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Bike Lights

Submitted by edbobnc on Thu, 11/30/2006 - 11:38. Equipment

I would appreciate it if folks would be willing share their experience with bike lights: the good, the bad, and the in-between. In particular, I would be interested in knowing the following:

Brand & Model
Function (e.g., headlamp, tail light, etc.)
Light Type (e.g., LED, HID, etc.)
Power Type (e.g., AA batteries, rechargeable Li ion, generator, etc.)
Mounting Type (e.g., handlebar, helmet, etc.)
Approximate Cost
How long used (e.g., new, 1 month, 6 months, 2 years, etc.) Please also include whether you are still using, and if not, why.
Visibility/Brightness (in addition to any general assessments, such as "good" or "poor", please provide any details that others might find useful)
Other Comments: Battery life, adequacy of mounting, equipment reliability, any interactions with company (warranty/equipment problems, etc.), etc.

Thanks for sharing this information with all of us in the Charlotte biking community!!

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Light & Motion Vega

Submitted by BillC on Tue, 04/24/2007 - 20:09.

After a few years of using a very expensive Nite Rider HID headlight, I've switched to the Light & Motion Vega. Not quite as bright, but ideal for commuting. LED, so more rugged than HID or halogen. Single small body with internal battery (NiMH if I remember right).

3 brightnesses and flash. Small multi-voltage AC charger. Charges fast, runs long, good compromise on beam width. I thank Bill Clark for the endorsement that motivated me to buy it. MSRP around $175, but I got mine via eBay for less than $120 delivered.

Given currently available technology, it's hard to imagine a better set of design and price trade-offs for an everyday commuting headlight.

Other details: only had it a month so far, but Bill Clark used his all winter of 2006/2007, I believe. Bright enough to illuminate wet asphalt (why I insisted on HID before); bright enough to keep me from riding blind between too-bright street lights. Had a problem with poor shelf life of a full charge, told 'em I use it for daily commuting, and they sent me a loaner before I shipped the problem child back. Hard to beat that!

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