chaadster

I was at my LBS today and noticed a new tail lamp from Specialized called Flash. I thing just a bit of DuoTec should do the job to mount that to my fender, so that’ll be my first attempt. It’s tiny, sleek and bright.

I also picked up a Knog Lil’ Cobber, which is a piece of kit I’ve been admiring for awhile. I love the simple styling, but also the projection field. The housing is curved, but the radius is too tight for my wide fenders. but I think I can cut down a block of rubber to a slender, for adapter pretty easily. The Cobber is my first choice all things considered, I just need to get a block of rubber. I’ll hit the craft and hobby stores this weekend and see what I can find suitable to the job.

JaccoW

The thing is, virtually nobody inside their main market (Europe) is interested in a flashing rear light. They are borderline illegal in most places.

Besides, the fact you are looking at Lumen (light point intensity) instead of Lux (Light intensity over an area) is a succesful marketing misinformation campaign anyway. A laser pointer has a very high Lumen rating but is very irritating to look at.

That being said I have the Secula Plus as both a dynamo and a battery light on several of my bikes and it is a very nice light. Excellent visibility, also to the side, and not irritating to look at even close by because of the surrounding ring.

For a new bike I am thinking of using the Son rear light, which is essentially the B+M Line Small in a fancier housing.

JaccoW

Take a look at the Son rear light. On the other hand, I have found the installation of a small mudflap to solve most of the road grime problems. I use the 9 gram (0.317 oz) Honjo x Simworks mudflap Large in the picture above.

chaadster

I hear what you’re saying.

Regarding marketing, speaking as someone who works importing EU wine to USA, it’s not that hard for producers to “target market,” and all those EU light producers are selling outside the EU already, so there’s financial incentive there to do better what they’re already doing. Besides, those EU light makers don’t have any trouble offering multi-featured, flashing, seatpost mount lights. Anyway, I wasn’t saying make the Euros take a fender flasher, just give a better one to the USA and any other markets which want it.

As for lux vs. lumen, I can work with either, but lumens is standard here in USA for all lights, so I know well what I’m getting in lumens. From what I see on fender light sites is generally no mention of either lux or lumens, but rather visibility distance, e.g. 500m. That’s not useful, and reinforces the notion that general disregard for fender lights is on the production side.

The Secula is my favorite in the dyno category from a styling perspective, but that’s a low bar!

JaccoW

The only thing I wish is for it to come in a waterproof all-metal construction. Or perhaps a silver cover to make it blend in a bit more.
I already asked B+M but no dice.

downtube42

Oh that's gorgeous! I went with a seatstay mount light since I intend to remove fenders in the summer, but that's temping.

chaadster

Have you considered a chrome vinyl wrap for the one you have?

CargoDane

Bike24.com
Bike-discount.de/en
Bike-components.de/en

All have a selection.

Truth be told, I think you'll be better off with one mounted on your seatpost as high as possible, but low enough that a jacket won't hide it.
The reason for this is that although a fender light looks neater and works just as well where there are no traffic, something mounted higher may be more visible/less blocked in more dense traffic. Especially to someone in a car where the door-edge may obscure visibility with a light mounted around the level of your hub.