Lights - rechargeable battery pack lights

Rechargeable battery powered front lights

They are also usually brighter than standard flashing lights (6 - 32 watts compared to 2 - 6 watts). Some systems come with two lights with different wattage (brightness) bulbs. This allows you to vary the amount of light (and battery burn time) that you are using depending on the conditions. These systems give off enough light to allow serious night time mountain biking.

One thing to look for in a rechargeable light is the size and weight of the battery pack, and how it attaches to the bike. For instance, you can get packs which fit into the water bottle holder, that strap onto the frame with Velcro or “sticks” with their own pump type mounting system.

There are different types of rechargeable batteries available. Lead acid batteries are the cheapest but are usually heavier for the same “burn time” as other types of batteries. An advantage, however, is that they tend to lose their charge more slowly so you have some warning that your light is about to fail. Nickel cadmium (NiCad -lighter) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH - lightest) batteries are lighter than lead acid for the same burn time but tend to lose their charge quite suddenly leaving you with no light in the middle of the ride. That is why we recommend having a back up flashing front light when using rechargeable battery lights.

As well as the standard handlebar mounted lights, you can also get ones which fit onto your helmet. The benefits of these are that the light beam is directed where you are looking, not just straight in front of the bikes travel direction. This is useful for looking forward around bends in the road or path where a handlebar mounted light cannot see. One disadvantage is that, since the light is shining along your line of sight, the shadow cast is directly behind the object. This makes objects appear “flat” or two-dimensional and distances may be hard to judge. Helmet mounted front lights are best used in conjunction with a handlebar mounted light which gives better depth perception. The size and weight of battery packs for helmet mounted lights are important, as they will need to be carried in a pocket.

Most rechargeable light batteries take about 7 to 8 hours to fully charge and will last about 1 to 3 hours (depending on the wattage bulb/s being used).

Dynamo powered front lights

Dynamos, also known as generator lights, are also an economical option for frequent night travelers. The dynamo works off a roller in contact with the wheel. Dynamos can even be incorporated into the hub (expensive). Dynamo lights usually go out when you stop cycling, though some come with a back-up battery that gives some light when stopped. The dynamo can power both the front and rear lights. The benefit of dynamos is that you do not need to remember to buy or recharge batteries. The higher quality dynamos generally have replaceable rollers.

See Also

Lights

Lights - Flashing LEDs