Reddit mentions: The best bike lights & reflectors

Don't worry about the helmet. None are really safer than others, just lighter and stylish.

You don't mention maintenance. You'll want to start cleaning your chain really regularly. Keep it clean and lubricated and it'll last FAR longer for you. You'll probably need a new chain each year too.

You might already know all about bike maintenance, but if not, get a good thick guide like Zinn's guide to bike maintenance, and start reading. Also watch YouTube videos before you try something the first time -- it'll save you tons of pain and money!

The backpack is fine, it'll just make your back really sweaty. Panniers will fix that, not just a rack (that can work though, just get some bungee cords). Panniers and a well designed bag can be great. I have this, and it's very functional, although I hesitate to recommend it as I haven't tried any others for comparison. It clips into a rack by the same manufacturer making it trivial to hold it down.

Topeak Velcro Strap Version Dxp Trunk Bag with Rigid Molded Panels https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WSLT2O/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_yxC9wb6QSPKM2

Pack a multi tool and probably two spare tubes. Patches are great, but they can't fix everything. I'd also suggest having a plan for a taxi or uber ride. You won't need it, but if you have a flat just before an important meeting, it's good to have a plan in advance.

I'd plan to ride heavy, so light weight upgrades won't help much (losing weight will help way more than any upgrade). The best upgrade you can do is probably puncture resistant tires. $100 will get you a great set that will save you dozens of flats. I love continental gatorskins or continental 4 season tires, but you'll have to do your own research.

You can get great gravel tires that run fine on asphalt in case some light off roading can save you some time.

Finally get lights for night riding. Get a rear red light that has a mode that's on all the time and still flashes brighter. Then people won't lose your position with the strobing, but it'll still grab their attention so you don't get hit by a texting driver. I really like this one, but there are dozens of decent choices.

Cygolite Hotshot 2-Watt USB Rechargeable Taillight with USB Cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DVA57Y/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_GQC9wbAKFWJVD

The front light is critical so you can see at night. I love the light and motion lights. The more expensive versions are really bright for off road riding, but they also give you far more than an hour with the same brightness as cheaper versions. I suggest this one, but as always, it's a pretty personal choice.

Light and Motion Urban 650 Headlight (Silver Moon) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KAPC2FG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_IIC9wb7D5E8M1


In order of what I'd purchase first:

Brushes, degreaser and lubricant for the chain if you don't have it.

Rear light for safety.

Front light if you will ever ride at night.

Better tires.

Tools to cover more regular maintenance.

Panniers

Truth is, the best preparation you can do is to acclimate by riding in the cold weather - you'll get used to it.
Having said that, I use certain pieces of gear that really help me out. Here are a few key pieces...

Pogies - insulated bar mitt covers. The go over your handle bars and cut the wind, but are also insulated. You still wear a glove, but this is far better than just a glove or mitt.
Check this site out...
https://bikepacking.com/gear/pogies/

Next, you need to have good head covering.
I use OR Windstopper Balaclava
https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/en/sonic-balaclava/p/2435420001006

Ski goggles are a must.

Wool tube scarf for your neck.

For your torso and chest, you need to layer:
Base layer - I choose merino wool. There are basically 3 thicknesses to choose from.
Wool keeps you warm even if you sweat, dries well, doesn't stink.

Next, insulating layer or layers.
Something warm like a shirt + Polartec jacket - again, 3 different thicknesses depending on you and how cold you get.
Long johns / fleece pants.

Last layer is a shell with at least a wind panel on the front. Gore Windstopper is my #1 choice, but I have many different jackets. I prefer jackets that have pit zips (zippers in the arm pits) so I can ventilate excess heat.

My cycling pants have a wind panel on the front to stop the wind.

Wool socks.
Darn Tough, a Vermont company, guarantees their socks for life - if they ever wear out, they will replace them for free.

Good boots, nothing too big. If you use a cycling shoe, there are insulated covers available for winter use or even winter cycling boots.

Whatever you do - don't let yourself sweat.
You need to find the balance point of being warm without sweating. If you sweat, you will become cold.

It all becomes an attempt at equilibrium - finding that comfortable warm spot without overheating & sweating, or allowing yourself to get cold.

Protect exposed skin especially your face, nose, ears, & cheeks.
Goggles keep your eyes warm, your lashes free from frost, and prevent your eyes from tearing. The polarised lenses help you see better.

As for your bike.
Studded tires - check out Schwalbe tires - actually may help, otherwise a winter tire with a winter rubber compound should do the trick.
Do you necessarily count on your knobby MTN bike tires doing a good job, the rubber may become too hard to properly grip the road or ice.

Lights...go with something detachable that uses a standard battery. Bring your light in to keep it warm.

I'm currently using:

Rear light: Portland Design Works Danger Zone Tail Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00435IPFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-uj5CbV3JHJA6

And a Planet Bike Blaze Front light X 2.

Www.PlanetBike.com

Keep your bike clean - wash the salt off regularly.
CLEAN AND LUBE YOUR CHAIN AND DRIVETRAIN.

At the end of winter, give your bike a deep cleaning.
Change your cables.
Undo your headset, crank, wheel hubs, clean the bearings and repack with new clean grease.
Tune your derailleurs.
Check your chain for stretch and replace if needed.
Check you rear derailleur hangar.
Spray done tube saver in your down tube and you're ready for summer.

Check out these sites for gear.

Www.MEC.ca

Www.Rei.com

Www.Bikepacking.com

on YouTube: GCN & GMBN

Hope the info helps.
Cheers,

There's a lot of good info here, but I disagree with some of it.

• Don't get slicks if you're commuting in a city. You will get flats and it will be a giant pain in the ass. The improvement in handling and efficiency isn't worth it for commuting. Get something a bit thicker and with some decent tread, and make sure they have kevlar linings. Studs are for snow, not rain. Glass, rocks, metal bits, etc. all penetrate slicks very easily (I'm not sold on gatorskins - I've seen them get many a flat). I commuted on slicks for awhile before I got fed up with flats every week. Don't bother getting separate tire liners. Go to your local bike shop (LBS) and talk about this with them.
  
  
• Not sure what "half clips" are, but if you're referring to clipless pedals, I completely agree. You don't have to spend a lot of money though. These Shimanos took me across the country and I use them every day on my commuter. I've put 4,000+ miles on them with 0 maintenance and no issues whatsoever. The tension is super easy to adjust with a hex wrench, meaning you control how hard it is to unclip. The downside is that they're too small to use comfortably if you're not wearing your bike shoes, but I don't find it to be much of an issue. Also, mtn bike shoes have a recessed cleat, which makes them a hell of a lot easier to walk around in when you're just going to the grocery store or running errands.
  
  
• I also commute in normal clothes, but when I go for serious rides I definitely wear lycra. Once you ride a few hours in any sort of heat, you'll understand. Trust me, I don't think it looks good either, but not being drenched in sweat and full of saddle sores at the end of a long ride is absolutely worth it. This is sort of an aside though - don't worry about it for commutes less than 10-15 miles or so.
  
  
• You don't necessarily need a bike-specific rain jacket, but they sure are nice, and not necessarily more expensive. Look for at least 2 layers if you want water proof, and ventilation is really nice. 1 layer will seep water onto any cloth that touches it. I've come in to work a couple times with soaked sleeves (my jacket has 2 layers, but only 1 layer sleeves - getting a new one soon).
  
  
• Leather saddles are 100% worth the money. Just get a Brooks B17 (Imperial if you're a dude) and a jar of proofide, and call it a day. It will literally last your entire life. Don't ride it in the rain though - cover it with something.
  
  
• WRT a strobe light, pick up a Planet Bike Superflash. There's a turbo too, but I've never actually seen it in person. The Superflash is extraordinarily bright, dead simple to use, and tough as a rock. This is another piece of gear that survived my cross country trip. In fact, just the other week my saddle bag broke and the light went crashing to the pavement as I was doing ~20mph, bounced around a bunch, and kept on blinking with only superficial scrapes. Highly recommended. My headlight is a POS that I inherited from my road bike's previous owner but seems to get the job done (keeps me visible), so I can't really make any strong recommendations here.
  
  
• As to helmets, go to your LBS and get whatever's comfortable, inexpensive, and looks decent (I'm convinced no helmets look good). I spent $60 I think on mine, and it's just fine. More expensive helmets don't necessarily protect you better, but they will offer more ventilation. Not a huge deal for a commuter. The most important thing with helmets is to make sure it's properly positioned and adjusted. That is, it should be forward on your head covering your forehead, and the strap should be quite tight around your chin. You should be able to shake your head around without the helmet moving much.
  
  Good bike gear will last a very, very long time, especially if you're only commuting, and can make a huge difference not only to your enjoyment but also your safety. If you're using it nearly every day, spend the money once and get high quality stuff. And head over to r/bicycling to talk to people who know a lot more than I do. Also talk to the guys at your LBS. Enjoy and good luck!

1. As gurzil said, switching to flat bars is not trivial.
   
   If you want to change them, you'll probably need a new bar (of course), and new brake and shifter levers (unless your bike has them on the frame like the one in the picture) and new cables ... really, I'd suggest not doing it, at least not now. You don't have to use the drops if you don't want to -- you can use the tops and the brake housing all the time if you want -- many do.
   
   Often you can add another set of brakes to the tops of the bar if you want -- interrupter levers -- that's pretty simple, but you might need a bike shop to do it for you if you're not skilled with it.
   
   If you buy another bike ... get a hybrid, and you'll have the bars you like.
   
   
2. Headlight -- these are really good, and only $15. The battery will probably wear out in a year of moderate use or so ... but it's easy to just buy another at that price.
   
   For taillights, there's lots of options, but I've been happy with this for $5. Being rechargeable isn't so important for a flashing tail light when they'll last 100 hours on alkalines ... but use some eneloops in there if you want.
   
   Like the PBSF that it's a clone of, the back can pop off -- tape it shut with clear tape, or use a zip tie.
   
   
3. Got me. Do be aware that in general, bike helmets are all of generally equal effectiveness -- spending more generally doesn't get you one that's safer. So you'll probably pick one based on comfort, looks and air flow (this is Texas -- air flow is good!) -- but don't think you have to spend a lot on it. Even the ones at Walmart are fine if you find them to be comfortable.
   
   
4. as said, a patch kit -- flats often come in packs. Throwing some of those little packs of wipes in there is nice too when you've got greasy hands after using these tools. I keep a small travel tube of sunscreen in mine as well, in case I forget some, and two AAA batteries for my tail light if it dies.
   
   
5. if you've got what I think you've got -- you can easily remove the cloth things without damaging them, or cut them off if you want -- then you've got normal pedals. No big deal.
   
   If you want to replace them, options are numerous. They're also easy to replace, but it's a lot easier if you have the right wrench that you probably don't have already. If you buy pedals at a bike shop, they'll probably install them for free.
   

Hey there! I ride that leg very frequently - it is R38 / South Dakota Ave. Yes, it is dedicated shoulder riding, but the shoulder is widened more than a usual highway's would be. I would recommend it over gravel for one major reason: drivers expect bikers to be there. During a good summer day you'll encounter 5-10 bikers in the 10-mile stretch; all regular drivers in the area will be aware that bikes are on the shoulder.

Must-have #1: get a good helmet-mounted mirror (I use this one) and continuously assess the situation area you. Be especially vigilant about people passing other cars. IMO having you, a car, and another car all in a line together is a great way to die. If I see a car swing out to pass another car near me, I usually give a very clear "stop" hand signal to indicate I want them to wait until they are clear of me. Some oblige, some don't.

Must have #2: set up a safety rule and follow it. Mine is that I watch for an approaching car and if at any point their tire touches the solid white line into the shoulder, I hard brake and remove myself from the road. Thankfully, that's only happened once, and in that particular case the driver did start moving towards the center line as he approached, though I had already begun stopping.

Must have #3: get a very bright flashing rear light and use it during the day while on the highway. I have to admit to you that mine isn't bright enough, but reading this made me realize I need to get one purchased before the season starts back up, so I think I'm going to give this guy a try.

If you do the things above I think you'll find the ride up very enjoyable. Good luck and stay safe!

Thanks for playing along.

> Busch and Muller Ixon IQ Premium

Good This might be one of the most amazing light out there. Unlike many other lights they recognize that "good" isn't just pumping out tons of lumens. They put the light where it needs to go, on the road and not where it shouldn't be - in drivers eyes and in the trees. Them and Light and Motion have the best optics I've seen. There's a few tunnel beam test out there which show beam patterns well.

This review sold me on the light

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwM7vDvvGhU

They cover the beams at the end.

Now the thing is in this vid he's shooting pitch black, which all lights look bright in. Either way the flood is great.

Bad The high run time is listed at 3hrs (standard pretty much..) which is just long enough or a little too short depending on you. I wish more lights ran 4hrs on high as I take long rides with breaks in the middle. Itd be nice to not worry.

It doesn't have any side cut outs for visibility which do seem to help, even on very low powered lights.

Ugly

The main downfall for this light is its price, which I think is over $100. For some people $100 for one light isn't great. Some people might prefer to spend $100 on a different lighting setup (albeit likely with worse optics).


