Rechargable Lights

SexyGreyFox · 22 Oct 2016 at 16:41

Also consider the one I've got - http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Blackburn-Central-700-USB-Rechargeable-Front-Light_85296.htm
To be honest I luckily got mine for £30 so if I was to choose again at the £50 price point I would choose the Lezyne.

lemonade · 24 Oct 2016 at 14:19

I'm struggling to find a suitable front light. I have a set of cateye fron and rear lights, but I am after a main front light to point down so I can the road surface for potholes, drain covers etc.

Would like one that is USB rechargable and 300 lumens and with stand the rain. Budget is £30.

Does anyone have any recommendations please?

This one is appealing but has bad reviews on its longevity and the usb cover falling off.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-micro-drive-400xl-front-light-y9/

I bought another from Amazon which burnt out when charging, waiting to be rteurned!

SexyGreyFox · 24 Oct 2016 at 19:41

Blackburn Central 300

bloodiedathame · 24 Oct 2016 at 20:33

I bought some of these last week: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01FVUTQNK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not USB rechargable but they have a battery pack and a mains charger. So bright. Actually bought them from this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GZWIL34/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 via the promotion, so I have the 5000 and 6600 lumen ones. (The plan was one for the bike and one for the helmet - not tried it on my helmet yet).

lordrobs · 24 Oct 2016 at 21:25

bloodiedathame said:
I bought some of these last week: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01FVUTQNK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not USB rechargable but they have a battery pack and a mains charger. So bright. Actually bought them from this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GZWIL34/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 via the promotion, so I have the 5000 and 6600 lumen ones. (The plan was one for the bike and one for the helmet - not tried it on my helmet yet).

Second link is what I have. Can't fault it TBH. Unlit country roads ridden in the pitch black as quick as my pathetic legs will take me and I still don't need to crank it up to high. Over 2 years old and still on the original battery pack too but if you want a second and aren't in a rush for it you can get them from places like DX for about £7.

lemonade · 24 Oct 2016 at 22:33

Thank you for the suggestions, much appreciated.

I saw that Amazon one, it does look like a very good spec, but the charging system is slightly impractical for me. I really like the look of the Blackburn 300, seems to fit the bill so I will order that.

lemonade · 3 Nov 2016 at 19:06

So the Blackburn arrived a few days ago, decent light, I think I should have gone for more lumens as 300 isn't that bright but good enough for the city. Only gripe with it is the mount is rubbish and it just slides down on bumpy surfaces/roads. Will need to velcro it to stop it moving.

Annoyingly the Cateye Volt 300 has come on sale on CRC for £25, would have snapped that up, can't beat Japanese design and quality, the mount on those is superb and quick release would have been nice for when recharging.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cateye-volt-300-usb-headlight/rp-prod153265

Skillmister · 3 Nov 2016 at 19:32

SexyGreyFox said:
Also consider the one I've got - http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Blackburn-Central-700-USB-Rechargeable-Front-Light_85296.htm
To be honest I luckily got mine for £30 so if I was to choose again at the £50 price point I would choose the Lezyne.

I ended up getting this. Was £45 after discounts and cashback. Very impressed with it. Mounted on my helmet perfectly and was plenty bright enough for riding trails in a pitch black forest.

SexyGreyFox · 3 Nov 2016 at 19:33

lemonade said:
So the Blackburn arrived a few days ago, decent light, I think I should have gone for more lumens as 300 isn't that bright but good enough for the city. Only gripe with it is the mount is rubbish and it just slides down on bumpy surfaces/roads. Will need to velcro it to stop it moving.

Funnily enough I've only had mine on 300 but I did try 700 on one small path this evening and then went back to 300.
I also do a lot bumping over kerbs and on rough surface and my mount (strap) hasn't shifted 1mm.

SexyGreyFox · 3 Nov 2016 at 20:12

lemonade said:
I think I should have gone for more lumens as 300 isn't that bright but good enough for the city.

