Moutain bike Lights

[matt_dog]

I picked up some new bike lights for xc endurance racing. Ay Up LightsThey were already well priced but I managed to find out they are having a 10% off world wide sale.

Can't wait to use them tonight  :eg:

[bogiesan]

Suspiciously spam-like post.
 
For information on the best in trail lighting, see these reviews and then
shop carefully for the best buys:

http://www.gearreview.com/LEDs08_intro.php

http://www.gearreview.com/2007_led_lights.php

david boise ID

go, ristretto, FCP/AE
"Read the manual."

[matt_dog]

 Spam sounds like some processed meat out of a can. A couple of other website forums I am a member of, I get a "Hi, welcome newbie" & I give other new users the same politeness.

Oh well, I got my lights, I got them cheap, they are awesome & I shared it with some fellow cyclists. This may not be the electronic place to hang out occasionally?

[DaveB]

If all you are doing is reporting on lights you found good quality and have no interest in the company, then: "Hi, welcome newby." and apologies all around.

However, we have had similar postings that turned out to be ads for the poster's company and that's why the suspicious sound of the first reply.  

[matt_dog]

It was more than likely from me too. I am just joining a couple of forums. Get ready for my new bike post soon too

[RussellSeaton]

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2784

My light.  Don't monkey around with pathetic LEDs if you are going with a battery light system.  They are nothing compared to HID.

[matt_dog]

Hey RS, looks like some pretty decent burn times on the battery.

[RussellSeaton]

I have not kept track whether the light actually meets its listed burn times.  I charge the battery after every 2 or 3 rides.  I've run out of battery once and was not happy limping home with the Princeton Tec EOS helmet light as my only front light source.  Its good for 2-3 1.5-2 hour rides in the dark.  Good enough.  It provides an immense amount of light.  Compared to name brand HID systems, its reasonably priced.

[bobbirob22]

with only 6 - 7 hr burn time,, ill stick with my "pathetic" L.E.D. which has 9 bulbs and runs on 3 AAA batteries and has a run time of 16 hrs full brightness..

ROBERT

[RussellSeaton]

But your full brightness LED is a pathetic weak light you can't see with.  What does 16 hours of unusable light get you?  Compared to my HID light your LED light is a laughable joke.  To put it very bluntly.  I have a Princeton Tec EOS helmet light that runs on 3 AAA batteries and runs for many hours on three different levels of brightness.  Perfect in conjunction with a generator powered front light for all night riding.  Used mainly to see signs.  Its also good for emergency use.  But for actually seeing while riding, no.

[DaveB]

Don't sell the newer LED lights short.  Sure, the small fractional watt LEDs, even bunches of them, are pretty weak but the newer 3W and higher LED's, particularly with two or three lampheads can be extremely bright.  They also cost in the same range as HID lights so cost isn't an advantage.

The advantages of LED's are cool running, improved battery life (however watts are watts) and vastly improved lamp life. You will never have to limp home with a burned out bulb.  Been there, done that, don't want to do it again.      

[RussellSeaton]

Cool running (whatever that is worth, I don't touch the bulb when its on) and longer bulb life I'll give you as advantages.  But as you say, watts are watts.  Longer run time is not an advantage.  See examples below.

Seca Light & Motion 400 with 400 lumens, $400
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/item/LIGQRRJ5

My HID light, 500 lumens, $310.
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2784

2.5 hour run time for the LED, 6 hours for the HID.  And the cost difference of course.  Seca also makes a 700 lumen model for $550 that runs 3.5 hours.  But I figured the 400 lumen model was a better comparison to the 500 lumen HID.

LED are wonderful if you want some light, although small, in a small light package.  Rear blinkies in LED are wonderful.  The new generator driven LED lights are vast improvements over the older halogen bulbs.  But if you have no real limitation in battery size, and want lots of light, then LED are not good choices.  The cannot produce the amount of light an HID can without using much more juice than a comparable sized HID.

[staehpj1]

"however watts are watts"

Maybe with regard to battery life, but not with regard to light output.

FWIW: I mostly only use lights to be seen, especially when touring.  I used to use lights more to see when I did night time single tracking.  Even then I never used really bright lights. (at least partly because we probably weren't supposed to be there at night, but mostly because I am cheap).  It is fun to single track with minimal light or no lights if the moon is up.

[bobbirob22]

who wants to spend $300 to $400 on a light anyways? i picked up my 9 bulb bright L.E.D. light at walmart for less than $10 and as far as seeing with the light the only requirement is that i OPEN MY EYES . it lights the way and reading road signs is better with the L.E.D. than with a regular bulb. just my opinion but i dont need a $300 spotlight to see my way through the dark and BTW i use my light mainly to be seen by motorists and other bicyclist, a super bright HID bulb (as powerfull as they are) can also blind oncoming traffic which could turn out quite ugly especially on some of the back country curvy hilly roads that i ride.

ROBERT

[bogiesan]

> A couple of other website forums I am a member of, I get a "Hi,
welcome newbie" & I give other new users the same politeness. <

Welcome indeed but we see many such posts. You included no context;
mine was a valid response.

As you can see, the discussion of lighting equipment escalates to
emotional around here. As a year-round commuter, I've got lots of
lights including a searing HID, halogens, and some hi-zoot LEDs but I
don't carry any of them on tour.

david boise ID

go, ristretto, FCP/AE
"Read the manual."