>Cygolite Hotshot



good

Crazy popular and a pretty neat light. I like the strong strobes and customizable flash settings for traffic

bright, unique flash patterns, affordable, good company.

bad

My big beef is it lacks a gentle pulse like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UthVrhsbRr4

for group/night trail rides i dont want to blind people. also id love to run a pulse/flasher combo.

PDW (I think) makes a light that combines a crazy flash pattern with a gentle strobe, that might be king...

ugly

lots of complaints about the mount, going back to at lease 2012. last thing i want is to lose a light on a ride w/o knowing.

"This light is great for visibility and can be seen from far away. MAJOR DRAWBACK - the light is mounted to the bike with a very flimsy mount. every time i go over a bump the light is jostled and ends up pointing straight down at the ground which of course defeats the purpose."

http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/product-reviews/B005DVA57Y/ref=cm_cr_pr_top_recent?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addThreeStar&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

This is my do everything bike, a 2015 Trek Crossrip Comp.

Performance-wise, it is stock, with the exception of the tires. I swapped out the Bontrager Hardcases that came with the bike and put on a pair of [Clement PDX cross tires] (http://clementcycling.com/pdx-clincher). There are lots of gravel trails around my area, and I wanted some grippier tires to handle them. They roll a little bit slower on pavement, but the difference off-road is incredible. This thing absolutely flies on gravel and dirt.

Some other additions include:

-[Ivation Bluetooth Speaker] (http://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Super-Portable-Rechargeable-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B00HVMIL1U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409072570&sr=8-1&keywords=bicycle+speaker)- I like listening to music while riding, but earbuds make it difficult to hear what's going on around me. This speaker is a great alternative. It attaches to the handlebars with a stretchy strap, and is very secure. It has an aux input and a micro SD card slot, but the Bluetooth feature is really nice since I don't have to worry about wires getting tangled or where to put my phone.

-[Portland Design Works Danger Zone Taillight] (http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B00435IPFK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409072793&sr=8-2&keywords=portland+design+works+radbot+1000)- So cars don't run me over at night. Mounting it is super easy, and the light is extremely bright. It also quickly unhooks so I can take it with me and not worry about it getting stolen.

-[Diamondback LED Headlight] (http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=41624036&kw=diamondback+headlight&origkw=diamondback+headlight)- So I can see where I'm going at night, and so cars can see me. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it seems pretty bright, and the price was good.

-[Blackburn Frame Pump] (http://www.blackburndesign.com/pumps/mountain-air-anyvalve-mini-pump.html#.U_y_7twWxO4)- So I can inflate my tires when needed, and because I like the look of a frame pump.

This is my first bike that isn't from a box box store, and I absolutely love it so far. It's my commuter, my cruiser, my off-roader, and whatever else I need it to be. I highly recommend the Crossrip line to anyone that is interested in it.

My set up is one on the handlebars (White light), one on the seat post (blinking red), one clipped to the back of my helmet (blinking red). I prefer the on-bike ones for MY vision because they're more stable and at a lower angle, so they tend to show the road a bit better. The red blinkers don't matter as much to me, I've found even the cheap ones help you be seen.

Considerations:

- Brightness (1,000 lumens is preferred for front lights if you have NO lighting on your route, otherwise you can get away with as little as 200)

- Battery set up (most are rechargable these days, but batter life can be an issue)

- Modes (some front lights offer different brightness levels and blinking options, useful to help extend battery life if you're in a well lit area or using them in daytime)

- Ease on and off (You'll want to take them off pretty much any time you leave your bike locked up... or at least take off the more expensive front light)

Models I've used:

- Trek/Bontrager makes good ones, I have older version of the ones seen here

- This guy (which was the first one I bought, not as expensive, not as bright, but gets the job done in lit areas)

As I said, rear blinkers come in such varieties that all seem to get the job done... but I like the ones that I've gotten for free from events and that came with other lights from amazon. Its also worth noting that I actually have my rear light on at all times when riding.... kind of like a daytime light for a car. While it makes you more visible it means you need to charge it much more frequently than otherwise.

Honestly, your needs are really pretty minimal and your budget is more than adequate. Here are a few points to consider to get the bike to do what you want.

First, get a rear rack and panniers. This might cost $100-$150 out of your budget, but is VERY worth it because now you can carry things with you. Your commute is short enough that a backpack wouldn't be terrible, but if you want to pick up groceries or go longer distances then the backpack becomes a much less attractive idea.

Second, I recommend getting flat resistant tires for commuting. A flat tire sucks when you're on your way into the office. Count on spending close to $100 for a set of these. It sounds like a lot, but the difference in dependability is huge. I have Continental Touring Plus, but there are a few brands out there that have build a solid reputation.

Third, get a good lock, and use it. The bay area is bad for bike theft, even from places that you think would be safe. They're very easy to sell for a quick buck, no questions asked. Read up on how to lock the bike and how not to.

Fourth, get front and rear lights. Get good ones. It's staying light later now, but you want to be really visible to cars. I use a light like this in front: http://amzn.com/B00GJZ015Y

Happy shopping!

Waterproof gloves.

I know you said you have shoes, but these covers are reasonable. I'm not a huge fan of the color, but winter above the 45 parallel is a dark time of the year and a little extra "I'M HERE" never hurts.

This jacket might seem a little expensive, however I own a few Shower Pass items and cannot say enough good stuff about the quality, durability and comfort of their gear. In my book, they are one of the best wet weather bike clothing outfits around.

There are a TON of options for lighting. Basically you want something on the front that is 400 Lumen or better. For the rear, I've been buying Cygolite's Hot Shot for years. They've always delivered and I've actually had several riders comment on how visible they make me to traffic.

Not sure if that model Schwinn has braze ons for a rear rack? Would strongly recommend adding one and getting a bag if you do. It's really nice not having the weight on one's back in the wet. Good luck, and welcome to the non-fair weather cycling gang. :D

Most bike lights concentrate the beam straight ahead or behind and don't do much to make you more visible from the side, and when navigating city traffic it's often quite a good thing to be seen from the side. Wheel reflectors are good, and I really think are advisable on both wheels though I prefer spoke reflectors such as these they shine up brighter than most reflectors in headlights but are probably less noticeable than reflectors in daylight.

An even brighter alternative is wheel mounted lights, I recently tried one of these and liked it enough to get some more from my wife and brother. Pretty small and light and surprisingly bright, really makes you much more visible from the side. The best feature is that they turn on automatically when it's dark and they sense movement so it's one less thing to remember to do when you set off. Only had them for a few days so can't say anything about reliability but for £6 I'm happy to risk it.

I'm riding this: http://i.imgur.com/Q1SewUi.jpg (Giant Defy 3)

I was lucky enough to get it on clearance, but it was in your price range and has all the mounts for a rack. Taking the rack and U-lock off makes it a pretty nice weekend warrior for longer rides, too.

I'm not using them, but I've heard nothing but good things about Ortliebs. If I ever have to buy new panniers, that's what I'll go with.

I use a Night Rider Lumina Micro 250 for my front light. It works fine, I just have to make sure I charge it. This is the tail light that I use. I can't confirm that either is the "best" but both work fine for my 7 mile morning commutes.

Other things that you might want to look into:

• A good U-lock, depending on what the situation is at work and whether or not you'll use the bike for anything else. Don't depend on a cheap cable lock, trust me.
  
• A cycle computer. I use a pretty cheap wired one, mostly so I can keep track of the time, but I like to try to keep my speed up, too.
  
• A seat bag for your spare tube, CO2, patches, tire levers, spoke wrench, and multi-tool. If you need extra storage space you can add one of these.
  
• Mini Pump (Yes, I keep CO2 and a pump on my bike)
  
• Water bottle cage and water bottle. (Depending on the length of your commute. I live in Phoenix, so this is pretty vital.)
  
• You might also want something waterproof for your phone. Where I live this isn't vital, but in some places it would be.
  
  
  I think that's all I use.

For just commuting and stuff I'd say go with a AA or AAA flashlight. they won't be as bright, but they will be much more versatile. Get some eneloops and you'll have a great system for years.

Personal favorite flashlight in the AAA dept is the Nebo Redline.

I know most people here like the Twofish Lock Blocks for holding the flashlight.

Or you could get the two as a combo.

That should be a good and easy to use system that's brighter than you really need for a price that's affordable.

btw, I'm leary of DealExtreme...they look fairly shady and there's not even specs for things like lumen output on a lot of those lights. Often you get what you pay for, and I'm guessing on those lights it's not worth the $8 you'd save.

The bike started life as a 2012 Motobecane Fantom Cross Pro, which came with some good components already. SRAM Rival partial group,
FSA crankset, and Mavic Aksium Race wheels. I've had good luck with this bike and it's got almost 2k miles on it, so I kept most of it, but not all.

Once I decided to make it my commuter bike, I started adding things.

For lights I picked up the Cygolite Hot shot rear light and use one of my MTB lights if needed for the front, a
Chinese knock-off CREE XM-L2 front light

For tires I went with the Panaracer RiBMo 700x32c based on feedback from users on here.

You can't go wrong with a Tubus Logo Evo Rear Rack and Ortlieb Back Roller Classics.


I wanted some extra gearing for those climbs along the way, so I went with the SRAM FORCE Rear Derailleur so I could run a SRAM PG-1050 11-32 Cassette.

Of course, I needed a new KMC X10SL chain for the new gear combo.

I picked up a new road bike and pulled the Ritchey Pro Streem Saddle and Ritchey Pro Biomax bars off of that bike and used them on my commuter, along with some new Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm bar tape and some Soma Road Flares for added visibility.

For a little less weight and possible shock absorbtion, I threw in a Chinese knock off carbon seat post.

I also wanted something besides my regular riding shoes, so I opted for the Shimano Click'R PD-T700 pedals and
Shimano SH-CT40 Cycling Shoes
, which I love and highly recommend.

I also needed to adjust the fit so I picked up a Kalloy Uno 6 90mm stem because I've had great luck with them on other bikes.

And for added safety, I picked up two rolls of 3M Scotchcal Reflective Striping Tape in white and black, and added white stripes to the white frame and black stripes to the rims and the back of my helmet.

I usually find the Google maps estimate a bit generous - on a 25-minute estimate I might get 20 minutes, and ride 14-18mph on an upright hybrid. I know some people here on their road bikes ride faster.

Safety-wise, I actually would say your vest is even more important than lights. I personally prefer these straps. I've been using them for over 2 years. They light up like day, and don't overheat you in the summer like a full vest would while allowing you to layer multiple coats in the winter.

A nice 1000+lumen front light is another must - you want to not only be seen but in dark conditions to be able to see hazardous objects on the road, particularly a country road. This is the light I've been using for over 2 years (plus backup batteries to easily swap out), but anything bright will do. I prefer steady beam on my front light rather than having it blink - again for visibility.

For rear lights you (again) want something very bright and visible from far away, but that blinks. This is the one that I use, but again anything bright is good.

Good luck out there!

I have the Sony Action Cam HDR-15.

I can't claim any comparison because I've never used any other video cameras, but so far I've really enjoyed mine. I take it on every daily commute, for safety reasons and to show some of the more memorable moments to friends and family from time to time.

As for quality, it's good, but could be better. From the videos I've seen, we're not talking GoPro quality here, but for ~$160 I'm not complaining.

I've posted a few videos on YouTube:

• Here is one on my rocky gravel road. I had the steady feature on and also used YouTube's stabilization feature. You can see that the ride was bumpy, but overall, you can still see the tress and the landscape and the lettering from most road signs. However, I think the most damning issue in these videos is that it is VERY difficult to see license plates, even from close up.
  
• Here is a video of a ride taken at night. I think this video better demonstrates the quality of the video. Notice, however, that the video capture is pretty poor when the ride meanders off to a windy back road with no streetlamps. I had a lone LED headlight that I bought for ~$10. If the video couldn't see me, I started wandering if cars could. Inevitably, I ended up buying two of these very bright led headlights. I just tested them out last night and whew, they are bright! Unfortunately, I haven't edited the video just yet to see how much of an improvement they are, but will try to post it later today.
  
  
  Other considerations:
  
  I really like the wifi feature of this camera. I rarely use my phone as the camera's remote, but I like that I have the option, and that I can show off my videos on the fly.
  
  I'm also a fan of changing the recording to intervals. This basically allows me to use the Action Cam as a point and shoot camera. We got some good pictures during our hike up Rough Ridge the other day using the Action Cam in its housing.

I like these ones from Amazon if you are going to go this route:
Bright Eyes

Basically the same LED and similar housing, but better QC, and much better attention to detail.

Everything from the packaging, to the waterproofing of the housing, to the included accessories, are worlds better than a similar cheap Chinese one I bought off I ebay. Plus, I feel much more confident with the battery. Some of those Chinese versions have had reports of the batteries catching fire while charging.

Also, it's Prime so you don't need to wait for it to ship from China, you can return it without hassle if you don't like it, it comes with a FREE tail light that is really nice, and it just has the overall appearance of a product that somebody actually cares about.

