Lights

carffp said:

As the winter draws in, I need to get some lighting to keep riding in the early morning and late evenings. Any suggestions on what light system to purchase?

I have a helmet light and wouldn't consider anything else. I like the fact that it moves with my field of vision and also makes me visible to traffic.

You can spend almost any price on a system, a big consideration being the lighter the battery is, the more spendy it is.

I use a Cygolite - works great, isn't too expensive.

I agree that the battery is the key - another factor that really drives up cost is the type of charger. "Smart" chargers work faster and allow for partial charges and set-and-forget charging. The smarter the charger the more pricey the setup.

Haven't had experience with the really hi-end lights - probably more than you need for commuting.

Nice feature is two bulbs. I use a 6w "to be seen" and combine it with the 10w (16w total) when I need to illuminate the road to see the ground.

The real key is to mount the headlight (and the LED blinker in back) and then stand down the road from the bike so you get a sense for what you look like at night. I pass a guy with a blinking LED that was "aimed up" - couldn't really see him. He was very thankful that I pointed it out before someone in a car did :o

I have the NiteRider Cyclone. Great light but a bit spendy. I have noticed that some of the retailers are selling the 2004 model lights at a discount. I got lucky and got mine on a Pro deal at InterBike this year.

shimano nexus generator hub

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/shimano.html

Another vote for Cygolite. I have the Z-Force HID with NiCd pack. I have a fast charger for hobby NiCd's and a simple plug was all I needed to fast charge this pack.

You can build a hombrew system for around $20-30 if weight isn´t a big consideration. Add $10-20 more if you want NiMH instead of SLA for the battery.

You´ve got a range of lighting options, from not so bright but power friendly LEDs to halogen 20W bulbs that sell for $5 at WalMart.

MR16 bases will fit into normal flashlight bodies. Put the body on a bracket from Nashbar like their swinggrip or extra water bottle bracket and mount the battery in a large under saddle bag.