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Bike lights
I've noticed there is a weekly bike ride at 17;30 or round about that time in terrey hills. Now i was wondering if you need a bike light for these rides. I looked into buying a bike light and have been shocked buy the prices. One store told me they start at $140 which is rediculus. So my question is do you need it?
If the answer is indeed yes
where did you get the bike lights from? How much did you pay and what do you recomend.
My fall back plan is to go down to dicksmith electronics and wireing up a few LEDs.
Information would be aprecieted, thanks.
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Hi Aurora,
Good to hear you are interested in night riding...
Yes, IMO you will need some lights to do night riding. And you generally can't rely on the lights of other riders to get by. So...
I would suggest you get out the reading glasses and do some research. There is literally a whole library of comments on these forums about bike lights if you do a search for "lights", etc. Give it a go. You might need to devote a 1/2 hour to this.
I own the "Ayups" brand of lights myself. Check them out at www.ayups.com.au they are da bomb. These are about $500 including shipping (mine were $410 in a large group buy). You can get different kits, with different sizes and battery lifes, based on what riding you do, and of course how much you spend. My advice would be the "regular kit". Heaps of people here have those.
There will be heaps of other info here about various other LEDs, but I don't know squat about that kind of techy stuff.
Happy hunting!!
.. that is a nice way to start out.
Get 2 of these for about $15 each. They use AA batteries.
http://search.ebay.com.au/search/search.dll?from...
I did a review of crap lights here: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nmag/rides/li...
Put one on your handle bars and use cable ties to attach one to the top of your helmet. You could just try 1 on your helmet alone I guess.
I tried 3 last week. 2 on bars and 1 on helmet. They were rattling (the way I set them up) so I turned 1 off and used 2. They were fine. They are not as good as the expensive ones or the home made jobs but they work OK.
I have made some adjustments from last week (positioning) and they now work much better. I was trying to run them both wide on the bars last week and they rattled. Now they are fine close in to the stem.
If we do Terry Hills this Wednesday at 19:30 like normal, (and I go) I can lend you a couple of crappy lights that you can try. It will give you a chance to see what everybody uses. Buck's are home made and are about as bright as a car. The Ayup ones that Harry has look the best off the shelf ones (in my opinion) at about $400. One day I will buy a set, as I like night riding, it's very different out there at night.
I also have one of these:
http://search.ebay.com.au/search/search.dll?sofo...
76 Led. So I now run 2 x 53 on the bars and 1 x 76 on the helmet.
Actually the 76 has a better mount for the handlebar. It is more robust. One of my 53's handlebar mounts is going to break. It will then be a helmet mount only.
Ahhhh... you've come to the right place!
About 100 bucks these days gets you something like this:
Allow another 35 bucks for battery and charger from a model store on eBay.
At that price you have about half a set of AyUp equivalent, with more functionality and about 30% brighter(-ish... don't quote me on that). Plus, you'll have built it yourself so lots more satisfaction. Although it won't be as pretty, but really, looks aren't everything!
As Liam says, AyUp are the way to go for commercial options.
These are LED based options. You can also try something halogen based, but they won't be as bright as top notch LEDs or last as long.
All that said, I'm talking about really bright stuff that's (IMHO) required for technical night riding. If you just want to try it out, get something cheap from T7. Eg:
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/POLIHNNHA
Wait 'til they are on special mind, think I paid 70 bucks for these PowerBeam jobbies a while back. They are good for a run at Terrey Hills (2 hour max, none-techie riding) but will get you out in the dark to see if you like it without going too crazy.
DIY for me. 3 high powered Cree LED's with over 4 hours of burn time at full power. Brighter than a single set of Ay Up's
http://picasaweb.google.com/choi.ben/BikeLight
You will need lights but they are worth every cent. A whole new world of riding will open up to you. If you can stretch your budget go for the Ayup ones ideally mount a set on the bars and another on your helmet. If money is a concern check out the various home made ones as they are the cheapest high output option. As for ridiculous try these on for size www.virtuascape.com.au I run two of the Wilma's and I cant fault them full power all night if I need to.