I think you should go into lights a little more. Many people make the mistake of just grabbing the cheapest lights, which aren't bright enough to help you actually see or stand out enough that motorists see you.

Most rear lights are fine, it is usually front lights that I find inadequate. I recommend this http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006QQX3C4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1368717055&sr=8-2&pi=SL75 but it does have a small battery you must find room to mount and on the brightest setting only lasts a few hours. If you keep it charged between commutes, it is perfect, though. I can clearly see the road and cars can clearly see my light. Before, I was using a 1-Watt AA battery powered one and it was ok, but I had a lot of close calls because motorists still couldn't see me until I was right on top of them. If you don't want to deal with mounting a battery and keeping it charged, I recommend using nothing weaker than a 1-Watt, but more will be better and however much you spend, it will be cheaper than a hospital bill.

Disc racks can work on non-disc brake wheels. I use a Blackburn EX-1 Disc Rack on my bike. My bike does not have the eyelets by the wheel hub for pannier racks, but strangely it does have the eyelets on the seat stay for them. I found this rack works very well on my bike.

For USB rechargeable lights, I use a Cygolite Metro 500 and a Cygolite Hotshot. Both lights are easily removable so you can take them with you when you leave your bike locked up. There are cheaper versions of the Cygolite Metro which are also quite good (300, 360, 400), but not quite as bright. The Metro 300 is probably enough light for most people, and is what I used first. The only reason I switched is because my girlfriend's bike needed a better headlight, so I used that as an excuse to upgrade mine and give her my old one. Currently the 360 is cheaper than the 300 on Amazon, and is brighter. So there's no reason to get the 300 right now.

For multi tool, I like the Topeak Hexus II. Someone else on Reddit recommended it to me months ago and I'm quite satisfied.

For a full time commuter, I recommend some puncture resistant tires. I use Continental Gatorskins with Mr Tuffy liners inside them. Haven't had a single flat in several months now. Having a flat on your way to work would really suck, especially in crappy winter weather.

I use Ortlieb Front Rollers on my rear rack, as I was worried the Back Rollers would be large enough to cause heel strike. The Front Rollers are very nice. I love how easy they are to put on and take off, plus they're quite rugged and keep everything dry. The Front Rollers are just barely large enough for a 15" laptop, though I can't roll the top down well with it in there.

Grab a pack of these https://www.amazon.com/Salzmann-Scotchlite-Spoke-Reflector-Bicycle/dp/B00DNG8DSY

These invisible during the day, but super bright at night. Combine them with some reflective tape on the frame, bright lights, maybe some tyres with reflective sidewalls when the time comes to change them, plus bright clothes and you're super safe!

I think you will be totally fine, most of the route has dedicated bike path, I would recommend a great tail light at all times day or night, this one in particular, (on the 2nd setting) it will make you very easy to spot in the day time as well as from a great distance. Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 USB Rechargeable Bike Tail Light People see me from far away and give me a lot of room. I actually run 2 rear facing at all times, they are rechargeable and last for hours and hours. I always err on the side of safety. I've ridden much longer distances in a lot more traffic and felt safe. And actually in rush hour it's sometimes safer when all the cars are moving at a snails pace while you fly right by.

Pick up one of these brackets: Taillight Bracket

Then get any compatible light, such as: PDW Danger Zone or Nightrider Solas

The PDW Danger Zone is a better light, and cheaper, but the Nightrider is USB rechargeable. The PDW is better, because you can easily pair it with rechargeable AAA batteries. This allows you to replace the batteries as they wear out, toss a non-rechargeable battery in in a pinch. When used a couple hours a day, decent rechargeable batteries last over a full week. IMO rechargeable AAA > USB rechargeable.

Or, if you find a light you like with the standard CatEye-style rear light mount, there's this bracket that fits those: CatEye Rack Bracket CatEye mounts are square with small indents on the back, like this: CatEye Light (best picture I could find).

That said, depending on where you live, I'd really recommend looking into a dyno hub and dyno lighting. Lithium batteries really work poorly in the cold, and NiMH work only marginally better. With long, cold days coming, not relying on batteries is really nice. At the least, I'd recommend against lithium batteries if you live somewhere cold. Rechargeable NiMH aren't really that much bother, especially if you buy extras and have them in a charge-rotation...always fresh batteries.

Just one, I had bought a bunch of light up junk totally unrelated for a silly race, and it happened to fit perfectly around the board. Well, perfectly around my board, with those particular bash guards on.

I folded the light strip in half, marked it, taped it center front (just to hold it in place), and put the bash guard over it to lock it into place.

With the hot glue gun, I did one small section at a time. One squeeze of the trigger worth, and then pushed the light strip into it all the way, so it made good contact with the board. Don't try to smooth it like caulk, it'll get weird.

The light strip ends just as it reaches the rear bash guard with about 1 cm space left on each side. So whether or not it looks even depends on how well you centered the whole thing.

With the head and tail light on, it looks pretty good, I think. I Prime Now'd the same Blitzu bike tail light from another post on here that I can't find at the moment. And then ordered the headlight that I figured might fit on the front truck. It does. Barely. Sort of. If you turn hard, you might into some issues. I have yet to really test that before I get a second one. The neat thing is that the headlight(s) now point into the direction I'm turning.

A few more photos of various angles.

Cycle Torch makes a great system. They have what’s called Bolt lights, there are only $12 each and come in headlight and taillight varieties. They are very low profile and will fit on the bottom of your handlebars next to your stem.

The headlight version makes very little light however, but CT does make a dual beam headlight if you actually need night time visibility, and that one is very good too. See links.

Cycle Torch Tailbolt - USB Rechargeable Bike Tail Light, RED Rear Bicycle Light LED (Red) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GERQOSE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Y8-FDb6FRA9TD


Cycle Torch Night Owl USB Rechargeable Bike Light Set, Perfect Commuter Safety Front and Back Bicycle Light LED Combo - Free Bright Tail Light - Compatible with Mountain, Road, Kids & City Bicycles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XJXP6V8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_v9-FDbK64TBKA

WTS: 2019 Boosted Board Stealth V3 with 320 miles,

ALL YOURS FOR AN EASY $1,000.00 USD or trade..let me know what you got...I am in Central Florida

included is 2 Extended Range Battery Pack,

I have upgraded the pulleys to "Speed Pulleys for Abec11 Refly Longboard Wheels - 97mm 74a,

3 sets (total of 6) belts LithiumCore Boosted Board V2 Belts ( Fits Mini S, Mini X, Plus & Stealth),

Kutrick Boosted Board Kevlar Belts for Boosted Board V2, Mini S, Mini X, Plus, and Stealth,

Bones® BIG BALLS™ REDS® Skateboard Bearings 8 pack,

(2) sets total of 4 Shredlights: Two Skateboard Headlights - Three Brightness Levels - Water Resistant - Easily Removable and Rechargeable,

EXTENDED RISER – FOR BOOSTED,

BASH GUARD M (SINGLE) – FOR BOOSTED BOARDS rear and front boosted board,

FL3D PRO BUSHINGS ( I have both the Hard Blue - 92A and a Soft Grey - 84A .),

WEDGE RISER (SET OF 2) – FOR BOOSTED BOARDS ,

RETRACTABLE REMOTE LANYARD,

Hubro Designs Slimfit Backpack XX (G5.1) - Boosted Board Travel Bag ,

way to many Skateboard Longboard Speed Washers and Spacers Set for Truck Axle Mounting Equipment Accessories, 104pcs, Hardware, Bearing Performance ,

Sector 9 Bolt Pack Set, Black, 2-Inch,

Ampulla Oricycle Rechargeable Bike Tail Light LED - Remote Control, Turning Lights, Ground Lane Alert, Waterproof, Easy Installation for Cycling Safety Warning Light,

DIYE Skateboard Longboard Nose Guard Tail (2 pcs) for Boosted Board V2 V1,

DECK HOOK: Professional Skateboard, Longboard & Electric Skateboard Holder Carrier | Compatible with Most Dual Shoulder Strap Backpack | Adjustable Straps& Hands Free Use,

Merkapa Ratchet Skateboard T Tools,

Sk8ology Carabiner Skate Tool 2.0 Black Red,

Pro Bike Tool Mini Ratchet Tool Set - Reliable and Stylish Multitool Repair Kit for Road and Mountain Bikes - Versatile EDC Multi Tool for Your Bicycle, Home or Work - Hard Case Pouch,

Im sure I am forgetting some things but there it is..

ALL YOURS FOR AN EASY $1,000.00 USD

or trade..let me kln ow what you got...

I am in Central Florida

Thanks for asking this!

I recently got a [Cygolite] (https://www.amazon.ca/Cygolite-400-Lumen-Rechargeable-Bicycle-Headlight/dp/B00LXTOT6I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481340686&sr=8-1&keywords=cygolite) and I am much more confident in being noticed. It has a pulse mode and a super-bright strobe mode (for daylight only).

I have worried that I am blinding people, especially when at a stoplight or what not, but also appreciate the sense of security from being confident I am being seen.

I think the solution is to aim them well. Car headlights are hella bright but they are aimed downwards. I should probably aim mine better. I've noticed that my light catches the reflective paint even on street signs above traffic lamps. But I would prefer to err on the side of my own survival.

It's always suggested to get a new helmet. You don't know if it's been involved in a slight crash or had anything happen to it that would compromise its safety.

What kind of lights did you get??

I'd like to think I have some properly good lights and I've only spent ~$70 on them

Here's what I have: 2Watt Cygolite hotshot tail light ~$30 and another Cygolite headlight that can do short 600lm flashes, but has a few modes around 500lm or so, $50, but this is what I ordered last month for a friend who recently got into cycling, same 2W tail light & another headlight that's just a bump below the 550 I linked above for $60

Unless you've got some whopping mountain trail lights, I feel like $130 is a bit high, I'm all for supporting LBSs, but sometimes they get silly.

Anyways, stay safe & nice fucking deal on the bike.

#1 Get real lights--both headlight and taillight.

#2. Mounting a headlight low helps define potholes and other road issues. If your light is aligned with your eyes, say mounted on your head or high on the handlebars, you don't get any shadows. But a low mounted headlight--say fork-mounted--really casts some shadows and allows you to see those potholes.

Personally I like a low and a high headlight, not a low light only. There are too many situations when the low light is hidden from an oncoming vehicles. But low + high is a good combo.

LED lights are so good anymore there is not reason to not ride with something sufficiently bright. Like 1000 lumens or more up front and at least nearly that many in the back. I ride with relatively cheap CREE style led lights (something like this, though that's not a recommendation for that particular brand/style as I haven't tried it) that are like $20.

I've been running these taillights for a while, 3 watt CREE. That particular one isn't available any more but it gives you an idea of the wattage needed to be truly visible. Just for example, one of the 3 watt CREEs will very clearly outblast 3 of these. Also it has a battery that will actually last a while vs lights powered by AAAs to save a few grams--but last only a couple of rides at best.

Anyway, when you have enough lights on, front-, rear-, and side-visible, you'll be surprised how much room you get from motorists. I generally enjoy riding at night more than the day.

Sure! Honestly, I don't see any headlights that I'd buy but the Cygilite 2W is pretty good. For a headlight you could do really well getting a high lumen light from Amazon. I use a rechargeable one that I've used for over a year now and it works great. Similar to this one.

I got 2 of these lights: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Rechargeable-Lumen-Bicycle-Light/dp/B00GJZ015Y/

Slightly more expensive at $40 each, but is one of the best reviewed "Magicshine 808 clones" on Amazon and the seller apparently has some of the best customer service (I haven't had to deal with issues yet, but they did send me 2 wide angle lens for FREE after I emailed them).

Real world test is probably nowhere up to claimed 1.2k lumens, closer to 800-900, which is enough for me now. I might grab another one so I can mount 2 on the handlebars side by side.

Note that many of the higher 1.6-3k lumen lights, even the $100-200 MagicShines, have heat issues when running on high for long periods of time, which could affect component lifespan.

• Try a dry run on the weekend
  
• Go in early in the morning, leave early in the afternoon, if your schedule allows
  
• What is your route like? Is there a shoulder? If it is wide enough, you could ride in it so long as it is clear of debris, but traffic may pass closer. Is the road 4 lanes? If so, this allows drivers to pass without changing lanes into oncoming traffic.
  
• Are the lanes really wide? If the lanes are wide enough that you feel comfortable with traffic passing you without changing lanes, then you can ride to the right. If not, then position yourself in the middle or left of the lane to encourage drivers to change lanes to pass. See this for more explanation: http://www.bikewalknc.org/2016/01/using-the-left-half-of-the-lane/ (note the chart near the bottom that shows the further right you ride, the less room cars give).
  
• Light up! Get both front and rear lights and use them even during the day. I really like this rear light and have been complimented on it.

I recommend checking out /r/bikecommuting. Although it sounds like you have already been commuting by bike, so I apologize if you already know what I'm saying. I'm assuming because you are asking about what you wear for winter cycling that you do not regularly commute in winter/have a short commute.

