Sito

Hi there, I have lately gotten into the habit of going for fairly short 1 or 2 hour gravel rides early in the morning, so I am back home in time to start work. There is no issue with light in summer but I want to keep doing this during autumn and winter and was therefore looking into light options. There are quite a few options to choose from with a high lumen count, but I think the main decision has to be between.

1. lights with an integrated battery pack, or
2. lights with an external battery pack that has to be placed somewhere else on the bike

I guess the main advantage of number 1 is no cables but the light itself is heavier than number 2 which might be an issue when mounted on the handlebar and going down a bumpy track.

What kind of light do you prefer for night gravel riding on unlit dirt roads?

Any advice will be appreciated

Lars

TimothyH

Integrated. Much simpler - fewer parts, no wires, etc.

I run both helmet and bar lights. Riding on bumpy surfaces has not been a problem.

Bar lights get attached to the underside of the GPS mount via GoPro connector. It is rock solid.

wheelsmcgee

I'll tell you what works great for my phone: Integrated battery (obviously) but can be operated while charging via a portable USB battery pack tucked in my top tube bag or frame bag...this way i have a failsafe for my ineptitude at keeping my phone adequately charged. Portable USB battery packs are life savers for this...I bought one with a giant battery a few years ago to keep my phone charged for DK and use it all the time now.

Some lights with integrated batteries can charge while turned on, so a similar setup would work. I’ve actually been looking at getting something like that myself.

Sito

Thanks, that mount looks good...although it would mean new mounts for my bikes and probably would not work on the road bike (because of integrated bars). Looks definitely much sturdier than the mounts on the bar!

What light is that by the way?

Sito

Not too concerned about my phone...I am not using it for tracking or anything like that...so phone battery would only be an issue for multi-day endurance trips (The Huawei P30 Pro battery is pretty amazing) and I don't imagine these night bike rides will be any longer than 2h...I'd like good brightness but don't need it to last for hours and hours...

TimothyH

The light is an Exposre Strada 1200 which is discontinued. They now make the Strada SL, RS and SB with various max brightness levels. Burn time is 3+ hours on high and by dropping to low power when full brightness isn't needed I can easily get five hours out of it. A metric at night isn't a problem.

Integrated bars are a challenge to get mounts, especially if you are looking for a mount with dual GPS/GoPro capability. Check Tate Labs - Barfly. They might have something.

Also consider a helmet mounted light to go with it. The Light & Motion Vis Pro is excellent.


-Tim-

wheelsmcgee

I guess what I was trying to say is that that if you buy a light that has an integrated battery but can be running while it’s charging off a USB battery pack, you can hedge against forgetting to charge your light...even if you are only riding an hour or two a day, you might need to remember to remove and charge your light every week or so. Again, may not be a concern for you, just a thought.

ksryder

For just a couple hours I've had good luck with the Bontrager Ion.

Digger Goreman

I use the Stone Mountain Trail from North Decatur to Tucker, GA that runs through Clarkston. Reporting time is 0700, so I get the same conditions: Winter is night-like, and even Autumn is dark under the mass of trees. I run a USB chargeable Cygolite 360. In dark conditions, I put it on a setting that acts like a car's headlight in front (not incredible, but I can see the pathway ahead of me) and intermittently pulse flashes for attention. I am well pleased with it.

Metieval

I have a 1600 serfas E-lume that i run on low 400 lumen. (Usually). However there are times I am grateful for and use the brighter settings of 1600/1000/700


Edit:

Let me add some more info.

the 1200 E-lume and 1600 E-lumen pretty much weight the same. IMO makes the 1600 a better light of the 2 to own. So I never timed it, but Serfas says 6.5 hours on low 400 lumen. 4.5 hours at 700 lumen.
the feature I like the best is Last Mode Memory.

For comparison Light and Motion may have better reflectors. and a better low/bright pulse instead of a flash mode. but the Taz 1200 is 6 hours at 300 lumen for low.

I have only ever ran the Light and Motion fast charge 800, but the Taz 1200 hits my short list.

I am torn between which to buy for a second light. Light and Motion will win due to having a Go-pro type mount interface. Serfas will win due to last mode memory. L&M wins due to reflector and pulse mode.
Is there that big of a difference between 300-400 lumen on low. Probably not. and anything over 1,000 is bright! so 1600 vs 1200 is kind of overkill.

btw due to a misprint engraving the taz1200 is $99 they have 800 etched on the body instead of 1200. so it has a sticker over it.

@Sito

https://www.lightandmotion.com/shop/...aign=taz_promo

https://www.serfas.com/shop/products...0-e-lume-1600/

tdilf

Historically lights with external battery packs have longer run times and can run brighter lights (Historically meaning 2-3 years ago when I last looked at lights)

veloz

Integrated unless it's an all nighter. We’ve got a bunch of Niterider Luminas and Micros. The Luminas are a little heavy and the mounts sometimes rotate on gravel. The Micros are great lights, last almost as long and easily fit in small packs. They can be used on helmet and bar mounts. Be aware that battery life is a lot less in cold temps - maybe half when it’s below freezing. Our rides tend to be shorter then too. We usually ride with both helmet and bar lights. It’s rare we run them on anything more than lowest settings on gravel.

rumrunn6

I use the light I have, which has an external battery pack which mounts under the top tube. I move the setup from bike to bike. here's my road bike in commuter mode

MPE

For rides that don't go all night, I like the NiteRider Lumina line. They have held up to many chargings and gravel rides of several hours. I have one on the handlebars and one on my helmet (if needed). I also use them as my daytime running lights on the road, so they get lots of use. Their tailights are good too.

Let us know what you decide.

Take care,
MPE

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Metieval

I've went through 3 of those lights already. $25 x3 is $75

according to my perception they only output in the 400-500 range, and have a really bad reflector. with a hot spot or dead spot dead center.

I also tired of the cable, I am 100% sold on internal batteries now.

rumrunn6

I think maybe you bought those cheap Chinese knock offs, cuz yeah they stink. I tried one too so I would have a back up. this is the real deal original Magicshine but with a better battery. I also have an extension cord so I can put the battery in my rear trunk. to help the beam pattern I installed a wide angle diffuser & a DIY beam cut off hood. they both were big improvements. they certainly make better lights now.

Metieval

yes I bough the ebay knock off lights.

rumrunn6

oh interesting!

chas58

THis is a killer light, and a killer price ($55 for 900 lumens in a light excellent package).

https://www.amazon.com/Light-Motion-Urban-900-Bike/dp/B000NOO6B2

I like them so much, i bought 2. One for my bars, one for my helmet. Although if the helmet is too bright, there is a lot of glare (especially off of road signs).

I do like a little cygoligte or nightrider all in one lightweight strapped to my helmet.

getting a bright powerful light (900 lumens) and using it at low power can get you a lot of burn time.

Sito

Thanks guys for all the insight and light suggestions. I'll have a look at all of those, also need to look at availability and pricing in Europe cause that is where I am based.

Few things to take away from this:

- no clear preferences for integrated vs external battery
- stay away form Chinese knock-offs (right?)
- 1000 lumens seems to be more than enough for your typical night gravel ride, so no need for massive battery packs and super-expensive lights

rumrunn6

I think my setup works well enough not to buy something else yet

TimothyH

FYI, $48 at Excel Sports.

https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...ajor=3&minor=6

I also own two.


-Tim-

rumrunn6

the side lights are cool. what does the beam pattern look like? found a clip of the 800