Headlamp Recommendations Please
 

So what headlamp do some of you use, and why? I want to get one for my new Hybrid but I'm not sure what works best. I'll be doing street and lite trail riding. This will be a light for the bike, not one for my head......

I use a combination of lamps.
First off ... you need to be seen ... for that I use a set of blinking led lights:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electron-Fro.../dp/B002DQAWFM
Secondly ... you want to see where you're going ... for that I use a set of two led beaming lights:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electron-Nan.../dp/B000NOO3SS

A headlight does not disperse light sideways to make you visible, so I advise having both a front headlight AND a blinking light.
The blinking lights are mounted on my seatpost and steering tube while the headlights are mounted under each of my brake levers.

If I wanted to use batteries, I'd get the Planet Bike 1 watt. But, I want to build a touring bike and put a dynamo hub wheel in the front then put dynamo powered lights like the Busch & Muller Lumotec Lyt which is 25x lux and less expensive than the CYO.

I use Planet Bike stuff.
Headlight Blaze 2W:http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bl...1001540&sr=8-1
SuperFlash Tail: http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bl...1001589&sr=1-1
My wife had me put these on her bike as well, spoke lights: http://www.amazon.com/Adult-Safety-B...1001616&sr=1-1

Check out PlanetBike's site, they have nice examples of how their lights actually light up things. http://www.planetbike.com/page/learn/lightfinder

You didn't state your budget, so you might want to check out this thread in the Electronics forum here on BF- http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...nder-50-thread. Just skip to the last couple of pages or so, as some of the models in the beginning of the thread are now outdated. You might also check out another of the sticky threads there- http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...lection-guide..

This is the best value for the money I have found, Bell Torch, takes 4 AAA batteries and half the time doubles as a flashlight
around the house, very bright, and batteries last ( Forever ), I have more expensive lights, but does not compare. For the rear
light, Planet Bike Blinky 7, inexpensive and can see it for ever, clipped it on the back of my daughters jacket a while back,
cold not believe how bright it was,,Richard Video...

Planet Bike headlight / Blaze 2W and tail lights / Superflash. I first got the 1W but returned it for the 2W. Well worth the upgrade. It has two light intensities and strobe.
http://www.planetbike.com/page/

But if you have the money check out dinottelighting:
http://www.dinottelighting.com/
and...
http://www.niterider.com/bike.shtml
http://www.blackburndesign.com/index.html
also, less money,
http://www.cateye.com/

over the top!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPzmz...eature=related

For the rear I use a Planetbike Superflash and for the front a Quark AA2 with a Twofish Lockblock mount and rechargeable batteries. This is a very visible combination and the LED flashlight compares very favorably to purpose-built bicycle headlamps in terms of lumens, cost and visibility.

If it's dark the Quark goes in one of the steady modes (so I can see) and in dawn or dusk conditions I put it in strobe mode (so I can be seen). A couple weeks ago when I had it in strobe due to rain (it's waterproof, too), I pulled up to a coffee shop and a stranger commented that he could see my light coming all the way down the hill, which was about 2,000 feet, give or take. It's probably visible further away than that but there's a curve in the road.

I use a Spanninga Micro LED run off a tire driven dynamo. It puts out a very practical beam, the dynamo weighs less than the hub dynamos, only provides resistance when in use and, at only $20, it's a lot cheaper than a hub or batteries.

Marc

Oldskool tyre dynamo! :D

I've always hated those as a kid.

It works just fine!


Marc

I have a CygoLite MiliOn 150 which recharges from AC or a computer USB port. Great light!

http://www.cygolite.com/products/new...milion150.html

I have a Light and Motion Stella 120. I bought it this past fall for trail riding, and when on trails i use the helmet mount. But i also use it on my hybrid on the road, and then i mount it on the handlebar.

I use the PB 1W and superflash for the rear. I'm sure the 2W is better, but the 1W is still pretty darn bright; certainly enough to be seen. I also have a Romisen flashlight on a Twofish block that I sometimes use. If you poke around on the electronics/lighting SF you'll find that a lot of people swear by the flashlights, at least on a dollars per lumen basis.