Introduction to Lights - Front
(You can also check out our other guides to: Rear Lights, Turbo Trainers and Cycle Jackets).
| If you're not currently making use of the dark winter nights to keep up your saddle time, you're seriously limiting your bike time. Time and technology have moved on from the dark and flickering lights of yesteryear. Modern bike lights are lightweight and longer running, thanks to great advances in battery technology, brighter, thanks to clearer lenses and more finely focussed reflectors. Sooner or later every bike rider is going to need a set quality bicycle lights weather lightweight units just for the odd early/late commute, right up to the latest high tech super bright lights designed for those who like to get out during the night for a more sporting ride. |
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Front lights vary in price greatly, ranging from lights to be seen with in city traffic to ones that will light up the trail for off road riding at night, so choosing the right light for your needs is important. LED's are the common choice for cycle lights now and have many benefits, longer run times and life being the two most important. Just try to choose the correct light for your needs, the following guide should help you with some of the most common features and terms used on today's lights.
Considerations before you buy
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Before buying, it would be worth considering the following:
Where will you be riding? Will it be on well lit roads, country lanes or off road? There is a light for you to fulfill all these needs. If you will be riding on well lit roads a compact styled LED light is the best option, their bright nature means other road users can see them (and you) over duller lights, they are especially effective when used in there flashing mode.
If you are riding on unlit roads, such as country lanes, you will need a light which gives off a beam that you can see with, again LED's are commonly used, lights intended for this purpose will feature specific lens technology to spread the beam across the riding surface. |
Off road lighting
If riding off road you really should be looking at a rechargeable light set, the more you spend, the better you get with regards to lens and battery technology. More sophisticated lenses offer improved light spread which means you can ride quickly, safely, see obstacles more clearly and ride with confidence. Battery technology improves run times, especially in cooler conditions, which can reduce run times in Lead Acid and NiCad battery powered systems. When viewing lights look for run times, brightness levels/type and features such as battery warning indicators for off-road use, if one of these is not featured it can cut short an evening ride and leave you in the dark (always take a backup light for emergencies, compact LED's are ideal due to their long battery run times).
Rechargeable Battery Types
| Batteries have a huge impact on the light, the more you spend the better the battery should be, higher quality batteries will provide longer run times and more versatility with regards to charge cycles. The four main battery types which are used in rechargeable lights are as follows, Lead Acid is the most basic, followed by NiCad (Nickel Cadmium), then NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) and finally the superior Li-Ion (Lithium Ion). Battery run times are dependent on a few factors, temperature, bulb output mode and time. Flashing and low output levels will increase the run time, but you cannot ride off road in these modes. Each battery type has different care requirements, which means slightly different techniques for storage and recharging, these must be followed to maximize battery life and avoid damage. |
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Lead acid and NiCad (Nickel-Cadnium)
are the cheapest, they are low in technology and heavier than the more sophisticated Ni-MH and Li-Ion. NiCad batteries need to be fully discharged (but not over-discharged) before recharging to prevent damage to the battery. This means you cannot do small top up charges (which could damage the battery). Always refer to the manufacturers guidelines when charging and discharging a battery. Lead acid and NiCad are also sensitive to cold weather and run times will be reduced, so do not rely on the maximum run times and always keep a backup light with you in case of being caught away from home, a compact LED is ideal as it can be used to get you to and from your off road or unlit section of the ride.
Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride)
are a popular choice of battery as they are easier to maintain than the Lead acid and Ni-Cad battery types, they also do not require a full discharge before recharging, you also have the benefit of twice the capacity of a NiCad, which means increased run times and more versatility.
Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion)
are the most sophisticated of all the battery types and are used in mobile phones and cameras, they offer low weights and superior run times to all other types, but they do cost more than the other three types. But when you consider their low weight, longer run times and ease of maintenance they are often the most cost effective choice in the long term.
Entry Level Lights
| Generally the entry level is dominated by commuting lights which use standard off-the-shelf alkaline batteries. It is extremely rare to find filament bulbs as most modern lights now use some form of LED bulbs for durability, long life and better battery performance. Look out for water resistant housings, low battery indicators, quick release mounting brackets. |
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Intermediate Level Lights
You're now starting to get serious about front lights and many at thislevelwill be offered with integrated battery packs or chargers which plug directly into the light units themselves. This means lights can be used and recharged at home ofoffice using chargers supplied with the lights. Some will have helmet mount options too, so check the spec if that's a feature you think you'd like.
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Performance Level Lights
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The prices of the top of the range bicycle lights can make you wince, butnot as much as their incredible ability to light up the night can. Again most are using LED bulbs but with a variety of lightweight high discharge Lithium based battery types which can give burn times that will have you riding most of the night if you wish to do so.
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- USB Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack
- O-ring mount with easy release tab (fit any bar)
- Only 175 grams!
- 110+ Lumens
- 3:00 HR Run Time
- System Contains: Battery, Smart charger, Bar mount
- First bike light to feature a Li-ion battery capable of being charged from the USB port of your PC or wall outlet
- Full-featured, yet even more miniature sized, lighting system
- Minewt Mini is suitable for both on and off road use
- MiNewt Mini-USB utilises a glassfibre reinforced plastic casing that is tough as nails
- Light is captured and focused using a specially developed reflector
- Low-loss borofloat glass lens to ensure it produces over 110 lumens of bright usable light
- MiNewt Mini-USB now features a battery charging indicator
- Switching from red to green when the battery is fully charged
Wiggle price £79.99 (More HERE)
- Output: 480 Lumen Output on Max
- Emitters: Seoul P4 x 2
- 3 hour burn time on High Beam, 10hr on Dip Beam plus flashing mode (days!)
- Lithium Ion Battery Technology - long life, low memory
- Smart Port Technology - run rear lights etc (not at same time as remote switch)
- Quick Release Bracket
- Light Mode Indicator/Fuel Gauge
- Cable free - fully contained design
- Accepts Piggyback batteries - extend the burn times
- Weight: 228g with QR bracket
- Sealed against the elements
- Two year full warranty
- The only highout LED front light on the market that is specifically designed for Road use
- The twin collimated lens technology gives two beam batterns, Flood and Flat
- Remote switch is supplied as standard so the light can be operated easily from the handlebars with thick winter gloves on
Wiggle price £219.49 (More HERE)
- New leader of the pack for when you need maximum output and maximum run time!
- High output 6 LED lightset
- Custom engineered reflector provides an optimised beam pattern which gives a broad coverage and long line-of-sight
- A tight top cut off; no wasted light into the sky, concentrated centre for a long line of sight
- Reflectors are the best way to control beam pattern, whereas lenses filter light and can dramatically reduce output
- Multiple power settings with programmable cruise or race modes
- Cast aluminium heat sink and cooling fins
- Stainless steel posi-click on/off button
- Includes multi-chem smart charger with short 3.30 hour recharge time
- 9-cell 11.1v Li-Ion battery weighs only 486 g
- Low battery warning and auto shut-off to prevent damage
- Universal, tool-free bar and helmet mounts included!
- Multi-sport head strap compatible
- Lumens / run time, High: 900 / 3.30 hours, Medium: 450 / 7 hours, Low: 225 / 14 hours, Flash: n/a / 100+ hours
- Includes hard storage case with internal dividers for storing lights when not in use
- System weight: 686 grams
Wiggle price £524.49 (More HERE)
