Best front/rear lights for helmet mount?

Shane Gibson

2012-10-09

+1 on bar mount vs. helmet mount for COMMUTING ...

I also *highly* recommend you focus more energy on tail lights. Plural,
not singular. I often see commuters with a single sad blinking red tail
light that the battery has gone so weak on, it's completely useless.
Sometimes they get positioned so something on the bike, rider, etc. is
covering the blinking up partially.

I highly recommend at least 2 rear, quality lights. I mount one on the
seat stay on the left side, and I wear one clipped to my back pack. If I
don't have a pack, I have one clipped to my seat bag with spare tube,
etc...

By running at least two lights, you are more assured that if one battery
runs down, or one light fails, you still have a working light. Two lights
are also much more visible to drivers. The front light is always good to
have, but you (should be) riding with traffic, which makes your visibility
more important from behind you. You can see and react to things in front
of you much better.

When it comes to commuting, I think more is always better, as safety in the
early morning or waning hours is critical - especially with cranky drivers
on the way to/from work...

~~shane

--
"Opportunities multiply as they are seized." - Sun Tzu

On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 9:32 AM, wrote:

> lightonlights are built by fellow obra member, Team Nomads and engineer
> Brian Engelen. I have one of his lights (not sure of the model, but he
> could tell you). I think he is not racing right now as he is doing much
> father stuff with his two kids who are doing things other than racing bikes
> (can you believe it?! People actually have other interests.....Isn't that
> blasphemy?).
> I mount mine on my bars not helmet. This thing is crazy good at lighting
> things up! I charged the batteries the day of the first Blind date, have
> raced the three races so far and all I do is remove the batteries when
> done. Have not had to recharge them and will not for tomorrow's race for
> sure. I run it low, but still have more than enough light!
> I agree with Matt Savage with regard to helmet mount headlights and
> blinding of other riders / drivers. The one advantage of having both bar
> and helmet mount lights would be if you are traveling through areas where
> there are NO streetlights or very long sections without light. The added
> light and ability of the helmet light to point is in specific directions
> might make your upcoming surface more visible.
> For general commuting in the city with plenty of light from streets and
> business (you can see surface pretty well).............I personally think
> blinking lights are more safe as they catch the human eye (drivers /
> whoever). But I love my lighton light!!!!!
> ron s
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Rick Johnson
> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 8:33 AM
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Best front/rear lights for helmet mount?
>
>
> Have a look at this Portland company offering American made products:
> http://lightonlights.com/
>
> They even have a demo program!
>
> Rick Johnson
> Bend Oregon
>
> * * *
>
> This news has been sanitized for your preconceptions
>
> On 10/9/2012 7:46 AM, Ryan wrote:
>
>> After seeing a commuter blind me this morning with lights, I decided I
>> need more visibility (also almost being clipped every morning needs to
>> stop).
>>
>> Light & Motion Vis 360 looks nice, but seems some people have quality
>> issues. I love my NiteRider lights, but looking for something a little more
>> slim for helmet use.
>>
>> Reviews? Ideas? Good deals? Thanks!
>> ______________________________**_________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/**listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>
> ______________________________**_________________
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rondot@spiritone.com

2012-10-09

lightonlights are built by fellow obra member, Team Nomads and engineer
Brian Engelen. I have one of his lights (not sure of the model, but he
could tell you). I think he is not racing right now as he is doing much
father stuff with his two kids who are doing things other than racing bikes
(can you believe it?! People actually have other interests.....Isn't that
blasphemy?).
I mount mine on my bars not helmet. This thing is crazy good at lighting
things up! I charged the batteries the day of the first Blind date, have
raced the three races so far and all I do is remove the batteries when done.
Have not had to recharge them and will not for tomorrow's race for sure. I
run it low, but still have more than enough light!
I agree with Matt Savage with regard to helmet mount headlights and blinding
of other riders / drivers. The one advantage of having both bar and helmet
mount lights would be if you are traveling through areas where there are NO
streetlights or very long sections without light. The added light and
ability of the helmet light to point is in specific directions might make
your upcoming surface more visible.
For general commuting in the city with plenty of light from streets and
business (you can see surface pretty well).............I personally think
blinking lights are more safe as they catch the human eye (drivers /
whoever). But I love my lighton light!!!!!
ron s

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 8:33 AM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Best front/rear lights for helmet mount?

