(My former set-up. I used to run the smaller light at the left seat-stay, and even jerry-rigged to the back of my rack.)
It’s been said in several places on the byke innernetz that if your LEDs are a few years old, you might want to replace them. Why? LEDs last nearly forever, no? Because the technology is getting cheaper, brighter, more efficient, more durable and easier to mount!
These are Giant lights that I had on my (crashed) Giant bike. The larger one ran me nearly $30, and the small one was about $10 I think in 2006. The big one was bright enough to do the job fairly well, but it ate batteries like I drink coffee — as they said in Lost in Translation, “with much intensity!” The smaller one died pretty quickly, too. Both fell off the bike several times. In fact, that larger one was actually stolen from ElRo (click here to see image of baby in her tummy) since mine fell off in traffic and got destroyed. When I crashed that bike in April, someone who got to the scene handed me my pump and this smaller damned light. I can vouch for its durability — it fell off a few times and took quite a big roll a couple of those.
When I got my new bike this summer, I wanted to get new lights, too. My five LED headlight was Okay for being seen, but it went dim in a few hours and had a very narrow beam. I wanted some improvement in that area, too. The light I had was about $25 in 2006 also. There were some very awesome lights out since then, and I was excited to try some out.
Planet Bike all the way. Not only are they brighter and easier to mount. They also were cheaper, and they haven’t fallen off yet. I should really get around to posting something about my cheap/simple light set-up. Maybe next week. Stay tuned!
18 comments
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09.18.09 at 9:32 am
bikesncoffee
I thought my wife and I were the only ones left on earth who referenced Lost in Translation in our conversations. – “like… Roger Moore…”
09.18.09 at 9:37 am
-Vince
The PB blinky is insanely bright, with a very bold blinking pattern. Like seizure inducing bright & blinky. I love it.
09.18.09 at 12:08 pm
Damon
Grab the PB Super Flash. It has great mounting options (permanent clip, and clip slides into seatpost mounted bracket), and it has one insanely bright LED among the other very strong ones. I contend that if some one can’t see me from the rear, they should not be driving. You can’t miss this thing!
09.18.09 at 2:16 pm
Johnny
I have two of those babies (the “stealth” version), one solid, one on Superflash. I picked up one of those brackets for getting it onto my rack, and I run that one on solid because it’s furthest back. I’m un-missable!
09.18.09 at 3:04 pm
-Vince
I do like the black/clear “stealth” superflash that you have. More than the white/red “cartoon” version I have. I wish I had seen them at BBW. No big deal. You can’t really see the case through the blinding psychedelic lighting effects trailing behind me.
09.18.09 at 6:01 pm
Johnny
That is true! You can’t look at those babies, even from the side.
09.25.09 at 12:05 pm
Marc
This guy is bad ass:
http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/550
10 LEDs may be a bit obnoxious, but I suppose that’s what we’re going for, eh?
09.25.09 at 3:18 pm
Johnny
I almost bought that one! 🙂
Obnoxious is good I think. I get told regularly how annoying my lights are:)
09.25.09 at 3:54 pm
-Vince
That. Is. Awesome.
If being a little obnoxious is what it takes to been seen… T.S. on you, cars!
I cannot believe how many cyclists I see around town WITHOUT any lights, assuming I see them all 😉
PS… don’t leave your blinky where your girlfriend can find it. She will use it against you.
09.25.09 at 11:49 pm
rb2rider
@Everyone: Thanks for the tips on the blinkies! Now that I am at least a couple weeks behind, I definitely need to be installing some lights sooner, not later, and I’ll be wanting to go all “Electric Cowboy” about it, if I may use a (very) old school B-movie reference.
10.07.09 at 3:07 pm
rb2rider
Where can I find the PB Superflash or the Cateye TL-LD110? I just went down to Hudson Trail outfitters, and they don’t carry anything from either brand.
Come to think of it, I rarely find bike gear that I need in HTO.
Anyway, Performance or REI, or do I need to go to the much-hyped BBW? (BBW is actually my next stop to get some drivetrain love, and I can walk there. But, man, have they gotten some mad hype.)
10.07.09 at 9:55 pm
Johnny
I’ve found both the “stealth” and regular there. REI and Performance carry Planet Bike stuff, but BBW is local and awesome. REI usually treats bike stuff as “seasonal” anyway. 🙂
And if BBW doesn’t have one on the shelf, my experience is that they can score Planet Bike gear VERY quickly! Also in my experience, they more than life up to the hype. 🙂 In a good way.
10.08.09 at 1:28 pm
rb2rider
Cool, I can check BBW on my ride home. I go by there on my alternate southbound route. Thanks for the tip!
10.08.09 at 4:34 pm
Johnny
My pleasure! Hope it works out! 🙂
10.09.09 at 10:37 am
rb2rider
Um, while we’re at it, does anybody have any recommedations for bike headlights?
10.09.09 at 10:38 am
rb2rider
And for English tutors?
10.09.09 at 5:38 pm
Johnny
Planet Bike 1 Watt Blaze! You can get that baby in a set with a Superflash for a small price break.
11.10.09 at 9:14 pm
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