spingineer

So I'm no expert on doubles ... heck, I did one in '99, and just one earlier this year. I started thinking about the lighting that I have. I have a Trailrat as my main light source, and I have a Cateye EL-410 (which runs on 3 AAA's).

My strategy at Solvang was to use my Trailrat in the morning (started at 5 am), then use my Trailrat in the evening, plus use my Cateye. My fear was the Trailrat battery power would wane in the end. And it sure did. After spending a huge amount on my previous NiteRider, which happen to die (the battery overheated, and melted the charger), I didn't go all out for the top of the line. However, I wasn't thinking of doing doubles when I bought the Trailrat.

Do I need to upgrade, or will the Trailrat plus Cateye do fine? I have to admit the Trailrat is not as bright as some of the others I've seen on the road. How does everyone else deal with battery power situation, or is it just that the Trailrat is not the way to go?

I have plenty of rear lights (blinkers on handle bar, seatpost, helmet), so I am very visible from the back (some of my friends say I look like the startship enterprise with all my blinkers). However, forward directing beams are my concern. Ah, love this geek talk ... I'm in heaven!

Rick@OCRR

Hi Spingineer,

For the last four years (22 doubles) I've used a NiteRider Blow-Torch at night, and either a Planet Bike or Topeak LED (lightweight) headlight for the morning, plus I keep it with me in case (for whatever reason) my lights aren't at the light-drop when I get there.

I've been very happy with the Nite-Rider, and that's still the one I'd recommend. On the Hemet Double last weekend, I tried out the Princeton Tech (double light) and while not as bright on its brightest setting (as the Blow Torch), it was certainly bright enough to be safe on all but the fastest descents.

Plus, since you can power it down to med. (flat roads) and low settings (slow climbs), the Princeton Tech battery can (potentially) give you almost twice the battery life of the Blow-Torch.

So there's my two cents; hope that helps!

Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR

jpconrad

For Solvang I used my NiteRider Moab and had a NiteRider miNewt for a backup.

Scootcore

for solvang and all other night riding/commuting that i do ive been VERY happy the last couple of years with my dinotte....small, lite, and bright!!

nygirl777

Bill how many hours on a charge do you get? Same question for John too.

Scootcore

ive never run out...i think it supposedly can go around six hours at full power....my little guys rocks!!!! i probably only had it on for about 2.5 hours total at solvang.

Scootcore

btw...i have the ultra5 lithium, if ya care!!

nygirl777

Thanks !!

jpconrad

I've never run out power, yet, but it's supposed to be somewhere around 6 hours on high, 11 on low, and 72 or so on leds.

It does take up one of the bottle cages, though, but it's super bright!

The miNewt is something like 3 high, 6 low.

DanteB

I use a NiteRider Cyclone with a Serfas LED backup. The Cyclone is a helmet mount and uses NiMh batteries. It lasts 4-6 hour depending on the power setting it's now.

spingineer

For those of us that are sloooooooow on doubles, we need all the battery life we can get.

ken cummings

All of the different doubles I have supported (Terrible Two, Tour of Two Forests, Death Valley Double) have had a service where they drop off bags of supplies at checkpoints; food, cloths, Batteries. Lets you use strong head lights without carrying a lunch box sized battery.

Jaguar27

I have a Light & Motion ARC with the compact Li-ion Battery, so if anyone is doing a double and wants to borrow it for the weekend just let me know...

Vireo

The first couple of years that I rode doubles I used a Nite Rider Blow Torch. I left that at the drop and it was good for about 4 hours.

I now have a Nite Rider Moab (pricey but well worth) https://www.niterider.com/prod_moab.shtml and it is brighter than heck. They claim 8 hours on full bright, steps down to a medium setting, and then a third setting for 12 hours. That is plenty of light for 400km Brevets and if you have 2 batteries will be fine for PBP (1200km). The Moab has indicator LEDs (green and red) to tell you how much battery life you have left. Once your battery is too low to power your main beam it then goes to LED mode (a nice safety feature). In LED mode it isn't safe enough to see everything on the road but cars can still see you coming. I wouldn't recommend riding in LED mode just as a last resort to get home.

Oh and my Moab battery straps to the top tube or down tube. I hate the velcro strap that comes with it. It just doesn't seem secure enough to me. I apply a couple of wraps around it with electrical tape to ensure it doesn't move. The Nite Rider Blow Torch had a bottle cage battery and that created hydration issues. Luckily, it would be night time and the temps were much cooler by then.

Cateye makes great headlights you can use in the morning and save your "heavy hitter" for the night time. Check this one out. https://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/345 I use it when I don't want to deal with the Moab. It makes for a great back up too. And two of these should be all you need on easy doubles.

Taillights these are awesome (I know you said you are taken care of there) https://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/280. BTW, the Nite Rider tailight is awesome.

EDIT: I guess the sleep deprivation training is under way should read "These tailights are awesome"

LCI_Brian

I use a pair of these for commuting year round. They're the brightest AA/AAA battery light I could find. Should do well for doubles too.

spingineer

*** BUMP ***

Ok, so I'm revisiting this again. So far, I've been surviving on my Cateye EL-530, and EL-400, but definitely do need to upgrade.

So it looks like the brightest is Niterider Moab, but then there's offerings from Dinotte and Light & Motion. I'm finding it hard to justify the $550 for the Niterider.

If you were out, in complete pitch black darkness, would you feel comfortable with your Dinotte? I have also noticed some advertise candlepower, while others advertise lumens. From what I know, candlepower is the amount of light a light source will emit, while lumens is the brightness factor that is being received. Why do they always do this? Why can't they give you a straight answer, so you can compare apples to apples?

roadfix

Ron, have you checked out the current LED offerings out there?

spingineer

George,
That's my quandry. I don't know if I should be looking at LED's or HID's. I guess cost will be a determining factor. Some have said the even with the advances of LED's, they are not bright enough. But I guess it's personal judgement at that point.

efficiency

Batteryspace.com sells a trailtech HID for ~$200. HID gives you the most power efficient light source.

spingineer

Thanks, Mark. I'll check it out.

Jaguar27

The only way to really tell if a Light is good or not is to test ride it in the dark....kinda like riding a Bike before you buy it...
You're more than welcome to borrow my Light and motion ARC.

yogi13

If you like the geek talk about lights here, try this question out over on the electronics, lighting and gadgets forum.

Oleanshoebox

get a minewt.

socalrider

saw this on CL, good deal for so cal rider.. NR Rage HID

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/443478236.html

spingineer

Found someone selling a Niterider MOAB for $400. I think I will take the plunge!