Cycling Mob Cycling Forums - View Single Post - Headlamp recommendations for night riding

08-02-2004, 11:36 AM

"Frank Krygowski" wrote...
> Most of the middle type are expensive, like well over $100. Almost all
> have no optical design to speak of, meaning they use a hardware store
> MR-11 bulb and spray most of the light where it's not needed, unless
> it's technical mountain biking you're doing. (For that, you do need
> light everywhere.) Battery life is finite and replacement is expensive.
> These are the kind people sometimes build for themselves, because
> except for cosmetics, the one you build is as good as, and cheaper than,
> the one produced by mass production - a clue that the manufacturers are
> doing well financially!
>
(snip)
> I ride only roads and the occasional bike path at night. I also use my
> bike a lot for utility, and want the light always ready to go (no "Did I
> remember to bring it along?" or "When did I last recharge that
> battery?") So I like generators. But Your Mileage May (definitely) Vary.

Best battery life (at least for SLA) is obtained when you re-charge after
every ride. Sometimes this is not possible but with a 'proper' charger it
will give you maximum battery life AND you'll always have a full charge to
ride on.

Another comment: My commuting bike has two separate SLA halogen headlight
systems .. totaling 3 bulbs, and two batteries. The first was a PERFORMANCE
system that I suspect was built by someone else and Performance put their
name on it. I don't think they sold very many. The headlight is *enormous*
by today's standards ... the reflector is a whopping 3.5" in diameter and
the lens is designed to provide a wide, flat beam across the road. It also
has two illumation levels.

The second system is a Vistalite with dual bulbs. I forget what the wattage
is .. I think 10 and 10 (I think it originally came with 10 and 20 bulbs)
The reflectors are 2 inches in diameter. The reflectors can be adjusted
in-out to change the beam pattern (wide, small) .. but the beam is still
circular.

I just bought a new system (for one of my other bikes) from Bike Nashbar
that has the current style bulb. REAL small, and not adjustable in any way.
It was on sale for $40 and it's a 10 watt SLA system that should run for at
least 2 hours.

I dunno .. I think BICYCLING magazine's STYLE MAN has warped everyone into
thinking smaller is better ;-)

08-02-2004, 11:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
Richard Amirault Posts: n/a	Re: Headlamp recommendations for night riding "Frank Krygowski" wrote... > Most of the middle type are expensive, like well over $100. Almost all > have no optical design to speak of, meaning they use a hardware store > MR-11 bulb and spray most of the light where it's not needed, unless > it's technical mountain biking you're doing. (For that, you do need > light everywhere.) Battery life is finite and replacement is expensive. > These are the kind people sometimes build for themselves, because > except for cosmetics, the one you build is as good as, and cheaper than, > the one produced by mass production - a clue that the manufacturers are > doing well financially! > (snip) > I ride only roads and the occasional bike path at night. I also use my > bike a lot for utility, and want the light always ready to go (no "Did I > remember to bring it along?" or "When did I last recharge that > battery?") So I like generators. But Your Mileage May (definitely) Vary. Best battery life (at least for SLA) is obtained when you re-charge after every ride. Sometimes this is not possible but with a 'proper' charger it will give you maximum battery life AND you'll always have a full charge to ride on. Another comment: My commuting bike has two separate SLA halogen headlight systems .. totaling 3 bulbs, and two batteries. The first was a PERFORMANCE system that I suspect was built by someone else and Performance put their name on it. I don't think they sold very many. The headlight is enormous by today's standards ... the reflector is a whopping 3.5" in diameter and the lens is designed to provide a wide, flat beam across the road. It also has two illumation levels. The second system is a Vistalite with dual bulbs. I forget what the wattage is .. I think 10 and 10 (I think it originally came with 10 and 20 bulbs) The reflectors are 2 inches in diameter. The reflectors can be adjusted in-out to change the beam pattern (wide, small) .. but the beam is still circular. I just bought a new system (for one of my other bikes) from Bike Nashbar that has the current style bulb. REAL small, and not adjustable in any way. It was on sale for $40 and it's a 10 watt SLA system that should run for at least 2 hours. I dunno .. I think BICYCLING magazine's STYLE MAN has warped everyone into thinking smaller is better ;-)