MTB Winter Lights?

[dudleybloke]

iv just found a uk seller doing it for 30 with free pnp.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MJ-818-Splitter-kit-85-L...

the white look is just the frosted diffuser for the outer leds to give them spread.

[yellowjack]

McFsC said:

Look decent lights, any rechargeable version/models?

I seem to eat through light batteries and one of the main reasons for me wanting to upgrade.

Lezyne Micro Drive Rear

I was looking at these in Fleet (Pedal Heaven) just yesterday. I think they are USB rechargeable only, and up to 30 lumens in 'standard' mode, with a daylight 'boost' feature that outputs 70 lumens. Reading between the lines, the manufacturer is suggesting that you don't use this setting at night for fear of dazzling following traffic.

http://www.lezyne.com/products/led-lights/sport#!m...

[Gizmoish]

dudleybloke said:

iv just found a uk seller doing it for 30 with free pnp.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MJ-818-Splitter-kit-85-L...

the white look is just the frosted diffuser for the outer leds to give them spread.

Believe I'm right in saying that doesn't include a battery. I understand the Y-lead thing, but not convinced they're long enough to allow helmet-and-rear-light mounting.

[dudleybloke]

my front light is on the handlebars and the battery is on my seatpost tube so it will fit my setup.

[metalsteve]

yellowjack said:

Lezyne Micro Drive Rear

I was looking at these in Fleet (Pedal Heaven) just yesterday. I think they are USB rechargeable only, and up to 30 lumens in 'standard' mode, with a daylight 'boost' feature that outputs 70 lumens. Reading between the lines, the manufacturer is suggesting that you don't use this setting at night for fear of dazzling following traffic.

http://www.lezyne.com/products/led-lights/sport#!m...

I bought a couple of lezyne femto rear lights from pedal heaven, not as bright as the micro drive but i think perfectly adequate. Nice and compact and discrete, i mount them on my seat post and use a combination of fixed/flashing modes. Also use a blackburn mars clipped on to my camelbak.

[Mr2Mike]

metalsteve said:

I bought a couple of lezyne femto rear lights from pedal heaven, not as bright as the micro drive but i think perfectly adequate. Nice and compact and discrete, i mount them on my seat post and use a combination of fixed/flashing modes. Also use a blackburn mars clipped on to my camelbak.

They are very neat looking lights, but I suspect better for being seen than to see in properly dark areas? The fact they are powered by coin cells put me off a bit to be honest, how you you find battery life?

[yellowjack]

Mr2Mike said:

metalsteve said:

I bought a couple of lezyne femto rear lights from pedal heaven, not as bright as the micro drive but i think perfectly adequate. Nice and compact and discrete, i mount them on my seat post and use a combination of fixed/flashing modes. Also use a blackburn mars clipped on to my camelbak.

They are very neat looking lights, but I suspect better for being seen than to see in properly dark areas? The fact they are powered by coin cells put me off a bit to be honest, how you you find battery life?

Mayhap you missed the bit where he referred to REAR LIGHTS. Because of the way the Lezyne site works, the link I put up seems to take you straight to front lights. Just scroll through the images to see their range of rear lights. I've no idea about the Blackburn Mars, but I'm sorely tempted by the Lezyne rear lights. The one thing that is putting me off at the moment is the USB charging. That would mean putting the computer on just to charge up the lights, but the idea of having 70 lumens available as a rear light might just sway the deal. Not used Lezyne lighting yet, but given the quality of their pumps and tools, I'd be happy to take the plunge. Just need to procrastinate a little more, while waiting for pay day!

[Mr2Mike]

yellowjack said:

Mayhap you missed the bit where he referred to REAR LIGHTS.

No I didn't. Please explain why the battery life will be better because the light is mounted on the rear rather than the front, even though they use the same batteries?

[Watchman]

Don't those Magicshine REAR lights point downwards as the seatpost is angled back? Seems they have missed a trick in not angling them a bit.

[Fartomatic5000]

Watchman said:

Don't those Magicshine REAR lights point downwards as the seatpost is angled back? Seems they have missed a trick in not angling them a bit.

