After 12+ years of working remotely, I work for a company with offices about 25 miles from my home, 90% of which distance is accessible via rail trail. I’ve been making plans to finally commute by bike again, probably 1-2 days per week. It’s been so long since I did this regularly that I have no real gear for nighttime commuting (just a standard Serfas handlebar light that flashes or runs solid, and is more of a safety thing than an actual source of illumination).
Approaching 60, with cataracts already, I’d like a headlight that could light a pro sports stadium, but can be dimmed when another cyclist approaches. Needs to last maybe 1.5 hrs max.
* Who is the go-to manufacturer these days?
* And all joking aside, what lumen rating should I be looking for in order to keep an unlit trail bright and safe (including from game and rodents of unusual size).
* What would that change if I mentioned part of the trail travels for about 1/2 mile through a city park more famed for its drug and sex trade than its beauty?
* Finally, any other considerations if I wanted to use the same light for after dark fat tire cycling on packed snowmobile trails, occasionally?
Related, I plan on riding with two low- mount front panniers. US law prohibits using red blinkies on the front of a bike, so should I just buy a couple white blinkies, or maybe yellow and mount them on the side? The goal with those is just to attract a lot of attention for those two miles on surface streets.
Solving world peace would be optionally great, too…
Photo of my trusty steed, for attention.
by john_with_a_camera
9 Comments
I would look into cataract surgery. if it is appropriate, it is a game changer, especially with vision at night and using illumination. Go see an ophthalmologist and ask for a glare test. I had no idea how bad my vision was until I got it corrected.
Bring us back some sage brush!
I’d like my eyesight to be dodgy so as to not see the 23% sign 😳
If there any deer in your area, and if the rail trail is fairly quiet and secluded, you will encounter them. Particularly the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset.
Outbound MTB light + helmet lamp. You’ll see the future.
I use the lezyne 1400+ macro drive and it would fit your needs. They have the 2400+ mega drive that would more than fit your needs.
If i put my macro drive on full, cars flash their headlights at me.
Enjoy your commute – I envy you!
I recently got a Sigma Buster 2000 HL, it’s very nice. Can recommend.
I’d recommend a Fenix BC30 v2.0 light. I have two of these on winter night rides and best part is it comes with a wireless toggle switch which you can change brightness or use single button click for max brightness which reverts back to previous setting after 30 or so seconds. Best part is they use two replaceable batteries 18600. Bad part you need to buy a charger and charge them outside the light. I’ve been doing this for 4 years now and no issues. On long trips, I’d take few extra batteries for backup.
https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-bc30-v2-bike-light (you can find 10% off codes if in US.)
I had a v1 fenix BC30 which used to have a wired toggle switch that broke but light was working. One day while cleaning garage I found the warranty pamphlet and it said 5 Yr warranty so I contacted them and they gave rma # but had to pay to send it in. After a week I got a new v2.0 one with wireless toggle! If you use more than one, you can have one toggle switch control both same time to get the path lit like floodlights! Yeah they are expensive but worth it imho.