You will need to get lights for commuting, especially as winter approaches (assuming that you are in the Northern hemisphere). I have the Cygolite Expillion 350 and the PDW Danger Zone. I once read that a blinking rear light is good for being noticed but a solid light is good for driver depth perception, so my helmet has a red light in back that I keep solid in the evening/night. I will eventually get a second real rear light.

As for clothing - what is your climate going to look like this winter? I was commuting in upstate New York and wore generic winter running tights, wool socks, UA coldgear shirt, a down vest, gloves, and a thin scarf that went around my neck and over my head under my helmet. When I wore thick wool mittens over my gloves, I was toasty in that down to 14 F. I never got goggles/glasses, but they would have been nice when it sleeted.

I don't have any cycling specific wear. I re-purpose what I already have or buy things that will work for multiple activities.

I wash my bike (or at least rinse it off) after any ride where salt from the road was kicked up. Last winter I had a toothbrush and would gently scrub my derailleurs to get off the ice and would use a damp rag to wipe it down. Again, I was biking in upstate New York. I have since moved south and don't yet know what this winter will mean for biking. I'm assuming a lot less ice and a lot less salt.

I would recommend this one. I was hesitant in buying it because it sounded too good to be true, 2800 lumens for $30?! But it actually is pretty fucking bright. I have the Light and Motion 700 and I could honestly say that the Amazon light is brighter.

The only downside is that it has an external battery pack has cheap Velcro straps. If you're really interested in it I could post up a test video of it at night.

I've ordered six of these lights in the past. Three immediately went back because they didn't work out of the box. They are very cheaply made and are $20 for a reason.

They are also nowhere near 1000 lumens. That's the theoretical max of the LED, not how many actual lumens it pumps out. Realistically, it's about 600-700 at most. That's still awesome for $20, but it's nowhere near 1000 lumens.

This one: http://www.amazon.com/SecurityIng%C2%AE-Waterproof-Bicycle-Lighting-Flashlight/dp/B00C2MHNJK/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1414784449&sr=1-4&keywords=securitying is a much better made light. I have two of them and they have a better beam pattern and have lasted a lot longer than the single beam ones. It's nowhere near 2800 lumens though. Again, that's a marketing claim based on a theoretical max.

I use the dual beam on my helmet, and the single beam with a wide beam diffuser on the handlebars. It's a great combination. The use the same battery pack, so if one dies, like it did on my last ride, then you can just swap the battery pack to the helmet.

I just ordered this bright eyes one:
http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Eyes-Rechargeable-Headlight-taillight/dp/B00GJZ015Y?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

A guy I work with has one and loves it. The bright eyes brand is supposed to have much better warranty and support than other similar knockoff brands. The battery on it is supposed to be better as well.

Only thing is he said you probably need a diffuser as the beam is pretty narrow as it. His came with a diffuser, even though the listing doesn't say it does. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered before I order one.

Sure thing.

1. I have mid-range USB rechargeable lights: Headlight. Tail light. I will say that the headlight doesn't fit perfectly on the L Train's bars due to the bend in them. But it's plenty bright and lasts a long time. I had it on my old bike and just kept it. I also added Priority full fenders and front basket to make it more useful to me as a commuter. Both were tedious to install (like most fenders and some baskets) but are very solid and haven't given me any issues so far. Here's a link to a picture I posted the first day I rode it to work.
   
   ​
   
   
2. I don't need any more gears. The seven are plenty for my rides in Chicago. If I lived in San Fran or Seattle, I'd probably want more lol. In my mind, a parking garage ramp is pretty steep, I wouldn't want to regularly climb hills like that with this bike. I know some people do though, more power to them. I can easily maintain speed while going up overpasses around here though.
   
   ​
   
   
3. What I meant by 'spinning out' is that I could pedal faster than the bike was going. Basically, I couldn't speed up anymore, even in 7th. Again, that's only done the one grade on my commute and at that point, I'd guess that I'm probably going about 25-27 mph. No need to go any faster in my mind. On flat ground, I'm not strong enough to maintain top speed in 7th gear for long at all. I usually max out in 5th while commuting through the city.

I do all my riding at night but mostly paved trails. I did a ton of research before buying my lights.

Front:

MagicShine 872 - This is what I use. For Price per lumens you can't beat this thing. It's crazy bright. I have it on 50% most of the time sometimes lower. For distance it's about the same at 50% or 100%. 100% is just much brighter immediately in front of you.


I would actually recommend the MagicShine 808 though. It's a little cheaper and all my research showed the side by side comparisons the 808 actually throws light out a little father. It's just not as bright in the first 25 feet. Since I leave my 872 on 50% it wouldn't matter and I would get a little more distance.

http://www.amazon.com/MagicShine-MJ-808U-Bicycle-Improved-1100-Lumen/dp/B009GSLUR4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1409954087&sr=8-3&keywords=magicshine+872

Both have an external battery pack and don't use a USB charger though. Which for some people is a problem. I don't mind strapping the battery to my top tube.

Edit to add: Neither of these has a flashing or pulse feature. They do have an adjustable brightness level though. 872 has last for roughly 2 hours for me at 100%. The power buttons illuminate to give you a rough estimate of battery level. After a 2 hour ride with it on 50% the entire time it will show that it has more then 50% left. They say it will last 3 hours at 100% but reviews I read said it last 2 1/2 at 100% then dropped its self down the 75% then 50 > so on until it completely died at 6 hours. I've not actually done that myself though.

Rear:

I use Light & Motion Vis 180 - This thing is ridiculously bright and I love it. Full 180 degrees of visibility from the amber lights. It's very expensive though for a taillight.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Motion-Tail-Silver-Moon/dp/B00LH1W9AU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=light+and+motion+180

My research pointed to Cygolite Hotshot 2W USB being the best bang for your buck. I would have bought this but my LBS didn't carry it and I needed something that night for riding so i got the Light and Motion.

http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409954733&sr=8-1&keywords=Cygolite+Hotshot+2W+USB


Hope this helps.

I find that they are always giving these away at bike events. I have gotten tons of free ones. Go to the urban cycling class - not only is there helpful info, they tend to give these away for free.

I always give mine away.

I am also a fan of spoke reflectors like these.
https://www.amazon.com/Salzmann-Scotchlite-Spoke-Reflector-Bicycle/dp/B00DNG8DSY

Easy to install and nearly invisible in the day time.

To everyone who rides: Please use lights at night. Even if you think it's lame, I can't stress enough how important they are. Motorists are accustomed to looking for lights when it's dark out. That's just normal. If you're riding without any, you're essentially making yourself invisible to them until they're practically on top of you.

I run the Radbot 1000 as my taillight and it's pretty fucking awesome. It runs a 1watt LED that is soooo bright. You can't even look at it because it will blind you. It's impossible for cars not to see me and they steer clear of me by a huge margin whenever it's running.

As for my headlight, I'm running the Blaze 1watt. It's pretty damn bright as well. I highly recommend both of these lights.

And something you might not be aware of, if you're a victim of a hit-n-run or similar accident with a vehicle and it's found that you weren't running lights, you make it extremely difficult to win a settlement that you might desperately need to pay for your hospital bills. Food for thought.

I considered buying one of those. They look awesome.

I got this since the Outbound lights were out of stock and planned on putting it on my helmet after the Outbound light came in. Instead I'm so happy with this Bright Eyes 1600 lumen that I'll just get a second one. It's plenty bright at highest and coverage was great too with the diffuser lens (included, you just have to pop it in).

The BrightEyes is $150 cheaper which helps. Two sample pics. The pics came out ever so slightly brighter than they were in real life due to a high ISO on my phone. The pics were taken on a 5 year old Nexus 6, so no fancy night shot from newer phones. It's pretty close to what I saw.

I got a couple of cheap Bright Eyes Headlamps off Amazon. They're not the best head-lamps in the world, but more than good enough for riding, and the price is right.

Night-riding is the best way to beat the heat, and also gives you a nice perspective on the trails that you ride. I really like it - it kind of strips away a lot of distractions, and leaves just you and the trail.

It keeps me riding through Australian summer, and through the heat in Houston.

Ok...didn't realize I had to add a comment to add text to an image post. Anyway...

Long story short: first time I rode, I slipped and fell and had nasty road rash. The ignition on my scooter was fucked and I was in recovery for about 2 weeks.

Photos of my injuries when they were fresh, click at your own risk:

http://imgur.com/a/tMoHLhf

Here we are weeks after, everything has healed completely except for my shoulder and wrist. I sprained the shit out of it apparently. I bought some gear to keep me protected and this is what I use:

Knee/shin guards:

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/leatt-dual-axis-knee-shin-guards

Elbow guards:

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/alpinestars-vapor-pro-elbow-guards

Gloves:

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/alpinestars-smx-1-air-v2-gloves

Helmet:

https://www.foxracing.com/proframe-matte-helmet/23310.html?dwvar_23310_color=465&dwvar_23310_size=S&cgid=mtb-mens-helmets-proframe#start=4

After doing some errands on the scooter today, two things I've realized: riding for a while really takes a toll on your legs, mostly calves and your hands really cramp up after a while (3+ hours). When I had the accident, I was going 20mph and while I was riding today, I realized why I fell. The speed never went down because with the Emove cruiser, if you hold the throttle for a while, it automatically activates cruise control. I figured out you can just turn it off by pressing the throttle twice but still, better late than never. Also I got a little too confident and went to the second mode instead of just staying on the first. I rode today strictly on the first mode and everything went smoothly. My only complaint is how stupid hot it gets where I live and I was drenched in sweat by the end of the day

Edit: I forgot to mention the smaller things I've attached to the scooter

Bag:

WILD MAN EVA Hard Waterproof Shell Scooter Storage Bag for Scooters Folding Bike (3L) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TL9YN11/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_rZoWDb0AHX2M7

Phone holder:

Roam Universal Premium Bike Phone... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWDCSIZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Bike headlight:

Bright Eyes Fully Waterproof 1600 Lumen Rechargeable Mountain, Road Bike Headlight, 6400mAh Battery (Now 5+ Hours on Bright Beam). Comes w/Free Diffuser Lens and Free TAILLIGHT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X90ZYJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_N3oWDb6Q6AS7V

And sunglasses... any will do honestly I just got these since they look cool:

Hulislem S1 Sport Polarized... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RZNQ3M?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

SecurityIng Waterproof 1200 Lumens XM-L U2 LED Bicycle Light

Twenty bucks. Super bright. Multiple brightness settings. It will light up the road ahead of you. Great for dark roads and bike paths. This thing is brighter and smaller than the halogen lighting kit I spent $150 for, 20 years ago! Has a separate battery pack, which I ziptie to my rear rack (you can put it in a water bottle cage also).

https://www.amazon.com/SecurityIng-Waterproof-Lighting-Headlight-Rechargeable/dp/B00C2MHNJK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504365779

I agree with all this, and in addition I would recommend just getting some cheap sports clothing from your local department store. No need to spend all that money on specialty bike clothes if your commute is only 7 miles. A general sports tee (in the US, my local Target has some sports tees in high-vis orange and yellow for $8) and some sports shorts. Make sure they're made from wicking material or you'll be miserable in the warmer months. For such a short commute though, padded cycle shorts are not necessary. My cycle commute is about 8.5 miles and I've never needed or wanted specialty padded cycle shorts. Most of the year I wear some cheap cargo shorts, in summer it's wicking workout shorts, in the winter I wear lined tights under my work slacks.

Use the money you save to buy some good panniers and fenders.

Get some good lights-- you'll want them just in case you find yourself cycling in low light or if it's cloudy and dark or foggy. At the least, get a good taillight.

If you're worried about sweat and don't have a shower facility available, baby wipes are very helpful. Carry some extra deodorant in your pack too. Bike your route in advance a few times to make sure you've got enough time to get to school and get yourself dressed/prepared.

As for a headlight, I have one like this. It's extremely bright and has three settings: high, low, blinking. I feel extremely comfortable with this on my bike and it lasts forever. I also opted for the wide angle lens that I think works great for riding on roads as it doesn't shine directly into the eyes of vehicle drivers.

For a taillight, I have this one. Again, it's got a few options for blinking/solid lights/etc, and the blinking option is super bright. I rode at night once and turned around to see if I could tell how far it was casting and I could see it reflecting off a stop sign about 1-2 blocks away.

One suggestion for a helmet (I don't know your budget), but I backed the Lumos Helmet on Kickstarter and received mine last month. It's awesome, and I feel way more visible with it than with a normal helmet. Plus the turn signals are a major plus!

Yep, any bike shop will have a selection of headlights for bicycles. They clamp on the handlebars, generally. The cheaper ones are powered with AA batteries and some have a rechargeable battery pack. If you go with the AAs, it'll be worth investing in Eneloop rechargeable batteries.

If you have a basket on the front of your bike, it may obscure the light. Some people will ziptie a short piece of PVC to the front of the basket and then mount the light to that. Minoura also makes a basket clamp but they're hard to find in the US for some reason.

When I ride at night I use two headlights - an AA powered one that flashes, and this thing which uses a rechargeable battery back. It's insanely bright.

