So, now comes the real question: LED for cycling

[Mr. Whippy]

So the other topic really leads to this one.

I'm going to start cycling to work once or twice a week.  It's an 18 mile trip, through woodlands and on a couple roads with fairly busy traffic.  It is likely to be dark every day I leave for work and sometimes on the trip home.


I'm looking at a rechargeable 18650 lights, in particular Olight M20 and Lumapower mini DV.  I'll be mounting  it on the handle bars. 

The issues as I see it are:
1.  Battery life on high (needs to be about 90 minutes per trip)
2. Suspectiblity to vibration
3. Weight (not really an issue for these two lightweights)
4.  Amount of spill--need to watch for deer.

Comments? Suggestions?

[zepla]

I'm still dazzled by your 90 minute bicycle ride! I would die after 10 minutes 

[Zed]

Ive been using these SMART batter pack type lights for about 7 years (THERE NOT LED), ive 2 sets and they was about £30 a set, they have never let me down and have 2 front lights so good off road but use more battery power , they would easy last a 90min ride,there are more expensive and lighter options of these lights but these have done me well, you would have to get a separate back light,i use a small LED flasher but you might need something better for a longer ride,  

paul

[Styerman]

This sounds like a question for the Spam Lord .

Chris

[NutSAK]

I use a Twofish lockblock frequently on my MTB, and I've had no issues with vibration, on or off road.  It's been used with a Fenix L2D, Quark 18650 tactical, and a few others.

I personally wouldn't want to use a light with an excessively "throwy" beam, but that's just my preference.  Both of the lights you mention are very throwy.  I find that I'm much better served with a beam that has bright spill in relation to the spot.  You can always diffuse the beam, but there is always an output loss when doing so.

EDIT:  I usually use one light on the bars, and a small one on my helmet.  That way I always have a light pointed where the bike is going, and another pointed where I'm looking. 

[jzmtl]

How about something like Princeton Tec apex extreme on your helmet in addition to whatever on your handlebar?

If I recall the M20 has a very tight hotspot, not something I'd want on my bike. A diffuser film would fix it thou.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I just use a Fenix two fish and an LD20 mate

A headlamps a good idea though, as not only does it put light exactly where you want it, it makes you a lot more conspicuous too

[Mr. Whippy]

Who sez a person can't learn anything on the neenernet? 

So, I poked around CPF reviews and ended up ordering a Olight M21.  Much more diffuse light AND more lumens to boot.  $96 on Amazon.com

For me, the first 6 miles goes right through farmlands and woodlands.  Lots of deer, raccoons and skunks on the roads and at the sides.  Plus, you never know when a tree or branch will have dropped into the roadway.

Expect a review when I get it all together...

[NutSAK]

Expect a review when I get it all together...

   I'll be looking forward to it.

[Zed]

some good ideas here, im going to get a bracket for my torch so i can put it on my MTB, ill stick to my smarts for my audax bike ,

paul

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Expect a review when I get it all together...

   I'll be looking forward to it.

+1 on that

[jock1]

How would my G2 incan stand up if I strap it too my bike ?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

How would my G2 incan stand up if I strap it too my bike ?

I think you might have to do something to isolate it from the road shock

[NutSAK]

How would my G2 incan stand up if I strap it too my bike ?

I think you might have to do something to isolate it from the road shock

I've used halogen bulbs powered by lead acid batteries on my MTB in the past.  They had no real shock isolation.  I'm not sure how this would relate to the G2, however.

[jzmtl]

In my experience the shock from a bike (road or MTB, thou I don't do any of that hardcore stuff) isn't enough to shatter a bulb, if you hit something hard enough to do that you got bigger problems to worry about.

[NutSAK]

I admit I don't know much about incandescent, but I would think the vibration would affect the filament more than the glass.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I admit I don't know much about incandescent, but I would think the vibration would affect the filament more than the glass.

That was my concern too

[jock1]

I admit I don't know much about incandescent, but I would think the vibration would affect the filament more than the glass.

That was my concern too

Cheers for the advice I may just get a two fish lockblock for my work torch .It's an LED 6P that should give a about an hour on a fresh cell

[NutSAK]

Some incans are used on firearms.  I would guess that if they can take the shock of recoil, they would probably be OK on a bike.  No worries with LED, of course.