Who the heck pays >$1200 on lights! Thats more then my bike..... im speachless
Thanks for the help. $400 although i have the money is not something im willing to part with on lights alone, at least not untill i get into night riding. Especially while im at uni, i realise that most of you guys go to work all week and hence $400 seems relatively small.
DIY seems to be the only solution for now, shouldn't be too hard I hope. I assemble and overclock my own computer(s) to save $ so this shouldn't be too much harder. I'll go down to dicksmiths and see what’s available and will try and come up with something. As for the next terrey hills night ride, I have a 2 head lamps which i could strap on my head and bars if the weather prevails.
I know that the meeting point is at the tavern but how long is the ride (KM)? I don’t want to hold everyone back as i'm not the fittest person. I looked at the previous ride and there weren't many details other then the meating point so if someone can direct me to where the information or which terrey hills ride is used it would be appreciated. I would turn up to the newbie rides if they weren't always on sundays.
Distance is about 27km from the Tavern. We averaged about 17km/h last weeek
http://nobmob.com/rides/terreyhills
We did Perimeter and Long Tracks.
way home as I pretty much only had the one pedal. That said, don't fear too much, we haven't left anyone behind yet
For the DIY I posted a pic to you need Cree LEDs - Q5 are brightest (or I hear Soul Semiconductor are good, but not seem them personally) and a Luxdrive (for very basic options) or bFlex (fancy microcontrolled one) controller and some Ledil Lenses. All these come from Cutter (who... well let's just say are the only people in Aus to sell this stuff and leave it at that):
LEDs: http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut651 (you want star MCPCB/Q5 cold white/pick your own tint)
Lenses: http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut678 (6/9 degree are good for helmet 14 degree good for bars)
bflex: http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut750
or
Luxdrive: http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut131 (you want DC/1000mA/external dimming/no leads)
You house this in something built from 20mm square aluminium angle and use a switch/heat sinks from JayCar.
Cutter do a kit for single LED design you might want to look at (although no dimming which is not good):
http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut731
Or... oooh... and this is new, a housing for 3 or 4 LEDs on a single board and a kit with bits to go inside housing (although this looks a pricy option IMHO):
http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut779
http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut757
Happy building
That last kit Rob posted is the one I use
http://cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut757
The bFlex is nice as it has a built in dimmer, flash modes, low battery warnings and so on. I like the 3 LEDs on one single PCB as I suck at soldering so the less the better for me
For the heatsink I used an old Pentium heatsink my friend had laying around. Bit overkill but keeps it very cool.
For power I used 2 x Nimh 7.2V 3300mah remote control car batteries. Gives 3hrs burn time. You can save weight by getting lithium packs but they are pricey and I'm not too much of a weight weenie. For a charger I use a nice programmable charger off my friend who flies remote control helicopters. Can set charge current, charge/discharge cycles, battery type (nicd,nimh,litium and lead acid).
http://www.batterieswholesale.com/battery_charge...
However they are pricey so any nimh charger for RC packs can do. Even Dick Smith has them.
Buck, here I was thinking of you as some freakin wizz kid electrical genius and you just bought a kit light and put it together like it was a piece of Ikea furniture.
I'm shattered.
though Paul. We did it from scratch and even built those professional looking housings you see
Jave faith Paul.
I still had to build a mount for it.....although my mount was a lot less complicated than Stuey's. Just less soldering as I had all LEDs on one board rather than three.
I think Stuart uses a bFlex too. Very nice little driver.
Just a quick comment. How good are all these homemade lights when the have to stand up to a tree branch whacking them, how would they hold to a bad stack or a some rain/water getting into them?
Lorrie
My originals (http://nobmob.com/articles/robs_homemade_leds) are still going strong after over a year
OK, so they haven't had that much use, but still, this says something, eh?
Plus - if you DIY it's easier to RIY (Repair It Yourself) if something does go wrong.
Still going good here too. Put up with some terrible conditions in winter. It has survived a few rides in the rain even though I haven't silicone sealed it yet. I have had 2 falls with them on and still good. Also have run into many a branch in the sniggle at Perimeter Trail and all good.
are sensatoinal Lorrie and have withstood all sorts of treatment due to my riding style in the single tracks and the odd OTB even!
with regard to lights I started with one from BA (yes!) which cost about $20 or $30 it was fine for ages and then i got a second one - they both went on the handlebars and were fine... well I thought so - anyway, i can lend them to you if you like and you can see for yourself - night riding is the ultimate!
