tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post205850219114504299..comments2024-03-27T05:14:23.738-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Stepping Up the Lighting Game Velouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-4995270568481461532016-12-29T04:07:16.931-05:002016-12-29T04:07:16.931-05:00Consider mounting a light on your helmet. A rela...Consider mounting a light on your helmet. A relatively tight-beam one, that does not blink at all.<br /><br />Pros:<br /><br />It tracks your head movement so its always illuminating where you're looking.<br /><br />You can choose to point it down at the road or up at an obstacle.<br /><br />Reflective things are visible half a mile away (literally!)<br /><br />Downsides - things hanging off helmets may catch on tree branches, and may impact on the helmet's function to protect your bonce.<br /><br />The tighter beam means that if it does fog up or get dusty, then you're not blinded by the illuminated dust in front of you. If you want a wide-angle ground light put that on your bars away from your face.<br /><br />And always have at least three rear lights, as a redundant array. You can tell if a front has stopped while riding, but you can't see your own rear lights.<br /><br />-- <br />Criggie<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403404432975893648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-13650709116242635982016-01-12T14:10:46.844-05:002016-01-12T14:10:46.844-05:00Powered scooters (such as the Vespa) come standard...Powered scooters (such as the Vespa) come standard with a very adequate headlight, rear light, brake lights, and "blinker" turn signal lights for left and right turns. In fact, powered scooters are required by law to have all these lights. <br /><br />All bicycles meant for commuting should come standard with a complete lighting system just like powered scooters. Or someone should sell a complete lighting kit (with all these lights, including brake lights and turn signals) that can be easily installed on any bike. <br /><br />In fact, such a lighting system should be required by law for any bicycle driven on a road/street at night.<br /><br />Let's be honest. Bicycling on roads/streets with 4,000 pound motor vehicles is dangerous. Bicyclists need to be at least as safe as those who ride powered scooters and motorcycles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-30049300571557063822016-01-09T06:38:33.281-05:002016-01-09T06:38:33.281-05:00I got the Lezyne Deca Drive but have only used it ...I got the Lezyne Deca Drive but have only used it several times and will wait for more usage to give feedback. It is certainly very bright! Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47715641080312437192016-01-05T17:44:08.744-05:002016-01-05T17:44:08.744-05:00So....what was the result? Did you find a light th...So....what was the result? Did you find a light that works for you, V?Corey Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381826721030941179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-59806747143423248582015-12-30T22:40:52.995-05:002015-12-30T22:40:52.995-05:00The video on the Magnic site says 15 lux output. N...The video on the Magnic site says 15 lux output. No real easy way to equate that to lumens without more information, I don't believe. Seems like very cool technology--thanks for alerting me to its existence! DJ Wicky Wickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08314527939580223803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-83422705546056308052015-12-27T22:16:35.029-05:002015-12-27T22:16:35.029-05:00Mjray: USB charging is far more convenient than fu...Mjray: USB charging is far more convenient than fumbling around with AA or AAA cells. At work or at home, I simply plug in a cable to charge the light; no need to remove batteries and plug them into a separate charger. I've even set up a system at home where I can plug in the lights without even taking them off the bike.<br /><br />Are there any inefficiencies in the charging system for the lights? Possibly, but I don't care. I'm much more interested in the convenience of this system vs. maximizing charging efficiency. USB recharging is about as convenient as it gets for battery-powered bicycle lights. I have considered a dynamo hub system too, but I've already invested a lot of money in my battery lights, so I've held off on dynamos for now.Morlamwebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17799436150549217033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-53484729416547498032015-12-21T11:16:44.469-05:002015-12-21T11:16:44.469-05:00I have the same light...ordered it from bike-disco...I have the same light...ordered it from bike-discount.de. Worth mentioning, it also has a runtime of 6 to 45 hours, depending on brightness setting, and has a backlit LCD screen that shows you how much runtime you have left for each setting. I've been told several times while doing group rides that people thought my light was that of a car coming up behind. I got it just in time for Boston's Midnight Marathon bike ride, and the Paul Revere "reenactment" ride, both of which involve some poorly-lit rural roads. On the Paul Revere ride, one of my friends and I ended up riding at the front of the group for a while, and he was actually riding ahead of me, but using my light to see the road ahead!agmetalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17947109932507880159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-38395271498204049122015-12-21T02:02:26.164-05:002015-12-21T02:02:26.164-05:00I'm coming a bit late into this discussion on ...I'm coming a bit late into this discussion on lights, and I must say I'm a total fan of B&M dyno-powered lights. For a battery-powered unit the best I've found is the B&M Ixon Speed, which uses a separate battery pack and has high/low settings. Flat upper cutoff reduces blinding on-coming traffic, and the light head can be swiveled a bit when taking sweeping downhill curves. The light pattern and brightness come close to rivaling the B&M dyno lights. I use it regularly on one of my commuter bikes for a 10 mile total darkness rural commute. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04434627647308220797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-66786413194266288232015-12-19T00:03:35.745-05:002015-12-19T00:03:35.745-05:00I've noticed that it makes a big difference wh...I've noticed that it makes a big difference whether the road is wet or not. I have this theory that a wet surface allows more light to bounce away from you. Blacktop in the rain looks like the edge of the earth to me.<br />LateSleepernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88662656125298022472015-12-18T19:57:43.021-05:002015-12-18T19:57:43.021-05:00The B&M Cyo Premium is a great dyno light. Tha...The B&M Cyo Premium is a great dyno light. That's what I have on my daily commuter. I've been using the Cygolite Expellion 850 on my non-dyno bike. It's a very good light with a nice beam. <br /><br />As I understand it lux is a measure of how much light goes where you need it. Lumen is a measure of total output, but without knowing the beam pattern doesn't mean much. Kendrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18329731743529266746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-59222059681574349902015-12-18T02:06:15.123-05:002015-12-18T02:06:15.123-05:00My night riding lights were purchased in my MTB ha...My night riding lights were purchased in my MTB hayday of 2005 and each ride makes me wonder if I'll get back with light & puts a damper on the speed but without having yet had a 'combat extraction' I do think... One more ride then I'll buy that light...<br /><br />I look forward to the counter post of riding on moonlit nights without artificial light. The shadows, the quiet, slipping through the countryside. It's just magicalDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10598776271489146292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-5649282403450963642015-12-17T17:43:51.566-05:002015-12-17T17:43:51.566-05:00If you want super duper brightness go to the hardw...If you want super duper brightness go to the hardware store and buy a modern flashlight. Mine has a Cree emitter/bulb, 2 C cell batteries, and a nicely made aluminum housing. Cost me $35. Claims 350 lumens but totally blows away bike lights claiming 1500. <br /><br />After you've experimentally determined to your own satisfaction that max overkill does not bicycle lighting make you're only out $35 and you have a good household flashlight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-64398773856280326922015-12-17T17:16:15.824-05:002015-12-17T17:16:15.824-05:00I'm with you Neil: all daily-ridden bikes shou...I'm with you Neil: all daily-ridden bikes should be fitted with dynamo lighting. I swear it pays for itself in the long run.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07352066702581072497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2530485322989266962015-12-17T14:09:23.675-05:002015-12-17T14:09:23.675-05:00I have brighter lights now, but back when I starte...I have brighter lights now, but back when I started commuting by bike all I had were very dim. Good to be seen, but not see by. I found that mounting the lights lower, I have several quick release axle mounts, I could max out the puddle of light right in front of my bike. That worked for me for slow speeds on dark paths for years until brighter lights prices came down.Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18254549814559852579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-62155830961034816752015-12-17T09:17:28.826-05:002015-12-17T09:17:28.826-05:00As readers give their testimony about the truly wo...As readers give their testimony about the truly wonderful B & M lights (I totally agree) it bears noting that B & M did a major redesign and upgrade that came to market autumn 2013. They kept most of the same product names after the upgrade. Anyone using a 2012 or early 2013 Cyo has a much more modest light than a current Cyo. In fact the slightly downmarket battery powered Ixon Core has a beam about the same as the older Cyos. The current Ixon IQ Premium (batteries) has exactly the same beam as a current Cyo. And that beam is much brighter, wider, and more even than the older Cyos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-7553310757580879872015-12-17T09:10:01.563-05:002015-12-17T09:10:01.563-05:00You are not finding a lumens number for the B &...You are not finding a lumens number for the B & M Cyo because B & M rates their lights in lux. In theory lux and lumens can be converted. If you read up on lux lumens candelas and steradians you will quickly discover you have to be an engineer or a mathematician to make sense of the discussion. This is a blog for artists.<br /><br />One takeaway you could glean from trying to read the definitions of lux and lumens is that any rating given in a single term is meaningless. Entirely meaningless and empty. The null set. Lumens ratings for bike lights are pure advertising claims and nothing else. Wanna buy a bridge?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90743826411087264352015-12-17T07:32:58.896-05:002015-12-17T07:32:58.896-05:00A friend bought a 1500 lumen headlight and set it ...A friend bought a 1500 lumen headlight and set it on flash to ride at night. The intensity and angle of the light got her pulled over by the police for obscuring traffic lights, esp. at red lights. She was also blinding oncoming traffic, probably.