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Hi,
I need a new light. What light is good for road riding on dark country lanes etc.
Medium sized budget but I'd also quite like good battery life e.g. 3/4 hour rides in dark. I'd be happy to have a battery pack if that keeps costs down.
Cheers for any recommendations...
By lanes, do you mean tarmac roads or something else - what's the "worst" thing you could hit ?
Much oncoming traffic ?
presumably "3/4" is "three to four" and not "three quarters" ?
Can you put a number to your budget ?
What's a 'medium-sized budget' in pound sterling? I'm quite tempted by the new Exposure STVZO compliant lights, but they're probably too expensive.
The potential problem you have is that there are any number of off-road lights that'll light the road up for you to see with, but pretty much all of them will dazzle oncoming traffic.
Edit: Exposure has the 2017 Strada for £200 in its outlet store, which would do the job okay, but may be out of budget for you.
I use this since two years:
The bar clamping works fine as long as you put a piece of rubber (hose) under the clamp.
Bit heavy. But you can bike hours and hours in total darkness. Perfect for pitch black forest roads.
Tried to bike "trails" in night with this light: works only when biking fairly slow. For difficult trails you will need a light with "wider light".
But for forest roads or country lanes perfect.
Expensive so.
Eposure Strada is brilliant, my road light . I have the 900 output and plenty good enough. But I also use a Joystick on the helmet to view the cockpit in pitch black roads. on a low setting and turn it up for descending.
But go for the brightest one you can afford.
I cover the joystick with my hand if a car approaching so not to blind them or angle my head away from them
Not many cars on my roads so not a problem.
The Strada does not blind them.
I have the strada, it's good but not quite as bright as I expected.
Only really notice that when going fast down hill I on twisty potholed lanes though.
The new bikehut light is epic for the money and with the remire you can toggle the modes easily to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
Fenix BC30R. Pretty bright, and a shaped beam, so doesn't dazzle other traffic too much. About £100.
Or the Fenix BC21R is not bad (though the mount is a bit wobbly), about £60.
Just noticed there's now the BC35R, maybe a better cut-off beam shape.
Hiya - thanks for replies so far.
Medium budget? Mmm I'd be happy if I could spend less than £130? And very happy if under £100.
By dark lanes I mean roads with no lights that have holes etc - to me, in the dark these are more dangerous than oncoming cars..I live in the Peaks and I ride in the hills at night..
For the type of riding you are describing I would get a dynamo light. You could get a dynamo front wheel and a light for well under £130 from Rose or one of the other German shops.
I got a used Exposure Strada 800 for £100.
It's very good and my riding is similar
I have tried many and now use an exposure six pack. Our local roads are terrible in places with mud, gravel and huge pot holes. I got fed up of not being able to go fast enough on training rides. The six pack on high reflex setting means I can keep a similar average speed / power to day time riding. For slower road rides I rarely turn it off the low reflex setting.
I have a Ravemen pr1200. Has two lenses, one with a cut-off beam and a high beam. It has a remote to switch between settings so you can keep your hands on the bars/hoods. Can keep a good pace up with it and feels pretty high quality.
SolarStorm with aftermarket, big battery here.
No issues whatsoever...
Cheers!
I.
I’ve got a lightly used Strada 1200 that I’d sell for £140 posted if you’re interested?
email in profile if you are.
& I've got an unused Hope V4 (900 lumens) that you can have for £75.
Email in profile.
The new bikehut light is epic for the money and with the remire you can toggle the modes easily to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
The lights do look good, my only concern is there appears to be far too many modes, including stupid flashing ones. Is it programmable (ideally using the remote) to simply flip between High/Low modes rather than cycle through the lot?
Ixon IQ Premium, ideally on a fork crown mount. Uses AA batteries, which I view as a good thing because carrying spares is easy. Cost around £70, and works well on the rubbish that passes for roads in the Highlands.
Ixon IQ Premium
This IXON IQ Premium is the "newer" model I guess
I use this since two years:
Mine is called "Ixon IQ LED". Around 60 GBP with charger and batteries.
IQ Premium: twice as much "light" ... Must be extreme bright. My "normal" Ixon IQ LED is already very bright...