LEDs and only them
Just a few years ago we had some choice of different lamps for bicycle lights. However, now LED technology has developed to such an extent, and the price of such products has become so affordable, that the buyer in the bicycle light market chooses almost exclusively from LED lamps. Emitted power has also increased dramatically over the past couple of years, and the brightest bike lights have a claimed lumen output of several thousand lumens, which is more than car headlights. Flashlights for more general use range from 50 to 500 lumens. At the same time, naturally, side or hazard lights have a lower intensity and are suitable so that they see you on the road, and not you the road.
Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Bike Light
First question: why do I need a bike light? Do you need it just to leisurely drive to the store in the evening, or do you drive through a forested area on your way back from work? You need to determine how much light you need and what properties it should have. Typically, the brighter the better, but if you do a lot of city driving, you'll want to choose lights with good side visibility. This is especially important when leaving an intersection.
If you ride primarily on the highway, you need a bike light that won't blind oncoming drivers. Then you can choose a lamp with a narrow light beam or the so-called “German” beam. If your commute involves a mix of highways, trails and single bike lanes, then you might consider getting a light with a wide beam, but with the ability to switch to a weaker setting when needed. If you have several bikes and want to make do with one front light, it is important to choose a light with easy-to-remove mounts.
Second question: how often and for how long during the day will I use the flashlight? If your daily commuting takes one hour, and the flashlight is designed for 50 minutes of operation, problems may already arise. Whether the flashlight is battery-powered or rechargeable via a USB port, you need to consider where and when you will charge it and how long it will take.
Many bike lights have an energy-saving mode, so you can save battery power for the least lit sections of the road. There are flashlights that display information about the battery charge; they are well suited for those who regularly drive in the dark and forget to recharge the battery.
Third question: under what weather conditions will I use the flashlight? During daily driving in any season, you will at some point have to drive in bad weather, and the front light will be exposed to rain and spray from the road. The rule here is simple - more expensive versions have greater protection and tightness, so you need to buy what you can afford as much as possible.
Types of Bicycle Lights
Hazard/marker lights Usually small in size, so they can easily be stowed in your bike bag until needed. They are easily attached to the frame or handlebars with an elastic strap and run on coin-cell batteries. They have a low radiation power, but you can get home with them, and this is better than nothing if you are caught in the dark on the road and the main light is broken.
For example: Knog, Electron.
Knog Boomer Twinpack
Small flashing lights flashers, can also produce a constant beam. They are larger and more durable than hazard lights and usually run on long-lasting batteries. They are cheap, and therefore, in terms of price-quality ratio, they look preferable to emergency lights.
For example: Cateye, Blackburn.
Cateye Nima 2
Torch type lights are represented on the market in the most diverse way. They operate on AA/AAA batteries or a rechargeable battery. Their radiation is quite powerful and this is exactly the kind of flashlight you need if you need to be not only noticeable on the road, but also see for yourself. Manufacturers often offer a set of a rear flasher and a torch-type front light. Chargers often come with AC adapters, and recently devices with a USB port have become increasingly popular. You can charge this flashlight during the day at your desk in the office.
For example: BBB, Raleigh.
BBB BLS-71 - Strike 300lm
Chargeable systems are a connection between a battery pack and a lamp that is much more powerful than a standard torch lamp. Such devices start from £50, but these are already high-tech gadgets. If you like training rides in the dark and off-road, this might be the best option.
For example: Niterider, Exposure.
Exposure Strada MK5
Lanterns with dynamo generator suitable for those who want to have a rigidly attached lamp and not worry about batteries. This flashlight comes complete with a dynamo hub, which is easy to use and does not require special maintenance. The power of such a generator is 2.4-3 Watts, which is quite enough for front and rear lighting. It is better to choose a system with the ability to store the received energy, so that you do not plunge into darkness when you stop at a traffic light. Some people prefer to keep these lights on even during the day because they waste very little energy.
For example: Supernova.
Cycling helmet lights convenient because you can direct the beam of light where you need it. Basically, such lamps are attached to the helmet with special tapes. But the presence of a light on a helmet does not relieve the rider of the obligation to have a front and rear light on the bike itself.
For example: Light Motion
Headlamp or bicycle helmet LightMotion Vis 360 Run
Insufficient marking of oneself on the roadway is a grave mistake of cyclists. This is especially true for evening trips, when the visibility of the outside world and your own is significantly reduced. In order not to endanger yourself and other road users, it is necessary to acquire lighting devices for your bicycle. You will be surprised, but the mandatory operation of lighting devices during daylight hours (cars have low beam headlights or daytime running lights) also applies to cyclists. There are front and rear lights. Let's start with the front ones.
