I recently just got into cycling, been riding irregularly to commute to places. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for relatively inexpensive front and rear bike lights? Mainly to just be seen on the roads at night.
I'm currently using ones from Kmart but I don't feel like they're bright enough.
Also any suggestions for decent, relatively inexpensive bike locks?
Thanks.
They told me that mould would be used for medical research only …
Check out websites like wiggle.com.au or 99bikes.com.au. I recently got into cycling as well and found these websites very sell well priced and quality gear.
Have done a fair bit of riding. Anything from the Niterider series for front and cateye for rear. Would reccomend nothing under 750 lumens for front. Wiggle.au would be the cheapest for most things or they were when I was into the bikes a couple of years ago. Most good lights have a recharchable lithium battery. As your probably aware it's just as important for the drivers to see you as it is for your own visual. Kmart lights just don't cut it if you value your safety. Not sure what you mean by decently priced but you would be unlikely to get much change out of $200 for medium quality, reliable and durable lights.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Moon-Comet-100-Front-Comet-35-Rea…
After going through a great deal of 'cheap' lights, I got fed up and got some of these. I ride about in melb CBD at night, and believe me, at high strobe you will not be missed by any cars. Actually you will probably best be served by popping in to your LBS and having a look at the lights on display
+1 for the Moon lights - thats what I ride with. Definitely go for USB rechargeable lights.
It's more about being seen than seeing yourself.
2 types of front lights:
If you are riding around under street lights it might be OK to use flashers, if you are riding down dark roads, bikepaths or trails at night you will need brighter lights.
The cheapest flashers aer normally those little 'Skully' lights that use watch batteries. I hate changing batteries so prefer rechargeables.
I wouldnt use anything less than around 700 lumens for illuminating my way. I have tried with a cheap moon 'meteor' light (essentially turned my cheap moon flasher onto solid beam) and it was next to useless on a dark road. I would recommend a rechargeable light, I use a Bontrager Ion now, friends use 'exposure' brand joystick lights but both are relatively expensive. I had a Lezyne Deca Drive but it was heavy and the mounting bracket was useless.
At a guess watch the UK and other northern hemisphere bike online shops. They are heading into summer and maybe clearing out old stock. Everyone watches Wiggle and CRC, look further afield, maybe Ribble, Evans, Merlin or Sigma Sport might have some deals that are less likely to be OZb'd immediately!
I prefer riding with a solid light on the front, not a flasher. Makes cars you approach think twice about pulling out in front of what is potentially a motorbike. If they see a flasher they can think that it's only a bike and you'll be slow so there is more time to pull out.
I'd look for a minimum 1watt LED light.
https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/bike-lights/moon/vic/prahr…
I got these and they are great! Have plenty of modes, USB rechargeable and last awhile!
Key words:
relatively inexpensive
to me this means:
less than $20 for both front & rear. For others, who knows?
I'm more inclined to the "less-than-$10-for-both-front-and-rear" type of Relatively Inexpensive, in which case I'd just suggest ebay cheapies before any local ripoff store here. I prefer AA and AAA batteries as power source (so I can use my rechargeables). I wouldn't put a cent towards a product that uses an embedded Lithium Ion battery that's hard to remove/replace (or prohibitively expensive)…and they all need replacement after enough time or heat abuse. I wouldn't put a cent towards lights that use coin cells either. But everyone is different. In Australian cities I also think you don't need anything more than basic flashers. In the deep dark, you will want more up-front. Only then. But everyone is different. And who knows how bright (or not) that Kmart cheapy you have is?
For bike locks, you could look at amazon or wiggle or whoever for prices. You probably want a u-lock (d-lock)-type of lock rather than just tying it up with one of those cheap cables. I find the longer 'neck' models useful to get around poles (but they weigh more).
This one's pretty decent:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Cycling-Warning-Bike-Waterpr…
They'll definitely notice your lights.