Here is the film I took tonight going from 300 to 700 - http://www.disturbinthepeace.co.uk/pics3/300to700.mp4

lemonade · 3 Nov 2016 at 22:45

SexyGreyFox said:
Funnily enough I've only had mine on 300 but I did try 700 on one small path this evening and then went back to 300.
I also do a lot bumping over kerbs and on rough surface and my mount (strap) hasn't shifted 1mm.

Here is the film I took tonight going from 300 to 700 - http://www.disturbinthepeace.co.uk/pics3/300to700.mp4

The 700 looks a lot better in my opinion, you don't have to focus too much as everything is more visible.

With the strap mount, I put it up one notch today which was better didn't fall all the way down like yesterday, but it is a bit stretched on that notch and looks stressed, so I am going to use a bit of velcro underneath to give it a bit of grip. Maybe the finish on my handlebars gives the rubber surface less grip.

SexyGreyFox · 3 Nov 2016 at 23:17

lemonade said:
With the strap mount, I put it up one notch today which was better didn't fall all the way down like yesterday, but it is a bit stretched on that notch and looks stressed, so I am going to use a bit of velcro underneath to give it a bit of grip. Maybe the finish on my handlebars gives the rubber surface less grip.

I understand what you're getting at now

hornetstinger · 3 Nov 2016 at 23:18

Bought the new Aldi cob lights, £13 each and very good. Much brighter than the £9.99 LED set.

Skillmister · 4 Nov 2016 at 08:46

As above when I went out with the blackburn 700 on my bars I found that 1 of the notches was slightly too loose but the next one up just wouldn't reach without looking like the strap would be far too stretched. As a result on the bumpy bits it ended up tilting down at the floor. On the helmet its fine though.

SexyGreyFox · 4 Nov 2016 at 09:48

Skillmister said:
As above when I went out with the blackburn 700 on my bars I found that 1 of the notches was slightly too loose but the next one up just wouldn't reach without looking like the strap would be far too stretched. As a result on the bumpy bits it ended up tilting down at the floor. On the helmet its fine though.

It fits my hybrid perfectly without being stretched but we'll see when I swop over to my MTB soon. Thanks to the above for the velcro tip just in case.

Incidentally I've just converted one of my old front light holders to hold my new Drift Stealth action cam.

kthula666 · 6 Nov 2016 at 12:44

Bontrager Flare R Light. £40-50

Daytime use too.

Best red light I have ever used.

bontrager-flare-rt-tail-light-p12700-38733_image_zpszs8vujdx.jpg

SexyGreyFox · 6 Nov 2016 at 12:57

kthula666 said:
Bontrager Flare R Light. £40-50

I've got this one and it's been commented on by a couple of motorists - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/topeak-redlite-mega-rear-light/rp-prod83893 but that looks better.

kthula666 · 6 Nov 2016 at 13:49

SexyGreyFox said:
I've got this one and it's been commented on by a couple of motorists - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/topeak-redlite-mega-rear-light/rp-prod83893 but that looks better.

I have used a few rear lights but was looking for daylight warning too. This light I can not say how much its small size does not state its brightness.

No contest with anything I have used.

Anyone looking for something over the darker months get this light.

lemonade · 7 Nov 2016 at 11:58

What kind of batteries would you guys recommend to use on bike lights for lights that are not rechargeable? I have a Cateye for the rear lights which uses AAA batteries, pondering whether to get a big box of Philips PowerLife or to get rechargeable batteries that I can use in it, but unsure how long those would last for.

SexyGreyFox · 7 Nov 2016 at 18:05

lemonade said:
What kind of batteries would you guys recommend to use on bike lights for lights that are not rechargeable? I have a Cateye for the rear lights which uses AAA batteries, pondering whether to get a big box of Philips PowerLife or to get rechargeable batteries that I can use in it, but unsure how long those would last for.

I got a big box from Maplin and just two batteries will last me through the dark nights (20 minute commute).