Differences between front light fixtures in brightness
They serve to identify themselves on the roadway during the daytime. They will not be superfluous in the dark as a supplement to the main light source. As a rule, they are enough to get noticed. But they will not be able to provide even in complete darkness at least some visibility of surrounding objects.
Lighting devices with greater brightness, a directed beam of light, and the ability to see something in complete darkness at low speed. As a rule, they are used in the city on dimly lit sections of roads.
They have high brightness, a directed beam of light with division (main light in the middle, auxiliary light at the edges), allowing themselves to be used as a full-fledged light source in any conditions. Even in complete darkness, properly focused light gives a very good view tens of meters ahead.
Differences in batteries
A mechanism that is fading into oblivion, supported only by rare manufacturers, installed mainly on city bikes. Yes, this warm lamp light and the sound of a dynamo warms the soul, but, unfortunately, it takes away much more strength from you to move forward. The brightness depends on your speed, so you will have to fly through the dark area with huge holes in the style of extreme sports in order to at least see something.
A modernized version of the dynamo. It can not only power a headlight on the go, but also charge a phone.
Battery
The most common option. Used in beacons and flashlights. It can be flat (CR2032) for beacons, “finger” (AA), “little finger” (AAA). It is very convenient to simply change the batteries and continue using the flashlight, especially since they are sold in every store. True, if there are a lot of batteries (maybe 6 pieces), then buying them will significantly hit your pocket. The solution is Ni-batteries, the same shape as the batteries in your flashlight. Recharging devices are sold for them.
Li-ion battery
Particularly effective when placed on the leg. They can be seen from afar; together with your foot, they are in constant motion and attract attention well.
Wheel reflectors
Mostly orange because they provide lateral visibility.
They are reflectors. Everyone knows plastic products that refract the light that hits them, creating a fairly bright reflection.
They are mostly decorations, but they also have a useful reflective function. Very relevant for children.
Similar to those used on road barriers at turns. You can glue it to the frame or seatpost, there are versions for gluing rims, but in this case they must be.
Sold in sewing stores, you can sew it on a handbag, backpack or T-shirt.
Reflective elements on clothing, helmet
As a rule, cycling equipment is equipped with organically built-in reflectors that do not stand out from the clothing design, but reflect very well when light hits them.
Apply to clothing or bicycle. After washing, and also after some time, it “dissipates”, so it does not harm clothes.
Remember that you can ensure maximum safety when traveling on public roads on your own.
To the accompaniment of relaxing music, an uncle in a hat with toys talks about the choice of bicycle lights
Nowadays you can find a very large number of flashlights for your “iron horse” on sale. Cycling enthusiasts don’t even think about what kind of light they choose for their bike. Most often, they buy the cheapest or most beautiful one, and then suffer in the dark because the flashlight does not meet their requirements. Many people do not want to study the information that is necessary in order to purchase quality ones, but even knowing the basic aspects will allow you to avoid buying a low-quality model.
Operating flashlights
Any light for a bicycle can be divided into two types according to its purpose:
- The first type is the front light. It is intended to illuminate the road or any other area in front of a bicycle enthusiast.
- The second type includes a taillight and light strips for a bicycle, and this also includes lights for a wheel. This is done in order to highlight the cyclist in the dark. This ensures the safety of the cyclist.
Almost any bicycle light is installed on a temporary basis. This is explained by the fact that cycling at night is not very popular now. However, some bicycle lighting models have rather complex mounting, this is especially noticeable for bicycle lights with power sources.
Light indicators
Perhaps this is the most important characteristic for bicycle lights. When choosing light for your “iron horse”, you should pay attention to the type of source. Almost everywhere the choice is limited only to diodes. However, there is nothing negative about this, because this type of sources is the best. What is their advantage?
- Low monetary value.
- In case of mechanical impact there is no risk to health.
- High degree of efficiency.
- Reliability.
What other parameters should you pay attention to when choosing a bicycle light?
Luminous flux is the main characteristic. It is measured in lumens. Indicates the amount of light a headlight creates without taking into account factors such as scattering. In this way, the lighting power for the bicycle can be determined.
