It's Nearly That Time Again - Bike Lights!
Discussion
funkyrobot said:
It's that time of the year again folks.
I originally did a big post detailing everything I have invested in for dark night riding this winter. However, due to me being a ham-fisted idiot, I closed the tab before posting. Therefore, here is a summary of what I'm running on the bike (first winter on a bike for years):
I bought a Cree off Ebay to be my main light:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201197774392?_trksid=p20...
This has three modes. First one melts wallpaper so isn't suitable for anything with any traffic on. Perfect for me though as I ride mainly country lanes. Second setting is less intense, so the one to run on busier roads with. Third setting is an epilepsy-inducing mega strobe. Can't see where I'll run that.
Bought a lipo bag to house the battery pack in when charging and when being stored. Have read stories of these packs going pop, so trying to keep things as safe as possible. Seem to have a proper three plug charger with my light though.
Cree will be backed up by a small LED flasher light from Aldi. It simply straps to the handlebar via a rubber strap.
Further backup will come in the form of one of these:
Whilst recently sorting out my bike stuff, I found two of these. They require AA batteries. I bought some rechargeable ones the other day and will use them in these light. One of these will go on the handlebars as a good backup/light to be used in town etc.
For the rear, I have one of these on the right seat stay:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fibre-flare-ultimate-safet...
Gives off a good beam of constant or flashing light. Can be attached to places that may be difficult for other lights. Also helps motorists to see where you are as it is a beam of light, rather than a point.
The Flare will be backed up by another Aldi flashy LED. This is on the left seat stay.
All of the above are backed up by a Topeak Headlux helmet light:
I am yet to evaluate all of these lights in the rain. I know the Cat Eyes do ok as I ran them years ago. I need to wrap the Cree battery pack in a sandwich bag, and may apply some Vaseline to the seal parts of the other lights. Will see how they go though.
Bought the 4 cree LED version from Aldi yesterday for 20 quid. Seriously impressive for the money and a 3 yr warranty from Aldi.I originally did a big post detailing everything I have invested in for dark night riding this winter. However, due to me being a ham-fisted idiot, I closed the tab before posting. Therefore, here is a summary of what I'm running on the bike (first winter on a bike for years):
I bought a Cree off Ebay to be my main light:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201197774392?_trksid=p20...
This has three modes. First one melts wallpaper so isn't suitable for anything with any traffic on. Perfect for me though as I ride mainly country lanes. Second setting is less intense, so the one to run on busier roads with. Third setting is an epilepsy-inducing mega strobe. Can't see where I'll run that.
Bought a lipo bag to house the battery pack in when charging and when being stored. Have read stories of these packs going pop, so trying to keep things as safe as possible. Seem to have a proper three plug charger with my light though.
Cree will be backed up by a small LED flasher light from Aldi. It simply straps to the handlebar via a rubber strap.
Further backup will come in the form of one of these:
Whilst recently sorting out my bike stuff, I found two of these. They require AA batteries. I bought some rechargeable ones the other day and will use them in these light. One of these will go on the handlebars as a good backup/light to be used in town etc.
For the rear, I have one of these on the right seat stay:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fibre-flare-ultimate-safet...
Gives off a good beam of constant or flashing light. Can be attached to places that may be difficult for other lights. Also helps motorists to see where you are as it is a beam of light, rather than a point.
The Flare will be backed up by another Aldi flashy LED. This is on the left seat stay.
All of the above are backed up by a Topeak Headlux helmet light:
I am yet to evaluate all of these lights in the rain. I know the Cat Eyes do ok as I ran them years ago. I need to wrap the Cree battery pack in a sandwich bag, and may apply some Vaseline to the seal parts of the other lights. Will see how they go though.
I picked up a cateye volt 1600 in the summer to use this winter on my 2 hour commute (not daily) and after-work rides. I took it on holiday to Mallorca where I had agreed to get all my riding out the way before breakfast. I didn't think I'd need it but in the end I wouldn't have been able to head out until 7:30am and wouldn't have got far at all. I'm really, really impressed with it. Its fairly small and on 500lm, it puts out loads of light. At that power level, I should get 5 hours which will be more than I will need.
funkyrobot said:
Just picked up another one of these as I trod on my current one. The on/off/mode switch has broken. Was trying to find the details on the current one and realised it's 5 years old now. it's seen a lot of use and isn't too bad value at all. Fluffsri said:
47p2 said:
Not many as 99% of after market pedals do not have reflectors 
I only use my single speed during the winter, the gears are tucked away until the salt has cleared. The S/S never had any reflectors but with so many 'angry motorists' ready to put the blame on cyclists for anything they can I decided on Sunday to drill the rear mudguard and fit a red reflector, then I fitted some Shimano SM-PP 22 reflectors to the pedals. Odd that a couple of days after doing that I come across a link to the legality of lights on bikes.
...and yes it looks ridiculous but it's legal so I don't really give a hoot
...and yes it looks ridiculous but it's legal so I don't really give a hoot
IANAL and all that but that link references "regulations", so are they the same as laws?
Either way, I had always (possibly incorrectly) understood the legal requirement for bike use was to have lights on at night, but that reflectors were only a legal necessity at the point of sale. What I mean is, can you be prosecuted for not having reflectors if you have lights (and they're switched on/working)?
I'm also interested in what constitutes "part of the bike". I read the contextual stuff about lights on clothing not really in the spirit of that but could reflective components on SPD shoes count as reflectors on pedals? They're kind-of fixed to the bike.
Regardless of all this, I expect PHers are some of the best-lit and reflectively-clothed cyclists in the world, so the authorities would be better off chasing the lad on a black BMX I often see at night wearing black hoodie-clothing with no reflectors, no lights, and a phone clamped to his ear.
