Mountain bike lighting options.

[TommyTheCat]

I recently stopped by the store where purchased my mountain bike from and was looking around at some of the lighting options where it looks like you could easily spend well over $100 on a single piece of lighting equipment.

Prices like that make me shudder and consider some type of MacGyver solution to save a good chunk of money.

But beyond that for those of you who do ride at night what do you use for a lighting system? Anything specific to keep in mind when selecting equipment and where to ride?

Any input would be appreciated as I would love to ride through the winter other than on the weekends.

Thank you very much for any input you can lend me :)

-TtC

[Tim]

TtC, if you look through the forums there are a number of threads on homebrew lighting - looks like it will save you some money if you have the ingenuity. From reading on the subject, it looks like the lamp mount is what gives people the most trouble.

I ride weekday mornings, before work, starting at 5AM, so there's really only about 2 months a year that I don't use lights for at least part of the ride. At present I use a Jet halogen helmet mount and a Light and Motion HID bar mount, total cost probably around $600. Expensive, reliable, and ultra-bright. The halogen is less bright than the HID, and a different color, so the combination makes it easier to see the trail contours. Prior to getting the HID, I just ran the Jet and it was OK, but helmet lights alone do make it tough to see holes as all the shadows wash out. After breaking a finger going OTB, I added the bar light to the mix.

I have 4 years on the Jet and 2 on the L&M, and they have been worth the every penny. Prices have actually come down recently (hint: check eBay before paying dealer prices).

Tim

[TommyTheCat]

Yeah it really makes me sick to consider spending half a grand on lighting. Thanks for the advice I'll look around for some of the homebrew to see if I can find anything applyable for me :)

Appreciate the response Tim,

-TtC

[Jisch]

I have nothing to add to this thread but I wanted to say...

"Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto thee...

Say baby do you wanna lay down by me"

[S2RT]

N/R Extreme, 10w spot, helmet mount, Ni MH battery, ~$100 on line is all you need til you hit 50. Why spend all that effort building when you can buy then ride.

[TommyTheCat]

N/R Extreme, 10w spot, helmet mount, Ni MH battery, ~$100 on line is all you need til you hit 50. Why spend all that effort building when you can buy then ride.

I searched on that and couldn't get anything to come up.... What's the company make and model?

-TtC

[Jisch]

I searched on that and couldn't get anything to come up.... What's the company make and model?

-TtC

NiteRider

John

[TommyTheCat]

I am so n00b in terminology and brand names :\

At least I can ride well :)

-TtC

[Slappy]

I agree that there's no need to spend big $$ on a lights. Been niteriding a long time and 10 or 12 watts of halogen gets me by fine. I also have found the more bells and whistles, the more likely the thing is gonna break down a whole lot sooner - I'm running a 13 year old, cheap lead/acid Vistalite now, as it's the only system that hasn't died within a few years of purchase.

Primus sucks!

[hogboy]

I use one of the 400 dollar HID systems and would never, ever go back...

it is bright

lasts for the whole ride no complaining from battery

drivers popping out of side roads on your way to the trails notice you
and stop almost 100% of the time....old school lights never did that for me

[fisherking]

I just went for my first night ride on Friday and 1) it was awesome, like a new trail... 2) My 10w Halogen + 3W LED helmet seemed to work fine.... until I rode next/behind my friend with a HID... What a difference. I think you can ride fine with a light like mine, but the HID is pretty awesome.
If I ride a lot at night I will consider it... steep price of admission though...

[heckler19]

Niterider HIDs are in the neighborhood of $250 or so from various sources. Still pricey, but reliable and worth every penny. Get the kind with a simple on/off switch, don't bother with the fancy LED add-ons. Notwithstanding comments about contrast issues, helmet mount is the way to go. If you remember to recharge them, they're good for 3.5 hrs or so, so you won't be limping in with the dreaded little brown spot unless you do mega night rides.

[TommyTheCat]

Well I went to a store which had a halogen 150ish solution then one of those 400 HID.....

I hate to say but I may be dropping 4 bills on the HID light. I was urked about having to spend a possible 200 for halogen but those HID lights are incredible.

-TtC