the best battery lights for being seen?

[niggle]

My teenage daughter is now commuting to sixth form on her Dawes Duchess, about three miles each way. She has just left and it was looking quite dull at 7.30am even at this time of year, so getting some flashing battery 'be seen' type lights would seem a necessity. There are so many out there and they all claim they are the best of course, but which are really? Brightness is important but so is durability and resistance to rain. Legality should also probably be considered, but not at the expense of effectiveness IMO.

[CREPELLO]

I don't know of specific models, but generally LEDs are bright to be seen by. It's the 'seeing by' where they often fall short. But just as important is the need for the batteries to be kept fresh.

[Mick F]

We bought these for our daughter last year for riding across town. She loves them!
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... 0000000000
The computer wasn't part of the deal back then, but the lights are excellent for being seen.

[Edwards]

For the rear I prefer the longer thin type with lots of Led's but to me the most important part is to be able to press the button once for it to go out. I find it frustrating to have to go through the 6 types of cycle to get the thing off.
For the front I like one solid one flashing again one press for off. If it is wet I normally use a head torch that I can flash across windscreens and side windows.
Sorry I can not recommend a make as I purchase them as a job lot of 5 or 6 for all the bikes and just leave them on them. The best rear ones I got bolt on to the rear of the rack fit and forget (new batteries needed now and then).

[reohn2]

Cateye:-
Front, http://www.cateye.com/en/products/detail/HL-EL220/
Rear, http://www.cateye.com/en/products/detail/TL-LD1100/

I don't have the rear one but friends of ours have one and its "BRIGHT"
The front one I've been told on three seperate occasions by cyclists coming in the opposit direct that they could see it miles away, all three times it was a dull rainy day.

[Mick F]

I have the LD1100 for my bike, and it's awesome.

[Philip Benstead]

For the rear I prefer the longer thin type with lots of Led's but to me the most important part is to be able to press the button once for it to go out. I find it frustrating to have to go through the 6 types of cycle to get the thing off.
For the front I like one solid one flashing again one press for off. If it is wet I normally use a head torch that I can flash across windscreens and side windows.
Sorry I can not recommend a make as I purchase them as a job lot of 5 or 6 for all the bikes and just leave them on them. The best rear ones I got bolt on to the rear of the rack fit and forget (new batteries needed now and then).

I do not know if this works all makes but on Cateye lights if you hold the switch down for about five second the light will go out on what ever the mode, it only took me only 2 years to work this out.posting.php?mode=quote&f=1&p=461810#

[squeaker]

These for the rear: light weight and very bright. Can't comment wrt front, as I prefer German 'see-with' lights with battery charge state indication.

[KevinH]

Road ID Firefly's http://www.roadid.com/Common/Catalog.aspx?C=Firefly
- very bright and the flashing blue ones will certainly get you noticed

[freewheelingalong]

I do not know if this works all makes but on Cateye lights if you hold the switch down for about five second the light will go out on what ever the mode, it only took me only 2 years to work this out.

That's brilliant! This works on my Cateye TL-LD1100 which has way to many modes. Thanks

[Malaconotus]

I'm not convinced that Cateye's cheaper 'traditional' style LED lamps are any brighter or better for being seen than the best of the microlights, which have the advantage of being small, easily removed and pocketed.

After buying cheap, buying three or four times, I now have a B&M Ixon and a Cateye LD-610, i.e. proper lights with a price to match, but these are my new 'be-seen' compact backups... http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 152c003247 (rear is listed separately - same design and price) They are the same kind of design as the Knog 'frog' style microlights, but they get round the problem that if a cheap light is bright then it eats batteries, in that they are USB rechargeable.

I must confess I haven't tested or used them in earnest yet, but they seem like a very good design and a good deal at £20 a set.


(declaration of interest: I work part-time in EBC, though I'm sure I'd say the same about these lights regardless)

[Malaconotus]

Road ID Firefly's http://www.roadid.com/Common/Catalog.aspx?C=Firefly
- very bright and the flashing blue ones will certainly get you noticed

I like the look of those. And they ship from the US for $2.49. How well made and waterproofed are they?

[eileithyia]

Not cheap and have non standard batteries but have just fitted Exposure flare to my race bike (and boy did I need it last night) and have subsequently just ordered a rear one also.

I just googled exposure flare and it then checked out the prices at the various outlets that came up; Evans was a similar price to all the others but does have free postage.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/exp ... t-ec024353

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/exp ... t-ec020465

[diapason0]

I currently use a CateyeLD-1100 LED rear and a rechargeable Lupine Passubio XL front. Both are ok, but the runtime of the Lupine can be limiting - 2 hours on max. I've heard good things about the Dinottes - has anyone tried them?

N

[KevinH]

Road ID Firefly's http://www.roadid.com/Common/Catalog.aspx?C=Firefly
- very bright and the flashing blue ones will certainly get you noticed

I like the look of those. And they ship from the US for $2.49. How well made and waterproofed are they?

They are well made, the ones we have, have been through 3 winters use, running and cycling in all weathers without issue. They are however a very simple design. There is no switch, you turn them on by tightening down the lid, and choose between steady/flashing by which way around the battery is in.