Front lights best and worst
- ApolloMTB
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Front lights best and worst
Postby ApolloMTB » Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:14 pm
Hello all
just wondering what is the best front lights to buy as im in the market to buy a really good one. As we are all getting older and need to ride more
eg best light coverage and distance
also what are the worst that we have bought
thankyou
Matthew
just wondering what is the best front lights to buy as im in the market to buy a really good one. As we are all getting older and need to ride more
eg best light coverage and distance
also what are the worst that we have bought
thankyou
Matthew
- Mulger bill
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Postby Mulger bill » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:51 pm
G'Day Matthew, welcome
How much do you want to spend? High end lights can run to $1000 plus if you're interested in signalling aircraft or melting bitumen
Shaun
How much do you want to spend? High end lights can run to $1000 plus if you're interested in signalling aircraft or melting bitumen
Shaun
- ApolloMTB
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- Mulger bill
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Postby Mulger bill » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:26 pm
OK then, as an example, I run a "Smart" brand ten watt halogen unit, it set me back about $140, it's fairly lightweight and gives a pretty good beam spread but the burn time at 90 minutes can be a bit frustrating. I'm no expert on light tech, there's a few members here who can tell you much more. Come on in fellas
Shaun
Shaun
- sogood
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Postby sogood » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:29 pm
I think there's a recent long thread on this topic here. So it would be worth doing a search first and continue the discussion.
Otherwise the $$$ is proportional to the brightness of the light. So depending on your personal visual perceptive limits, you'll be able to cope with lights anywhere in the range of of $30 to $1000. Seriously, you need to better define your situation.
Otherwise the $$$ is proportional to the brightness of the light. So depending on your personal visual perceptive limits, you'll be able to cope with lights anywhere in the range of of $30 to $1000. Seriously, you need to better define your situation.
Bianchi, Ridley, Tern, Montague and All things Apple
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Postby fobfob » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:37 pm
If you're buying right now, and if you can possibly stretch your budget to about $300 then I suggest a HID light. They can be had for that little with LiIon batteries (3+ hours burn time), equivalent to 30+ watts Halogen, and and nice white light. I can't really see myself with anything less.
LED is very soon going to take over completely but right this minute, HID and halogen are still the best bang for your buck.
Hint: check out O/S especially US sources. Look at the exchange rate!
LED is very soon going to take over completely but right this minute, HID and halogen are still the best bang for your buck.
Hint: check out O/S especially US sources. Look at the exchange rate!
- mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:11 pm
Why do you want a bright light? Do you ride down bike paths at night?
If the R-1 rule is broken, what happens to N+1?
- ApolloMTB
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- ApolloMTB
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- ApolloMTB
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- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:57 pm
A couple of shops here in Canberra have Cygolites that would fall in your price bracket. I'm thinking seriously about the Hi-flux 200.
ps. I'm not pushing the store, it's just that they had an easy to find link!
ps. I'm not pushing the store, it's just that they had an easy to find link!
- LuckyPierre
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Postby LuckyPierre » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:03 pm
The store we usually push - Torpedo7 - has some good deals too!
- ApolloMTB
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- Mr888
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Postby Mr888 » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:16 pm
I ride the paths around your area very often (everyday to and from work actually) and find that the 27+ LED lights off ebay (~$10) works brilliantly for these paths.
I'm looking at purchasing a 53LED model for $20 soon. I'll keep you posted on how they fair...should be good.
C'ya on the path
I'm looking at purchasing a 53LED model for $20 soon. I'll keep you posted on how they fair...should be good.
C'ya on the path
- Aushiker
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Postby Aushiker » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:24 pm
One thing that bothers me with these sorts of lights is the charging of the battery. I assume it is easier to overcharge them or do some of the better systems have electronics to switch the charging off or at least down to a trickle once fully charged?LuckyPierre wrote:A couple of shops here in Canberra have that would fall in your price bracket. I'm thinking seriously about the Hi-flux 200.
I have an older, Sigma set I think that I used on my MTB and I managed to cook the battery to the point where I reduced the charge life.
Regards
Andrew
- ApolloMTB
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- Mr888
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Postby Mr888 » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:48 pm
Part of my trail to/from work runs from Fairfield Station and follows the rail trail to Parramatta.
If I'm in training I'd also do the pipeline (on the home run) from the top of Guildford over bridge and follow it all the way through to the Prospect reservoir (only during EDLSTwhen the gates are open late), then through to Cecil Hills and back to Fairfield/Canley Vale via the creek trail. During EST I'll loop back via the shooter's range and follow the Orphan School trail.
On weekends, I might take the pipeline through to Prespect and detour on to the M7. From there it's usually to Norwest and back, but I'm planning to loop around back to Parramatta via the new T-Way trail.....of course I won't be doing these for the next few weeks as I adjust to life with a new born again.
PM me should you or any one else like to join me on these rides
Cheers
If I'm in training I'd also do the pipeline (on the home run) from the top of Guildford over bridge and follow it all the way through to the Prospect reservoir (only during EDLSTwhen the gates are open late), then through to Cecil Hills and back to Fairfield/Canley Vale via the creek trail. During EST I'll loop back via the shooter's range and follow the Orphan School trail.
On weekends, I might take the pipeline through to Prespect and detour on to the M7. From there it's usually to Norwest and back, but I'm planning to loop around back to Parramatta via the new T-Way trail.....of course I won't be doing these for the next few weeks as I adjust to life with a new born again.
PM me should you or any one else like to join me on these rides
Cheers
- ApolloMTB
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- Bnej
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Postby Bnej » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:04 pm
Depends on how fast you plan to go.
At roughly 20km/h, I find a Cateye HL-EL 530 adequate, provided it has fresh batteries - but this light is not bright, you can see the shape of the road, but not far enough ahead to ride at speed. Costs ~$130. The good thing about this light is it will provide some light to see by for 90 hours on a set of 4 AAs.
I have a set of new Ay-up lights, which I used on a 32km, 24km/h avg. speed on-road night ride tonight, with many unlit streets. These lights are great bang for buck, and cast a good, bright beam that lights up your lane and lets you see far enough ahead to pick up speed. They don't light up much to the sides though, so it can be hard to see around corners with just the headlight - not a big problem, but there it is. They are from ayup.com.au, the kit I bought (single light, 1x6hr rechargeable battery) will set you back $230 or so.
I have had a cheap BBB 5 LED headlight, these are quite visible to others, but do not cast light far enough ahead to be useful on unlit roads.
Having done a few rides with the ay-ups I don't feel like I'd get much benefit from brighter lights than that - they are fine for my road speeds.
At roughly 20km/h, I find a Cateye HL-EL 530 adequate, provided it has fresh batteries - but this light is not bright, you can see the shape of the road, but not far enough ahead to ride at speed. Costs ~$130. The good thing about this light is it will provide some light to see by for 90 hours on a set of 4 AAs.
I have a set of new Ay-up lights, which I used on a 32km, 24km/h avg. speed on-road night ride tonight, with many unlit streets. These lights are great bang for buck, and cast a good, bright beam that lights up your lane and lets you see far enough ahead to pick up speed. They don't light up much to the sides though, so it can be hard to see around corners with just the headlight - not a big problem, but there it is. They are from ayup.com.au, the kit I bought (single light, 1x6hr rechargeable battery) will set you back $230 or so.
I have had a cheap BBB 5 LED headlight, these are quite visible to others, but do not cast light far enough ahead to be useful on unlit roads.
Having done a few rides with the ay-ups I don't feel like I'd get much benefit from brighter lights than that - they are fine for my road speeds.
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