Night rider

You have to help us. Lighting systems go from a few dollars to over 800 Euro for a top of the line Lupine ( www.lupine.de ) system. Whatcha need and what is your price range? 🙂

I'm a night rider as well. I've found that i like the headlight mounted to my helmet better than one the front of the bike, that way i can see whatever I'm looking at and look further ahead in turns (yeah i look like a cave explorer, but who cares?)
i use cat eye but i think other brands carry lights that can be mounted on a helmet.

wackydeirdre said:

Who can give me some advice on a headlight for my bike? I often ride in the evenings, inclement weather,etc. I have a road bike and need something light, hopefully water tight and bright as well.🙂

I just bought a Niterider 15 watt head light from Supergo for $159. I haven't used it yet, but will this Saturday. I'll let you know how it worked.

Powerful Pete said:

You have to help us. Lighting systems go from a few dollars to over 800 Euro for a top of the line Lupine ( www.lupine.de ) system. Whatcha need and what is your price range? 🙂

Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm from New York. Long Island to be more specific. I'm looking to spend as little as possible for a decent unit. I just want the cars to be able to see me. Thanks!

wackydeirdre said:

Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm from New York. Long Island to be more specific. I'm looking to spend as little as possible for a decent unit. I just want the cars to be able to see me. Thanks!

Interesting, It never occurred to put one on my helmet.

wackydeirdre said:

Interesting, It never occurred to put one on my helmet.

Thanks! I'll look forward to hearing from you.

I have a NightSun dual beam system Have had it for many years and have yet to have a problem with it. It is very bright, My feeling is get the brightest unit you can afford. Helmet mount might have advantages but not sure where you carry the battery. Perhaps a user of these systems could explain. Consider also run time and get one that will last twice as long as you will need it to. This will allow for extra time if you need to do bike repair at night as well as allow for battery wear. I'm on my forth battery on the NightSun and now I build them myself using NiMh cells which last longer than NiCd cells. The place I get my batteries now sell complete light at a reasonable price I cannot vouch for the lights but the batteries are good. Check it out here bike lights

wackydeirdre said:

Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm from New York. Long Island to be more specific. I'm looking to spend as little as possible for a decent unit. I just want the cars to be able to see me. Thanks!

Cateye red and white LED blinkers work well to make you more visible to cars, but definitely don't throw enough light for you to see by. They only run about $8 (clip on blinkies) - $20 (led handlebar lights) a piece though so are a great cheap pieces of safety equipment. I have a white one that straps on to my handlebars and a red one on my seat wedge - but the clip is useless- hit a bump and the thing comes off - I've had to use a zip tie to keep it in place.

I forgot to mention that you should get some of the blinky things as well they are great for visability. I would also suggest a reflective vest I use one they're cheap and effective. I have also applied liberal amounts of 3M reflective tape to my helmet as well. I live in New Jersey so probably similar conditions to where you are located.

gubaguba said:

I have a NightSun dual beam system Have had it for many years and have yet to have a problem with it. It is very bright, My feeling is get the brightest unit you can afford. Helmet mount might have advantages but not sure where you carry the battery. Perhaps a user of these systems could explain. Consider also run time and get one that will last twice as long as you will need it to. This will allow for extra time if you need to do bike repair at night as well as allow for battery wear. I'm on my forth battery on the NightSun and now I build them myself using NiMh cells which last longer than NiCd cells. The place I get my batteries now sell complete light at a reasonable price I cannot vouch for the lights but the batteries are good. Check it out here bike lights

Thank's for the advice, I hadn't calculated possible repair time into the equasion.

Eden said:

Cateye red and white LED blinkers work well to make you more visible to cars, but definitely don't throw enough light for you to see by. They only run about $8 (clip on blinkies) - $20 (led handlebar lights) a piece though so are a great cheap pieces of safety equipment. I have a white one that straps on to my handlebars and a red one on my seat wedge - but the clip is useless- hit a bump and the thing comes off - I've had to use a zip tie to keep it in place.

I also have a clip on tail light. I clip it onto my tire change bag beneath my seat. I like your idea of keeping it in place. Though I haven't lost it yet, I do feel it could be more securely tied on. I'll check out the Cateye handlebar light. I'm not a big fan of chasing lights but feel a slowly blinking light makes me more visible. Do you have a cadance computer? If so, is it backlit so you can see it when you ride at night?

gubaguba said:

I have a NightSun dual beam system Have had it for many years and have yet to have a problem with it. It is very bright, My feeling is get the brightest unit you can afford. Helmet mount might have advantages but not sure where you carry the battery. Perhaps a user of these systems could explain. Consider also run time and get one that will last twice as long as you will need it to. This will allow for extra time if you need to do bike repair at night as well as allow for battery wear. I'm on my forth battery on the NightSun and now I build them myself using NiMh cells which last longer than NiCd cells. The place I get my batteries now sell complete light at a reasonable price I cannot vouch for the lights but the batteries are good. Check it out here bike lights

Is it watertight? I ride every day and in all kinds of weather. Also, what kind of cadance computer do you have? I've been riding more than ever lately and would really like one that is backlit for the evenings.

gubaguba said:

I have a NightSun dual beam system Have had it for many years and have yet to have a problem with it. It is very bright, My feeling is get the brightest unit you can afford. Helmet mount might have advantages but not sure where you carry the battery. Perhaps a user of these systems could explain. Consider also run time and get one that will last twice as long as you will need it to. This will allow for extra time if you need to do bike repair at night as well as allow for battery wear. I'm on my forth battery on the NightSun and now I build them myself using NiMh cells which last longer than NiCd cells. The place I get my batteries now sell complete light at a reasonable price I cannot vouch for the lights but the batteries are good. Check it out here bike lights

Is it watertight? I ride every day and in all kinds of weather. Also, what kind of cadance computer do you have? I've been riding more than ever lately and would really like one that is backlit for the evenings.

gubaguba said:

I have a NightSun dual beam system Have had it for many years and have yet to have a problem with it. It is very bright, My feeling is get the brightest unit you can afford. Helmet mount might have advantages but not sure where you carry the battery. Perhaps a user of these systems could explain. Consider also run time and get one that will last twice as long as you will need it to. This will allow for extra time if you need to do bike repair at night as well as allow for battery wear. I'm on my forth battery on the NightSun and now I build them myself using NiMh cells which last longer than NiCd cells. The place I get my batteries now sell complete light at a reasonable price I cannot vouch for the lights but the batteries are good. Check it out here bike lights

Is it watertight? I ride every day and in all kinds of weather. Also, what kind of cadance computer do you have? I've been riding more than ever lately and would really like one that is backlit for the evenings.

The NightSun light is not water tight I do make an effort to seal the batteries though. I have ridden in downpours and not had a problem with the light. As long as the light does not fill up with water there is no problem. I don't ever recall seeing any condensation in it either though so it maybe better sealed than I think truthfully I have never had to do any maintenance on it so I cannot vouch that it isn't sealed. The batteries are in a water bottle I seal the hole for the cable with some silicon and just put the top on. I figure it keeps water in so it should keep it out as well.

For the troublesome clip lights that are forever falling off I have drilled a hole in the center of the clip and treaded some string through it. I can than wrap the string and tie it down. This lets me easily move it from bike to bike.

Have a look at www.lightrider.co.uk

Very innovative