MEEEE
Christine i have been night riding with the mob for ages! I did manly dam for the first time and that was quite different and it had a shed load of spiders!!!!
I wanted to see how they fared. I just envisioned branches ripping at the exposed wires.
I have a nice pair of HID's (NiteRider Enduro) which once used to be one of the brightest around alas they have been outshone by the aforementioned homemade jobs. However at the Mont I did have the helmet mounted HID's and the AYUP cree's on the handelbars that was a truly wicked combination.
Lorrie
we dont' have wires hanging out - you need to inspect the works of art that are on my head when i night ride!!!
I borrowed Georges AYUPs one night and found my lighs heaps stronger - i remember your lights, and yes they are good!
i don't use handlebar lights any more although Stuart says I should...
we all know how good your headlights are,even with there coconut bling!!:-0
snigger snigger snigger
As I want to buy new lights for the 24hr and are yet to see the Ay-ups in action, how do the crees on the bars and helmet compare to a HID on the helmet?
Thanks John
....torch and a roll of duct tape.
$21.00 total inc GST
Bargin
Greg
There are some beam comparisons here:
Don't be fooled into thinking the 50W Halogen is brightest, it's got good foreground spread, but look at the throw.
NB: 2xCree Q2 are not as bright as the 4x P3/4 (they were actually U bin - don't ask) but 3x Q2 are certainly brighter.
The HID's I've seen almost turn night into day, the top pic doesn't seem to show that, is it a dud or are the other lights that much brighter.
Cheers
That much light kinda defeats the purpose of riding at night.
While I'm kitted out with a Cateye tripple shot and Blackburn SystemX3 now days I remember the goodold days of Downhilling with home made halogens... Nothing quit like the feeling of mach 15 tunnel vision, hit the rock garden and have a wire come loose... Those were the days of night riding.
Here's myself a skinny attacking various tracks around Lithgow, including Town Houses, State Mine and Gun Club DH. From memory rt was my first DH ride in about 8months, we almost hit a wombat on the shuttle up and we were scared shiteless that the wild goats that frequent State Mine would jump out at us on the fast bit.
Hella Fun? Hell yes
Here I'm running 2 20Whalogens on the bars and one on the helmet. I think Skinny end up with just 1 on his helmet.
John, I'm an Ayup fan, but before I bought them I made two sets of halogens and researched for months making Led's or buying commercial.
The advantages of the Ayup's as I see it are;
They are light - a battery the size of a match box gives 3 hours burn time,
They are bright enough for the Mont or technical single track at night,
On the helmet you put the light and battery - no dangling wires.
On the bars you attach the light and battery - no dangling wires.
They have 100,000 hours life - that's 23 years of continuous 24 hours races,
They are virtually indestructable in a crash (I think they have a lifetime guarantee)
Each light pivots so you can adjust the spread to suit your riding.
Go to www.ayup.com.au - I notice the Fat Hippy has done a write up - you will also see more beam pictures.
Paul
all those insects look like tracer bullets coming at you!... or am i drunk?...again!
Or still?
and constantly!
I better just buy a set of Crees then after reading the Hippys, Andrew Bells and your reviews.
I've been very happy with my homemade halogens output, but lose about 5mins each lap changing batteries and the wire, weight and charging is all a hassle, The Ay-ups will be awesome in the 24hr and will hopefully help get me to my 1st target of 280km, so what's the verdict on beams, narrow on the head? and is intermediate wide enough for the bars or do I go for the medium?
Cheers John
John, definitely narrow on the head. I prefer a wide beam on the bars and went with the medium - I think it is best for peripheral vision.
Paul
.. another homebrew to follow all of this...
but you always can google:
"Peripheral vision: Side vision. The ability to see objects and movement outside of the direct line of vision. Peripheral vision is the work of the rods, nerve cells located largely outside the macula (the center) of the retina. The rods are also responsible for night vision and low-light vision but are insensitive to color. As opposed to central vision"
ahhhh, well I think the "German's" on this site will be happy with my research!!!
