I’m new to this

[mstone]

I’ll vote for bright helmet light; the handlebar light is just a backup that’s harder to aim on the fly.

[dbb]

My bright lights (2) are on the handlebars and a lower output one is on the helmet. The key point here is that every critical system needs a backup or you’re screwed. If you need one light to see your way during your rides, you should have at least two on the bike ready to go. I generally use my 150 lumen handlebar light, keeping the other light on my handlebars (>500 lumen) in reserve. Just about the only time I use both is late at night when the trails are really dark. With the big light, I probably bought too much light – when it dies the next one will be less bright.

The caveat here is that I generally commute so I know the trails I ride really well. On unfamiliar territory, more light is good. When you have the lights on full output, please remember the impact on oncoming riders.

[dasgeh]

@dbb 31780 wrote:

The key point here is that every critical system needs a backup or you’re screwed.

I want second, third, fourth this point. As someone who’s batteries have died unexpected mid-dark-ride home, you should always have a back up. Riding as a ninja is SCARY.

[mstone]

@dasgeh 31807 wrote:

I want second, third, fourth this point. As someone who’s batteries have died unexpected mid-dark-ride home, you should always have a back up. Riding as a ninja is SCARY.

It seems from observation that you can get used to it. Or maybe no-hands texting ninja guy was just hiding his fear really well.

[Bilsko]

@dbb 31780 wrote:

My bright lights (2) are on the handlebars and a lower output one is on the helmet. The key point here is that every critical system needs a backup or you’re screwed.

N+2!!

[Capable1]

Ok I get and agree with what your saying and for the most part I have most of it the running light I showed the guy was dim because the battery was low which I checked later it’s like 6 maybe 7 watts I also have the rear lights as well as reflective vests, helmet cover, bicycle jacket , ankle bands more than enough lights. I ride in the street, sidewalks and some not so well lit streets and walking, bicycling paths.
With that said how would I really know by L.E.D, Lumens, and or Watts oh does anyone has any websites other than Amazon, and or dealextreme?

[Capable1]

So do you think a 1000 or more lumen would be to bright than so how would I know basically it would state the lumen and the watts as well then right.

[Capable1]

Agreed I should carry extra batteries with me good point.

[dbb]

It depends on where and when you are riding. If you are riding in the city or on the trails in the DC area mostly in the daytime and dusk, I would say anything over 250 would likely be overkill. If you will be way out or on unfamiliar trails, more light is probably good. If you have big honking lights and are riding on well used trails, you will spend a bunch of time covering them to avoid blinding/annoying other trail users.

The light I use the most is a rechargeable 125 lumen and the other is a 750 (also rechargeable) that I almost always use on low (about 300 lumens). Both are made by Niterider.

A 1000 lumen light is likely going to be pretty expensive and that extra money (200 lumen (or so) vs 1000 lumen) could be used to outfit your saddle pouch with tools and a spare tube.

I favor the new style lamps that are rechargeable with a USB connection on your computer. Although Niterider makes some fine lights, the thread posted earlier in this discussion names others that are just as good or better.

I would recommend asking cyclists who have a couple of lights on their handlebars what they think of the ones they own.

Go to your local bike shop (LBS) and see what they offer.

[vvill]

Watts usually measure how much power the light needs to run, whereas lumens are a measure of light output. Manufacturers’ claimed lumens aren’t necessarily accurate.

I think somewhere in the range of 250-600 lumens is high enough for most urban commuting. What works depends a lot on what sort of beam your light produces. I have a flashlight that does quite a few lumens but it’s bascially a straight beam which isn’t that useful, so on early mornings in winter I’ll often run two so I have a wider beam.

I believe most lights sold these days are based on LEDs rather than say, halogen bulbs.

[mstone]

The amount of light you need depends on 3 things: 1) how dark it is 2) how fast you’re going 3) how bad your eyes are. You’ll have to figure out for yourself what is sufficient. If you’re in areas with some ambient lighting and not going real fast, a fairly inexpensive AA battery light will probably suffice. The real high lumen stuff is important for night time downhill mountain biking, but overkill for a lot of situations. You need enough light to see a couple of seconds ahead of you, so you’ll need more if you’re going 25 MPH than if you’re going 10 MPH. If you have something now that kinda works, I’d suggest trying to research it online to figure out how bright it is, and then get something just a bit brighter. You can drop $500 on lights, but for most people that’s not a necessity. If what you have now is a handlebar light, a helmet light would be a logical complement. I like my vis360. It’s only 110 lumens, but it’s got a narrower beam pattern so it’s brighter on the ground than some lights that have a wider beam and higher lumens. You can get away with the narrower beam on a helmet light because you can aim the light around, whereas a handlebar light needs to light up a wide static field.

[Greenbelt]

@mstone 31908 wrote:

The amount of light you need depends on 3 things: 1) how dark it is 2) how fast you’re going 3) how bad your eyes are. You’ll have to figure out for yourself what is sufficient. If you’re in areas with some ambient lighting and not going real fast, a fairly inexpensive AA battery light will probably suffice. The real high lumen stuff is important for night time downhill mountain biking, but overkill for a lot of situations. You need enough light to see a couple of seconds ahead of you, so you’ll need more if you’re going 25 MPH than if you’re going 10 MPH. If you have something now that kinda works, I’d suggest trying to research it online to figure out how bright it is, and then get something just a bit brighter. You can drop $500 on lights, but for most people that’s not a necessity. If what you have now is a handlebar light, a helmet light would be a logical complement. I like my vis360. It’s only 110 lumens, but it’s got a narrower beam pattern so it’s brighter on the ground than some lights that have a wider beam and higher lumens. You can get away with the narrower beam on a helmet light because you can aim the light around, whereas a handlebar light needs to light up a wide static field.

I’m a big Vis360 fan too. The deer spotter.

[Certifried]

@Greenbelt 31909 wrote:

I’m a big Vis360 fan too. The deer spotter.

ditto

I’ve got the vis360 too and a brighter Cygolite on my bars. I turn that off when I know I’ll be encountering other people on the trail, then I can aim the vis360 at the ground or off to the side when someone comes along. I turn the cygolite on when I need the extra light if it’s really dark or I’m on a trail I don’t know

[Author]

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