I haven't ridden through Logan Heights recently but my recollection is that it's pretty bikeable and downtown is an easy ride from there.

What kind of lights are you using?

For the front, you may want to check out the Design Shine Lights ( http://www.DesignShineLighting.com ) which are quite bright, and should be available soon. Or check out the Planet Bike 2w headlight which blinks:

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blaze-2Watt-Headlight/dp/B0015R1NE4/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_img_b

I am actually using the Nu Flare LED flashlight and a handlebar flashlight mount because it's a lot brighter than the Planet Bike headlight, but it doesn't blink so that may not work for you ...

http://www.amazon.com/Nu-Flare-77R92L-Ultrabright-Aluminum-Flashlight/dp/B001LYYO10/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318951039&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-Mount-for-Bike-Handlebar/dp/B004OADU22/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1319730599&sr=1-1-catcorr

NOTE: This mount is okay for my use, you may not like it it you have to remove your lights.

For the rear, I love my Planet Bike Turbo Superflash:

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Superflash-Turbo-Light/dp/B004U5PV5A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318366148&sr=8-1

I emailed Planet Bike and asked them to make a White and Yellow Turbo flash, which I think would take care of front-mount for me.

Finally, you may want to get a little air horn for your bike. Someone did a write here on Reddit a few weeks ago. This is the horn:

http://www.amazon.com/SeaSense-1-4oz-50074011-Image-Reference/dp/B000XQ5B1Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1VY5NBV2BPVP6&colid=2ANXR60WOJLC

This is the write-up and image.

http://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/lf42p/i_installed_a_compressed_air_horn_this_weekend/

http://i.imgur.com/X6vLI.jpg

I'm sure they are cheaper but if you really want to ride at night this is the cheapest light I've found that provides enough light to be safe. It's legit probably 350-400 lumens. I can road bike at 18+ mph on trails pretty safe. The combo kit is $40

https://www.amazon.com/SUPERBRIGHT-Bike-Light-USB-Rechargeable/dp/B00OOENVYA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498673195&sr=8-1&keywords=shark+light+bike

In the process of kitting out (or identifying kit for when I have the money) for my new (first full sized) bike and have settled on Cat Eye Rapid X (50 lumens).

You can get more powerful ones ( Rapid X2 and X3) but I'm generally anti bright lights as they're often too dazzling or even hurt my eyes when on other biked - pet peeve). Anyway I ramble, they attach by rubber/stretchy plastic band and come with a larger one for seat tube and smaller one to attach to seat stays or rack or anywhere else you fancy inc. one would assume the ability to orient them outwards/side ways for side viability should you want to (though they've got v v wide angle glow anyway).

Reckon I'd get a few for rack down tubes or seat stays each side vertically and and one horizontally to attach to the rear hanging light plate on the end of the rack to maximise the [strikethrough]Akira Neo Tokyo 2019 motorbike look[/strikethrough] visability (and a couple of front ones on the forks to sit either side of a Busch and Muller Eyro mounted centrally on the fork above the front wheel).

Also these wheel reflectors are a cheap and cheerful fix that I'll do, good at catching car headlights as lower down on the bike where they're generally pointing:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DNG8DSY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_6gZMDb3HDV559

https://youtu.be/_5xC7PI3dyI

Re: Cateye Rapid X, believe they were the first of their kind when they first came out quite a while back but the same/similar lights are sold by different brands. Cheap Chinese ebay jobs available too but not sure if the same or cheap lower quality copies, up to you if you want to risk.

Also going to get Tortec Mudguards that have a reflector strip which user reviews say is v good and helpful. Then some reflective rim tape to boot (and then potentially some 'diamond grade' reflective tape that's used on emergency vehicles to strategically place on points along the frame - yes I want my Neo Tokyo/Tron bicycle).

I've never owned a real bike light. The Fenix-Store used to sell these TwoFish LockBlock flashlight mounts and I picked one up when I ordered a replacement PD30 after losing mine 5 or 6 years ago. Have used it on 5 or 6 different bikes with handlebars ranging from skinny CrMo BMX bars to thickly-wrapped, fat mag-aluminum road-bike bars, and with every light I own (except the 1xAAA ones, which I could probably just clip to the velcro loop if necessary). From the narrowest part of an SC52 to a fat plastic incandescent 2x123 light; it holds it securely and doesn't swivel or move even on slick, wet leather or metal. The rubber helps absorb a little bit of the road vibration, but that's an issue with all bike lights I'd imagine. Got left out in the rain/sun/snow for over 2 years while its primary home was outside of a college building. Hasn't started to dry rot or fade or anything. And it hasn't been stolen, which is a miracle in this city. The bungee cords on my pannier rack have been stolen three times, as well as the permanent, screwed-on mount for my taillight (when my taillight wasn't on it), but they never took my little rubber/velcro doohickey. Oh and the Us are different sizes so you can flip it around to accommodate thicker lights or bars. If you have a really thick light and wrapped handlebars you might be in trouble...

Kinda weird to give such a raving review of a piece of rubber with two u-shapes and velcro straps... but as both a flashlight enthusiast and a frequent cyclist, it's helped me cut back on my gear since I can just slap whatever's in my pocket on my handlebars and roll. And then I don't have to invest a bunch of money to have a durable, waterproof, multi-mode (without PWM) bike light. The situation is different now, I guess. Since I assume you can get decent-quality LED bike lights for cheap just like you can get a decent ThorFire flashlight for 9 bucks.

Oh and Zebralights are crazy efficient. I miss my SC52. Even running a measly 840mAh 14500 I could use it for everyday tasks for a few weeks. I'll be picking up another ZL sometime soon :)

My $30 tail light Cygolite Hotshot 2-Watt USB Rechargeable Taillight with USB Cable by Cygolite that was recommended to me on Reddit. Its like Ron Jeremy the Hedgehog. IT just goes and goes its small but mighty but smells better than Ron. . I charged it once and it lasted approximately 42 hrs of use in warm weather.

Link: https://amzn.com/B005DVA57Y

also my REI Flash 22 pack for $33.93 is awesome you have to love the dividends.

If only the Urban lights and motion 200 was as good its a total piece of crap in cold weather it lasts one ride before needing charging in hot weather it needs charging every 5 hours. Their claim of 12 hours on low pulse is bull crap

All lights you purchase will have mounts included with them, look for USB rechargeable lights as opposed to battery operated lights.

On the frame in the rear

Ultra Bright Bike Light Blitzu Cyborg 168T USB Rechargeable Bicycle Tail Light. Red High Intensity Rear LED Accessories Fits On Any Road Bikes, Helmet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015IEJ0GC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_TOF7radLPpoOj

Under the saddle.


LE Super Bright Bike Light, USB Rechargeable Rear Tail Light, Cycling Light, 4 LEDs, 5 Light Modes, Red, Cable Included, Fits on any Bicycles, Helmets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0197X16BC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_kdJj4Z6x6Tr61


There are much better lights available, I'm upgrading my front currently. So I don't have a link.
And apologies if the links don't work. Not that tech savvy.

Why lights? Safety. Night or day. Be seen, drivers will pay attention.

hotshots are good, built in battery, and really bright if you want them to be ( adjustable settings )

https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y

Not good for aero seatpost though

Cygolite has really good customer service too, i've contacted them on two separate times about replacement rubber buttons ( lost one in a crash, the other during my ride ) And they mailed me some at no cost.

My headlight from them is kinda poopy, but these taillights are great, mine is going on 2+ years with tons of use and never had any issues and battery still holds fine. Really easy to turn on/off while riding the bike too.

By far, the best cheap light I’ve found is this one by inbike I got it in a lot of amazon return stuff and I didn’t get the mount with it, so I can’t speak for whatever comes with it. The light runs on 18650 cells which are the way to go imo. Pick up a couple more and wall charger and you’re good to go.

I have a version of this one on a couple bikes as well. Same light just non branded. Bright and rechargeable. One has been coated in mud several times and still works fine.

>Can anyone suggest what parts to get? preferably cheapish .

I like modding, but I don't think it's worth it in this case. The main problem is creating a thermal path for the heat generated by the LED. With an incandescent bulb, the vast majority of the heat escapes through the glass dome. With an LED, most of the heat escapes through the base of the emitter, through a mcpcb, through a removable or integrated pill, then to the body of the light, all of which must be physically connected to each other.

Creating that thermal path is going to be tough, and I can't think of any easy way to do it unless you're willing to spend a lot of money to have someone else do some of the work for you. Without that thermal path, even 350mA would probably create too much heat, and that would barely put 100 lumens out the front.

I recommend getting a <$20 Cree bike light from ebay or Amazon. It will be 500 lumens or more and comes with a 4*18650 battery pack. You could get a battery holder that allows you to use your own 18650's, but VTC4's are overkill for the vast majority of bike lights.

• [Crank Brothers multi tool] (http://www.amazon.com/Crank-Brothers-Bicycle-19-Function-Silver/dp/B0012Q41HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418363910&sr=8-1&keywords=crank+brothers+multi+tool)
  
  
• [Topeak saddlebag] (http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Aero-Wedge-Buckle-Medium/dp/B000FIAU8O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418364745&sr=8-1&keywords=topeak+saddle+bag)
  
  
• [Cygolite Metro 400 Headlight] (http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Metro-400-Rechargeable-Headlight/dp/B00LXTOT6I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418364255&sr=8-1&keywords=cygolite+metro+400)
  
  
• [Cygolite Hotshot Taillight] (http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_text_y)
  
  
• [CatEye Wireless Bike Computer] (http://www.amazon.com/CatEye-Wireless-Bicycle-Computer-CC-VT220W/dp/B004RE783W/ref=sr_1_16?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1418364327&sr=1-16&keywords=cateye)
  
  
• [Finish Line Chain Lube] (http://www.amazon.com/Finish-Line-Bicycle-4-Ounce-Squeeze/dp/B002IDZXRM/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting)
  
  
• [Genuine Innovations CO2 Inflator] (http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Innovations-G2628-Ultraflate-Inflator/dp/B002AGI1QW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420015344&sr=8-1&keywords=innovations+co2+inflator)
  
  If you're looking to up your riding game, everything listed above will save you from any trouble you have on the road. Cycling computer is always neat to have too!
  
  Cygolite Metro 400 and the Hotshot are brilliant. The lights definitely pack a strong punch. I'll tell you right now, unless the lighting in your town sucks ass or you go off road riding, the metro 400 is a great light and you don't really need to go much higher than that.
  

Here's what I have-

Backpack: https://www.dakine.com/en-us/bags/backpacks/street-backpacks/mission-25l-backpack-17w/

Helmet: https://triple8.com/product/the-certified-sweatsaver/?category_name=skate

Shoes: https://www.vans.com/shop/suede-canvas-old-skool#hero=0

Pads: https://triple8.com/product/saver-series-3-pack-box/?category_name=skate

I only used all of the pads for about the first week or so, but I still wear the wrist guards-they've prevented serious injuries!

​

Board light (tail of the board): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015IEJ0GC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Board light #2 (front of the board): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015IFA03I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Front Backpack light (goes on my backpack strap, or hooked to my jacket on my forward facing shoulder): https://www.olightstore.com/h1r-cool-white.html

Back Backpack light (goes around my backpack): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N1SM2NQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The board lights aren't super bright, they're mostly so people can see what I'm riding. The O light makes riding at night very safe, and my back light has great visibility.

As for tools, I carry my skate tool and a couple of hexes, and some spare belts. I have a charger I leave in my office and one in my backpack all the time.

​

Hope this helps!

The best value reputable brand light is Cygolite. The metro 400 is $37.50 on Amazon. The 600, at $47 would be my choice, but if you can't afford that, the 400 is still excellent. If you can't afford the $37.50, get a gift card for what you can afford.

Sorry, I am just seeing this. The horn is:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A7Y5EEK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's pretty loud.

Now, the blinker broke pretty quickly. It worked great and then when the battery ran down it just wouldn't charge back up. So, I returned it:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XXHDQLN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got this one and it's worked great, so far:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MKMTR8Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have like 4 of these. They're super bright and battery lasts a long time. You can find them on eBay every now and then for $20.

Edit: A year ago I switched to a USB version of the light above. I got mine on eBay for $12, but can be found [here](
http://www.lightinthebox.com/zhishunjia-waterproof-3-mode-1xcree-xm-l2-u2-high-power-bike-lamp-900lm-usb-5v-gray-red_p3984844.html?currency=USD&litb_from=paid_adwords_shopping&sku=429_6917) for around the same price. I use it with a USB power bank, like this. I just put the battery pack in my frame bag. I can charge my phone and light my path at the same time if I want. It's really a great setup!

I have a Cygolite Metro 1100 and Light & Motion Urban 650. Both are enough to see with and ride around 20mph on paved surfaces. They are supposed to last ~1.5hrs at peak output. After dark, I ride with both.

I find that the typical advertised runtime on 500+ lumen lights doesn't go past 2hrs without an additional battery pack (not all have swappable batteries). Only the cheap lights aren't weather resistant.

