Bike Lights
Bike lights are an essential safety item if you intend to ride when it is dark. They not only help you see where you are going but also allow others to clearly see you. Bike lights should also be used if you ride during the twilight hours as this is the time of day when visibility is at its lowest.
You must have lights fitted to a bike being ridden after dark, even if you are only using pathways. It sounds obvious, but too many cyclists ignore this fact. By law you must have an unbroken white light at the front and an unbroken or flashing red light at the rear, both of which must be visible for at least 200 metres. A flashing white light can be used as an addition on the front, but the main light must be unbroken. If you intend riding on the road at night, it is recommended that you fit two separate lights at the front. One light can be used to illuminate the ground ahead of you and the other aimed at the eye level of car drivers to maximise your chances of being seen. All lights must be fitted so their centre is at least 33 cm above ground level.
LED lights are the most common type of light on the market. LED’s are extremely effective from a visibility point of view, are relative cheap to buy and last up to 100 hours in flashing mode. High powered LED lights are also available. This type of light tends to use more power so they typically come with separate battery packs that can be recharged when they run down. If you are riding in unlit areas or in excess of 30 kph, rechargeable headlights are definitely the go. Some of these models are so bright they can even be used for mountain biking at night. Cygolite have a comprehensive range of rechargeable lights that suit all types of night riding.
If you are not sure of how bright a light you need just ask your favorite bike store for advice.
There are a lot of light brands on the market but some of the more reliable ones are, Basta, Cygolite, Tioga and Pacific.
Bicycle lighting serves to increase the visibility of the bike rider to others in dark conditions. It helps to increase riders’ conspicuity and heightens the ability of the rider to see the way forward.
The earliest bike lights were powered by acetylene, generated in a carbide lamp. In more recent times, halogen bulbs have been used but they are also being replaced. In lit areas 2W to 3W is good for commuting, and on the road in unlit areas 5W to 6W is needed for riding. At night for off-road riding 10W or more is mainly needed.
A wide variety of bike lights are now available. If you ride on country lanes, you still need to make sure lights are clean and can be seen. The rugged, all-weather purpose bike lights are accurate for anyone who needs to have visible biking at night. A wide varieties like led head light, Led Li-Ion lights, X4 lights are available.
LED headlights are the most economical bike lights for mountain bikers. They are efficient in power consumption, feature durable construction and produce distinctive white light. These LED bike lights pack more power than needed for the casual cyclist but are ideal for cyclist who commute or ride in pitch black areas. LED lights have the perfect shear power. There are four of the brightest LED bike lights currently on the market.
Some of the popular brands of bike lights come from Basta, Tioga, and Cygo-Lite. They offer countless varieties of bikes under different capacities.
