MTB Winter Lights?

Author
Discussion

Matt106

Original Poster:

383 posts

163 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Fartomatic5000 said:
These lights are phenomenal - my new hobby is night riding!
I have two on the front, one with a beam widener lens from ebay, PLUS a bright dynamo powered lamp too.
On the back there is one dynamo light, one 0.5Watt thing, and one magicshine 818.

shout CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?
Yes, they can. Vehicle drivers don't pull out in front of me when I'm approaching, (of course I make sure the lights are not blinding anyone they are pointing maybe 5 meters ahead at the road).
There is absolutely no excuse for anyone not seeing me, my lights are brighter than some cars.
Off road they are great too, as I can angle them up a bit to light up the hedgerows and further down the path.
Just need to sort out some warmer clothes now the evenings are getting cooler. smile
Which wide angle lens did you buy? Any loss of light from it?

Fartomatic5000

558 posts

154 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
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Matt106 said:
Which wide angle lens did you buy? Any loss of light from it?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280752532003

I wouldn't say there is much loss of light as such, it just appears dimmer because the light is spread out more instead of being in a spot. The light on the left of my bars is the original spot (smooth reflector) for lighting up hedgerows, and the one on the right has the beam widener.
If I was using only one light I'd use the beam widener with it.
I'll try to take some photos of the patterns soon.
I also have another light on order with an orange-peel reflector (it's for the wife's bike), so I can compare all three patterns.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Fartomatic5000 said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280752532003

I wouldn't say there is much loss of light as such, it just appears dimmer because the light is spread out more instead of being in a spot. The light on the left of my bars is the original spot (smooth reflector) for lighting up hedgerows, and the one on the right has the beam widener.
If I was using only one light I'd use the beam widener with it.
I'll try to take some photos of the patterns soon.
I also have another light on order with an orange-peel reflector (it's for the wife's bike), so I can compare all three patterns.
Thanks. I've just ordered a couple of these. thumbup

Matt106

Original Poster:

383 posts

163 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
For anyone wanting a wide lens I've found a UK seller, I've got one on order - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-Angle-Lens-for-Magi...

They also do a quality looking handlebar mount.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Matt106 said:
For anyone wanting a wide lens I've found a UK seller, I've got one on order - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-Angle-Lens-for-Magi...

They also do a quality looking handlebar mount.
Damn - I did contact this seller based on an older link but they had run out so I ordered off the US seller instead. If I'd waited 2 days...

With these feet

5,728 posts

214 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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Bought!

MrGman

1,585 posts

205 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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I've just bought a Cateye Nano Shot Plus, which is 600 lumens, it's a single unit usb rechargeable light and i'm very impressed with it, can't imagine how bright some of these 600+ lumens lights must be!

Also bought one of these for my helmet, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

paultownsend

2,228 posts

182 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/

i have the 1000lm unit. better connections that the DX alternative.
run two of these with a DX trustfire torch on my lid.

my mate who has >£500 of exposure lights is gutted.

all battery packs last my 2.5hr ride with ease. even on continuous full blast

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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My wide angle lenses turned up today from the Ebay seller in the USA (some good feedback is due there, methinks).

They make a MASSIVE difference, it's actually laughable why they aren't standard fitment to be honest.

They are plastic, if that matters. Probably means they'll scratch easily but shouldn't break. Considering putting the glass lens over the top... Maybe not. Would leave the bezel sticking out a bit.

minimoog

6,851 posts

218 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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Ordered mine before you Watchman and I'm still waiting. A packet bounced off the front door back to the sorting office today though which I'm hoping is the light itself...

metalsteve

367 posts

240 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
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I've just fitted the beam widener as suggested by Matt106. It makes a MASSIVE difference, well worth £5. I also purchased the handle bar mount from the same seller and it looks like a good bit of kit, the O ring mount was the only weak point on the light.

I'm going to buy a second light to use as a helmet or bar mounted spot light.

Fartomatic5000

558 posts

154 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
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metalsteve said:
I've just fitted the beam widener as suggested by Matt106. It makes a MASSIVE difference, well worth £5. I also purchased the handle bar mount from the same seller and it looks like a good bit of kit, the O ring mount was the only weak point on the light.

I'm going to buy a second light to use as a helmet or bar mounted spot light.
I bought two of the handlebar mounts and they are better than constantly fiddling with the angle after going over big bumps. After I ordered them (at £15 each!) I found another seller on ebay selling them at £8.xx
Can't find that seller again though!

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
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Love these mounts. Expensive but fabulous nonetheless:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magicshine-MJ-6079-Solid...

I previously used Hope quick release mounts the but the new lights I have recently bought have their mounting hole positioned further to the rear, so the QR release doesn't line-up as well. With this in mind I'd like to try these aluminium mounts before I bought... but I'll probably order them anyway.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
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Oh, there's more. This isn't too bad:

http://www.farnhamcycles.co.uk/Shop/p/25499-electr...


This one might need "garage machining" to make it fit nicely. Nice clamp though:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...


This type definitely fits my original lights. The positioning of the mounting hole in the light body is different in the new one, so they don't fit as well:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...


This is beautifully machined but I don't think I could easily get it to work with the Magicshine. It would have to be mounted sideways, so to get the right left/right sweep, you'd have to bend that arm or make a wedge... bit faffy. And it seems to only fit the 31.8mm middle bit of the handlebars. I would prefer a 22mm fit:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...



minimoog

6,851 posts

218 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
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minimoog said:
Ordered mine before you Watchman and I'm still waiting. A packet bounced off the front door back to the sorting office today though which I'm hoping is the light itself...
Light arrived today, sans the O-rings to mount it mad

Pay peanuts etc...

Will have to order some off ebay.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
minimoog said:
minimoog said:
Ordered mine before you Watchman and I'm still waiting. A packet bounced off the front door back to the sorting office today though which I'm hoping is the light itself...
Light arrived today, sans the O-rings to mount it mad

Pay peanuts etc...

Will have to order some off ebay.
Oh that's not on but mention it to the seller - at least you will get a spare set.

Is yours the one with the glow-in-the-dark o-ring around the inside of the bezel? Pretty effect when you turn it off, no? smile

minimoog

6,851 posts

218 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Watchman said:
Is yours the one with the glow-in-the-dark o-ring around the inside of the bezel? Pretty effect when you turn it off, no? smile
Yes. Tis v cool smile

The wide-angle lens from Action LEDs went straight in without need for shimming or the like, so pleased with that.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
minimoog said:
Watchman said:
Is yours the one with the glow-in-the-dark o-ring around the inside of the bezel? Pretty effect when you turn it off, no? smile
Yes. Tis v cool smile

The wide-angle lens from Action LEDs went straight in without need for shimming or the like, so pleased with that.
Great science experiment, that. My 7yo son was fascinated. We ended up playing "kaleidoscope" with some of the cheap crystal glasses I've collected from petrol stations. smile

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Yay, my two new ones turned up today so I was able to permanently install the new lenses and fit to the bike.

Gonna go for a ride later (when the kids are asleep) to try out all 3 (I've one on my helmet too). Can't wait.

metalsteve

367 posts

240 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
minimoog said:
Light arrived today, sans the O-rings to mount it mad

Pay peanuts etc...

Will have to order some off ebay.
To be honest the O ring mount isnt great and the light tends to slip on the bars. I bought one of these and its a much better way to mount the light. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261117309059

I think other types of QR mounts are compatible too.