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lights

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Started 3 years ago by Baldcyclist
Latest reply from crowriver

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Baldcyclist
Member

My B&M dynamo light is fine for lit paths, but not unlit paths.

There are a number of similar to this 2400 lumen cheap lights on Amazon
.

Seem to get OK reviews - bracket seems to be main issue, but I've on a number of occasions hacked lights to fit Cateye brackets, so probably fixable. Not so concerned about light output on unlit (and unused) paths out of town, thnk that will be fine. More concerned about the differnt modes and wheather there is a 'don't blind my fellow human' mode, anyone used similar, worth a punt?

Posted 3 years ago #
ejstubbs
Member

IMO massive amounts of lumens are not a good place from which to start trying to avoid blinding ones fellow humans. On an unlit road or path a poorly-directed beam can be quite dazzling against a dark background even at quite low light outputs.

Non-dazzling functionality is probably best obtained by means of a suitable lens and reflector design that keeps the beam low but usefully spread. Lights that meet the German StVZO standard are designed this way. However, I'm not aware of such a light that also has a "main beam" setting, if you wanted such a thing.

I use a Lezyne StVZO-compliant front light for riding on roads and well-used paths, lit or unlit. I have a separate "can be seen from space" light (with separate battery pack) for those occasions when I want a 'floodlight' (mostly when riding away from made tracks or paths) and I don't expect to encounter much if any oncoming traffic.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

Riding with that sort of rig it really is incumbent to have another normal light from Lidl and when you interact with Homo sapiens, cover the bright one with one hand until you pass by.

Posted 3 years ago #
steveo
Member

I've got a set of those amazon cheapies for mtb and for round the pentlands where you'll rarely encounter people after dark they're fine. They're pretty obnoxious in shared situation.

I recently got one of these which has a cut of and fairly shaped beam, obviously not much brighter than the dynamo light but they have brighter ones that might also be appropriate.
https://magicshineuk.com/product/magicshine-allty-400-front-bike-light/

Posted 3 years ago #
MediumDave
Member

Add another B&M headlight in series as done in Ye Olden Days

https://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/383830-problems-wiring-two-headlight-son-dynamo-system-help-me.html

Posted 3 years ago #
Greenroofer
Member

I have B&M dynamo lights that work well on unlit roads, so that I'm never aware that the lack of light is restricting my ability to go fast. Might the best option not be to get a better dynamo light as they are StVZO compliant? https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/lighting/busch-muller-cyo-iq-premium-t-senso-plus-headlight-for-hub-dynamos/

They are more expensive than the Amazon one, but will stay on the bike and won't need charging.

Posted 3 years ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

@Greenroofer that's my current light, or at least a variation of it with 90lux. My eyes can't distinguish road or path features such as obstacles, pot holes, edge of gravel/off road paths with it. It's near useless as a 'seeing' light.

Posted 3 years ago #
CocoShepherd
Member

I'd recommend the 850 lumen Exposure Sirius front light. Quick search online says they're around 90 quid at the moment. Bright enough for unlit paths, good flashing modes for around town, battery life somewhere North of 90 mins. Works well for me between the big smoke and Fife

Posted 3 years ago #
CocoShepherd
Member

The Amazon light seems to be a super bright, super battery life front light and even comes with a free rear light all for 26 quid. I wouldn't touch that with barge poll (who's got a barge pole??).

Posted 3 years ago #
Murun Buchstansangur
Member

Lumen measurement/claims are such a moveable feast. I've got a Magicshine Allty 1000 (or equivalent - same light is sold under a multiplicity of brands) and it's quite simple with some nice features, but not quite bright enough for comfort on genuine unlit routes, I would say. Also limited runtime.

Best light is a Moon Meteor Storm Pro, but I'm on my third one (first two replaced under warranty), so I can't really recommend it.

Having recently misplaced the best light, I bought a Halfords Advanced 1600 Lumen as I needed it in a hurry for the Long Dark Teatime of the Soul audax. Plenty bright enough and good runtime (3hrs+) but I imagine pretty antisocial for other road users on higher settings, had to keep clicking it down a setting or two when meeting cars (then you have to go back up through strobe mode). Apparently still works with a powerpack plugged in (which is quite rare) and on the other side, will charge your phone or other devices.

