http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: bright lights - Recent Posts en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:56:50 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-142726 Sat, 15 Feb 2014 16:56:11 +0000 LivM 142726@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wiggle also have a <a href="http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sc/lighting">similar comparison tool</a> (with a wider range of lights) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-142721 Sat, 15 Feb 2014 14:02:52 +0000 LaidBack 142721@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes - Philips were selling these to Hase and other companies as an alternative to B+M.</p> <p><em>Is anyone else holding out for B&amp;M Luxos IQ2 U availability?<br /> </em> We have latest one here fitted to the new Quetzal 24 tandem. Looks small enough on that! Powered by SON hub.</p> <p>Was buying a re-charge light for someone and came across this light overview at EBC. Useful enough comparison of various battery lights. </p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/articles/lights-comparison-tool">Edinburgh Bicycle light comparison tool</a></p> <p>I chose the Volt300 as not bad for £50. Can re-charge from USB. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-142703 Fri, 14 Feb 2014 21:44:28 +0000 allebong 142703@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've come across an unconfirmed <a href="http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?287452-Philips-LED-bike-light&amp;s=52175e1fa8572e5029f8e563a423e253&amp;p=4373625&amp;viewfull=1#post4373625">report</a> that Philips are about to discontinue their entire bike light line. Seems a strange decision as I've thought they were well regarded and quite popular. As I said, unconfirmed, nothing official turning up through google so far. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139667 Mon, 13 Jan 2014 21:29:28 +0000 gembo 139667@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My wee rechargeable back light fell off tonight, it is EBC red rubber if you find it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139665 Mon, 13 Jan 2014 21:21:13 +0000 amir 139665@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am giving up with the Phillips Saferide. The light output is excellent with a good beam pattern. But the batteries don't last long enough or as much as advertised, at least with the onboard charger. It works slightly better with an external charger but that's not overly practical.</p> <p>Instead I am getting a Cateye Volt 1200. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139465 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 12:00:01 +0000 gembo 139465@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes nelly, it was a good cafe, and I am sure the bike shop also good. I used to frequent the cafe in the mid 1990s. Quite an early example of the need to have a diverse business model to survive. Possibly ahead of it's time. Would have been two separate shops and I think maybe they knocked through, so if I recall correctly you were not sitting in the middle of the bike shop having your tortilla or felafels. It was called The Hub Cafe. See some info on a more aspirational name for it Liverpool Cycle Centre which also mentions a gym, showers and cycle parking. I don't remember that bit, but maybe developed after I stopped visiting Liverpool? I don't think it is there anymore? 9-13 Berry Street </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139463 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 11:49:41 +0000 Nelly 139463@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Harry Cross! That takes me back. </p> <p>Tangentially, Simon O'Brien who played Damon Grant in Brookie has/had a bike shop cum cafe in Liverpool a while back. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139459 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 11:26:25 +0000 gembo 139459@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When I say the word BLINDER I try to get a mix of admiration of the brightness and mild exasperation at the lack of dipping but you never know how your audience is going to perceive your shtick so maybe I come over as Harry Cross which is not my intention </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139451 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 10:23:04 +0000 Kenny 139451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>a quiet word probably is in order</em></p> <p>The difficulty, I find, is managing to start that conversation. For example, we're heading towards each other at a combined speed of 25 to 30 mph, so how do I stop him without sounding angry or combatitive? I like the "BLINDER" idea of gembo's, so I might try that to at least stop him, although maybe for the next couple of days I will continue to merely hold my hands up to my eyes in the hope he either gets the idea, or stops to ask WTF I'm doing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139448 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 00:26:08 +0000 Nelly 139448@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Its really not tricky, proper mount, dipped down to the left. Suspect many "offenders" dont realise how bad they are - so a quiet word probably is in order. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139404 Sat, 11 Jan 2014 10:38:31 +0000 gembo 139404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Please dip your front light down to the left might work</p> <p>I usually just go with BLINDER </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139391 Fri, 10 Jan 2014 20:43:02 +0000 Kenny 139391@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think you're probably right about the Christmas present theory.</p> <p>I saw him again today. Blinded once again, didn't have time to protect my eyes because he appeared from round a bend. If this carries on, I'll struggle to stop myself "having a word". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139227 Fri, 10 Jan 2014 03:21:09 +0000 allebong 139227@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Creebay specials are down to around £15 now, which is both brilliant and awful, I reckon they're the ones most likely to be blinding people. </p> <p>The really interesting thing is when you realise you can't get 4 18650 cells of known good quality that are used in the batteries for that price. Makes one wonder exactly what corners are being cut. Wonder no more; the batteries are most likely either reclaimed laptop cells or rejects from the good factories. Combined with a crummy charger I'm really amazed there's not more stories of the things exploding and burning down houses. So you may find a reduction in the number of really cheap sizzling lights when they all die a few months down the line (when the prices have fallen further and the cycle begins again, oh joy).</p> <p>I am currently feeling slightly nostalgic for my childhood, where you had 'batteries' and that was it, compared to now when all I can think about is Zinc Carbon vs Alkaline vs NiMH vs IMR Li-on, LiPo and so much else, in between having to memorise voltage-discharge curves for every time I have to charge one of the things. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139226 Fri, 10 Jan 2014 02:35:29 +0000 Instography 139226@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Christmas presents. My assumption this week is that the sudden increase in stupidly far too bright lights on a well lit path is Santa's fault. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139217 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:39:16 +0000 wingpig 139217@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There was a combination too-bright-upward-pointing-light combined with the rider of the bike on which it was mounted overtaking a pedestrian on their side of the path just as I would have drawn level with the pedestrian had I not anticipated their stupidity and braked lots on the WoL yesterday morning. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139212 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:23:20 +0000 SRD 139212@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had this tonight on NMW. Could see light at West end as soon as I turned from MMW. like you say, car light. Had my hand in front of eyes and said 'that light's not suitable for paths like this'. think it was a female rider on a drop handlebar bike, but could be wrong - i was basically blind. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-139210 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:20:45 +0000 Kenny 139210@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've come across a cyclist twice on the NEPN in the past 24 hours who has had a front light so bright it is literally like a car's light on full beam, aimed directly at eye level. So bright, in fact, that the first time, I had to put my hand up to shield my eyes from it because I could no longer see where I was going. This wasn't done to make a point, I honestly couldn't see any more and had no idea whether I was heading towards the cyclist, or the verge, or indeed in a straight line. Thankfully it's the exception rather than the rule on the NEPN. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-138441 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 05:10:01 +0000 allebong 138441@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am bumping this thread solely to bring attention to what I said at the start:</p> <p><em>Check the mounts for fatigue</em></p> <p>It turns out my particular light mounts get fatigued in a way that makes the springy plastic bit (for lack of a better term) feel like its solidly engaged even when it's not. So I can happily put the light in and it seems nice and solid, until I give the stiff rear-facing button a firm push to turn it on, at which point the light breaks free from the bonds of the mount and is dumped onto the ground with a nice loud thwack.</p> <p>It turns out the solution to this is to bend the plasticky spring bit back a bit until it yields and can be deformed beyond where it normally sits, this restoring the springiness of the plasticky bit to normal and ensuring the light won't come out accidentally. Or deliberately as now it's a struggle to get the thing out sometimes. </p> <p>Who knew so much pain could be caused by a bit of plastic that has properties resembling a spring? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-135635 Wed, 04 Dec 2013 17:58:45 +0000 custard 135635@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>forget all who have been before<br /> for those times when you absolutly must dazzle all on the canal path</p> <p><a href="http://www.trailled.com/lighting/" rel="nofollow">http://www.trailled.com/lighting/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWXoAbEVNsY" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWXoAbEVNsY</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBl8yQp-Gzo" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBl8yQp-Gzo</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2jLmN_2-uA" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2jLmN_2-uA</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-135322 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 10:21:13 +0000 amir 135322@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Philips Saferide 80 battery light that I bought didn't work out very well. The charger doesn't work for a start - and when I charged the batteries using an external charger, the charge didn't last anywhere near as long as claimed (not enough for the return journey). That revealed either a problem with the batteries, my charger (it is old) or the light electrics. Anyway it's going back to the shop. I am asking for a replacement as, for the time it worked, it performed wonderfully - even better than the B &amp; M.</p> <p>It's also persuaded me to seek a lightweight but powerful backup light - the Moon Crescent. I live too far away to be without a light. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=4#post-133622 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 20:33:32 +0000 Uberuce 133622@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My dynamo conversion is now more or less complete, by which I mean my rear light is now installed. </p> <p>At some point I'll get round to shortening the wires, and I may or may not inflict more violence with pliers on my rear rack to adjust the light's angle. Then it'll be complete. But where's the fun in that?</p> <p>If I was going out into real country dark, which I will next time I ride that device in rural Tayside, I do suspect I'll bring my NiteRider along. Its beam pattern is mince compared to the B&amp;M, but it can throw an absurd amount of light onto a downhill.</p> <p>So far I have enjoyed the week of not detaching front lights nor worrying about batteries, and I have been impressed by how cleverly it lights the road ahead. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133609 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:02:09 +0000 wee folding bike 133609@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Broke a stator years ago. Wires need to be replaced on a Brompton because they get flexed. Next time I'll use Schmidt cables and see how they hold up.</p> <p>I've got a spare Edelux in the garage so when the new SON XS comes out I'll get one of those for the brompton S6L. They will be available in black.</p> <p>I do quite like hub generators because they just work. I also get a kick out of making my own electricity.</p> <p>Unsuccessful trip to Aldi for Knog batteries. Did get cheese, chocolate digestives, chocolate, juice, fruit etc. Ohhh instant coffee but that's for the memsahib. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133607 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:22:26 +0000 amir 133607@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>May go for the Phillips Safetyride - battery driven. 80 lux </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133604 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 16:51:22 +0000 amir 133604@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just thought - I will also need a light for my MTB (which has the studded tyres). Doh!</p> <p>That may make the case for dynamo uneconomic :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133601 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:45:01 +0000 Dave 133601@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We've got Shimano, SA and Shutter Precision hubs at home.</p> <p>The SA one was the cheapest I think, and I can't tell whether it's on or off. The SP was most expensive and nominally more efficient, but since I already can't tell, I wouldn't like to claim I feel it's any faster.</p> <p>You can pay more for SON but I don't think it's worth it for a day bike, ymmv </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133598 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:28:52 +0000 amir 133598@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mmmm - some thinking to do and quickly! </p> <p>BTW There was a CTC review of hubs - <a href="http://www.ctc.org.uk/publication/cycle-magazine/cycle-magazine-december-2012-january-2013">here</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133581 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:30:25 +0000 wingpig 133581@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>- are the electric robust? (water/vibration/time)</em><br /> Yep. Mine's been on for a year and has survived all pathmuck encountered. Apart from the original (stamped) mount breaking shortly after fitting the light has been fine with an angle bracket and hose clamps.<br /> <em>- is the light good enough for out of town riding?