[newleaf150]

Nice pics, Curly! I love the light setup.

[curly]

Originally Posted by newleaf150

Nice pics, Curly! I love the light setup.

Thanks, please excuse the mess in the basement I run them under the stem so I can use a Topeak handle bar bag without it interfering with the lights. Works good for me, would like to have some lights with a little more power but not sure if I really need them. Plus I have quite a few bucks invested in rechargable AAs for the Cateyes that I don't want to see go to waste.

I work part time in LBS and they keep trying to get me to buy better lights, can't make up my mind. One of the perks of working there is I get everything I buy at cost so it's kind of tempting sometimes.

[cderalow]

i've got a pair of the '1200' lumen amazon specials (about $40 each). one with a wide angle lens and one with the standard lens in, with blackburn mars 3.0 taillights. I should post a pic tonight when I get home. it lights up the night for me pretty well.

[curly]

Used to ride a lot at night about 4 years ago when my son was more into riding than he is now. Sometimes on a hot summer night we wouldn’t start out until around 9 and get back at midnight but most of our night riding was around dusk and later. Have always loved riding at night and hope to get into it again this year.

The only problem was the cyclists out there with no lighting what so ever and you wouldn’t see them until you were on top of them. Same with a lot of the walkers also. But there were some responsible people who were walking their dogs, they usually had a blinky on the dog and they would carry a flashlight and turn it on when a bike approached and hold it in a down position and swing their arm back and forth to catch your attention.

And then there are all the bugs that seemed to come out right at dusk, there were spots you had better keep your mouth closed or you would have a mouth full of protein.

We rode on a mup called the Ozaukee Interurban Trail, starts out in Mequon WI and goes to Oostburg WI, about 34 miles one way. You ride through a lot of communites north of Milwaukee and then there are the peaceful areas out in the country in between them.

I’ve probably logged about 10,000 miles on that trail, it’s all paved and most of it is plowed in the winter, some is left unplowed for the cross country skiers. I guess they have to have a play ground too.

Here’s a link to the trail if anyone is interested, lots of info.

http://www.interurbantrail.us/

[newleaf150]

Thanks for the bump, Curly! I've needed to post an update on my own light setup, but distractions intervened. I appreciate the reminder.

My light setup has changed since the OP. I'm still running the cheapie tactical lights for forward illumination, but the count has risen from 3 to 4. I'm still running the 2 lights on my handlebars, but I've added a 2nd light to my helmet. See the OP for a shot of the bike.

It may be noted that my helmet has more than just lights attached. Sadly, it gets worse.

That's 2 headlights, swivel taillight, O-tus helmet speakers, MP3 player, Take-a-look mirror and reflective strip, plus assorted zip-ties and mounting gear. The helmet speakers were detached so the helmet could more easily sit flat on the table. Lights adjust from a very wide to pinpoint narrow beam. They all run on 3-AAA batts each. I spent more on rechargeable batts than on the lights, but it was worth it.

I run the (not pictured) bar lights with one beam adjusted at near-full width and the other at ~1/2-way to pinpoint. The helmet lights are adjusted to ~3/4-pinpoint and full-pinpoint.

Between them, I get a nice mix of area and focused light for good vision both near and far. The rig also gives me multiple redundancy in case any one or two of the lights fails, or the batts die. I carry spare batts with me, of course.

[curly]

Originally Posted by newleaf150

Thanks for the bump, Curly! I've needed to post an update on my own light setup, but distractions intervened. I appreciate the reminder.

My light setup has changed since the OP. I'm still running the cheapie tactical lights for forward illumination, but the count has risen from 3 to 4. I'm still running the 2 lights on my handlebars, but I've added a 2nd light to my helmet. See the OP for a shot of the bike.
Attachment 9338
It may be noted that my helmet has more than just lights attached. Sadly, it gets worse.
Attachment 9339
That's 2 headlights, swivel taillight, O-tus helmet speakers, MP3 player, Take-a-look mirror and reflective strip, plus assorted zip-ties and mounting gear. The helmet speakers were detached so the helmet could more easily sit flat on the table. Lights adjust from a very wide to pinpoint narrow beam. They all run on 3-AAA batts each. I spent more on rechargeable batts than on the lights, but it was worth it.
Attachment 9340
I run the (not pictured) bar lights with one beam adjusted at near-full width and the other at ~1/2-way to pinpoint. The helmet lights are adjusted to ~3/4-pinpoint and full-pinpoint.

Between them, I get a nice mix of area and focused light for good vision both near and far. The rig also gives me multiple redundancy in case any one or two of the lights fails, or the batts die. I carry spare batts with me, of course.