Other brands such as Nite Rider, Lezyne, and Cateye make some really bright lights. I wouldn't go below 500 lumens if you ride with any pace.

As for taillights, a Cygolite Hotshot and Light & Motion Vis 180. I think I go a good week before recharging. I ride with both after dark and one all the time.

As far as flashing and constant, I do one of each in back when in traffic, constant on trails. Headlights are always constant and I turn off the super bright one on trails.

My preference for lights depends on the type of conditions I'm riding in. In daylight or early evening, a blinking light is good for making you more visible. At night along dark paths, a solid light is crucial for being able to actually see what's in front of me. In dark conditions, a blinking on/off light will make it harder for other people to track you, which is why a combination is good.
In order to not worry about a huge number of lights, I like the Cygolite Metro which has a steady-flash mode where there is a solid light with a little pulse, so it both gives light and attracts attention without being annoying. I also have a taillight where the light moves back and forth instead of blinking.

I've used a Cygolite Hotshot for years now all-weather year-'round riding. The standard bracket is just the plastic clip one, there are some others available as additional purchases like a rack bracket (a must for any light I buy, personally). It's been through more storms than I can count, so, the water-sealing is fine. It's visible even in bright summer daylight, and at night I have to angle it down if riding with friends or they can't see very well when behind me. Recharges with micro USB. Great product, haven't been tempted by anything else since. http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449153336&sr=8-1&keywords=cygolite+hotshot

+1 to both points above. I got the 550 usb-rechargable cygolite in 2015 and it's been going strong ever since:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LXTORC4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

def strong enough to see and be seen in reasonable conditions. Pretty much anything except midnight fog single tracking :)

I like this one. Has a flashing mode and is very easy to install


Cycle Torch SUPERBRIGHT Bike Light USB Rechargeable LED - FREE Taillight INCLUDED Shark 500 Set - 500 Lumens - Fits ALL Bikes, Hybrid, Road, MTB, Easy Install & Quick Release https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OOENVYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xsnNDbK3PGXJ2

I've found buying from places like dx.com (basically a chinese distributor) to be really good for buying inexpensive lights. I currently use these:

http://www.dx.com/p/bicycle-bike-2-mode-3-led-red-light-tail-warning-safety-light-red-white-2-x-aaa-120031

which is a direct knock off of http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blinky-eXtreme-Bicycle/dp/B000KBEH1W/

and

http://www.dx.com/p/singfire-sf-607-2-x-cree-xm-l-t6-2000lm-cool-white-4-mode-bicycle-flashlight-black-4-x-18650-230382

which while not anywhere close to the brightest headlight that they sell, is brighter than any bike light I've seen on the road at full power. (I typically ride around the city at the low or 1/4 power setting and ride on dark trails at medium or 1/2 power setting) At full power, I measured it at 15 Watts which is huge for an LED light (equivalent to a 60W lightbulb and almost as much as a car headlight).

Do you want them to see in the dark, or to be seen?

These are the best:
http://www.dinottelighting.com/

They are not cheap.

Here is a much more affordable tail light:
http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1372712157&sr=8-4&keywords=cygolite+bike+lights

In my opinion, any of the super cheap blinky lights (e.g. Knog, ~$10) are a waste of money. They won't make you more noticeable. I don't know how much you care, but there are plenty of youtube videos demonstrating how bright some of these lights are. Without knowing your budget, it's hard to recommend something.

Bike wise ive gone with a Genesis Criox De fer. The position is a bit more sporty and aerodynamic than a hybrid. And as its a cross bike its a bit more comfortable than a road bike.

Light wise ive gone with :https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00OOENVYA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are bright and reliable

Helmet doesnt really matter but id advise buying an okay quality one. The clips are a bit more secure on any helmet 20+


What id advise aswell isinvest in a pair of MTB shoes, it might seem unescesary but they make a world of difference when commuting

$25 set here: https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Torch-Rechargeable-Light-Commuter/dp/B00XJXP6V8/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_468_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X9RX9ESYAV112Q2V38NS

Haven't used this one personally but it has great reviews, USB charging, and $25 is pretty cheap for a starter front/rear light.

Just gonna paste an email I sent a friend with a similar question:

On the bars:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006QQX3C4/
With:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B004WLCLQY/
And:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAQOV5E/

The wide angle thing is important for bar lights, otherwise it's too much of a spotlight and when you turn your bars you can't see the trail. With that big battery it's good on high for 3 hours.

My old light just broke and I replaced it with this. I've only used it once, but the specs looked good and it worked well. I don't know if it's good for 3 hours though:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B00C2MHNJK/

The battery is claimed to be 6400mah, but it's much smaller than the big 6600 mah battery I linked above. Not sure who's lying on their specs.

All-in, you're at about $70. Not too shabby, 'specially considering it used to be 4 bills for a 2-light setup.

Can always run it on low to keep from blinding folks.

I just bought this Cygolite Metro 360 head light and this Cygolite Hotshot tail light a few days ago. They are well reviewed and seem blindingly bright when I look at them inside. Several different flash modes and are both USB rechargeable.

As for other products which can save your life, a cell phone and a credit/debit card will be useful if you're stranded somewhere. Wearing a Road ID will be helpful to emergency personnel if you're unable to communicate.

It depends on the route and season. If it's going to be a wet ride with 14 hours of no sun, then I run a dynamo hub with lights. The S&P hubs are relatively cheap. And I pair it with a IQ2 LUXOS U, though I am looking into an Exposure Revo MK1.

For speedier rides in the 5hr zone, I'll strap on one of these. The beam is a bit narrow for road use and it is symmetric so you have to be careful about blinding drivers. A spare battery is also pretty cheap, so you can have 10hrs of for $60 which is probably the best deal anywhere.

Finally, if I am doing something short like a 300/400k (well some 400k anyways), I'll throw on an Nightrider Lumina 750. The 5:30hr rating may be a bit optimistic, or my lights are getting a bit old.

As for lux... yea it's a German standard thing. I always wiki it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lux) and look at the examples they have. You can also see an example of that beam here: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp

It looks about the same output as my Nightrider at 200lumens.

This one I have - cheapish and pretty bright - Planet Bike Superflash bike tail light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KBEH1W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_J2p7BbMVMEARK

This one is a little more and twice as bright - NiteRider Solas 250 Tail Light Black, One Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGGJGXJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_53p7BbTK9EEPW

This one is semi expensive but heavy duty. It's a bit on the big side too. I think it would work good on molle webbing. I have a tactical backpack myself and was thinking about picking it up. Blackburn Dayblazer 125 Tail Light Black, One Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFRQNZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_f5p7BbDTNVG7G

Edit : These all work well for me with my tactical backpack but depends one what your rocking

FWIW, I'm in the Pacific Northwest and commute all year.

I've been using this gear with great success and good relative comfort:

http://amzn.com/B00DQZ0S3K

https://www.showerspass.com/products/club-shoe-covers

http://www.columbia.com/mens-evapouration-jacket-RM2023.html

http://amzn.com/B00435IPFK

http://amzn.com/B008KUXRAW

Wear your helmet over your hood, and a pair of regular safety glasses. When it is really cold I add a balaclava and a fleece jacket. Fenders are a must to keep the dirt down, and I use this lube in the winter:

http://amzn.com/B000WYCD5O

I have an old pair of windproof campmor gloves that are no longer made. If you get cold just pedal harder. It almost never happens, I'm usually too hot.

Your bike depends on your distance, speed and budget. Make sure you get disc brakes, mandatory in my opinion for the higher speeds. This is my ride: http://i.imgur.com/bXXJkjS.jpg, just passed 1400 miles. It is BBS02 on a Kona Dew, I've since switched to Schwalbe Marathon tires. Cost about $1100 and has already paid for itself in gas and parking. 35mph for ~10 miles, 25 mph for 30-40 miles.

Oh, and fuck the snow and ice. Those are the days I drive or work from home.

For rear lights, I recently scientifically determined that the Cygolite Hotshot 2W is the best rear light under $200 you can find (it's $27, and nothing else in that price range compares). You can read my full comparison of 15 different popular rear lights here, as well as the related reddit discussion.

Not on the body, but this is what I use on my almost nightly rides. The frame bag has two nice pockets that make gear easily accessible. Room for my wallet, phone, and repair kit too. I also have a powerful 1200 lumen light that lets me see what's happening farther ahead.
http://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup.asp?igpk=2126186169&TID=367&gclid=COza-7O2g7gCFZBaMgodVQUAtA
http://www.amazon.com/Lumen-Bicycle-HeadLight-Flashlight-Headlamp/dp/B006QQX3C4

Man, thanks everyone for the responses. I promise I was never trying to be a jerk with the flashing light. I'll not do that anymore (I of course knew it was bright enough to get noticed, didn't think about peoples' lack of ability to perceive motion from the flashing).

I'm going to try the suggested tip to aim the light from 50m at a wall tonight. Also going to see about finding a good and/or diffuser lens for my light. Between these changes, hopefully I'll have better outcomes.

I don't have to ride in the dark enough to buy a more exspensive light, but who knows, maybe Santa will come thru.

FWIW drivers are still jerks sometime, no matter what we do. BUT, hopefully I can be safer, make them more aware, and not ruffle their feathers (too much, a little can be productive! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ).

For all those in the US that do so, enjoy your Thanksgiving! For the rest of you--enjoy your day anyway!

Yep, most visible-light LEDs have almost no UV. However, use good LEDs, no cheap ones. You want "binned" LEDs; those having a specific color temperature. There's more of a guarantee that there will be no UV.

I like Cree XM-L T6 (T6 is the bin code--warm white.) XM-L LEDs are very efficient, and can get very, very bright if pushed to their max. current. At high currents they do get hot, and require heat sinks to avoid burning out. You can find XM-L flashlight/bike light/head lamps that are real cheap when ordered from China. Wire the battery terminals up to a wall adapter, and they' can be pretty decent lamps. IKEA has some cheap-ish ($10,) but less-bright LED desk lamps. Right now I'm using 4 of those for my emulsion work.

Really frickin' bright bike light...

I run one of these on the helmet and one on the bars. The beam pattern is great, very little shadowing
Superbright Bike Light USB Rechargeable LED - Free Taillight Included- Cycle Torch Shark 500 Set - 500 Lumens - Fits All Bikes, Hybrid, Road, MTB, Easy Install & Quick Release (Black) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00OOENVYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_unqlDbHV0B9WT

True, it is quite interesting. One thing about it is that generally speaking I ride as if nobody even sees me (in other words extremely defensively) and if I am riding around on that premise, then why would I need to signal - assuming no one even sees me to begin with..?

Now I don't want to make it seem as if I'm *trying* to not be seen, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact I use the built-in headlights/tailights on my scooter as daytime running lights, as well as an extremely super-bright aftermarket headlight https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071ZJYF78 as well as *two* rear aftermarket tail lights with turn signals https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XXHDQLN and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NJ7B693 yes I actually have all of those installed just so I can be seen!

But.... I still drive with the assumption that most drivers are not looking for me, because that is in fact the unfortunate truth.

I posted this at r/cycling with no responses so I'll try here since it seems more active.

I am in need of a light (soon).

I am starting to ride my bike to work, and with winter setting in I'll be riding in the dark when it's not freezing out. I ran across these two lights on Amazon, are they any good?

1st choice: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Rechargeable-Lumen-Bicycle-Light/dp/B00GJZ015Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1410199224&sr=1-1

2nd choice: http://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-LIFETIME-GUARANTEE-SHIPPING-INTENSITY/dp/B00GGR0XD0/ref=sr_1_3?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1410199224&sr=1-3

Those were the top two ranked so I'm not married to them, just trying to get a feel for what I should look at.

I'm riding on streets/frontage roads for 10 miles each way, about 40 minutes of ride time each way. I'm not opposed to an external battery pack. If it matters my bike is a Trek 3900 that is a few years old.

Thanks!

I'm using a Radbot 1000 by Portland Design Works, it is super bright and its pretty cheap.

I'm sort of a cheap-ass when something really cheap does the job. With that in mind, for a headlight, I use one of these. In the city, all you need is the lowest setting and get the lens that flattens out the beam, otherwise the beam pattern is perfectly round, which is practically useless on a bike.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006QQX3C4/ref=oh_details_o01_s02_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For tailights, I use three of something that are almost identical to these, but I pick them up at the local Fred Meyer for $6 a piece. They don't have any mechanism to attach to a bike, the belt clip just happens to fit perfectly on the back of my rack and I use a loop of velcro to attach one to the back of my helmet.

http://www.amazon.com/Personal-Flashing-Safety-Light-Belt/dp/B001JPS5BQ/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_text_y

Always carry a spare tube, patches, a hand-pump, and a multitool.

I can confirm that the Tech EOS kicks ass. Battery life is impressive considering how small it is (I've ridden every day for around an hour for the past month and a half and it's still going fine). Bright enough that I can avoid potholes.

Also, the PDW Danger Zone is an awesome tail light. I've used it with the Tech EOS and it's still kicking as well. It's a really bright fucking tail light, and it looks sweet.

