This is a public service announcement.
The morning commutes are getting darker and darker, so it’s time to make sure you and your bike are sufficiently visible to other road users. To start with, this means getting some decent lights.
Tesco 3W Cree LED Torches
I’ve started using my Tesco 3W LED lights now, but most of the commuters I see have either no lights or feeble LED units that are hard to spot even if you’re looking for them. Grudgingly, I might admit they’re better than absolutely nothing, but not by much.
A long time ago on a dark winter’s evening commute back from University, before I knew any better in other words, I was stopped by the Police for having no lights on my bike. I did have lights – one of those dim, cheap 3-LED sets with the slighty green tinged headlight – but the officers hadn’t seen them. Do you get my point?
If you’re still running dark or using a cheap, dim light set, get to your local bike shop and ask about getting a decent set. It needn’t be too expensive, and how much is your life worth anyway?
I currently have 2x Cat Eyes on the front of varying light, one x cateye rear, plus one Blackburn 3 rear. I will also be having my helmet lights at the ready and the new glowstick light on the back of my bike.
:)
Good man. I think they’ll be able to see you from the Space Shuttle with that lot!
Just read this. Nagging feeling. Checked. Have forgot my pigging lights.
This means walking the blasted bike home, but better that than the alternative…a public service INDEED. Thanks for making me think, John.
There’s nothing like being seen to be safe!
Last year was ridiculous. I had 2x helmet lights (like miner lights) from Argos, then I had 2x CatEye rears (LD160s?) and 2x CatEye fronts (from same set) and to finish it off I had a Blackburn Mars 3.0 clipped to the back of my helmet.
This is the beauty i want for the back:
Fibre Flare Ultimate Safety Tail Light
Emma Rush has one on her bike and its beautiful.
Glad to be of service :)
Wow, that Fibre Flare is impressive looking – I’d like to see some photos of it in the wild!
I’ve got 2 of the Tesco 3W Crees too, though I performed minor surgery on mine, so that each one now runs on 3xAA in an external pack. The extra juice makes them brighter and (hopefully) won’t reduce the run time. (However, fully charged, the voltage from my 2900mAh batteries is too high and causes the lights to cut out – Eneloops work well though).
Now just waiting on this little fellow for use as a helmet light. :-)
Nev, if you connect your batteries in parallel rather than in series (as I suspect you have) the voltage will remain the same but they will last longer. You’ll likely need to go to 2x2xAA in the battery pack though. Running them overvolted like you are will shorten the lifespan of the LED chip.
I’m using a Smart 1w LED headlamp. I thought it was quite good at the time; but my opinion has changed somewhat since i’ve got used to actually being able to see where i’m going.
I’m now looking at the Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ for the commuter and the Exposure Race maxx for the MTB. They’re both a lot of money; but I’d prefer an empty pocket to a trip to A&E.
I nearly bought these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1489
BUT went on amazon and found the same lights branded “eurolight” and apart from the light housings being silver, they are the same lights, and near £60 cheaper:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eurolight-Twin-Led-Front-Lights/dp/B0017TNM0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sports&qid=1255969922&sr=8-1
Well worth twice the price. Had a driver tell me off for blinding him! Pretty good for riding unlit roads.
I have one angled straight ahead as my “main beam” for unlit paths etc, and one slightly dipped for constant running.
Rechargeable battery pack and wiring a tad bulky, and some of the connections could be better – they can work loose pretty easily. Nothing else I can fault with them.
As for the rear I have a Blackburn 5-LED mounted on the seatpost, and a SMART 3-LED mounted on my righthand pannier.
Still to buy a pannier specific light for the rear of the rack, something for my helmet and maybe something to make me more visible side-on. Thinking those wee lights you put on your valve caps :D
Thought this was a top tip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2uN5YkyQyA
IIRC the LEDs were rated for 4V max – 3 of the better rechargables churn out 4.2V fully charged, but the lesser ones are safely under 4V.
If they burn out, I can upgrade the LEDs for just a few pounds or buy something even brighter. Cost per lumen is really tumbling. :-)