Lights...
 

Days are getting short, standard time is around the corner, and my weekly mileage [kilometrage] is down to about 300 km. So I'm thinking of buying a lighting system. Is 10w enough for most road riding? I don't expect to be riding much past 7:00 pm on any night, and I don't expect to be out for mre than 2 hours in the dark.

Also, I'm looking at the Night Hawk lighting systems at Mountain Equipment Co-op [hhtp://www.mec.ca/]. The prices are good and the couple of guys I know who use this brand have good things to say about it. Opinions?

Velocipedio,
I ride to work every morning in the dark. I have a 15W on one bike and a 10W on the other. The 10W is plenty; I can't tell a big difference between the two. Much of my ride is on reasonably well-lit city streets where I often can't even see my light on the ground. Where it is dark, I can see quite well enough to observe bumps, rough spots, trash, etc. in plenty of time to adjust course if necessary.
Ride lit. (Sorry, Pat, I won't do it again. :D )
Regards,
Raymond

Geez, rainman, that's a lot of candlepower! I doubt that much would be needed for a fast descent of L'Alpe D'Huez!!!
How many volts does your systen use? Mine is 6v, 3w, for a grand total of .5 amperes. More than enuf for me.
(sorry about the error before. I'm a mechanical engineer, not an EE)

I rode for several years with a 3 watt light, until I bought my 15W last year. The insurance that a 15W provides is unmeasurable. But half of my commute is on a rural highway, so the brighter the light the better.

Sorry D*Alex, but 6V and 3W is 0.5 amperes. :D


I have two, yes two, NiteRider NightOwls, 10W each. The battery will last for over 2 hours on each. I run one at a time unless it is really dark or raining. I live in Atlanta (lots of traffic) so the more the merrier. ;) I want to see and be seen.

Ten watts should be plenty for riding at night. Just be sure the Night Hawk model you get (you didn't say which one) will last for 2 hours.
And don't forget a taillight.

arrgghh!
V * I = W.
Yes, I once took a circuits course, and actually passed with a B+. I will now go back and edit my mistake.
(Notice that I have accepted my error, and am notifying everybody before I alter it).

I started my night riding by using only a good memory and a rear flasher. Later I moved up to a cheap TREK 3W light, the amount of well directed light from the Trek is more than enough to make me visible to others and cover my part of the road. I'm sure the 10W stadium lights are outstanding for the trails but probably too much for quiet back roads.

HeHeHe.... :D you're too much D*Alex

I have a TurboCat 10 watt helmet mounted light. I really like the helmet type because I can check out the pavement around the next turn. Its also good for shining at cars that are coming up to you from the side and may not see your handlebar mounted beam. Take it easy if you are riding with just one lite, no matter how bright, because with just one lite you do not have good depth perception. I plan to get another 10 watt lite for the bars once I get some money. And don't forget a rear LED lite. Get 2, their cheap.

I like the sound of a helmet mounted light. As an interim solution I was tempted by one of the head-band maglite holders (not quite the power but probably more focused than the little handle bar job I've got at present.

Has anyone tried one with a helmet?

Richard

One night a few years ago my wife and I were walking on one of our multiuse gravel, little traveled trails. Off in the distance we saw these amazingly bright lights heading our way. We thought it was a car - but, lo and behold, it wa a bike with a dual light system. I was very impressed, both because they could see so very well on this somewhat winding trail, and, mostly, because I could see the bike so well. I thought - that looks pretty safe when competing with car lights and the like.

So, I just installed a dual light system, one 5 and one 10 watt light on my bars. They are really great. I mostly am using the 5 watt, but when I am going where I know there are deer and other animals on the trail (through past experience) or the trail is windy, I will turn on both - and wow, I can really see. Also, at age 62, your night vivion leaves a little to be desired.

I am using a modified version of the Night Hawk. I was too cheap to spring for the $80+ models so I bought the $25 version. It is a pared-down version equipped with a 5w, 6v bulb and a nylon bag containing a battery holder which is designed to be used with 4 'D' batteries. I changed the bulb (standard MR-11 halogen) to a 10W, 12v. I already owned a 12v 7.0 A-h rechargeable battery ($10 at local surplus store) so I just rigged this up and carry it in a front triangle bike bag. I don't think that you will be disappointed with the brand or design but of course I am not sure about the longevity of the supplied batteries. I know that there is a chart showing all the vital stats posted in the King St. location in downtown T.O. so they should be able to tell you over the phone.

10 watts is definitely a big improvement over a 1.25 w Cateye. In areas that are well lit you will not see the effects as much (save for illuminating the reflective tailights of cars) but in darker areas it will be surprisingly bright. The biggest advantage IMO is that vehicles will be able to see you from much further away and also in their mirrors. I have noticed a difference in the past few weeks since I have been using this light in terms of driver behaviour; ie. not turning left in front of me, not pulling out of side streets in front of me.

Best of all, since the battery is rechargeable, you will not be going through expensive batteries like crazy.

This sounds cheap and easy:
http://www.crw.org/CheapLights.htm

Thanks mw, but $45 US = @ $70 Canadian... I can get a 20w/10w twin light system from Mountain Equipment Coop for $100 Cdn [@ $65 US]. For $30 [$20 US] I save myself the time of going from store to store buying parts and the time of assembling it all myself. I don't have the time these days to be creative.

I go with high wattage also: A NightHawk Dual (20 &10) on the handlebars, a Marwi nightpro 10 w helmet lamp, and another nightpro with a red lens added to be a bright taillight. I go for such a large amount of light because my commute is over portions of heavily traveled road, and includes some roads that are unlit by streetlights running through a nature preserve. In other words the only light out there comes from my lamps. Like Denver, as an older rider I need more light than I would have in my 20's & 30's. As a year-round rider, I give all my equipment high marks. Of course I am running out of outlets to plug chargers into.;)

I like the Marwi NightPro. I live where there are no street lights and I often ride in the pitch dark. My light has a 15 watt and a 20 watt bulb. They are designed to be used one at a time. I always use the 20. It's nice to be able to see where you're going and it's nice to know that cars coming the other way can see you (they usually dim their lights when they see me coming).

Check out BikerBob on the internet for a good price. You can also check out the MTBR website. They have consumer reviews. They also have a special "spotlight" on bike lights where they show you pictures of various beams. The Performance light is made by Marwi.