Have a look at this Portland company offering American made products:
http://lightonlights.com/

They even have a demo program!

Rick Johnson
Bend Oregon

* * *

This news has been sanitized for your preconceptions

On 10/9/2012 7:46 AM, Ryan wrote:
> After seeing a commuter blind me this morning with lights, I decided I
> need more visibility (also almost being clipped every morning needs to
> stop).
>
> Light & Motion Vis 360 looks nice, but seems some people have quality
> issues. I love my NiteRider lights, but looking for something a little
> more slim for helmet use.
>
> Reviews? Ideas? Good deals? Thanks!
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

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I have a couple of 1000 lumen (You can run it on reduced brightness as
well)
http://www.lightjunction.com/Lumintrek-bicycle-lights.html?zenid=b731c97cd593452535010a9ccbfc4fbf
They
have a 5 year warranty and are serviced here in the US. Helmet and
handlebar mounts. If you search around you can even get 15% off if you
spend over $100 (there was a 39cent battery which allowed me to use that
coupon)

The extra/replacement batteries are not even a bad price.

John

On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 8:41 AM, Benjamin Drucker <
benjamin.t.drucker@alum.mit.edu> wrote:

> I just got a cygolite expilion which I used last week at blind date. It
> is 700 lumens, helmet and handlebar mounts, USB charge, just over $100 at
> REI with member coupon. I like it.
> On Oct 9, 2012 8:13 AM, "Ryan" wrote:
>
>> After seeing a commuter blind me this morning with lights, I decided I
>> need more visibility (also almost being clipped every morning needs to
>> stop).
>>
>> Light & Motion Vis 360 looks nice, but seems some people have quality
>> issues. I love my NiteRider lights, but looking for something a little more
>> slim for helmet use.
>>
>> Reviews? Ideas? Good deals? Thanks!
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>


Benjamin Drucker

2012-10-09

I just got a cygolite expilion which I used last week at blind date. It is
700 lumens, helmet and handlebar mounts, USB charge, just over $100 at REI
with member coupon. I like it.
On Oct 9, 2012 8:13 AM, "Ryan" wrote:

> After seeing a commuter blind me this morning with lights, I decided I
> need more visibility (also almost being clipped every morning needs to
> stop).
>
> Light & Motion Vis 360 looks nice, but seems some people have quality
> issues. I love my NiteRider lights, but looking for something a little more
> slim for helmet use.
>
> Reviews? Ideas? Good deals? Thanks!
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>


Rick Johnson

2012-10-09

Have a look at this Portland company offering American made products:
http://lightonlights.com/

They even have a demo program!

Rick Johnson
Bend Oregon

* * *

This news has been sanitized for your preconceptions

On 10/9/2012 7:46 AM, Ryan wrote:
> After seeing a commuter blind me this morning with lights, I decided I need more visibility (also almost being clipped every morning needs to stop).
>
> Light & Motion Vis 360 looks nice, but seems some people have quality issues. I love my NiteRider lights, but looking for something a little more slim for helmet use.
>
> Reviews? Ideas? Good deals? Thanks!
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org


matt Savage

2012-10-09

I have an idea, keep the lights on your bars... The last thing I want in
the morning is 500 lumens in my face. Few things piss me off more than
commuters with ultra bright headlamps staring me down as they go by...

(this suggestion is intended to be constructive...)

On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 7:46 AM, Ryan wrote:

> After seeing a commuter blind me this morning with lights, I decided I
> need more visibility (also almost being clipped every morning needs to
> stop).
>
> Light & Motion Vis 360 looks nice, but seems some people have quality
> issues. I love my NiteRider lights, but looking for something a little more
> slim for helmet use.
>
> Reviews? Ideas? Good deals? Thanks!
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>


After seeing a commuter blind me this morning with lights, I decided I need more visibility (also almost being clipped every morning needs to stop).

Light & Motion Vis 360 looks nice, but seems some people have quality issues. I love my NiteRider lights, but looking for something a little more slim for helmet use.

Reviews? Ideas? Good deals? Thanks!