Lighting info

"Pagan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

New here so hello all, including the obligatory Newsgroup Nut, one of
which
seems to populate each newsgroup.

Anyway, I just bought the Niterider Blowtorch for a headlight, and was
wondering how you folks get along with it. I'll be doing most of my night
riding on paved bike trails and streets.

How long does the bulb last? Should I get a spare? How much are they?

Any mounting/aiming tips?

This is my first good bike light. All the ones I've had before were
cheapos.

What is a good rear light? I considered paying $70 for the Niterider
add-on, but it didn't look like it did something the $10 ones didn't.

Thanks.

Pagan

Can not comment on the Blowtorch. I have had an Evolution for three years
without a problem.

Blowtorch is a much better light than the Evolution and I find my light
sufficient. I prefer the Hemet mount. When I first got my light it would
last 130 minutes after 3 years the battery lasts 110 minutes.

Pagan said:

New here so hello all, including the obligatory Newsgroup Nut, one of
which seems to populate each newsgroup.

Anyway, I just bought the Niterider Blowtorch for a headlight, and was
wondering how you folks get along with it. I'll be doing most of my
night riding on paved bike trails and streets.

How long does the bulb last? Should I get a spare? How much are
they?

Any mounting/aiming tips?

This is my first good bike light. All the ones I've had before were
cheapos.

What is a good rear light? I considered paying $70 for the Niterider
add-on, but it didn't look like it did something the $10 ones didn't.

Blowtorch for the type of riding you'll be doing is overkill, but should
work fine.

All you need is a "blinkie" for the rear.

BS

For road riding, I suggest two "blinkies" at the rear, mounted about 6
inches apart, eg both seat stays. The effect is similar to one light 6
inches diameter and is way more visible than just one.

Ian

Pagan said:

Anyway, I just bought the Niterider Blowtorch for a headlight, and was
wondering how you folks get along with it. I'll be doing most of my night
riding on paved bike trails and streets.

How long does the bulb last? Should I get a spare? How much are they?

I've had a 10W Niterider Headtrip for about five years of occasional
use. The original bulb is still going strong. I wouldn't worry about
carrying a spare -- my backup is an LED mounted on the bike, so at
least I'll be vaguely visible if the Headtrip fails.

Quoted message said:

Any mounting/aiming tips?

Put it on your head, and adjust the beam height so it shines where you
look. It's very useful for preventing the right-on-red into your path.
Just hit the driver square in the face with your beam, and it stops
them in their tracks. Sorta like racoons.

Quoted message said:

What is a good rear light? I considered paying $70 for the Niterider
add-on, but it didn't look like it did something the $10 ones didn't.

LED blinkie. I run with one on my helmet (blinking) and one on the bike
(steady).

Contrary to what others say, a 10W head mount is not overkill. I forget
whether the Blowtorch is a HID, but if so, I would agree that it is
overkill. But who cares? Light it up!

CC

Blowtorch for paved bike trails is way overkill... HID will get you through
the deepest woods without issue... I have NiteRider Kamikaze which is a 12W
and a 20W Halogen and I find the 12W sufficient for pretty technical
terrain. I have it handlebar mounted, but I'd like a helmet mount light as
well - especially for tight corners in the woods... But for what you're
doing I'd just handlebar mount it and forget it. The battery I have is a
NiMH, not sure of the exact specs, but it can last 3 hours without a
problem...

--
Dave -
www.blurredistinction.com/director
www.macromedia.com/go/team

"Pagan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

New here so hello all, including the obligatory Newsgroup Nut, one of
which
seems to populate each newsgroup.

Anyway, I just bought the Niterider Blowtorch for a headlight, and was
wondering how you folks get along with it. I'll be doing most of my night
riding on paved bike trails and streets.

How long does the bulb last? Should I get a spare? How much are they?

Any mounting/aiming tips?

This is my first good bike light. All the ones I've had before were
cheapos.

What is a good rear light? I considered paying $70 for the Niterider
add-on, but it didn't look like it did something the $10 ones didn't.

Thanks.

Pagan

I wouldn't bother with a rear light if I had a blowtorch goin' on the
street. Unless it's the law that you must have one!
If someone can't see you, they is blind. Mine's on my helmet and when I
ride on the street, I point it just in front of the wheel so as not to
blind oncoming traffic. Pointing it at someone is rude.

Bulbs are a bit much $$$ to have lyin' around. H.I.D bulbs are @$100
--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest, I've just wasted.

Corvus Corvax said:

Pagan said:

Anyway, I just bought the Niterider Blowtorch for a headlight, and
was wondering how you folks get along with it. I'll be doing most
of my night riding on paved bike trails and streets.

How long does the bulb last? Should I get a spare? How much are
they?

I've had a 10W Niterider Headtrip for about five years of occasional
use. The original bulb is still going strong. I wouldn't worry about
carrying a spare -- my backup is an LED mounted on the bike, so at
least I'll be vaguely visible if the Headtrip fails.

Quoted message said:

Any mounting/aiming tips?

Put it on your head, and adjust the beam height so it shines where you
look. It's very useful for preventing the right-on-red into your path.
Just hit the driver square in the face with your beam, and it stops
them in their tracks. Sorta like racoons.

Quoted message said:

What is a good rear light? I considered paying $70 for the Niterider
add-on, but it didn't look like it did something the $10 ones didn't.

LED blinkie. I run with one on my helmet (blinking) and one on the
bike (steady).

Contrary to what others say, a 10W head mount is not overkill. I
forget whether the Blowtorch is a HID, but if so, I would agree that
it is overkill. But who cares? Light it up!

Blowtorch IS a HID, and handlebar-mounted at that. (It's the Storm that's
designed for helmet use, pretty sure.)

CC makes a good point to carry /some/ sort of backup front light, just in
case.

(Or was that up front about backup lights?)

Friday...

Ride-A-Lot said:

I don't think anyone mountain bikes anymore. I've seen more posts about
fixies and riding paved roads in the past month than dirt reports.

We'll be seeing you at the Singlespeed World Championships this August
then.

CC

What about coons during day light? I stay my
distance only a fool would do other.

How hot do HID lights get? I know that it is often inadvisable to put certain halogens on your head due to the heat generated by the bulb!