Buying Cycle Lights & Bike Lighting Sets

Bike Lights Advice Guide & Buyer Help

2005 Bonthrone Bikes UK Buy Guides

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What kind of lights are you going to need?
If you plan to ride your bike when it is dark, or in dim lighting conditions, you need to buy some good quality bicycle lights. This is especially true when riding on roads, as a good set of lights will not only stop you from getting run over but they will also stop you getting arrested. It is a legal requirement that you have a working set of lights if you ride at night. Click here for more details

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_10026401 - general advice & help on bike lights

There are lots of different types of lights available. Below are some of the more common types.

Lights for commuting/road use
Buying a good set of lights is especially important if you are going to be riding in traffic. Here we are generally not talking about the kind of cycle lights which allow you to see where you are going (largely irrelevant on brightly lit city streets) but the kind of lights which allow you to be seen by other traffic. Although the legality of them is still a little contentious many commuters choose to use LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights.
LED's have the advantage of being small, powerful and easy on batteries. Most LED bike lights can also be put into flashing, strobing and constant modes. Most LED lights contain more than one bulb and can contain as many as ten. A good minimum for city use is a light containing 3 bulbs (often just referred to as 3 LED's) at either end of the bike.

If you want something brighter than an LED then you will need to go for a conventional halogen bulb. These have the disadvantage of being heavier and more expensive than LED lights. They also use batteries much quicker.

LED and more conventional lights can normally be bought wither in sets or individually.

Due to the long battery life and brightness provided by modern LED and halogen cycle lights, rechargeable lights are generally reserved for off-road riding.

Lights for off-road riding
Night riding is becoming increasingly popular among mountain bikers and requires more powerful lights than usual. These lights tend to use technology such as Halide bulbs and lithium ion batteries. The batteries are bulky and so are normally mounted onto the bike.
These lights tend to have a very short burn time and are relatively heavy but they are extremely bright. As they need to be so that you can go hurtling through the woods in the middle of the night.

Even if you don't plan to ride at night it is always advisable to take a small emergency light or two with you especially when venturing out in the depths of the British winter. Recommended lights would be something like the Cateye Compact safety rear light which can be attached to virtually anything on the bike or you. For the front something like the Cateye HL-EL400 is good as it is small, very bright and mounts quickly onto the bike, your helmet or anything else.

Bike Light Brands
The major light manufactures are Cateye Cycle Lights, Smart Lights, Knighlite Bicycle Lights, Topeak Lights, Exposure Bike Lights and USE Cycle Lights.

Can't find the help you need with bike lights?... call us!
If you want to purchase some lights... call us on 020 7731 5005 for more information and advice on bicycle lightsets and cycle light components.

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