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2415402124667249632015-12-16T18:40:04.455-05:002015-12-16T18:40:04.455-05:00I agree with you re positioning of a bright light....I agree with you re positioning of a bright light. Part of my commute is on an unlit rural cycle path. Unfortunately it's on the right hand side of the road (UK) and so on my outward journey I cycle within a yard or two of the oncoming traffic. i have a basic Cateye pointing at an angle which ensures that I'm visible. I also have a Hope Vision 1 mounted lower so that I can see my way ahead on the unlit path. The Hope Vision is both heavy duty and easily adjustable, positioned carefully I find it a great light for my commute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32625898203916573312015-12-16T16:00:39.830-05:002015-12-16T16:00:39.830-05:00I have a Lezyne Mega Drive light which you are wel...I have a Lezyne Mega Drive light which you are welcome to have (for free) if you would like it. I bought it for canal side cycling 2 or maybe 3 years ago. My local bike shop recommended it for this purpose but I knew immediately that it was far too bright. I spent the cycle home shielding it from the many oncoming cyclists I encountered. I think it has 1000 and 500 lumens setting as well as an awful strobe option. I intended to do more daring, off road night time cycling but it never transpired and that no longer appeals to me.<br /><br />Jennifer in ScotlandUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12694245723276830057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-4198116142856509882015-12-16T15:43:51.847-05:002015-12-16T15:43:51.847-05:00Your point regarding how the technical specs do no...Your point regarding how the technical specs do not really say anything about how the light will perform in the real world (on a completely dark night on a road with no markings...) reminded me of my situation early this year.<br />When I started training for a bike marathon at the beginning of this year, due to a job that steals a lot of time and not wanting to sacrifice the time with my family, I decided to train late in the evenings and very early in the morning. This meant looking for adequate lighting, as the days in February are very short. Finally I decided to upgrade to a Shimano XT dynamo (SON was too expensive) and B&M LUMOTEC IQ Cyo T premium senso plus. This combination worked well with my city/trekking bike. As the weather improved, I decided to switch to my road bike, so I needed a battery powered light. I decided to buy the same light again, but this time in the version with rechargeable batteries. In semi-lighted conditions it worked well. However, it just didn't seem to be powerful enough for spirited righting on truly dark roads...Thankfully the days got longer and the problem could be postponed...until just about now, where the days are once again very short. <br />I will definitely look into the lights you have short-listed!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14546540588697004070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-74041252306369606122015-12-16T14:04:56.839-05:002015-12-16T14:04:56.839-05:00I like the Light and Motion urban lights and in t...I like the Light and Motion urban lights and in the winter usually run two of them, mostly because I'm bad at remembering to keep them charged. I run one on the handlebars and one on one of these fork mounts from Paul Components. <br /><br />http://paulcomp.com/shop/components/gino-light-mount/<br />Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683137564994734073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-54479781934932149002015-12-16T12:21:06.264-05:002015-12-16T12:21:06.264-05:00Agree with the Ixon Premium suggestion. It has the...Agree with the Ixon Premium suggestion. It has the same light source as your Cyo (actually wider than the Cyo if you don't have the Cyo Premium). I have seen too many NiteRider lights with 'cone beams' that put too much light where it doesn't belong and blinds oncoming traffic to ever consider one of their products. <br /><br />MattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18077026588372892902015-12-16T12:08:43.854-05:002015-12-16T12:08:43.854-05:00Can you explain how you "saw the light"?...Can you explain how you "saw the light"? USB recharging seems like it usually means connecting an inefficient USB power converter with an inefficient USB charging circuit (nearly doubling your losses), instead of simply using one individual specialist NiMH or 18650 charger (depending on your light).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44931413230423346722015-12-16T12:01:53.231-05:002015-12-16T12:01:53.231-05:00I liked its predecessor the Axa Riff, but the Slim...I liked its predecessor the Axa Riff, but the Slim is only a single point which I don't think is as good (I've seen both in use). I'd pay another few EUR and go for the Axa Blueline Steady, or the B+M Toplight View.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-72599686616998612962015-12-16T11:39:06.189-05:002015-12-16T11:39:06.189-05:00I think beam pattern counts for more than overall ...I think beam pattern counts for more than overall brightness. It's why it's better to go with dynamo lighting as even the basic lights have a light pattern designed as a proper road going headlamp and put the light where it is needed and won't dazzle anyone in the process.<br /><br />Also, mounting the light lower down will work better for road riding as it will cast shadows and highlight things like potholes which a high mounted light won't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com