- Joined
- Jun 2, 2003
- Messages
- 23,591
What lights do you guys use? And I am talking about lights which which to see and not about the kind that's only good for being seen. I'm not shelling out for HID bike lighting, which is literally a blast. Here's what I use on my bike:
CYOGOLITE HIFLUX 100:
White LED light, puts out light equal to 5W halogen (CYGOLITE claims output equal to 10W halogen, but if that's true I eat my saddle). The light runs on 4 C-cells (alkaline or nimh) for ca 20 hours at full power.
That's my regular driving light. Good enough for speeds up to about 20 mph on decent streets or dry trail. I use the inluded wide lens attachment for a wider beam. Like all white LED lights, this one doesn't offer a full spectrum light either and differentiating colors (grass versus mud or blacktop) can be difficult. On bad roads or bad trails, this light works best if supplemented with one or two halogen lights. For city streets and nice dark roads, the CYGOLITE alone is sufficient. Retail price is about $120, but you can find it on ebay for about $70.
SIGMA EVO, 5W (20 Lux) halogen light with nimh battery pack.
It has a funky beam pattern, which is however useful because it maximizes light output where it is needed. I have two of those lights. I sometimes mount both if I need a lot of light, or I use my
SIGMA MIRAGE EVO 10 Watt (60 Lux) halogen light
That light is far-reaching (lights up road for 150 feet) and makes oncoming car dip their brights. This light is goo for high speed riding or if you want to make your presence known. The SIGMA lights come in a kit: one EVO and one Mirage EVO with a nimh pack and smart charger for I don't know how much (There was a promo and they sold the kit for $50!)
The SIGMA lights are very light and well built. Their nimh battery is very good, but you may want to carry a spare if you plan on riding more than a couple hours in the dark. The SIGMA lights have no remote switches, which sucks, especially if you like to mount your headlights low for optimized road illumination. The CYGOLITE is also nicely made and has a nifty swivel mount that lest you adjust beam angle on the fly. It also comes with a neat bug switch that can be mounted within thumb reach next to the grip. The CYGOLITE can be powered by the SIGMA nimh, because voltage requirements and connector sizes are identical.
I'll see if I get a chance to take some pictures of the various beam patterns this coming weekend.
CYOGOLITE HIFLUX 100:
White LED light, puts out light equal to 5W halogen (CYGOLITE claims output equal to 10W halogen, but if that's true I eat my saddle). The light runs on 4 C-cells (alkaline or nimh) for ca 20 hours at full power.
That's my regular driving light. Good enough for speeds up to about 20 mph on decent streets or dry trail. I use the inluded wide lens attachment for a wider beam. Like all white LED lights, this one doesn't offer a full spectrum light either and differentiating colors (grass versus mud or blacktop) can be difficult. On bad roads or bad trails, this light works best if supplemented with one or two halogen lights. For city streets and nice dark roads, the CYGOLITE alone is sufficient. Retail price is about $120, but you can find it on ebay for about $70.
SIGMA EVO, 5W (20 Lux) halogen light with nimh battery pack.
It has a funky beam pattern, which is however useful because it maximizes light output where it is needed. I have two of those lights. I sometimes mount both if I need a lot of light, or I use my
SIGMA MIRAGE EVO 10 Watt (60 Lux) halogen light
That light is far-reaching (lights up road for 150 feet) and makes oncoming car dip their brights. This light is goo for high speed riding or if you want to make your presence known. The SIGMA lights come in a kit: one EVO and one Mirage EVO with a nimh pack and smart charger for I don't know how much (There was a promo and they sold the kit for $50!)
The SIGMA lights are very light and well built. Their nimh battery is very good, but you may want to carry a spare if you plan on riding more than a couple hours in the dark. The SIGMA lights have no remote switches, which sucks, especially if you like to mount your headlights low for optimized road illumination. The CYGOLITE is also nicely made and has a nifty swivel mount that lest you adjust beam angle on the fly. It also comes with a neat bug switch that can be mounted within thumb reach next to the grip. The CYGOLITE can be powered by the SIGMA nimh, because voltage requirements and connector sizes are identical.
I'll see if I get a chance to take some pictures of the various beam patterns this coming weekend.