Hi,
I am looking at getting myself some lights (front and rear) for my road bike (and possibly for my Jersey). Has anyone got any suggestions on a reliable brand and the sort of price I'm facing? I would also be interested to hear peoples opinions on batters vs dynamos...
Plus one more thing; I hear that lights that have a flashing setting are more affective in terms of being seen by other road users. Is this true and is it right that they are illegal?
Many thanks,
Tom.
Lights
Re: Lights
Lots of questions here - and I'm sure that you'll get lots of opinions, and mine are certainly worth exactly what you have just paid for them:
I personally like the reliability and certainty of dynamo (properly called generator) lights - the modern (front) hub powered dynamo set-ups are far superior to sidewall systems - from SON or Shimano - although I get confused by the Shimano offerings. Don't get confused by the old Sturmey -Archer Dynohubs - these are that technology moved on by a few light years.
There are a variety of excellent battery powered lights to meet any (and I do mean ANY) budget:- on the one bike of mine without a dynamo I use a Smart front light (actually it was the Wilko copy) which I think was £10, and two Smart Superflash rear lights (which I also have as second lights on my other bikes), the latest Blackburn Mars light looks very impressive on the road. I'm not convinced that the best dynamo rear lights are as good as - say - the Smart Superflash.
Flashing lights are no longer illegal, although the precise rules are complex, I wouldn't fret too much about the rules. The concensus seems to be that flashing lights are more noticable, but drivers may have some difficulty placing a flashing light in space and distance - rear flashers are also a real pain to other cyclists when close up! I always use a flashing light along with a steady light (front and rear). There are some (definately illegal) very bright strobe type front lights that can be used - even in daylight - to be seen in heavy traffic - if I could afford one, I'd have one for my commuter - I've seen, as a driver, how effective they can be.
Don't forget that retro-reflective clothing is very, very effective at dusk or at night. I would rely on lights on the bike rather than on your clothing. If you wear a helmet, this can be a good place for simple front and rear lights that help you get noticed.
I personally like the reliability and certainty of dynamo (properly called generator) lights - the modern (front) hub powered dynamo set-ups are far superior to sidewall systems - from SON or Shimano - although I get confused by the Shimano offerings. Don't get confused by the old Sturmey -Archer Dynohubs - these are that technology moved on by a few light years.
There are a variety of excellent battery powered lights to meet any (and I do mean ANY) budget:- on the one bike of mine without a dynamo I use a Smart front light (actually it was the Wilko copy) which I think was £10, and two Smart Superflash rear lights (which I also have as second lights on my other bikes), the latest Blackburn Mars light looks very impressive on the road. I'm not convinced that the best dynamo rear lights are as good as - say - the Smart Superflash.
Flashing lights are no longer illegal, although the precise rules are complex, I wouldn't fret too much about the rules. The concensus seems to be that flashing lights are more noticable, but drivers may have some difficulty placing a flashing light in space and distance - rear flashers are also a real pain to other cyclists when close up! I always use a flashing light along with a steady light (front and rear). There are some (definately illegal) very bright strobe type front lights that can be used - even in daylight - to be seen in heavy traffic - if I could afford one, I'd have one for my commuter - I've seen, as a driver, how effective they can be.
Don't forget that retro-reflective clothing is very, very effective at dusk or at night. I would rely on lights on the bike rather than on your clothing. If you wear a helmet, this can be a good place for simple front and rear lights that help you get noticed.
Re: Lights
It's definitely worth having two or more rear lights. This way the following driver can judge the distance - one point of light could be a cyclist right in front of you, or the planet Mars being especially bright tonight. Two lights a fixed distance apart will appear to get further apart the closer they are, your brain is very clever at turning this information into an estimate of distance and speed of approach. I prefer to have one solid and one flashing - nothing says cyclist like a flashing red light.
Whether you go with batteries or dynamo depends on your budget and the amount you expect to use the lights - if you can afford it, get a hub dynamo, if you're only going to use them once in a while, get batteries. The amount you pay will also depend on how bright a light you want - do you need to be able to see where you're going on unlit country lanes, or will you mostly be riding in street-lit cities?
£8 will get you a set of single LED flashers, all you need to be legal, but not enough to see by, and barely enough to be seen by. I have some as backups, and a £50 Cateye EL530/TL-LD1100 set as main lights, plenty bright enough for most situations.
Don't neglect reflectors - they can be as powerful as car headlights, if that's what they're reflecting. Red at the back, white at the front, yellow on the pedals, and white on the wheels - that's what bikes have to be sold with. I'm not sure you're required to keep them on, but I can't think of a downside, so I did.
Whether you go with batteries or dynamo depends on your budget and the amount you expect to use the lights - if you can afford it, get a hub dynamo, if you're only going to use them once in a while, get batteries. The amount you pay will also depend on how bright a light you want - do you need to be able to see where you're going on unlit country lanes, or will you mostly be riding in street-lit cities?
£8 will get you a set of single LED flashers, all you need to be legal, but not enough to see by, and barely enough to be seen by. I have some as backups, and a £50 Cateye EL530/TL-LD1100 set as main lights, plenty bright enough for most situations.
Don't neglect reflectors - they can be as powerful as car headlights, if that's what they're reflecting. Red at the back, white at the front, yellow on the pedals, and white on the wheels - that's what bikes have to be sold with. I'm not sure you're required to keep them on, but I can't think of a downside, so I did.
Cynic? No, an optimist tempered by experience.