It is worth not forgetting about such a characteristic as dispersion. This indicator determines the angle at which the light will come from the flashlight. It is worth deciding on these indicators depending on what dispersion angle will be most convenient for you. For open areas, angles of 120 degrees or more are ideal. If you need to illuminate distant objects, then it would be most advisable to use light sources with angles of 20-30 degrees.
Another characteristic of lanterns is illumination, which has its own unit of measurement - lux. This indicator indicates how well a particular point is illuminated. This indicator can be found even using your smartphone.
Almost any bike light has 3 illumination zones.
1. Well-lit area.
2. Transitional area where illumination is partial.
3. Dispersion zone. It implies an area where the light from the lantern hits, but there is practically no illumination in that area.
It is based on this indicator that you should choose a light for your bicycle. Some cycling enthusiasts require a large lighting area, in some cases it would be better to have a small lighting area, but at a greater distance from their bike.
What types of fastenings are there?
Depending on the purpose of the light for the bicycle, it is worth securing your lighting source differently.
In some cases, rigid mounting of the source is required. This is explained by the need for stable light. Other models of bicycle lighting sources are easy to install and remove, thus achieving some compromise between the main goals.
Elastic fastenings are very popular. It is expressed in the form of a rubber or silicone strap. It is easy to mount and remove from your bike. In some models, the body of the flashlight itself is made of silicone. However, this product has some disadvantages:
- Weak fastening.
- At low temperatures it will not be possible to use flashlights with such a mount.
- The service life of such a flashlight will be quite short.
There is a mounting bracket. In this case, the fixation of the light source will be absolute. This mount is only suitable for one model, that is, it is one piece with the flashlight. However, there are also disadvantages here:
- In case of mechanical damage, it will be difficult to replace the fastener.
- Installing the flashlight mount will require a significant amount of time.
- Such a lighting system will always attract thieves.
There is some compromise between mounting and elastic fastening. They are the most popular among all other types of fastenings. The mount is mounted only once, but removing the lamp itself is quite easy. No need to remove the mount. Most cycling enthusiasts use this particular lighting source.
Finally
When choosing a light source for your bike, you should understand what parameters of the lamp and mount you need. It is worth considering all three parameters: power, dispersion angle and illumination zones. Otherwise, you risk buying a light source that will be practically useless to you.
A bicycle light will be the key to a safe bicycle ride in the evening and at night with reduced illumination. It will provide good visibility of the road and will allow you to notice unevenness or surface defects in advance and go around them. Costs buy a bicycle light, and your iron friend will become noticeable to other road users.
A bicycle light can become not just a functional, but also a stylish accessory that decorates a two-wheeled vehicle. Products come in front and rear. The variety of sizes, shapes and technical characteristics will allow everyone to choose the most suitable accessory. And the use of high-quality batteries guarantees maximum service life without recharging.
When choosing a bicycle light, you should consider not only the range of the light and its brightness, but also the angle of illumination. It is good that thanks to it it is possible to achieve illumination of a wide area in front, and this will improve orientation in space and allow you to react faster to road obstacles. Modern devices make it possible to obtain uniform light, while avoiding the appearance of a pronounced spot in the center.
Some devices can operate in different range and brightness modes. If the device illuminates at least 50 meters ahead, it will ensure high driving safety at high speeds. It is important to think about other road users, such as oncoming cars, and not use the maximum brightness setting.
The AvtoProfi online store offers devices with different shades of LEDs. When choosing them, you must first of all be guided by your own preferences. Warm diodes will be the optimal solution for those who want to clearly distinguish colors in the dark, while cold diodes will provide white and bright light.
What is important to consider when choosing a bicycle light
Getting ready buy bicycle light, try to take into account the number of batteries that support it. It is good that it is one battery or battery. In this case, the supply of batteries that you need to carry with you will be minimal. It is good that the flashlight can work for at least several hours without changing batteries.
The bicycle may encounter various impacts, including mechanical ones. Therefore, it is good that the flashlight for it is waterproof and able to withstand shocks and falls from heights. In this case, if you get caught in the rain, you won’t have to worry about the device.
It is good that the bicycle light is ergonomic and easy to operate. In this case, you can easily change its operating modes on the go, while maintaining control of the bike. It is good that the fastenings are standard and reliable. This will allow the device to be firmly attached to the steering wheel, even on sharp turns and sudden stops it will not fall out.