Posted 3 years ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

I have a Chinese single led headlight with battery pack which is awesome for visibility, but it's certainly not other human friendly even with the lens that I bought for it. It also won't manage a commute both ways on a charge, but have used it for out of town sections before.

I've used Cateye over the years and found them to be ok, now eying the Ampp 400 and 800.

Need narrow off road unlit muddy coastal path with big drops to one side (Dalgety Bay to Burntisland) level of visibility for someone with bad eyes, the B&M can manage to Cramond before I can't see at all with it. Also unlit road if I go that way, so car headlight like. Also 2 hours (commute length) on single charge, various modes 1/2 1/4 power etc also useful for lit paths

Posted 3 years ago #
Dave
Member

Everyone's different, but it's interesting that even a 90 lux light is not adequate. For most of my audax rides I only had a 60 lux IQ Cyo and I would be going quite fast down unlit roads at night. I guess on roads you can be a little more assuming about the quality of the surface (maybe!)

Posted 3 years ago #
vladimpala
Member

I have the Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL on my Xmas list - it has a good balance of brightness and (claimed runtime) without the need for an external battery pack - and the price is pretty reasonable too. Another interesting feature is the "race mode" that restricts the output to just the high setting and a much lower setting. So you can easily turn down/up the brightness when you meet others with a single button press, rather than having to go through a bazillion different settings. Other lights in the range also have this feature. Alas (obviously?) it's not compatible with the German standards.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

@vladimpala, i have the earlier version of that without the one button thing.Hence me putting my hand over it if someone coming other way, unless of course they are blinding me and I then put it on full beam which is a floodlight for the entire area and we can all see very clearly

Got it half price in evans as was being upgraded I assume. Two hours run time on max, but in better news, heats up so much you can fry an egg on top of it.

Light Wars 2021

Posted 3 years ago #
CocoShepherd
Member

heats up so much you can fry an egg on top of it.

Bonus functions not otherwise advertised

Posted 3 years ago #
CocoShepherd
Member

+1 for the Lezyne lights, I had the 1000XL for years and really liked it, but eventually it stopped charging :( imagine the 1300XL that vladimpala suggested would be fantastic

Posted 3 years ago #
amir
Member

On my winter bike, I run a B & M IQ-X dynamo, which is nice (apart from rim wear worry). For unlit long distance riding pr the summer bike, I supplement with a Cateye 1200 to pick out the potholes. This light has long lasting and replaceable batteries, though replacement can't really be done on the road in the dark. Has the advantage that you can dip by rotating the lamp down!

Posted 3 years ago #
steveo
Member

For most of my audax rides
@Dave your not such a young man any more though! Must admit I need more light than I did a few years ago.

Posted 3 years ago #
steveo
Member

Another vote for leyzene, I had a 400 lumens one and it was plenty for the road and it took 18650 cells and it was just a screw back so could be replaced on the fly. Irritatingly I can't find it anywhere, I suspect my children.

Posted 3 years ago #
stiltskin
Member

I've just got a Raveman RP900. It isn't officially StVZO-compliant & I think it does spill a little more light than such a light would, but it does have a Hi/Lo beam. I have looked at it in action & it definitely is significantly less dazzling than a standard light. Good runtime too. (also have a couple of Lezyne STVO compliant lights which are not quite bright enough, as well assome Exposures (Sirius is just as blinding as their off-road lights) & a Magicshine Alty 2000. The latter are all great lights but much too anti-social to use where there are other road (or path) users.
https://www.ravemen.com/product/PR900.html

Posted 3 years ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

Thanks, some good options to look at theere.

Like the look of the seperate switch on some for flat bars, but maybe question how useful a switch would be with curly bars.

Don't like rubber bands with a heavy lights so will look for light with a plastic bracket. Think I am veering towards the Cateye Ampp 1100.

Ta.

Posted 3 years ago #
ejstubbs
Member

Rubber bands much less likely to suffer fatigue failure IMO, and dead easy to swap between bikes. My Lezyne has a very chunky rubber band mount which I have every confidence in - though it is so chunky that it can be a bit of a 'mare to get hooked up, which I can see might be downside for some.

