Originally Posted by
daven1986
Oh another thing:
Don't buy loads of crap lights, just spend the extra and buy a good one first time.
I agree: lighting is worth spending your money on; it's an investment.
For a front light get a torch - much cheaper and as bright.
Here I disagree, at least if you're riding on the road. If your goal is to light the road surface adequately without blinding oncoming drivers, it's worth spending the money on a light with an asymmetrical beam.
What I wish someone had told me when I started: Read
Sheldon Brown's website. He has left us, but the site remains as his legacy (now updated by John Allen and Harriet Fell). It's an amazing resource.