I like and use this light. On its max setting, it's too bright for lit streets or two way bike paths, but it's nice when I get out into my neighborhood with very little lighting. I usually use it on the first or second brightness setting on paths or roads. I've seen it as cheap as $35 or so on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Metro-550-USB-Light/dp/B00LXTORC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1485022128&sr=1-1&keywords=cygolite+metro+550

When it comes down to it, the other guy is right. It's really all about the angle of the light, not the lumens.

I've been good with a 450 lumen Cygolite on the front, and a Bontrager Flare R on the back.

But the Cygolite Hotshot Pro is a really good taillight too (guys in my group run them), so I'd recommend picking up a combo pack, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/CYGOLITE-LIGHT-COMBO-METRO-HOTSHOT/dp/B07545T4Y9/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=cygolite+combo&qid=1550174357&s=gateway&sr=8-5

​

Also, I always run two taillights for redundancy, I've had my tail light stop working before, and I didn't know, so consider picking up a lower cost hotshot as well, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=cygolite+hotshot&qid=1550174600&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Have you looked at the direct-from-china MagicShine clones? There are quite a few variants out there ranging from "500" to "2300" lumen for not a whole helluva lot of money.

I hear the amazon linked one works pretty well zip-tied to a helmet. Buying 2 (maybe one from a different seller) and mounting one with the wide angle lens on the bars would be a cost effective way to light up everything in front of you.

I use a Cygolite Metro 550 up front, and a Blitzu Blitzu Cyborg 168T on the rear.

I don't use turn/brake lights. I don't think they offer an added benefit, and are kinda fiddly to get them to work 100% reliably. If you're using a signaling device ... it should be 100% reliable. I think having a rear flasher is plenty as it simply says "See me! I'm a bicycle and slower than you!".

The cygolite is plenty bright for riding on unlit roads, and has multiple modes/brightness levels. I mostly use the "strobe" during daylight hours, and "steady pulse" mode after sunset.

The blizu offers a few brightness levels on "steady", as well as 3 flashing modes (strobe, bright pulse, less-bright pulse). The strobe mode is very fast ... like a strobe light in a disco. The pulse mode is sort of "normal" flashing like a car's turn signal. I use the "strobe" mode during the day for its attention-grabbing ability, and the less-frantic "pulse" mode at night to ensure it gets people's attention without inducing seizures.

Both are USB rechargeable, which was a big deciding factor for me. I hate having to buy/replace batteries all the time. A "desired" feature would be a design that allows USB charging with replaceable batteries (using industry-standard sizes) for longer outings, but these generally last long enough for most of my excursions.

What’re you thinking of the spoon? I love it so far. Great price and color options and super comfy. The light is an older version of the hotshot 150 I believe.

I don't wear a helmet so I normally use the headstrap for cycling, but I also made good experiences with this double-strap-thingy on my old bike. I used it for a normal flashlight but I see no reason why it shouldn't work turned 90° with the Wizard Pro. Hope that helps.

http://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y

This is hands down the best rear light out there. There are three or four modes of flashing types and you're able to increase or decrease the tempo of each.

The light is so bright that the red light is visible on the ground behind you.

It's also rechargeable.

They have a mini version too, and it's just as powerful.

I’ve had the cycle torch 500 for a few years now ( hadn’t used it in a two or three years, but did the other day and they it still holds all its charge and is still super bright) and it’s amazing. I used the light nightly on my commute to and from work from 2013- mid 2015. The light is rechargeable and affordable. Also bright as hell!

cycle torch 500

This is probably the best tail light you can get. its a full watt and the brightest you can get for 30 bucks. Almost everyone I know rides with these.

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blinky-Superflash-Turbo/dp/B004U5PV5A/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1374801374&sr=1-1&keywords=superflash+turbo

Right on: I run a double set of the CycleTorch , and I love it for front and rear.

I have cheaper plastic pedals, so you’re right. It’d make all the difference to upgrade those. Any leads on a good, stout metal platform pedal?

I was eyeing this, which are supposedly pretty good if you can find a way to mount them, as seen here on this Zero 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=uJovGdgYkEA (it looks like they use this to mount it)

A friend told me that he has had good luck with these Bright Eyes when I asked him what he used. One on the bar and one on the helmet.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XJXP6V8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9m2ODbVMWZ050

I’ve been using it for awhile, pretty good imo :)

Half my commute is after dark. I like putting a couple 3M reflective thingies on my spokes for side visibility and I have lights on the front and back of the helmet to make sure I'm seen over the top of cars.

The helmet light is especially nice for aiming right at cars waiting at side streets to make sure they see me. I've stopped cars in the act of pulling out in front of me several times by hitting them with the beam from my helmet light. I use an LED flashlight.

I use this on my handlebars:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X90ZYJ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

and this on my helmet:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IHIMJRS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

The Shenkey is great and you could honestly just get two for helmet/handlebars

I commute to work at night as well. I use a Cygolite Expillion 350 headlight on the front and two Planet Bike Superflash taillights on the back. I also wear a yellow traffic safety vest with retro-reflective stripes.

I have been riding at night for more than a year now without incident. I have been told by a coworker who passed me riding to work at night that he could see me a half mile away, lit up and glowing like a Christmas tree. All of this stuff will cost about $100, but it could save your life.

This one is my favorite of the lights I use, and it's rechargeable:

https://www.amazon.com/Blitzu-Rechargeable-Intensity-Accessories-Flashlight/dp/B015IEJ0GC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1511376731&sr=8-6&keywords=

This one also works great, and runs on 2x AAA batteries:

https://www.amazon.com/CatEye-Omni-Bike-Light-Rear/dp/B008QVXQ1K/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1511376770&sr=8-8&keywords=

For the front, I use this thingy with any number of rechargeable (18650 powered) flashlights that I have:

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Fish-Lockblocks-Flashlight-Holder/dp/B001CJXB5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511376885&sr=8-1&keywords=

I generally have to ride kitted out because I can't be in the sun for very long. I find my entire kit very comfortable though more so for being outside. If its a quick trip it isn't worth the time to change. Any more then that and I'll be physically cooler, and more comfortable on longer rides. I can't be outside for too long because of vitiligo without covering up anyways.

I use cameras for multiple purposes. To document interactions, to document idiotic actions -- even mine. Their main purpose though is to have a record in case of an accident and for that purpose I want to be able to clearly identify the driver and license plate. This requires good resolution front and back. I'm tempted to just use two generic go pro style cameras but then I'll have to remember to turn them on, charge them, etc. I'd like one battery pack at most and maybe one switch.

I have a very bright front headlight similar to this that runs off of a battery pack. We have a total of 4 battery packs that we use over 2 different bicycles. The backlights I have are AAA powered and I keep a backup (lights and batteries). I currently switched lights and I have about 6 of the new ones and maybe 3 of the old ones. I also typically care 2 or 3 cheap "to be seen" emergency lights.

Best experience is having a really crappy day at work and taking all the frustration out on the way home crushing my record. I'm just too physically exhausted to be upset. Then, after I've relaxed I perk up and realize that I just crushed my previous best travel time.

My worst experiences excluding being hit or nearly hit would be engaging with idiots that yell at me. Normally I let it go but sometimes I won't because I'm tired of it and I'll catch up to yell at them. For me to have the desire and ability to do this I've got to be pretty pissed which means I'm potentially running into a really shitty situation blind. I never worry about it in the moment, but after the fact in reflection I feel pretty stupid even if I haven't had anybody go physically psychotic on me.

I don't worry about getting injured while flying in an air plane, riding a buss, driving a car, or letting a co-worker who thinks she is the female version of Andretti drive me around. To me cycling isn't any more dangerous then any of these activities. Some of them its actually less dangerous. I try not to let fear paralyze me. I read what I can to learn how to ride the safest I can. I'll position myself in such a way that I'm the safest I can be based on experts and their research.

I'm not sure what would make me more comfortable on a bike. Maybe a bluetooth speaker that gives me several mounting options and has a quick release retention system so I can take it with me. Currently I'm using this I've modified it to work with a velco strap on its rubber mounting. I mount it on the stem just before the drop bars. I'd prefer other mounting options, and better battery life. Currently it only works for about 4-5 hours.

These are awesome. Extra batteries can be purchased on amazon as well as larger ones. They are equipped with a quick detach so it won't get stolen while off the bike. CycleGaz uses one.

40 bucks but this bad boy is blinding bright and the battery has held up. I commute every night 5 days a week for work no problems. Cycle Torch SUPERBRIGHT Bike Light USB Rechargeable LED - FREE Taillight INCLUDED Shark 500 Set - 500 Lumens - Fits ALL Bikes, Hybrid, Road, MTB, Easy Install & Quick Release https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OOENVYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fgEIBb5VR6YHP

I just posted pretty much the same thing about a week ago.

I ended up ordering this Two Fish Lockblocks Flashlight Holder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CJXB5E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0cY0xb9DM7MV3 to use with my Astrolux S1 and it works fantastically. But it took a while to get here so before that I was using a couple of rubber bands and a paper towel to protect the paint, haha.

Edit: the BLF A6, which is identical to the S1 is on sale right now on banggood.

Bright Eyes This light is incredibly bright. My brother recently purchased one and I am able to follow him on a pitch black path when he uses his. I'm waiting for my own to come in the mail. It has a large battery pack that needs to be mounted to your bike but if you look past that it is a great unit.

These lights are pretty good and affordable, and both brands come with brighter versions.

https://www.amazon.com/Light-Motion-Urban-Bike-Headlights/dp/B0127A0ADM

https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Durable-Waterproof-Rechargeable-Headlight/dp/B00LXTOT6I/ref=sr_1_9?crid=184D198JW6DGO&keywords=cygolite+metro&qid=1568865014&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=cygo%2Csporting%2C189&sr=1-9

Check out Bright Eyes lights on Amazon.

I have this one. Works great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X90ZYJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_sdzQDbH8M6Q1C

What's your price range? That affects the options quite a bit.

How dark is your area - are you looking for something to ensure cars can see you (i.e. do you have streetlights on your whole route) or are you going to need the light to actually see? That affects how much power you need.

For taillights, I love the PDW Danger Zone. Not that expensive, quite bright, and its variable flash setting is very attention getting. I have one on each of my bikes and never leave home without it.

For headlights, there are a lot of options out there. I commute down some dark bike trails at night, so I have a Niterider Minewt 600, which was the predecessor to their current Lumina 650. It's stunning - waterproof, durable, extremely bright (on high, I can go 20-25mph in pitch black with great confidence, and most of the time I just leave it on low or medium for fear of blinding people), very good battery life (I recharge it a couple times a month), and USB rechargable so I just bring it in at work occasionally and charge it there. It's not the cheapest, but if you're planning on bike commuting long term it's a solid investment (I've had mine for over a year and it shows no signs of dying any time soon).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DNG8DSY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Those are the ones I got! Super easy to install, all they do is snap onto your spokes & you're all set!!

I'm primarily a cyclist actually and I first saw the material on a runner. I'm convinced it's saved me on the road when I'm riding in low-light conditions. Still, I also have been taking initiative to upgrade my bike lights and now ride with:

• Front light #1 - WindFire 3800Lm
  
• Front light #2 - Cygolite 850Lm
  
• Tail light - Cygolite Hotshot
  
  My tail light is a little weak and I need to double-up or get a brighter one, I think.
  
  Stay safe!

I use one of these along with I really good CREE LED flash light and a Planet Bike Superflash tail light. I have the Planet Bike blaze, blaze 1watt, and blaze 2 watt headlights and find that they are just not bright enough for where I ride. (I ride on completely unlit roads). Although I do LOVE the mount on the Blaze headlights.

I use these, more than bright enough for road/ path use, easy to use settings, keeps me safe. I don't really feel like I need any more than what these have to offer, if I did come to that point, I'd got for a light with an external battery pack.

Front light is a Serfas elume 600: https://www.amazon.com/Serfas-Lume-Aluminum-Body-Headlight/dp/B01M24OTZ5

Rear light: https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Superflash-bike-light/dp/B000KBEH1W/ref=pd_bxgy_468_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000KBEH1W&pd_rd_r=9445d122-5f86-11e8-8c7c-4dd2a68dec07&pd_rd_w=chLdr&pd_rd_wg=YID3e&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3914568618330124508&pf_rd_r=MHEJ7YYDSXNR3W7CW256&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=MHEJ7YYDSXNR3W7CW256

I ride with two whites in the front, and one red in the back. One front is always on, the other is on blink mode. Tail light is on blink mode. I use amazon lights listed below. Works great for me. I also carry a battery pack daily for my cellphone and other stuff anyway, so I just make sure to carry the usb cables with me so I can charge these lights in my backpack whenever I'm off the bike if I forget.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014QEWX2I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7S3UMP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

1200 lumen cree lights from amazon are around 20 bucks. A bit of hackery to mount them better than the kit it comes with but they are bright and rechargeable and so far mine has been really solid for the last 2 months

http://www.amazon.com/Lumen-Bicycle-HeadLight-Flashlight-Headlamp/dp/B006QQX3C4

• Tubes: anything you find will work
  
• Patch kit: I like Einstein's patch kit because the patches are small, thin, and have feathered edges. Rema patches work too, but they're larger. I prefer small patches because the vast majority of tube failures are small punctures and the patch is already a zillion times larger than the hole. I dislike sticker patches and I don't trust them.
  