I have a collection of plastic light brackets accumulated over the years, from CatEye and other brands. Every so often I delve in to it to see if I can cobble together a fitting for one or other of my bikes, only to find that they all seem to be just a wee bit incompatible with each other, so you can't easily do a mix'n'match. Which is frustrating. You don't get that problem with rubber bands. (I really ought to throw the lot away, rather than hang on to them in a "just in case they might come in handy" basis.)

Posted 3 years ago #
steveo
Member

Magicshine have settled on a garmin clone mount, sit the light on the mount and give it a quarter turn and it's locked. Maybe other manufacturers will follow suit.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

I have same issue as @ejstubbs, I have a good light but cannot attach it to the bike safely anymore, due to my own bad of turning bike upside down to fix p word with light attached

None of my collection of brackets quite fit

Posted 3 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Would echo Dave's comments on lumens.

In the past I've ridden on unlit paths and minor roads with just an old 15 lux halogen bulb dynamo light. Subsequently upgraded to a nice B&M lamp, the Lumotec Cyo Premium T Senso Plus, which is 80 lux. It's plenty! The lamp is mounted on the fork crown, and beam is aimed at the road ahead and I can easily see terrain coming up. Have a similar lamp (from AXA) on the Pashley Pronto, but mounted lower on the right fork: again more than enough to illuminate the way ahead. My old audax bike has the dynamo lamp mounted on a "space bar" to move it about 6 inches below the level of the handlebars, just slightly higher than it would be if it was on the fork crown.

Maybe it's not the luminance that's the issue, but the placing of the light? If the lamp is placed a bit lower than the bars then it throws any irregularities in the surface ahead into relief, meaning evasive action can be taken, even on a fast descent (the Pashley is very fast downhill due to its weight).

Posted 3 years ago #
crowriver
Member

P.S.:- I do recall some years ago riding the last 40k of a winter audax without any front lamp. The wiring on my dynamo lamp (the 15 lux flickery halogen bulb) had come loose and attempted repair was unsuccessful. My battery backup lamp had drained of all power. My LED head torch remained, but I was trying to conserve batteries to just read the map and road signs at junctions. It was an unlit minor country road in the middle of the night, just me no motor vehicles. It's amazing how your eyes acclimatise to near total darkness - there's always some light even at 3am in winter. I had to slow down a bit, but it was quite exhilarating...

Not that I'm recommending this approach for a regular commute. But retina searing fog lamps may not be necessary either.

Posted 3 years ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

@Crowriver my B&M is on the fork crown, I simply can't see the ground with it far enough ahead to spot obstacles until they are litteraly in front of the front wheel, which is no use (for me).

If you point the light up a bit to make the beam go further, there isn't enough intensity to see anything, at least pointed down it illuminates 2 or 3m in front of the bike - but riding you look 10-15m out and there is no light there.

If on road you add lights from oncoming road trafic then you see nothing. I don't doubt it's fine as a be seen light in town, but for me at least with my +9 prescription glasses, it's no use. :)

Posted 3 years ago #
acsimpson
Member

I used to have a preference for hard light mounts too. However my previous lezyne front light eventually became so rattly in the bracket that I added a loop of inner tube to stop it falling off.
The replacement which I bought uses a band mount and is great. As @Frency says it's a little tricky to mount but the light rotates to make it easier and once you have the knack it's fine.
As said up thread it has a race mode which is ideal for commuting as you can quickly switch between low and high without having to cycle through various levels off blinking and super economy as per some other lights.

Posted 3 years ago #
crowriver
Member

@Baldcyclist, I have a greater understanding of the issues now. Fog beam dazzle from oncoming A90 SUVs seems to be a problem too.

In these situations I ask myself what would an audax rider do? One solution be to get a "space bar" and mount two dynamo front lights, connected in series.

Here's an interesting setup on the fork crown. Or you could mount an extra light onto a front fork pannier rack boss (if there is one).

Our very own Dave had this setup slung below the bars. I think these are battery lights, which may or may not be practical for regular commuting.

Posted 3 years ago #

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