PimpinD

Ive come to the conclusions that there are two types of lights:

Those for being seen.

Those for seeing the road.

I personally do not like riding with out a front light that is made for seeing the road. I consider these lights to be anything that puts out a high amount of lumens (100+ lumens). I personally think that those lights for being seen are just the smaller flashers and only good if every path you take is perfectly lit. Also make sure you have a back red flashing light as well, and if you are riding in congested dark areas, maybe something on the sides...

These is my setup:
Front: Cygolite Rover II XTRA LED
Rear: Knog Gekko

With out that front light, i do not feel safe...

Chris_F

This is probably a good idea even for those of us who only ride the single track. It would be all too easy to forget that you don't have a rear blinky and end up riding on a road with no rear visibility. Maybe you end up having a flat and decide to cut the ride short with a road detour when you originally intended an all single track ride. And you forget to turn on your blinky... Sounds like an argument to always turn the rear blinky on when you turn on your headlight.

cryptid01

It's a terrible argument then. Unless you're really stupid. And by stupid I mean forget to wipe your ass after you crap stupid.

mtnbiker66

uhhhhhhh.......oh.......

dminor 

Best argument for a red rear blinker on singletrack is so that I can find everyone after they drop me mercilessly

PimpinD

oh geez, what did i start?

I will say i dont ride with a rear light very often, i just plain and simple forget it at home. But it should be something we all remember. Why wouldntyou just leave it on if u were goign to ride at night? its not like your setting records on the single track at ngiht, so the extra weight shouldnt be the issue?

elf 232

Im building a 1100 Lumen LED right now, DIY build, https://www.led1.de/shop/product_info...20-lumen-p-873

That is the LED, It sucks 700mAh, which isnt too bad, but draws a current of 20.8 Volts (pretty bad).

It requires an insane cooling system using a peltier plate, cooling fan, and heat sink, but the overall build will be very, very small. 30 x 30 x 15 mm

That doesnt count battery (not that big) or buckpuck obviously, thats just the size of the piece attaching to the helmet.

Chris_F

No, if you forget to wipe your ass the smell will remind you. If you forget to turn your blinkie on the only reminder you'll get is the bumper of a Buick.

junkyard

How did "lights for riding at night..." turn into a conversation about swamp-butt?

bikinfool

I thought that was par for the course in this forum ?!

I just got my 14.8v li ion battery, man that makes the ol' Nightsuns bright! I had an old 13.2v I was running, and I thought that was a big improvement over 12v... the Minewt X2 now gets helmet duty.

You can't run the blinky when you're on a stealth mission. You may as well forget to wipe when you get 3 or 4 miles in on your stealth run only to look behind you and see you've been broadcasting...

Brian T

Damn, That is some funny S@#$! Thanks.

C_Heath

dang what a grea thread I started. Id love to see some pictures of some of these builds. Specially pinkrobe and cycommute. Ill agree, Im not dropping $300 either. Ill get some of those straps and put the mini mag lights on my helmet lol..

stapfam

HID's will chuck out a lot of light which is what you want for offroad. But I have a 2 year old Use Exposure that is not as powerfull as The recent upgraded lights. It does well enough but there is a rule that you can only ride within the linits of your lights. With a 200ft range on my "OLD" lamp- I can still manage 35mph on the downhills- and at night that is quite fast enough.

Problem with the more powerfull lamps is when you get back on the road. There is "Too Much Light" when coming across opposing car drivers so a dimmable lamp- or one that is easily adjustable to stop blinding other road users is an asset.

ca7erham

Not bright enough. Trust me. . . Bad things happen.

bikinfool

Even the LED mini mags? Just curious, haven't used one (yet, was thinking about converting the ones I use around the house and keep in the car).

ed 

I've used one of those self-contained Cateye floods that runs on a few AA's. That's not as bright as an LED Maglight.

The trade-off is that you have to slow down.

I will admit ca7erham, that I much prefer using my NightHawk Raptor 10w flood b/c I can ride faster and have more fun, but if all you're gonna do is get out for a spin in the woods once in a while...I think a Mag could get the job done.

I guess it's all in how you wanna ride. (generic statement...I'm sorry)


I'd really love to have a new fangled LED or HID with the teeny, light weight pack but I'd rather put that kinda money elsewhere.


Try it. Then come back and share with the group.

ca7erham

Yeah, It didnt help that I was riding on a section of trail where I get car lights shined into my eyes, so I loose my night vision. Plus the light I was using is only a few years younger than me.

ca7erham

Yeah, I ride like a hack. I ride as fast as I can around corners and down hills. Even in the day I run into a bunch of trees.

C_Heath

bikinfool

What, share my experiences on how it changes my mini maglite experiences in the car and around the house? Got plenty o'light for the bike already.


Hmmm, share with the group....I think sharing with the inmates is more like it