Headlight For Daytime Riding
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 320
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 200 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 65 Times
in
42 Posts
Headlight For Daytime Riding
I only cycle during the day. I am looking for a headlight with a strong strobe that would attract attention during the day. There are many offerings on Amazon. Some have fantastic claims of 9,000 lumens. Any advice would be appreciated.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
827 Posts
Whatever you get mount it on your helmet so it can be seen above the hood of cars and through their windows. And when you turn your head it will be pointing at what ever car you are looking at.
I noticed a huge difference since putting my flashers (front and rear) up there.
I use a Lezyne 400XL which has a double flash mixer which is plenty bright. It's usb rechargeable and plugs tight in to a usb socket.
I noticed a huge difference since putting my flashers (front and rear) up there.
I use a Lezyne 400XL which has a double flash mixer which is plenty bright. It's usb rechargeable and plugs tight in to a usb socket.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 895
Bikes: 2017 Co-op ADV 1.1; ~1991 Novara Arriba; 1990 Fuji Palisade; mid-90's Moots Tandem; 1985 Performance Superbe
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 572 Times
in
332 Posts
I use a blinking white light forward during the day.
All the models I have from Cateye (available) and Cygolite (I’ve found durable) have been discontinued, but I expect current models would be suitable. Based on me seeing other cyclists during the day, lumens don’t need to be high. Moderate “be seen” models suffice.
All the models I have from Cateye (available) and Cygolite (I’ve found durable) have been discontinued, but I expect current models would be suitable. Based on me seeing other cyclists during the day, lumens don’t need to be high. Moderate “be seen” models suffice.
#4
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,111
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3432 Post(s)
Liked 3,567 Times
in
1,793 Posts
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,994
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2496 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times
in
523 Posts
I think the o.p. is ________ (rhymes with rolling) for negative reaction to their thought of putting airport runway landing marker level illumination on their bike as they ride around town. 9,000L. As if. Amazon is just a vast options market where everything from good to bad to worse can be obtained. If you stick with known purveyors of lighting equipment you won't find any claiming 9,000L. My newest light is a 1200L Cygolite and I don't run it during daylight. There are plenty of more effective ways to be seen in daylight.
Why does it matter? Because it really does take a LOT of lumens to stand out in the daytime, even strobing, and battery packs only have so much capacity. My MagicShines are 800L and the battery packs weigh close to a 1/2 pound each. The status light is going from green to blue in 20 minutes at high power. It's solid red at 40 minutes on high power. An hour and something at medium power. The Cygolite 1200 is self contained. I doubt it would run longer than 20 min on high power. I never run it at full power. I'm usually at half power. That's more than enough time for daylight to take over.
Why does it matter? Because it really does take a LOT of lumens to stand out in the daytime, even strobing, and battery packs only have so much capacity. My MagicShines are 800L and the battery packs weigh close to a 1/2 pound each. The status light is going from green to blue in 20 minutes at high power. It's solid red at 40 minutes on high power. An hour and something at medium power. The Cygolite 1200 is self contained. I doubt it would run longer than 20 min on high power. I never run it at full power. I'm usually at half power. That's more than enough time for daylight to take over.
#7
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,483
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 968 Post(s)
Liked 1,631 Times
in
1,047 Posts
Cateye with rechargeable AAA batteries...
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#11
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
#12
Junior Member
#13
Recreational Road Cyclist
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MetroWest, Mass.
Posts: 548
Bikes: 1990 Peter Mooney road bike
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 257 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
134 Posts
I eventually moved to Dinotte lights front and rear. I prefer the form factor, which is not like a flashlight. And it's amber, not white, which may or *mayn't matter at all.
Dinotte Quad Amber front light
*I didn't know mayn't was a word, but SpellCheck seems to like it.
Last edited by BCDrums; 04-22-23 at 06:36 PM.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,886
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 768 Post(s)
Liked 1,745 Times
in
1,016 Posts
I been using the Bontrager Ion 800 for many years, very bright, has a bright flash and several other modes. Also used it when I was commuting into the office at 2 am. I recently picked up a second one that is 700 lumen.
#15
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,223
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1350 Post(s)
Liked 1,245 Times
in
623 Posts
Super Bright on Strobe.
buy Warm Light Cree XML-T6 1200-Lumen 3-mode LED Bike Light Set - Warm Light Bike light online lightmalls
Red Color Head Bicycle lights/Headlight With Cree XML-T6 Emitter 1200 Lumen 3 Modes Bike light Kit (lightmalls.com)
buy Warm Light Cree XML-T6 1200-Lumen 3-mode LED Bike Light Set - Warm Light Bike light online lightmalls
Red Color Head Bicycle lights/Headlight With Cree XML-T6 Emitter 1200 Lumen 3 Modes Bike light Kit (lightmalls.com)
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
Last edited by 10 Wheels; 04-22-23 at 06:55 PM. Reason: add
#16
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: US West Coast
Posts: 1,014
Bikes: YEP!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 334 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
348 Posts
I've been using tactical style headlamps that have a slow strobe. They weren't expensive and they came with handlebar clips. @200 lumens and use either AA or 3.7V 14650 style rechargeable batteries that last @2 hrs on a charge. I carry spares and throw them in the charger when I get home. I've had cars during the day tell me my lights are too bright. I use them for night riding on unlit roads on low and they last @5 hrs. I think I got a 3 pack for 10 bucks from AZ. My rear tail light is a 120 lumen Entity with 8 different functions. On slow flash/high it lasts more than 5 hours. I feel the rear light during the day is more important but really want people pulling out of side streets/driveways to see me coming too. I put the rear light on my helmet and have a steady beam light on the front for add'l light at night. Along with the camera on the helmet sometimes it feels a tad unwieldy so I only pop the headlamp on up there for night rides or when I head out later in the eve.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
Bontrager Ion200 RT has not let me down yet. Small. Light. Casts a bright enough light. No complaints.
#18
Squeaky Wheel
I'm another Dinotte fan. The Amber daytime running light is very distinctive and really stands out even in bright sunlight. The lights are expensive, but the build quality, reliability and support make them worth the money if you ride on the streets a lot.
#19
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
I’ve had several Metro’s as well. The mode with the low steady light with intermittent triple flashes seems really good. Gets attention without disorienting drivers like some strobes do.
#20
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,111
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3432 Post(s)
Liked 3,567 Times
in
1,793 Posts
Now that it's quite sunny and bright, I've switched over to the strobe flasher. I think it's more visible, and the battery lasts much longer.
When I was stopped at a light the other day, a motorist commented on my lights. I thought he was going to say they were annoying, but instead he complimented me on how visible they made me.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,585 Times
in
2,344 Posts
this one seems fine Planet Bike Blaze 150 SL Bike Headlight