The subtleties of choosing a front bike light

In the dark and in the fog, a bicycle light in front is an indispensable tool in order to mark yourself on the road. At the same time, it is important to strike a balance between insufficiently and excessively bright bike lights, so as not to get into an accident on the highway.

There are a number of parameters by which the front white lights for a bicycle are selected.

Regardless of whether you assemble your own LED flashlight yourself, or buy ready-made, focus on the latest versions of super-bright and super-bright LEDs. Their glow should not be cyanotic or excessively yellow. Avoid fakes that do not state the origin and quality of the flashlight. So, on expensive branded products indicate the brand and model of the LED.

The city has enough good side lighting. It is required where the cyclist does not move as fast as on city roads. Outside the city you need a distinct, concentrated high beam tens of meters ahead. It is easily detected within a few kilometers by oncoming cyclists and car drivers.

The experience of many cyclists shows that the best and most durable case for a bicycle flashlight is metal with rubberized or silicone lining. Even with daily and active use, a high-quality flashlight with an aluminum or steel housing will last you up to several years - until the battery (s) is exhausted and the LEDs fade (degrade in brightness).

These lights are willingly repaired by their zealous owners.. It is enough to order from China similar LEDs and batteries - in exchange for those that were used before. The base itself (metal, rubber, silicone) can be used for at least one more of the same service life declared by the manufacturer. It is more difficult to repair cheap flashlights having rubber or silicone coating - they are often performed non-separable.

The most versatile option - lithium batteries size 18650. They are sold in almost any online store. In extreme cases, use flashlights on ordinary batteries of standard sizes AA (“finger-type”) or AAA (“little finger”), replacing the latter with the same batteries. In addition, you will need a suitable charger - with protection against overcharging batteries.

Flashlight may be sold complete with generator. A device that generates current for its power is a clamping dynamo. It rotates from the contact of the rubber roller on its axis with the tire of the rotating front or rear wheel of the bicycle. There are also sets, the generator for which is installed on the lower rear pipes of the frame and rotates from an additional sprocket wound on a chain.

In addition to the universal round holder on the bike, you may need a helmet holder. It is attached to any of its ribs.

Universal solution: one lamp for high beam, another for low beam. Where you fix both the one and the other (on the steering wheel, on the helmet) is up to you.

Among the purely silicone marker lights, there is a frog-type design. This is a backlight with a holder in which there is no buckle or Velcro. The silicone loop clings to the plastic “tongue” - a fastener is formed that does not come off the steering tube, even with intense vibration. The flashlight weighs only 30-40 g (with battery). The battery is a 3 V lithium battery. The glow is white, from one or two LEDs, there are 2-3 “beacon” modes. The main advantages of silicone flashlights are increased moisture protection and shock resistance. They are rated by extremals who prefer stunt bikes and ride in rain and fog.

Manufacturers of well-known luxury brands and resellers charge up to 5 times more money than the headlight actually costs. The opinion that it is better to overpay for an expensive brand every 10 years than to take cheap consumer goods with AliExpress is unfounded. Whatever guarantees a proven supplier gives, and no matter how high-tech its headlight for a bicycle, the LEDs and battery have a limited life. By the glow (the number of lumens), it will not lose the brand name. Against the purchased at exorbitant prices, the progress itself in the world of LEDs also works on the bicycle lights: they are produced more and more bright. The specific cost of each lumen is depreciating: what was worth $ 500 10 years ago will now be priced at only $ 110.

Bottom line: than paying $ 500-1000 for a beautiful inscription and a "licked shape", it is better to choose a no less bright flashlight or headlight for $ 50-100 from a lesser-known supplier. If money is still not enough - use super-cheap flashlights for a few dollars. The main thing is not to drop them, not to fall off the bike.

An example is the Chinese company Cyclotech. The rating of lamps from this manufacturer in this list is by the number of lumens of the emitted light.

1. Front bicycle light Cyclotech ECYFL003SB. It contains a powerful 180 lm LED, powered by a built-in 18650 battery. Recharged from USB charging, a moisture-proof rubberized metal case, 4 operating modes (2 - flashing).
2. Front bike light Cyclotech ECYFL002BB - 3 LEDs with a total luminous flux of 40 lm, powered by 3 AAA batteries. Light control, there are 3 modes of operation: bright, medium and flashing.
3. Silicone flashlight Cyclotech ECYFL012BB - USB charging, lithium battery, moisture protection, 3 light modes, 1 LED per 25 lm.
4. Set of bicycle lights Cyclotech ECYFL013BB - consists of a front (white light on 5 LEDs) and red (also 5 LEDs) light. Sold in kit. Power - AAA batteries. The total luminous flux of each of the lamps is 15 lm. Suitable as a signal light and light backlight in dark places where there is no street lighting.
5. Dimensional Silicone Flashlight Cyclotech CFL-4OR - 2 red or orange LEDs, plastic case, 6 lm, powered by a 3 V lithium battery.

No matter what company produces the lights, whatever their rating, there is only one rule for all buyers: it is better not to save on quality of performance and light output. Sometimes the life and health of a particular cyclist may depend on the quality of the flashlight.

About what subtleties of a choice of a forward bicycle lamp exist, look in the following video.