Yes, could do with a wedge of rubber/cardboard tucked in at the bottom.

[yellowjack]

Mr2Mike said:

yellowjack said:

Mayhap you missed the bit where he referred to REAR LIGHTS.

No I didn't. Please explain why the battery life will be better because the light is mounted on the rear rather than the front, even though they use the same batteries?

Well, here's the thing.

In response to this:

McFsC said:

Any suggestions for bright rear lights? I do most riding on roads and it's cars approaching to overtake me that I want to see me at the earliest oppurtunity.

and this:

McFsC said:

Look decent lights, any rechargeable version/models?

I seem to eat through light batteries and one of the main reasons for me wanting to upgrade.

I said this:

yellowjack said:

Lezyne Micro Drive Rear

I was looking at these in Fleet (Pedal Heaven) just yesterday. I think they are USB rechargeable only, and up to 30 lumens in 'standard' mode, with a daylight 'boost' feature that outputs 70 lumens. Reading between the lines, the manufacturer is suggesting that you don't use this setting at night for fear of dazzling following traffic.

http://www.lezyne.com/products/led-lights/sport#!m...

and metalsteve said this:

metalsteve said:

I bought a couple of lezyne femto rear lights from pedal heaven, not as bright as the micro drive but i think perfectly adequate. Nice and compact and discrete, i mount them on my seat post and use a combination of fixed/flashing modes. Also use a blackburn mars clipped on to my camelbak.

You then said:

Mr2Mike said:

They are very neat looking lights, but I suspect better for being seen than to see in properly dark areas? The fact they are powered by coin cells put me off a bit to be honest, how you you find battery life?

The bit in bold from your post is why I suspected that you had missed the point. Front lights tend not to be red, nor are they usually mounted on a seatpost. The whole point of red rear lights is TO BE SEEN and if you are using them TO SEE then you are probably not facing the right way. A bike fit may help you with this.

I appreciate that you may have been referring to the front/rear sets of Lezyne lights, which makes your post a little less confusing, but reading your post in context, with the posts from metalsteve and me, at no point did either of us mention buying Lezyne front lights, leave alone extol their virtue.

[Watchman]

Fartomatic5000 said:

Watchman said:

Don't those Magicshine REAR lights point downwards as the seatpost is angled back? Seems they have missed a trick in not angling them a bit.

Yes, could do with a wedge of rubber/cardboard tucked in at the bottom.

If the mounting can be removed, it can be filed to an angle I suspect. Not sure if there's enough "meat" on it to make enough of an angle though.

Damn... I want my own CNC machine.

[Watchman]

Another solution:

[donfisher]

You're doing it again dude.

[Gizmoish]

yellowjack said:

Stuff

But it's OK, just so long as you're not taking it seriously.

[TonyHetherington]

matts4 said:

TonyHetherington said:

Still haven't got mine from the 26th Sept (posted 27th). I e-mailed them a couple of days ago to no reply, but looking at their delivery schedule on the actual item page on eBay, if it goes past 22 working days (which will be this Friday for me) they give a refund

Looks like I'm in the same position as you Tony. Mine was ordered on 26th Sept and posted 27th Sept.
Nothing received as yet.

Let me know if it turns up, I'd be grateful.

Thanks
Matt

Would you believe it - it arrived today! The final day before I could open a "didn't arrive" ticket on eBay.

[Mr2Mike]

yellowjack said:

The bit in bold from your post is why I suspected that you had missed the point. Front lights tend not to be red, nor are they usually mounted on a seatpost. The whole point of red rear lights is TO BE SEEN and if you are using them TO SEE then you are probably not facing the right way. A bike fit may help you with this.

I appreciate that you may have been referring to the front/rear sets of Lezyne lights, which makes your post a little less confusing, but reading your post in context, with the posts from metalsteve and me, at no point did either of us mention buying Lezyne front lights, leave alone extol their virtue.

Yes, my first sentence was regarding the front lights which was possibly misleading, sorry! I was really interested in whether two small coin cells gave enough battery life to make these lights useful.

