New at MEC...
 

I stopped my MEC to replace a defective blinkie and used my store credit to buy a new dynamo powered Filzer 3 light LED and a new 2 light red turtle for the rear view.

The dynamo powered light cost $9.00 and I'll be quite thrilled if I never have to recharge another blinkie... I'll be taking it out to see how it works tonight and it does seem bright enough to cause retinal burns.

Here's the info on the new light...

http://www.filzer.com/products.php?id=93

They (MEC) also have a new solar powered headlight I want to check out.

The solar lights are night but they scream 'steal me' if you lock the bike outside. If you take it off the bike and keep it with you to recharge by the window or such you may forget it. I like the crank light but make sure you follow the warning. I suspect the unit you can open it and take out the NIMH and put new ones in if the batteries die. Like buy el-cheapo RadioShack NIMH and stick in. If it's soldered in then well not everyone has a soldering iron to take it out but a screw driver and a lighter can make you a soldering iron quick if you're quick enough.

I don't think saw that on the website. Is it in the stores only? I know the website has about 80% of the items in the store.

Did you have a chance to try it out? Was it any good?

Nifty! Not bright enough for a headlight (IMO) but great for emergency roadside repairs.

Well...

The dynamo light is going strong and has been getting used as a blinkie although it does work as a headlight when there's little to no ambient light.

Not having to worry about batteries is great and I'm working on turning one into a rear blinkie by changing the leds and resistor.

Thanks for the update guys. I'm looking for something that will provide a fair bit of light for seeing on unlit roads. Sounds like the dynamo light will probably be a little underpowered.

I also have the 5 light LED that runs on 2 AA batteries that works fairly well when there is little to no ambient light and a 10 W Nighthawk which turns night into day...

I was thinking of building a mount for a 1,000,000 candlepower rechargeable spotlight... now THAT would be bright.

Would you recommend the 5 LED for riding on unlit streets? I am currently using the planet bike beamer 1/ blinky 3 kit and it is definitely not enough headlight. Funny, I was thinking of making a mount for a torch or spotlight but I have not been having much luck with DIY these days.

No LED at MEC < $200 will be enough for riding on unlit streets, unless you're going 1kph.

Any recommendations from the MEC supply chain for non-LED lighting suitable for night riding in unlit areas?

Alias HID: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1158204414744

I routinely ride through our unlit river valley on my road bike with 2 one watt LED's and have no problem seeing where I am going and ride about 40 times faster than your suggested speed... the lower wattage lights seem more effective when there is no light and this is probably due to how our eyes adjust to dark conditions.

The 10w Nighthawk was $65.00 and I use this for night rides on my mountain bike in areas where there are no lights and it serves me really well for my winter commute as the lower wattage LED's do not work as well due to high amounts of ambient light.

I might also be blessed with better than average night vision as I run lower wattage lights than many of my friends and don't have any problem seeing where I am going.

Anything HID.

http://pod.ath.cx/hid/03-one-trailtech-eclipse.jpg

I was grooving on that until I saw the price. That light alone cost more than my bike. Eeek.