Nice setup, unfortunately I can't use helmet lights, I usually have some type of helmet cover on. During the summer I use a net helmet cover to keep out bees and knats during my night rides, (bees and bugs don't mix well with a bald head) , when it starts getting colder in the late fall and for the rain I ride with a helmet cover that blocks the vents and keeps my head dry and warm. Bald may be beautiful but it's also cold.

I have the bigger Cateyes on the front, actually have two different sets, one set throws a more narrow beam and the other wider. Sometimes I will mix and run one of each so one projects out further and the other lights up the width of the trail better. I also have extra mounts on the handlebar so I can run all four if needed.

But whatever works for you is good, we all have different needs and have different circumstances when we ride. That is a very nice setup

[bonesindustries]

Newleaf, my question is what does your helmet weigh with all your stuff attached/mounted?

[newleaf150]

Originally Posted by bonesindustries

Newleaf, my question is what does your helmet weigh with all your stuff attached/mounted?

It weighs significantly more with everything attached than without

Seriously, I haven't put it on a scale. It took some getting used to, but the benefits outweigh the detriments, IMO. The lights are mounted on rubber blocks with hook-and-loop straps on either side. I chose them over more adjustable and easy-to-secure hard plastic and metal mounts with an eye toward crash performance.

They give me good night-time performance, and a way to actively seek drivers' attention on the road during the day. For daytime, I only run 1 light in flashy mode. I make it a point to momentarily aim my helmet at parked and oncoming cars, especially those which look like they're about to make a left. Visibility is safety, IMO.

[newleaf150]

Originally Posted by curly

Nice setup, unfortunately I can't use helmet lights, I usually have some type of helmet cover on. During the summer I use a net helmet cover to keep out bees and knats during my night rides, (bees and bugs don't mix well with a bald head) , when it starts getting colder in the late fall and for the rain I ride with a helmet cover that blocks the vents and keeps my head dry and warm. Bald may be beautiful but it's also cold.

I have the bigger Cateyes on the front, actually have two different sets, one set throws a more narrow beam and the other wider. Sometimes I will mix and run one of each so one projects out further and the other lights up the width of the trail better. I also have extra mounts on the handlebar so I can run all four if needed.

But whatever works for you is good, we all have different needs and have different circumstances when we ride. That is a very nice setup

Thank you! I like your setup, too Different circumstances, different paths to be where we are now. The important thing is that your rig works for you.

I actually like to keep my head covered myself, but I got the helmet-mounted taillight very early on. I am loathe to remove it, so I've ended up going with under-helmet head coverings instead. Then I realized I had all this real-estate available up there...

I'm not bald, but I keep my hair cut very short. It's not just a bald guy thing! +1000 on keeping bugs from playing on the scalp! I wear a synthetic, contoured do-rag when it's warm, and varying weights of fleece hats and/or balaclavas in lower temps. I also have a waterproof rain hat, but it's untested as-yet.

I don't know how my summer cover would fare against something that wanted to sting me, but I've caught a number of good-sized bugs in my helmet vents without hurting my head or risking a crash while the critter thrashed around before taking to the air again. The sensation of all those legs and wings scrambling and beating against my skull is one I can happily do without!

Your Ozaukee Interurban Trail from a prior post, BTW, sounds positively wonderful. Your descriptions of the hazards of nighttime cycling in your area are interesting. I've seen more un-lighted cyclists than I'd like to contemplate from behind the wheel, but the only one I've run into one on my bike, and that was because she'd had a flat several miles from home and it's slower to walk than ride. I fixed the flat

I love that people put flashy lights on their dogs and carry flashlights in your area! A big reason I started running the tighter-beamed lights was pedestrians in dark clothing walking an unlit MUP after dark. Frustrating. It's actually easier to see the deer and bunnies that populate the trail after dark. I've spotted deer again and again from 20+ yards, while a couple of pedestrians have been...way too close...before I noticed the slightly lighter shade of black looming out of the night.

On the other hand, with 4 headlights and 4 taillights running, if you don't see me or at least know I'm nearby at night, I want to know how much you've had to drink, or how long that text to your SO was

[i12ride]

I run 2 1800 lumen LEDs with lo/hi/strobe settings. They costed 25-30.00 each and have over 3.5 hr run time on hi. Have yet to see low battery warning on these. Great lighting, small light battery, kick@$$ price. Strobes are like rave club seizure causing thing tho. Lights up street signs and anything reflective over 1/4 mile away. Have helment or bar mounts. Not made in USA but in this case, highly recommend. Just search ebay for 1800 lumen bike light. Cree XM-L T6 are the ones............