Bernd
We have been riding the Cascades for the last 3-4 weeks at 5.30pm and are normally back by 7.30pm. No lights required,
Cheers
Olaf
I use peripheral vision to watch for know it all germans sneaking up the inside
We are just starting out and considering purchasing the ayup 08 MTB kit with two narrow beam lights for our helmets. Just curious if that will be enough? the idea is if we keep doing more riding we will then buy two of the medium beam lights for our handle bars.
I thought I saw a few people last night with just the helmet lights? or was a I just blinded by the light?
Yes a few of us were riding with just helmet lights. But we have triple Cree LED's in them so it'll be a fair bit brighter than just a pair of Ay-Ups on your head.
That said I think just a helmet Ay-Up should be adequate for most firetrail night rides.
I made mine for $30
But thats only because I have spare batteries and a bling charger from my other hobby lying around
I think I need to rig up another one now.... Its not quite bright enough.... It is just 1 LED after all, but it does the trick
http://picasaweb.google.com/lozza6/BikeLED
Loz
Should I be considering anything else aside from an ayup kit? I won't be making my own so if anyone thinks there is something better value or performance than the ayups please let me know otherwise it looks like ill be ordering a set of ayups.
Light & Motion seem to have some pretty good products, anyone used them?
Stick with Ay Ups.
All this talk has me wanting to build more lights!
http://www.cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=45
6 LED should do? hahah jk
Considering Buck's 3 LED is already daylight!!
Oh, and they have R2's now Rob, so many more lumens
Realistically I'll go the 3 or 4 MR11 R2 LED. The Bflex is a bit exxy though, but probably the best option.... Or should I save a bit and go the luxdrive? hmmmm soo many choices...
at $130 for an encasing, I think I'll make my own thanks!
Loz
You really notice the difference to the Q5's!
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=371973
and if I got the 4LED setup... yummm
Now, what to do with my single Q2
Loz
Loz, Lozza, Looza, Lorrie, Larry, Harry, Hairy, Alice (whoever you are).
Part of the enjoyment of night riding is that your sense of sight is challenged because of less light, shadows, altered depth perception, etc. If you build this mega-luxem portable supernova and turn night into day isn't it going to take all the fun out of the ride (as well as melt the retina's of any small animal caught in its beam).
hahaha
Good point Paul, but since when have we been the type to shy away from a beam off?
Just get a Dragon Searchlight. Then you will win all beam contests. Used these during search tasks in the Reserves and we were lighting up windows 2 blocks down the road!
http://www.deenside.co.uk/catalogue.php?cid=14&p...
is it too late to suggest for all the light forums here that
two dolphin torches strapped to a helmet is sufficient
That kinda talk is going to get Beany excited again.
I bought the Cygolite TridenX Li-ion lights from ebay.
These are LED lights that weigh only 290grams and when I compared these side by side on our Manly Dam night ride they threw out about the same light as the Ayups (with helmet and handlebar combined).
Burn time on highest setting is 2.5 hours but you can run on medium-high and get 3.5 hours or potentially buy extra or larger batteries if you need longer burn times. They fully recharge in 3.7 hours.
Benefit over the Ayup is they have 8 different output settings (including flash modes) and an on-off switch as well as a battery life indicator and they were a lot cheaper than Ayups as I managed to get them for US$250 plus US$16.50 postage (or less than A$300 all up) from the link below using the Best Offer function - he sent them out pretty quickly with no problems. These sell for A$520 in Australian bike shops. Note that the 08 MTB Ayups do have extra batteries etc in the kit and I am not sure whether buying the Cygolites from ebay means they are covered by the Cygolite warranty.
These lights come with both helmet and handlebar mounts and the battery pack is really small and comes with an extension cable for helmet mounting so you can have it in your Camelbak or jersey pocket or (as I do) mount both the battery and light on your helmet. One thing to note is that the charger has a US style plug so you need a $2 plug adaptor to fit in an Australian power point but the charger accepts universal voltages ie both 110V and 240V.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem...
http://www.cygolite.com/products/new/TridenX/Tri...
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Lights/product_13124...
I've got a medium and a narrow, the narrow is quite a small spot - I think most people are going for some combination of spreads. Great lights though, after using home made halogens for years they're zero hassle and work really well.
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