In the AvtoProfi online store you will find a wide selection of bicycle lights. We offer models to suit every taste and budget, from budget to professional options. Our employees will answer all your questions and help you make your choice. Do you want to know more about any model presented on the virtual counter? Just call us and you will receive comprehensive information. We offer reasonable prices, and there is no doubt about the quality of our products. Contact us! The AvtoProfi company will help you purchase everything you need for safe and comfortable cycling!
The choice of bicycle lights is so wide that most cycling enthusiasts prefer not to think about their requirements for such a device, but to buy the first lamp they come across, rather than deal with hours-long video reviews, conflicting recommendations from friends and mechanics in workshops.
However, basic information about bicycle lights is not that extensive and is worth studying before purchasing lighting equipment for your bike.
Using flashlights
First of all, there are several types of uses for lights on a bicycle. The most popular are:
- The main light source serves as illumination of the space in front of the cyclist. Usually, when talking about a flashlight, this is the usage scenario that is meant.
- Marking on the road - small lights on the rear, on the backpack, on the spokes and on the frame serve to make the bike more visible on the road.
Most often, bicycle lights are not installed on a permanent basis, since night riding is not so popular, and leaving fragile devices unattended is not worth it in all cities and places, but some models require quite complex mounting, especially if they are equipped with a separate battery.
Main characteristics
What characteristics differentiate bicycle lights from each other? Mainly:
- form,
- light indicators (brightness, spectrum, angle, etc.),
- fastening method,
- way of eating.
Let's take a closer look at these characteristics.
Light parameters
The light parameters are primarily affected by the type of source. After a short struggle, a no-alternative situation has arisen in the market when you have to choose exclusively from diode flashlights. Diodes, having become quite affordable and surpassed all competitors in energy consumption, are recognized as the standard for bicycle equipment.
Such a monopoly is not scary, because diodes are currently the best light source:
- luminous output (efficiency) comparable to halogen lamps;
- mechanical reliability - diodes have neither bulbs nor filaments;
- moderate cost;
- possibility of combining light sources (several diodes), low requirements;
- safety in case of damage (no splinters or vapors).
Actually, let's move on to the parameters of bicycle lights. What should you pay attention to when studying a particular product?
Light flow
Luminous flux is measured in lumens, a universal unit of measurement. The number of lumens shows how much light a bike light produces in total, without taking into account dispersion. Lumens indicate how powerful a source is used in a product.
Diffusion
The entire luminous flux has a certain divergence angle at which the light leaves the source. Depending on the tasks, you should choose the angle that will be comfortable - from 120-180 degrees for an open source to special directional flashlights with a scattering angle of 15-20 degrees, which are designed to illuminate distant objects.
Illumination
This parameter is defined in lux, which is often confused with lumens. This characteristic indicates the illumination of a specific point (at a certain distance from the source). It is this characteristic that can be measured using a tool or even a regular telephone.
The illumination varies depending on the flow and dispersion, forming several illumination zones:
- A hotspot is a well-lit place.
- Crown – transitional zone with partial illumination.
- Diffused light (spill) is an area where a certain luminous flux goes, but there is no longer high-quality lighting there.
Actually, you should choose a bicycle light based on the zones and their illumination. Some people need wide lateral coverage, even with diffuse light, while others need a bright area of light at a great distance far in front of the bike.
Types of fastenings
You can attach a flashlight to a bicycle in different ways, depending on your purposes. Some lights need to be firmly fixed to provide stable illumination, while others need to be easy to install and dismantle. Some mounts allow you to find a compromise between these basic objectives.
Body mount with Velcro
Elastic fastening
On side and auxiliary lights, an elastic fastening is often used - a rubber or silicone strap, which can be easily stretched and attached to the steering wheel, frame or even a spoke, spending just a few seconds on installation. In some models, the body of the product itself is made entirely of silicone, and, coupled with a small battery, such lights are extremely convenient for quickly identifying a bicycle.
The disadvantages of elastic fastening include weak fixation, fragility and the impossibility of using such fastenings in the cold.
Mounting bracket
Serious bike lights come with a mounting bracket - where a particular bracket only fits models from one manufacturer or is part of the light.
When installing such a mount on the steering wheel or frame, you can be sure that the fixation will be almost absolute, but there are a number of risks:
- the mount is unique and difficult to replace if damaged;
- installation requires effort and time;
- a noticeable non-standard fastening will attract intruders.
In any case, no matter how difficult the installation may be, you can actually do it yourself, without involving specialists. Fortunately, you don’t need any tools other than a screwdriver.
