Recommendations for commuter lights

Quoting <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Im looking for recommendations for good commuter headlights.
Specifically, I want something that runs on AA batteries and provides a
decent amount of light and long run time.

Normally I would recommend a dynamo system with its infinite run time. I
guess you could stow some AA batteries in your pocket while using it...
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!
Today is First Gouday, September.

<[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Im looking for recommendations for good commuter headlights.
Specifically, I want something that runs on AA batteries and provides a
decent amount of light and long run time. Any suggestions from the
group is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0307&sku=7916&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

If the link is broken this is the Cateye EL300 Gigamax. It runs on 4 AA
cells, offers decent run time, and puts out enough light for motorists to
see you coming and to slowly negotiate paved, unlit streets and bike paths.
I used this until I got a Shimano DH-3N70 hub generator and a Busch & Müller
Lumotec headlamp from Harris Cyclery
(http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/index.html). The Cateye has been
gathering dust ever since, and I won't use another battery powered light
again if I can help it. There are cheaper hub generator/headlight combos
available, and they're probably still superior to any AA powered headlight.
--
mark

mark said:

<[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Im looking for recommendations for good commuter headlights.
Specifically, I want something that runs on AA batteries and
provides a decent amount of light and long run time. Any suggestions
from the group is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0307&sku=7916&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Quoted message said:

If the link is broken this is the Cateye EL300 Gigamax. It runs on 4
AA cells, offers decent run time, and puts out enough light for
motorists to see you coming and to slowly negotiate paved, unlit
streets and bike paths. I used this until I got a Shimano DH-3N70 hub
generator and a Busch & Müller Lumotec headlamp from Harris Cyclery
(http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/index.html). The Cateye has
been gathering dust ever since, and I won't use another battery
powered light again if I can help it. There are cheaper hub
generator/headlight combos available, and they're probably still
superior to any AA powered headlight.

Perhaps, but they're still more expensive, and can't be mounted/dismounted
easily. I prefer a small light that I can pop off and throw in my bag when I
leave my bike unattended.

The Cateye HL500 II Micro has always been considered the best of the AA-powered
lights. The EL300 doesn't give as much light, but has better battery life. The
newer EL500 is supposedly the equal of the Micro, with better battery life, but
is quite expensive for an AA unit. Peter White, who sells a bunch of these
lights plus the largest selection of generators in North America, says the Busch
and Muller is the best of the AA units.

www.peterwhitecycles.com

Matt O.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Matt O'Toole said:

mark said:

<[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Im looking for recommendations for good commuter headlights.
Specifically, I want something that runs on AA batteries and
provides a decent amount of light and long run time. Any suggestions
from the group is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0307&sku=7916&
storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Quoted message said:

If the link is broken this is the Cateye EL300 Gigamax. It runs on 4
AA cells, offers decent run time, and puts out enough light for
motorists to see you coming and to slowly negotiate paved, unlit
streets and bike paths. I used this until I got a Shimano DH-3N70 hub
generator and a Busch & Müller Lumotec headlamp from Harris Cyclery
(http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/lighting/index.html). The Cateye has
been gathering dust ever since, and I won't use another battery
powered light again if I can help it. There are cheaper hub
generator/headlight combos available, and they're probably still
superior to any AA powered headlight.

Perhaps, but they're still more expensive, and can't be mounted/dismounted
easily. I prefer a small light that I can pop off and throw in my bag when I
leave my bike unattended.

Alas, for those of us on campus, thieves are always on the lookout for
things like lights so portability is a must. Plus having a light in the
backpack is handy for things like dark doorways and even darker
keyholes, especially if you drop your keys in the grass.

Quoted message said:

The Cateye HL500 II Micro has always been considered the best of the
AA-powered
lights.

That's what I bought after a recommendation by Sheldon Brown and I've
been happy with it. Used it for the first time this season last night
when the sun went down before my ride was over.

As for batteries, get yourself a set of _good_ rechargeables. I get all
mine from these guys:

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/

I use AA batteries in my portable lights, radios, digital cameras, etc.
The Powerex batteries and MAHA rechargers were recommended by the guys
in the photography shop here. I'm still working on the first set of
batteries I got, I don't know how many cycles I've put them through but
I've had them for three years and I use them daily. They have paid for
themselves many times over.

I'm glad to see more people with lights (front and rear) these days. I'm
always shocked when I see someone riding at night with nothing but
reflectors. If it's some poor working guy trying to get home it's
somewhat understandable, but guys on bikes costing four figures need to
spend an extra $25 for a light.

--
Strayhorn

³Excuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.

yes, the cateyes rule. at the low end.
i'm known for the nite lights- one 300 and one yellow led clear lens
nashbar (photon) blinkie bar mounted
one long lens cateye rear with 2 yellow blinkies mounted perp each side
of the 'big' cateye as on an auto.
this setup receives much comment. i ride all year every day and now
with the sun going south of east lights every day.
everyone loves the blinkies-so i assume everyone sees them.
i plan to add another cateye headlamp unit low on the front forks for
3D into the killer potholes
and if had my druthers would add a head headlamp to see where i want to
see naturally rather than what the forks want to see.