• Bike pump: The Lezyne pressure drive is small and dependable. Get the carbon fiber one if you want to save grams. I don't use a CO2 inflater because I think they are wasteful and of limited utility.
  
• Seat post bag: Really, anything will work
  
• Water bottle: Whatever you have lying around.
  
• Multitool: I like the Topeak Hexus II. It is compact, and has most of the tools you'll need for on-the-road fixes, including a chain tool.
  
• Pliers: There is NOTHING on your bike that you should use pliers on. Use the proper tools for the job.
  
• Tire levers: Any will work, but my favorites are the Soma steel core.
  
• Rear light: Anything will do. I like the Planet Bike Superflash.
  
• Front light: This totally depends on how often you commute in the dark, and what your environment is like. If you're riding on well-lit city streets, your needs will differ a lot from someone riding on rural roads or unlit trails. I use a SON generator hub with the Lumotec IQ Cyo and the combination is awesome. But not everyone needs that kind of setup.

Does that light work with the Cateye rack mount?

If not, I use a Cygolite Hotshot with the Cygolite rack mount which works really well. The Cygolite is great bang for your buck.

cygolite 350 worth every penny. You will BE SEEN and SEE everything. Don't skimp on lights, they could save your life one day.

this is a good rear light if you don't already have one.

I just wanted to emphasize that you should get a U-lock and lights. The majority of bikes that get stolen had cables locking them.

This headlight and tail light are extraordinarily bright and well priced. It's worth your safety to spend thirty dollars for these, they're durable and easily attached and removed.

I'm gonna take some flak for this but I bought three of these guys ($20x3=$60) 1200 lumen is probably overrated a bit but not by too much. Maybe ~900:
http://www.amazon.com/RioRand-Bicycle-HeadLight-Flashlight-Headlamp/dp/B006QQX3C4


And then I bought one wide angle lens.
http://www.amazon.com/MagicShine-Gemini-Lights-Headlight-Includes/dp/B004WLCLQY

I am into my lights for $70ish bucks and have one unfocused beam, one trail sized focused beam and a spare light & battery. Nothing worse than getting stuck in the middle nowhere - in the dark.

So yeah, I took the cheap route. The bike specific brands do offer a stronger light but my light output matches or beats all of my riding buddies with brand name lights.

Worst thing I can say about the setup is that they are bound to the bars with a rubber strap. You have to tighten it down pretty well or it can slip on the bar. I didn't like helmet mounted because I blind my friends by looking at them when talking. So yeah probably not the most popular post but they work and they work well. They've lasted about 3 years already and no issues. One word of advice, some of the newer LEDs use a different battery connector so order yours at the same time so all of your lights & batteries are interchangeable.

I live in a neighborhood in central San Antonio too! I recently got this guy after my cheap academy set was not cutting it. It is amazing actually, slightly bulky as the battery is a second unit but its still easy to mount and I doubt you could find anything nearly as bright for the price.

>bike lights for nighttime

And don't skimp on these. I use these:

Front: MiNewt 300 (300 lumens) - lights up the road like this


Back: Radbot 1000 - lighting looks like this

[Edit] The front light is probably overkill when you have streetlamps. However at night, the beam projects pretty far in front of your bike, giving drivers at cross streets a good warning that you're coming. This is especially useful when you don't have stop sign but cross traffic does - they're more likely to wait for you to pass since they can actually see you.

My setup.


Light, get 2: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GJZ015Y

Kit for helmet: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QOVA00

Wide angle lens: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WLCLQY

Put one on your helmet. Put the wide angle lens one on your bars, means when you turn it has less effect on what you can see.

I've had no problem with battery life, but my night rides do tend to be a bit shorter, in the 90 minute range. Use half strength during the climb, full strength on the down.

It's a 2013 Motobecane Gran Premio. Steel frame with Shimano 105 parts on it. There will be some slight white scratches on the left side of the top tube.

Everything you see in the first photo was on the bike except for the camelbak bottles. This includes [a Satechi Bikemate Slim Case] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006N0T674/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), a [Cosmos bike speaker] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WO7ECG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), an Avenir Big Mouth bag, a Mirrycle bell, a Planet Bike Super Flash, and two Topeak black plastic adjustable bottle cages.

The bike was stolen near Johnson and Wales university. I previously registered the bike and serial with the police in my hometown and I will be able to recover the serial number tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for keeping an eye out!

This is the one I use.

I don’t have a headlight as of now but I’m in the market. The taillight is great because it is rechargeable, has a remote so that you can use the turn signal feature, it’s bright, and at night you can have it point lasers down next to your wheel. I’ve ridden with it on rough trails, through mud, through rain storms and haven’t had a problem yet.

This is basically a knock off of the magicshine. Works just as well for a lot cheaper. I have a magicshine mj-808 and my friend has one of these. It is almost identical. This particular one claims 1200 lumens too. So it might be even brighter than the mj-808.

http://www.amazon.com/Lumen-Bicycle-HeadLight-Flashlight-Headlamp/dp/B006QQX3C4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367445162&sr=8-1&keywords=magicshine

My absolutely fav tail light. Bright, with a wicked flasher mode that is great even in the day.

http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B00435IPFK/ref=lp_2367799011_1_11?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1413947269&sr=1-11

I like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Blitzu-Rechargeable-Intensity-Accessories-Flashlight/dp/B015IEJ0GC

They are USB rechargeable a decent form factor, moderately water resistant and bright enough to be seen. They make a front and a rear. I have a set on each of my bikes. They are long and narrow and you can change the orientation by 90 degrees so you can put it in line with your handlebars or turn it 90 to be in line with your seat post so they blend well in daylight.

Some lights and a helmet are top on my list. Any recommendations on lights? I've got Prime so Amazon makes sense to get something quick and likely cheaper than a local shop. This is what I'm leaning towards. Areas I'd ride at night are pretty visible, so definitely just need something to alert surrounding cars.

Rear light

Front light

Nothing wrong with the reflectors. But if you want something nicer looking, spoke sticks are a good candidate and are highly visible at night.

Provided you'll have access to AC Power every few days, you can use this. It's VERY bright and lasts for many hours on a single charge. It uses a Mini-USB port which is the older style and is a little bigger then the port used on an Android Phone {micro-USB} but still pretty common. There is a hook to mount it anywhere you've a small cloth loop and the included mount fits most round tube frames.
https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-Rechargeable-Bike-Light/dp/B01IO12LCQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522090328&sr=8-3&keywords=cygolite+hotshot

I have two of these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006QQX3C4/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One on the handlebars and one on my head. The batteries need a little modification to be waterproof, but besides that, they work great.

I would suggest multiple flashing red lights facing the rear so there is no question of your existence. People tend to drive fast while not paying attention on rural roads, your light display should immediately catch their eye.

Start with something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y

I have had good success with Cygolite. For the head light I would get at least a 550 lumen one if not more for dark rural roads.

I have the older version of this light.

It has seen over 7,000 miles of use, all sorts of weather conditions , and is two and a half years old now. It' still working although the USB port cover came off and the charging cable needs to put it and wiggled to get it to charge so I'm not expecting to get much longer out of it.

For the $15 I paid, it's been great value for money.

You should get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Fish-Unlimited-Flashlite-Holder/dp/B001CJXB5E

I use one and it works great, plus your light is easily removable if you park in a less-than-safe neighborhood.

Other users have mentioned lights and vests, so I'll mention a very cheap, useful visibility enhancement: spoke reflectors.

Put these on the spokes of one half of each of your wheels. (By that, I mean for example on all the spokes of the top half of the wheel when it's at rest.) It will improve your visibility to drivers approaching from the side, and you will be immediately recognizable as a cyclist. The drivers will see reflective strips moving around in circles and immediately think "wheels".

(If you get these, take them off your bike when you clean and re-lube your chain. I learned the hard way that when they get oil/grease on them they lose a lot of reflectivity.)

I just got a Cree bike light to mount to my handlebar. I already have a Magicshine mounted on my helmet.

I'm surprised that the Cree is much brighter than my Magicshine which cost double the price, which still isn't much for good lights. I just ran the Cree at the lowest light setting so it blended better with my other light.

I just doubt that flashlights like the one shown in the picture here are bright compared to a real bike light. Plus, the battery lasts 3 hours which is more than enough time to cover 20mi on most trails.

Are you looking to wire into the scooter or attach a separate circuit? I have been looking at adding lights to my GXL and I think that you have a few options:

• (Easy) Grab a rechargeable light like this one I personally use and mount it on the stem or handlebar using the shipped mount or some zip ties
  
• (Medium) Grab a 5V/1A portable battery back with some 2000 mAh - mount that on the stem of the scooter and connect a USB-powered light, such as this LED strip which you could further display on the deck, stem, and handlebars!
  
• (Hard) Design an Arduino-based system to power and regulate 12V lights designed for automotive use... have fun with that!

These get really good reviews from friends of mine who own them, I am planning to get a couple myself soon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GJZ015Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1464648347&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=bright+eyes+bicycle+light&dpPl=1&dpID=515uFVbOheL&ref=plSrch

I've not used the niterider, but I sure do like the Cygolite Hotshot. It's also 2w and USB.

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B008KUXRAW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

http://www.mec.ca/product/5014-662/mec-turbo-turtle-red-led-rear-light/?f=10+50002+50037

I use these. They are amazingly bright for $25 total. The MEC rear light is brighter than branded lights.

The cygolite 400 works well for me. 400 lumens with rechargeable battery. Something like 3 hour battery life on medium which is enough to ride in the dark still being able to see potholes and the like. Not too expensive either.
Cygolite Metro 400 USB Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LXTOT6I/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_x_gIa0xbB7GCVER

thanks! not sure if a taillight counts, but its still a flashlight of sorts :)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IO12LCQ?tag=thewire06-20&linkCode=xm2&ascsubtag=AgEAAAAAAAAAAQlz

Niterider Lumina 750 (or higher) is a great light

Bikes direct has a steal of a deal going right now on the 1100 boost: http://www.bikesdirect.com/incredible_holiday/lumina-1100-boost-lights.htm

Don't go less than 700 lumens, don't settle for a janky flashlight rig.

edit here's a good taillight too: https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Hotshot-2-Watt-Rechargeable-Taillight/dp/B005DVA57Y (these things are bright)

nice!

try out these. look much better and are way more visible

https://www.amazon.com/Salzmann-Scotchlite-Spoke-Reflector-Bicycle/dp/B00DNG8DSY

Magicshine. I dont know how to insert links. I ride full on dh at night with one of these strapped to my head. Helmet mount can be found on amazon too. Best light for the money imho.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006QQX3C4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1368823682&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00XJXP6V8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I just ordered second set. $30 head and tail combo. super bright. headlight has 4 different modes and charges via micro usb. I got it for my wife's bike but have been using it on my board and it fits very well.

Yes it is!

It is from a company called Bright Eyes and I purchased the 1600 Lumens version.

For battery tail light I'm a big fan of the Planet Bike's Turbo flasher. It is incredibly bright and the pattern reminds me of a aviation strobes.

https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Superflash-Turbo-Light/dp/B004U5PV5A?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffab-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B004U5PV5A

Before I switched to dynamo I could make it six months between battery changes.

I used this light before I found something brighter on a ridiculously good sale:

https://www.amazon.com/Cygolite-Metro-400-USB-Light/dp/B00LXTOT6I

It's really good for the price, the only thing I don't like about it is that it uses mini-USB rather than micro-USB.

I'd recommend buying a much better light than that.

http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Radbot-Light/dp/B0030BS30K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412710721&sr=8-1&keywords=radbot+1000

$18 is not THAT much money, is it?

Whats I use:

Headlight, very powerful and better than others I've used

Taillight, multiple flash settings, very visible

Reflective Tape, I cut out some 1 cm wide strips and placed it on my frame and spokes, add visual safety

Was looking at either https://www.amazon.com/Blitzu-Rechargeable-POWERFUL-Headlight-Flashlight/dp/B014QEWX2I/

or

https://www.amazon.com/Bike-Lights-Front-Back-Rechargeable/dp/B071VD7JJN/

maybe I'll order both and see which ones I like better! Our 1st and 3rd shift cops don't give a flying falaffle what's on my bike.

I use and really like the cygolite hotshot 50, it's bright enough for daytime use. I see they have a 150 version now and it's cheaper than the bontrager.

Most people are going to recommend USB rechargeable lights - however, if you're like me and want to stick to AA/AAA lights, I personally love the Radbot 1000 (it has a reflector built in as a backup), and the Superflash Turbo (different company, but mount compatible with the Radbot).

https://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Radbot-Light/dp/B0030BS30K/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1474587656&sr=1-1&keywords=radbot+1000

https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blinky-Superflash-Turbo/dp/B004U5PV5A/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1474587685&sr=1-1&keywords=superflash+turbo