Removable mount
A compromise between flexible and mounting mounts are the now standard half-cylinder bike mounts that help you use a standard bike light. This mount is installed once, but the light source can be easily removed at any time without any force. While inferior in stability to the previous type, this holder is the most convenient and recommended for use.
There are also removable mounts supplied by the manufacturer. These are special contact pads suitable for a certain range of models. Having the advantages of a removable fastening, the platforms may be inconvenient in case of replacement or criminal activity.
Body Mounts
A separate type is represented by fastenings to clothing and other equipment. Usually these are Velcro and sets of strings that help secure the flashlight on a shoulder, backpack or.
Power types
Most modern flashlights are powered by one or more batteries placed in the body of the product. The standard is 1-3 AA batteries. For side and temporary lights - powered by a coin cell battery.
Bicycle headlight with external power supply
There are, however, some models with external power supply, for example, a separately mounted, replaceable battery. It is important to pay attention to the power consumption of the lamp and the volume of the battery or accumulator. You can often find an ideal option that will only work for half an hour or an hour.
Dynamos have not disappeared either. Of course, now they are not a heavy roller pressed against a rim or tire, but a full-fledged front hub with a generator and, optionally, a battery or capacitor to store charge in case of a stop.
Types of flashlights
Now let’s look at what kind of flashlights stores offer us and which type is best suited for a particular mode of use.
Bicycle headlight
The aging front bicycle light is permanently installed and very often comes with a separate, replaceable battery. Such solutions are suitable for long-term cycling and for heavy Soviet bicycles, where neither weight nor inconvenience matters anymore.
Bicycle lights are unlikely to find use on a modern bike, both due to their low efficiency and questionable ease of use.
Fixed
Fixed bicycle lights are cheap and durable, often providing excellent coverage time and light intensity at a low price. The only drawback is the complexity of installation, but if you do not plan to leave your bike in public parking lots and ride for fun, this type is for you. Although it is now easy to find a non-removable light for a bicycle only in the class of auxiliary or side lights. A removable light source is now the de facto standard.
Set of flashlights with various power and charging sources
Removable multifunction
The multifunctional flashlight can be used both as a regular flashlight and as a bicycle light. You can use universal mounts or buy a branded product with a contact pad. This will not affect ease of use, it will only affect the cost of maintenance, since finding a replacement for the contact pad is much more difficult.
Currently, 80% of light sources sold for bicycles are removable LED lights, as they are universal, convenient and quite inexpensive. All you have to do is choose the model that suits your parameters.
Body-wearable
Body-mounted light sources are still a rarity in Russia, but in the West, many enthusiastic cyclists are already switching from mounting a flashlight on their bike to convenient headlamps and additional dimensions on backpacks. A typical night skiing kit consists of four lights:
- main one on the steering wheel;
- body size on the backpack;
- helmet lamp;
- auxiliary marker on the bicycle frame.
By turning our heads, we get illumination in those places where it is quite difficult to direct flashlights permanently mounted on the steering wheel, for example, towards the side of the road or onto an intersecting path.
Dimensions
A separate class is the rear light for a bicycle, called a marker or flasher. With a small battery and a few diodes, these lights are not intended to illuminate an area, but to indicate a cyclist on the road.
Very often, these lights support several flashing programs. Many studies have confirmed that the most noticeable driver will be the one whose side lights not only glow, but flash, attracting attention.
Modern kits that combine markers and body lights offer the cyclist even closer to cars and motorcycles by adding a laser marker to the equipment (“carrying” a light line parallel to the bicycle) or by adding side lights to the backpack with turn signals controlled by the cyclist.
Manufacturers
The market is filled with various noname manufacturers, often not inferior to well-known brands, but purchasing such products is always a high risk, so if you are limited in funds, it is best to stick with trusted companies. Here are some of them:
- MagicShine is a good and inexpensive Hong Kong brand;
- CatEye is a high-quality Japanese manufacturer distinguished by the quality of its diodes;
- Sigma is a German brand with good and inexpensive models;
- BBB – Dutch VIP manufacturer;
- Fenix Lights is a Chinese manufacturer that has proven itself to be high-quality flashlights for the American market (they use diodes from the American company Cree).
Conclusion
Choosing a bicycle light is not only a matter of practice and experience, but also of understanding exactly what characteristics are needed specifically for your riding style. Theoretical preparation is also very important, because many do not have a basic understanding of the parameters of the emitted light, and a seemingly nominally ideal light source will be completely useless after purchase if, for example, the scattering angle is not taken into account.
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