Quoted message said:

i plan to add another cateye headlamp unit low on the front forks for
3D into the killer potholes
and if had my druthers would add a head headlamp to see where i want
to see naturally rather than what the forks want to see.

This is what I use when I actually want to see where I'm going -- a 6W Nightsun
Sunsport helmet lamp, in addition to the Cateye. Those little handlebar lights
are fine for tooling around town, but only at speeds up to 12-15 MPH. But even
at low speeds, I still have to ride carefully on dark streets.

The Sunsport has a similar beam pattern to the Micro, but is much brighter, with
a large cone of dim light around it. This is useful for seeing overhanging
branches, where I am on the road, etc. I can ride almost full speed with this
setup, and it still satisfies the easy-on, easy-off requirement (since it's on
my helmet anyway).

Though the Sunsport provides enough light by itself, I still think it's
important to have a handlebar lamp, to maintain the "light signature" of a
bicycle.

Matt O.

mark said:

<[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Im looking for recommendations for good commuter headlights.
Specifically, I want something that runs on AA batteries and provides a
decent amount of light and long run time. Any suggestions from the
group is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0307&sku=7916&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

If the link is broken this is the Cateye EL300 Gigamax. It runs on 4 AA
cells, offers decent run time, and puts out enough light for motorists to
see you coming and to slowly negotiate paved, unlit streets and bike paths.

The EL300 has 400 condlepower per Cateye. The EL500 has 1000
candlepower per Cateye. The Cateye Micro Halogen has 3000 candlepower
per Cateye. The EL300 is $29.95. The EL500 is $29.95. The Micro is
$9.95. I had both the EL500 and Micro. Put batteries into both and
turned them on side by side in a dark room. There was no comparison.
The Micro had lots of nice white light. The EL500 was a dim bluish
pitiful light. I sent all of the LED lights back and kept the Micro.
It only has 3 hours of life on its 4 AA batteries. But you get decent
light.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=13661&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=12377&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Quoted message said:

The EL300 has 400 condlepower per Cateye. The EL500 has 1000
candlepower per Cateye. The Cateye Micro Halogen has 3000 candlepower
per Cateye. The EL300 is $29.95. The EL500 is $29.95. The Micro is
$9.95. I had both the EL500 and Micro. Put batteries into both and
turned them on side by side in a dark room. There was no comparison.
The Micro had lots of nice white light. The EL500 was a dim bluish
pitiful light. I sent all of the LED lights back and kept the Micro.
It only has 3 hours of life on its 4 AA batteries. But you get decent
light.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=13661&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=12377&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

I agree completely. (But I couldn't get a photo of the Micro at the
above link.)

I got one of those to replace my previous Micro Halogen, which I gave
away to my daughter. One caution about the version above: It has a
sort of slider/toggle switch at the back, rather than the rubber-sealed
pushbutton of the older unit. I took it on one plane trip, and it
apparently spent its time lighting the inside of my luggage. :-(
Batteries were DOA. Since then I've trimmed the tab on the switch to
make accidental switching less likely.

Its beam is _very_ nice. Last night club ride I led, I lent it to a
guy who showed up with a 1.25 watt unit and weak batteries. It was
almost as good as my generator light.

Further question: Those Micros apparently have an option kit, to run
them off a bottle battery, for longer run time. I've never seen the
kit in real life. Has anyone?

- Frank Krygowski

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The EL300 has 400 condlepower per Cateye. The EL500 has 1000
candlepower per Cateye. The Cateye Micro Halogen has 3000
candlepower per Cateye. The EL300 is $29.95. The EL500 is $29.95.
The Micro is $9.95. I had both the EL500 and Micro. Put batteries
into both and turned them on side by side in a dark room. There was
no comparison. The Micro had lots of nice white light. The EL500
was a dim bluish pitiful light. I sent all of the LED lights back
and kept the Micro. It only has 3 hours of life on its 4 AA
batteries. But you get decent light.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=13661&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=12377&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Quoted message said:

I agree completely. (But I couldn't get a photo of the Micro at the
above link.)

I got one of those to replace my previous Micro Halogen, which I gave
away to my daughter. One caution about the version above: It has a
sort of slider/toggle switch at the back, rather than the
rubber-sealed pushbutton of the older unit. I took it on one plane
trip, and it apparently spent its time lighting the inside of my
luggage. :-( Batteries were DOA. Since then I've trimmed the tab on
the switch to make accidental switching less likely.

Mine does this too. Several times I've run the battery down inside my bag, and
had barely enough light to ride home.

Cateye has gone back to the rubber shielded pushbutton on its latest models,
like the EL500.

Quoted message said:

Its beam is _very_ nice. Last night club ride I led, I lent it to a
guy who showed up with a 1.25 watt unit and weak batteries. It was
almost as good as my generator light.

Further question: Those Micros apparently have an option kit, to run
them off a bottle battery, for longer run time. I've never seen the
kit in real life. Has anyone?

