reccomendations for decent cycle front light that doesnt cost the earth

[ssmile]

Would like to go back to cycling to work about 9mile post mat leave, but chunk of it is country unlight roads so need powerful front light with dark mornings. Any gd tips please :)

[upinthehills]

Good review here.

This article for mountain bike trail lights has got great illumination photos - not too sure if you can use the lights on the highway though some are £££ here

[bangersmashandbeans]

I don't think you can beat the cats eye brand.

[StarryEyedMama]

What's your budget?

[upinthehills]

I just bought the revolution lights from and back for £20 - they are small though and might be better are secindary lights. They are however usb chargeable. Was surprised when i went to bike shop how many used the coin batteries - so make sure you check the battery and life of any lights. The large kbog grts good reiews online.

[Abzs]

I did a night class last year that meant coming home 5 miles on an unlit road and I used a 5 LED Cat Eye fixed light to see by plus a 4 LED light flashing (actually a Petzl Zipka with the elastic wound round the front of the bike frame).

I used a Fibre Flare and a 5 LED Cat Eye on the rear.

[ssmile]

Brill thanks. Guy from work recommended Hope Vision its £65 that's top end of my budget to be honest would prefer under £50. Just spoke to local bike shop they got a cat eye one newer make gd. I would like rechargeable batteries or usb recharge. It's mainly for dark morning first 3miles is on very quiet country road unlit then onto cycle path.

[lljkk]

Link to the Hope Vision model you've been recommended?

I'd get something that has at least 2 hours of charge in it (what if you get a puncture?!) and that recharges at the wall, faffing about with remembering to recharge batteries is a 'mare. A light that intermittantly blinks for last 15 minutes or so of charge is a nice feature, let you know when to recharge.

I'm afraid good lights do cost a lot; I don't think £65 is all that bad. Audax riders would be looking at £300-£600.

[ssmile]

I can't link off my phone but bike shop guy did say the hope vision 1 was an older make one he reckon he had a cats eye one better similar price but didn't say which model. I prob only cycle once a week as its only day I've got childcare pick up from school so I can't justify big outlay. It's a dialema as that's a lot of money to me so I don't want to buy something that won't do the job I need it to or I won't be able to cycle.safely.

[lljkk]

Ah, that makes sense.
To reduce cost you could browse on Ebay for a barely used item, also look for a product with highest lumens and longest battery life, within your budget.

[ssmile]

Gd idea will see what ebay has, had look at wiggle earlier but then baby woke up &haven't had chance yet to scroll through what's on offer.

[ssmile]

Cateye EL620 RC nano shot looks good for £50 at few places any thoughts?

[ssmile]

Headlights_Aug1.pdf if you goggle that you get a really helpful list of cateye products I found very useful.

[lljkk]

DH informs me he IS looking for new lights. He commutes 17 miles each way down country lanes (mostly), often both ways in the dark.

He's looking at Lezyne mini for £35 (150 lumens), or
Lezyne Power Drive for £50 (300 lumens, USB recharge).

He prefers not to have a separate battery cage, but says look for Lithium Ion for longer battery life.

He'll have a Cat Eye on AAs as backup.

[ssmile]

Thanks lljkk the lezyne one looks gd and slightly better spec than the cateye for same money. Going to see what my local shop stocks tom as I'd really like to cycle tues or it will be internet and I have to wait till they arrive.

[GoldShip]

Hello :)

I work in a popular bike shop and would recommend Hope or Leyzne as previously mentioned.

[SummerLightning]

My husband has a Serfas true 150 light. Not heard of the make before I bought it for him last Xmas but was recommended as a commuting light by a biking friend of mine - husband wanted something bright enough for unlit roads but didn't need to be up to off-road and he wanted it to be USB chargeable which it is. He's really happy with it and it was around 60 quid.

I have ay up lights they are awesome but £££ and for off road really plus the battery is separate. I also have a exposure joystick but boy are they expensive these days! If you could get one of them second hand off eBay they are ideal for commuting.

[SummerLightning]

Oh and not to confuse things but I do find that the manufacturers stretch the truth with the battery times sometimes so don't take them as gospel (yeah 3 hrs on full power in a lab brand new at absolute zero with a following wind, etc etc). Same with lumen output it vastly depends on beam spread how well you can see. Not just the stats

Having said that I would imagine you'll do fine with any of the ones you are considering!