel lights though ( two on each wheel ) are small and use only one AAA cell for each. In all I have to routinely charge via USB 11 different things ( each wheel light I count as one ), not including my phone or the lamp that uses an external battery. Yep, that's a lot of stuff. That's why I just bought a ten port USB charger as I was running out of USB charging options.

While you really don't need something like wheel lights they are just so cool that having them makes it worth the added chore of charging the batteries. I get compliments on them all the time. Nothing makes a bike stand out at night from the sides like good wheel lights. Just the other night I was riding along and passed one of those glass enclosed bus stops. As I did I just happened to turn my head to notice that the glass was acting like a mirror and I could see myself riding by. This is the first time I ever actually seen what my wheel lights look like from the observer's POV when riding at night. Absolutely awesome!

lightbulbjim

Well, my Gloworm Alpha arrived. Initial impressions:

• Build quality is very good. Lightweight and solid. Time will tell how tough it is, as always.
• UI is ok. Still more settings than I really need. Double clicking is a bit of a faff so I can't see myself bothering with commuter mode. A pity since I'd prefer to just have a two-level mode available and nothing else. But you can't please everybody all of the time .
• Beam pattern is excellent. Compared to my old light there is just no comparison. I'm using the combo spot/wide optic for now. About the only other thing I'd like to have is a cutoff for road riding.
• Neutral white is like seeing in colour and cool white is like seeing in black and white.

Honestly, seeing the excellent beam pattern in neutral white made me want to immediately toss all my other lights in the bin .

It's living on my bike for now, where it's nice and discreet underneath my out-front computer mount. It's not possible to put it on my unicycle with the stock mounts, but I'll keep my eyes open for the elusive perfect GoPro mount which might make it possible. Otherwise I'm still in the market for the perfect unicycle light...

KraneXL

Show us.