Either way, I had always (possibly incorrectly) understood the legal requirement for bike use was to have lights on at night, but that reflectors were only a legal necessity at the point of sale. What I mean is, can you be prosecuted for not having reflectors if you have lights (and they're switched on/working)?
I'm also interested in what constitutes "part of the bike". I read the contextual stuff about lights on clothing not really in the spirit of that but could reflective components on SPD shoes count as reflectors on pedals? They're kind-of fixed to the bike.
Regardless of all this, I expect PHers are some of the best-lit and reflectively-clothed cyclists in the world, so the authorities would be better off chasing the lad on a black BMX I often see at night wearing black hoodie-clothing with no reflectors, no lights, and a phone clamped to his ear.
Law in the UK requires a full suite of reflectors and a bell at point of sale.
Thereafter, you may remove the front (white) reflector, the bell, and the wheel reflectors. You must retain the pedal reflectors, and the rear (red) reflector.
Bicycles only require lights after "lighting up time". No requirement to even own a set if you only want to ride in daylight. Any that you do fit must conform to BS6102. But these regulations are all part of 'Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations'. This legal document has been amended several times over the years to take account of LEDs replacing filament lamps, and allowing for "Approval" of flashing lamps.
The law can be complex, and often fails to keep pace with technological developments. Which is why some super-bright LED lamps are technically outside of the RVLRs, while my old 'D cell' Ever-Ready bike lights...
...are perfectly legal, despite being obviously inadequate and no longer fit for purpose.
Generally speaking, guidance for police officers dealing with bicycle lighting infringements is to pursue only those who ride on roads unlit. If you comply with the spirit of the law you are unlikely to be troubled by the police. In the spirit of that guidance, I don't bother with pedal reflectors, but instead wear Velcro® reflective ankle bands, as these have the same eye-catching properties as rotating pedal reflectors, and they are in virtually the same position.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/conte...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2559/conte...
Being 'Law' these documents are very 'dry' and sometimes seem illogically ordered. Fortunately, groups like 'We are cycling UK' (formerly the CTC) produce guidance that is easier to wade through... http://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/regulati... ...to make some sense of the law and all of it's subsequent amendments.
It's a minefield really, trying to get a decent, battery-efficient set of effective bicycle lights that conform to British Standards in this day and age. By no means a new problem... http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12... ...but not one that police, CPS, the courts, or lamp manufacturers/importers seem in any way fazed by.
Thereafter, you may remove the front (white) reflector, the bell, and the wheel reflectors. You must retain the pedal reflectors, and the rear (red) reflector.
Bicycles only require lights after "lighting up time". No requirement to even own a set if you only want to ride in daylight. Any that you do fit must conform to BS6102. But these regulations are all part of 'Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations'. This legal document has been amended several times over the years to take account of LEDs replacing filament lamps, and allowing for "Approval" of flashing lamps.
The law can be complex, and often fails to keep pace with technological developments. Which is why some super-bright LED lamps are technically outside of the RVLRs, while my old 'D cell' Ever-Ready bike lights...
...are perfectly legal, despite being obviously inadequate and no longer fit for purpose.
Generally speaking, guidance for police officers dealing with bicycle lighting infringements is to pursue only those who ride on roads unlit. If you comply with the spirit of the law you are unlikely to be troubled by the police. In the spirit of that guidance, I don't bother with pedal reflectors, but instead wear Velcro® reflective ankle bands, as these have the same eye-catching properties as rotating pedal reflectors, and they are in virtually the same position.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/conte...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2559/conte...
Being 'Law' these documents are very 'dry' and sometimes seem illogically ordered. Fortunately, groups like 'We are cycling UK' (formerly the CTC) produce guidance that is easier to wade through... http://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/regulati... ...to make some sense of the law and all of it's subsequent amendments.
It's a minefield really, trying to get a decent, battery-efficient set of effective bicycle lights that conform to British Standards in this day and age. By no means a new problem... http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12... ...but not one that police, CPS, the courts, or lamp manufacturers/importers seem in any way fazed by.
I really wouldn't worry about what the law says on bike lights. You've got to be incredibly unfortunate to find yourself in that perfect storm situation of being:
a) stopped by a police officer that,
b) knows the legislation around cycle lighting and,
c) has the desire to deal with said low level offences and finally,
d) has the time to do anything other than issue words of advice.
If you're a safety conscious cyclist you're highly unlikely to find yourself at point a) to start with, which makes the risk of finding yourself at d) statistically insignificant.
a) stopped by a police officer that,
b) knows the legislation around cycle lighting and,
c) has the desire to deal with said low level offences and finally,
d) has the time to do anything other than issue words of advice.
If you're a safety conscious cyclist you're highly unlikely to find yourself at point a) to start with, which makes the risk of finding yourself at d) statistically insignificant.
yellowjack said:
sensible stuff
Thanks for that, and I absolutely agree with the pragmatism of your post.I'm intrigued that you still have those old lights though - how have you managed to retain them all these years when most people will have ditched them.
I used to have 2 of those big square rear lights on the sissy bar of my Chopper-type of bike, and I thought I was "the man" at 11yo (late 1970s).
For those of you after some decent lights, just been to my local Halfords to get some Lezyne Micro Drive 400XL lights - should be £70 but are price matched to £43.50 so same as wiggle etc. However, the stores apparently have all been given 450xl instead so they are selling these as the 400s.
When you add on British Cycling discount they are only £39 when the front alone is £36 at wiggle.
The lights are bloody fantastic too, very bright and well put together. I like the integrated charger too. However, the different modes need some getting used too.
When you add on British Cycling discount they are only £39 when the front alone is £36 at wiggle.
The lights are bloody fantastic too, very bright and well put together. I like the integrated charger too. However, the different modes need some getting used too.
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