[minimoog]

I was going to get the MJ818 rear light but my lock bracket and saddle bag take up all available seatpost room, and I didn't think seatstay or rack mounting would be too straightforward with an o-ring mount.

So I got a Cateye Rapid 3 which has reviewed well and tbh I can't imagine you'd need much more (they do a 5 led version though if you disagree). Mounted to the back of my pannier rack it looks up to the job. Takes a single AA cell.

[matts4]

TonyHetherington said:

Would you believe it - it arrived today! The final day before I could open a "didn't arrive" ticket on eBay.

That's great news (for you!) I'm hoping mine may turn up soon.....I'll give it another couple of weeks.

Enjoy!

[yellowjack]

Mr2Mike said:

yellowjack said:

The bit in bold from your post is why I suspected that you had missed the point. Front lights tend not to be red, nor are they usually mounted on a seatpost. The whole point of red rear lights is TO BE SEEN and if you are using them TO SEE then you are probably not facing the right way. A bike fit may help you with this.

I appreciate that you may have been referring to the front/rear sets of Lezyne lights, which makes your post a little less confusing, but reading your post in context, with the posts from metalsteve and me, at no point did either of us mention buying Lezyne front lights, leave alone extol their virtue.

Yes, my first sentence was regarding the front lights which was possibly misleading, sorry! I was really interested in whether two small coin cells gave enough battery life to make these lights useful.

I'm really dubious about 2 x CR2032s in any light, front or rear. It may be that they are OK in use, but I'm left thinking that they're bound to be too big a compromise between battery life and power output at the size they are. The Lezyne Macro Drive and Micro Drive look OK, but the USB-only charging is the bit that spoils it for me, as I don't always have access to a computer to charge them up. I presume that there is probably some USB charge port adaptor that will plug into a wall socket available. I might look at Maplins or some such, to see how expensive such a thing might be. If it were not too expensive then it would make it more of an option to buy one of the Lezyne rechargeable rear lights.

My current rear lighting is provided by:

1 x Cateye TL-610 Rear Light, fixed to the seat post

(in white to match the bike, but that option is now only available as part of a set)

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...

and

1x Smart SuperFlash 1/2 Watt Rear Light clipped to the loop on my saddle pack


I use the Cateye on 'constant' and the Smart on 'flash'. The flash setting is cool, the centre LED is a big, long flash, followed by two less bright, shorter flashes of the outer two LEDs. Sort of "FLASH - flash, flash - FLASH - flash,flash - FLASH". I think it's quite eye catching, especially when used in conjunction with a constant setting on the 5 LED cateye. For daytime rides in quieter rural areas I use the "Knight Rider/Cylon Warrior" setting on the Cateye lamp.

When my ride will start and finish after dark, I usually slip an old headtorch around my lid, and I attach one of these to the elastic strap at the back:

To complete the 'Christmas Tree' look, if I'm wearing a jacket that has a loop on the back, I'll add another of these to the back of the jacket by it's 'belt clip'. That'll be 4 altogether, alternating 'Flashing-Constant-Flashing-Constant' from bottom to top.
Bikeradar review in the link below

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories...


I am really let down by my front lights at the moment. I've done a lot of night riding in the last few years, but all I have up front is a handlebar full of these:



In summertime I always have one fitted, just for dark areas like 'tree tunnels' and going under motorway bridges, used in flashing mode. In winter I usually have three brackets fitted (I have two of each of the lights in the images above) with any random combination of three from the four lights fitted at any one time, as they share a common bracket type.

They do the job, but they aren't great for lighting up the road ahead, nor for battery life. To be honest, for what I've spent on these, I could have got myself one or two of the cheaper 'Magicshine' type lights from fleabay, saved a fortune on batteries, and have more light to ride by. The only good thing about using these lights was the fact that you can tilt and swivel the top portion of the brackets, and by doing so, it is possible to maximize the useful 'pool' of light, overlapping the two brightest in a 'figure of eight' pattern dead ahead, with the least bright one aimed to light up the verge, so as to avoid cycling straight off the road into the hedgerows.