Supergo had piles of them a few years ago. The battery was a 6V lead-acid
bottle battery, and the lamp a 6W. It wasn't an accessory kit but a full setup,
with both single and dual lamp versions -- selling for $30 and $50, IIRC.

Since then I've been trying to find the 6W lamp and reflector kit, to use with
NiMH AA batteries.

BTW, Turbocat got its start selling hop-up kits for Cateye lights -- brighter
bulbs and bottle batteries. But now that one can get a 10W MR11 kit from
Performance/Nashbar for $3x.00, there's no point in marketing such things:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17690&subcategory_ID=4320

Matt O.

Matt O'Toole said:

BTW, Turbocat got its start selling hop-up kits for Cateye lights -- brighter
bulbs and bottle batteries. But now that one can get a 10W MR11 kit from
Performance/Nashbar for $3x.00, there's no point in marketing such things:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17690&subcategory_ID=4320

True, you wouldn't make money competing against those discount*closeout
prices. But one advantage the original TurboCat products had was they
took advantage of the excellent Cateye optics.

Cateyes of the time were running just 1.25 watt halogen bulbs, IIRC.
They relied on great optics to do a (barely) passable job of lighting
the road. Turbocat put in hotter bulbs and attached battery packs for
more brightness and longer run time.

By using the Cateye lenses, the lumens went where they needed to be.
At the very least, they had a rectangular rather than conical beam.
And Cateyes of the day had spherical reflectors in front of the bulb to
capture what would have been wasted light. For the rider, all this
would mean longer battery life for a given battery and given level of
visibility.

Too bad NightSun convinced everyone to use MR-11 optics, with their
fuzzy conical beam. OK for off-road, but lots of waste for pavement.

- Frank Krygowski

Quoted message said:

It only has 3 hours of life on its 4 AA batteries. But you get decent lie>

so every other time you ride, the micro's batt power decreases to the
point where the micro is equal to the LED cateye?
the 300 i use gives adequate light out to 40' with a 6x6' bright spot
then a 20'x10' dimly lit halo area surrounding the brightn area.
useful batt life is around 15-20 hours.
i keep all lights in poly bags-trying to carefor the lights like a
telescope.
spray with electronic equipment jiffy spray
and remove batts from the 300 when not in use.

Quoted message said:

Im looking for recommendations for good commuter headlights.
Specifically, I want something that runs on AA batteries and provides a
decent amount of light and long run time. Any suggestions from the
group is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Cateye LED lights fill the bill. Long run time, easy on/off handlebar
mounting, not expensive.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The EL300 has 400 condlepower per Cateye. The EL500 has 1000
candlepower per Cateye. The Cateye Micro Halogen has 3000 candlepower
per Cateye. The EL300 is $29.95. The EL500 is $29.95. The Micro is
$9.95. I had both the EL500 and Micro. Put batteries into both and
turned them on side by side in a dark room. There was no comparison.
The Micro had lots of nice white light. The EL500 was a dim bluish
pitiful light. I sent all of the LED lights back and kept the Micro.
It only has 3 hours of life on its 4 AA batteries. But you get decent
light.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=13661&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=101&subcategory=1067&brand=&sku=12377&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

I agree completely. (But I couldn't get a photo of the Micro at the
above link.)

Here are some pictures of the Cateye Micro Halogen II and the optional
kit. It appears to me the kit uses 4 D or C batteries in a bottle case
and runs the light. The two sites below list D and C so I'm not sure
which is right. One site lists a 6 watt bulb upgrade to go with the
optional battery pack.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1234

http://www.geehinchan.com/cateye/battery.htm

Branford has some odd looking configurations of this Cateye light.

http://www.branfordbike.com/lights/lights7.html

Quoted message said:

I got one of those to replace my previous Micro Halogen, which I gave
away to my daughter. One caution about the version above: It has a
sort of slider/toggle switch at the back, rather than the rubber-sealed
pushbutton of the older unit. I took it on one plane trip, and it
apparently spent its time lighting the inside of my luggage. :-(
Batteries were DOA. Since then I've trimmed the tab on the switch to
make accidental switching less likely.

Its beam is _very_ nice. Last night club ride I led, I lent it to a
guy who showed up with a 1.25 watt unit and weak batteries. It was
almost as good as my generator light.

Further question: Those Micros apparently have an option kit, to run
them off a bottle battery, for longer run time. I've never seen the
kit in real life. Has anyone?

- Frank Krygowski

David Damerell said:

Normally I would recommend a dynamo system with its infinite run time. I
guess you could stow some AA batteries in your pocket while using it...

For when you're stopped at an intersection you can throw them at cars
so they see you?

Quoting hhy <88i>:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Normally I would recommend a dynamo system with its infinite run time. I
guess you could stow some AA batteries in your pocket while using it...

For when you're stopped at an intersection you can throw them at cars
so they see you?

If I'm riding ten years ago before the invention and ready availability of
standlights, sure, but I don't ride with the Doctor much these days.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
Today is Second Leicesterday, September.