</em><br /> Yep. Phillips Saferide on main bike definitely is, B&amp;M Senso Plus (whose exact designation I'd have to check) has a smaller rectangular beam which I'd supplement with something wider if I regularly took the sparebike away from streets.<br /> <em>- how to choose a hub dynamo?</em><br /> Look at Rose. Select a Shimano dynohub based on disc-ness of wheels and quick-release-ivity of axles.<br /> <em>- will the lights readily fit on a carbon fork with dual pivot brakes &amp; guards?</em><br /> Depends on how much space you have between the fork crown brake-hole and the head tube - my head tube overhangs my fork quite a bit so there was no way a standard light bracket would be able to be fitted there. You'd probably not want to hose clamp an angle bracket to a carbon fork either. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133566 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 11:59:17 +0000 Smudge 133566@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Amir, can't answer the robust question as I've been using them less than a year, but the B&amp;M light I put on the Brompton (Senso taglight 60 lumen iirc?) has *plenty* light for unlit paths/roads. I've got an unknown shimano hub dynamo on that (came built into the wheel) which seems to work fine.<br /> Fitted to my "road" bike but not really used yet I have a deore xt dynohub and a Schmidt Edelux headlamp (in a moment of spendiness!), fitting to the fork crown was easy (carbon fork, mudguard and 105 caliper), if required I can probably send a photie, or one of those PY mornings I can bring one of the beasties to let people look see :-)<br /> I don't think I'll be buying more dynamos, but that is because I already have adequate lights (and good wheelsets!) on my other bikes, were I starting from scratch I'd seriously consider modern dynamos on everything. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133554 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 11:21:07 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 133554@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm only a recent convert to dynamo lights, but have to say I do like having them on the bike permanently, and not having to have a stream of charged up batteries. My first front light I think had a fault from the start, and then the standlight stopped working, but I contacted the German company I bought it from and they sent out a replacement no questions asked (Rose Bikes, superb).</p> <p>The light on my B+M Lyt Senso+ (I think is the name, I'll have to check) isn't as bright as the Hope Vision 1 I had (which I'm increasingly thinking was taken at the same time as the bikes from the garage), and has a strange beam pattern (big rectangle of light, with dimmer areas to the side) but is perfectly fine for 30mph in the dark round the back of Arthur's Seat.</p> <p>Dynamo, I'd say simply Shimano. There are a number on Rose Bikes and I just cruised them (asked DaveC a few times for recommendations) and picked out the best performance versus Price for me. They're nowhere near as expensive as I expected, the rear Hope hub I bought at the same time was a lot pricier.</p> <p>Should be able to find a mounting option that works for you. The front light <em>might</em> fit behind your brake, but you could always fashion a mount for the bars. Mine is on the very front of the little front rack I have on the bike. I used the mount it came with, bodged in place with some spare bolts and a cheaply fashioned additional mount.</p> <p>Once I've got the bike back running you're more than welcome to have a gander at what I've got in place (perhaps commute one evening round the bvack of the park at the same time?). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11082&page=3#post-133518 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 10:13:21 +0000 Dave 133518@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some light reading:</p> <p><a href="http://mccraw.co.uk/hub-dynamo-friction/" rel="nofollow">http://mccraw.co.uk/hub-dynamo-friction/</a></p> <p><a href="http://mccraw.co.uk/dynamo-hub-weight/" rel="nofollow">http://mccraw.co.uk/dynamo-hub-weight/</a></p> <p>Unlike hub gears, they are very reliable, possibly because it's a legal requirement on the continent (I suspect that's the main reason Shimano even started making them in the first place).</p> <p>Electrically all the hubs are basically identical: 500mA fixed current source so you can mix any light with any dynamo. You can't pay more for a brighter dynamo, but you can pay more for slightly less friction while producing the same power (it's already unnoticeable even on a cheap hub, so YMMV). </p> <p>Wiggle do <a href="http://tidd.ly/c8c1ea5f">Shimano's 3N72</a> and that's as much as you want to spend IMO. May be able to get it cheaper from the continental mail-order places, especially if there's a group order going in.</p> <p>The quality of light all depends on the light you buy. Certainly you'll be able to get one as good as or better than the Ixon IQ.</p> <p>I rode an audax earlier this year with a full carbon fork, standard dual pivot with the dynamo light on the stock manufacturer bracket on the brake bolt, seemed to work OK. You can get bar adapters for them if you prefer. </p>