Neophyte Corner: Lighting your Way

If you are like me, you started your biking journey in the spring, enjoying long days and bright clear evenings. During the summer, generally bicyclists can rely on reflectors to provide safety on the roads because the whole environment is bright and clear most of the time. But as we enter into Autumn, the days are getting shorter and shorter, overcast or rainy days are becoming more common, and soon we’ll be setting the clocks back another hour bringing on sunset even earlier in the day. Now is the time to be thinking about procuring lights for your bike.

Rear Lights

Every rider should start off with a rear light. When riding your bike, you are always aware of what is in front of you and it is possible to react to the various hazards coming at you. But, even with a rear view mirror, it is not possible to have full awareness of what is behind you. A good rear light will alert other riders and automobile drivers of your position, and allow them to avoid dangerous situations.

Rear lights come in several flavors, but should always be RED because this is a signal to traffic that they are seeing the rear of a vehicle instead of the front. (Some states have laws that all rear-facing lights must be red.) You should be aware that some of the newer rear lights have a white coloring when off, but are actually red when lit. Look for a light that is:

1. Bright – easy to see from far off
2. Has both flashing and steady modes – flashing increases visibility during sunrise and sunset, steady modes are less distracting to other riders after dark
3. Has a long battery life – your rear light will be out-of-sight and thus out-of-mind more often than any other tool in your biking kit, so you want be changing out batteries as seldom as possible.

In general, the best way to fulfill these needs are with an LED (light emitting diode) based rear light with multiple LEDs providing a breadth of coverage. LEDs are bright and use very little power, and are usually mounted on tiny circuit boards which can handle multiple flashing modes.

These are my two favorites:

1. Planet Bike Blinky “5″: Small, bright, and can act as a reflector
2. Blackburn Mars 3.0: Larger but still bright and good side visibility as an added bonus.

Front Lights

While rear lights are all about being seen, Front Lights can either be about being seen or being able to see. If you typically ride on well-lit streets, then your focus should be to ensure other riders/drivers can see you. If you typically ride on poorly-lit streets or on biking paths, then it is critical you focus on a light that lets you see the dangers in front of you.

Being Seen

If your focus is on being seen, then you want similar characteristics to your rear light: bright, flashing and steady modes, and long battery life. But a front light is not the same as a back light. Your back light exists to throw a wide beam that alerts other people on the road to your current position whether they are right behind you or a ways off. A front light is seen by drivers/riders who are coming towards you while you are both in motion and therefore have less time to react. So a front light should be able to throw its light a distance down the street.

If your focus is on being seen, look for an LED-based white light with a flashlight-style shape and design. (Again, some states require all front-facing lights on vehicles are white.) These lights generally can be removed from the bike as well, and used as a flashlight for when you are moving from the bike into a building. It also allows a quick swap out of batteries if yours happen to become low mid-ride.

Here are two of my favorites:

1. Planet Bike Beamer 3 LED: Small, bright, and light
2. Schwinn Crank Light: Bright and crank handle means never having to change batteries.

Being Able to See

If your focus is on being able to see, then it is time to start thinking in terms of wattage for your light. Wattage is the power that the light puts out, and the higher the wattage, the more brightness, distance, and visibility you get. For this class of front light, you want at least 1 watt of power, but you can get lights up to 10, 13, or even 20 watts of power, which rival a car’s headlights for brilliance. The more watts you want, the more expensive your light will be.

Most lights in this class can be mounted to your handlebars or be worn as a head-mounted light on your helmet. This keeps the beam pointed where you are looking, and allows you to adjust the visibility to whatever portion of the road requires your attention at a particular moment.

However, there is also a danger here. Once you are up to a watt or more of power, your light is capable of briefly blinding other people on the road. It is critical that you are mindful of how your light is mounted and where you point it. It is not much help to make sure you can see the oncoming car, if the driver can’t see anything and swerves into you.

Here are two light of this class that I am a fan of:

1. Planet Bike 3044 Blaze: Small, bright, and uses the same mount as my “being seen” light
2. Nite Hawk Phoenix SE 10w: 10 watts, rechargeable battery, and integrates well into the bike frame

Other Lighting Options

Of course, a front or rear light are only some of the tools available to you for night riding. You may also want to be aware of these options:

1. Wheel generators: These generators, which you may remember from childhood, allow you to power your front light by the energy in your tires. In general, these systems are not very useful or reliable when compared to a battery-based system. Not recommended.
2. Wheel lights: Some of the more fashionable among us may see wheel-mouned lights that flash along with the turning of the wheels to give a Back-To-The-Future style effect. These lights are generally considered to be a bad idea as they are distracting to others on the road and do not enhance visibility, except from the side. Some states also have laws about what color lights are allowed on the side of road vehicles, and most of the flashier wheel lights are in violation. Not recommended.
3. Reflective vests/jackets/wristbands: If you are riding at night, it is critical to remember that you are probably able to see a lot more of the road as a biker going 20 MPH then a car driver going 45 MPH. Lights help, but the more of your body that others can see, the better. If you plan to ride at night, invest in a reflective vest and/or jacket. It will give better visibility to your body’s outline, and allow drivers to better anticipate your next move. You may also want to check out reflective gloves which can light up your hand for turn signals. Highly recommended.
4. Reflectors: If you bought a bike from a reputable bike shop, odds are you already have a front and rear reflector on your bike, as well as reflectors on your pedals. Do not remove your reflectors, even if you have picked up both a front and read light. Remember that these are your last line of defense when your batteries run out, or you are caught out without your battery-powered lights. Required.

Conclusion

Darkness need not stop you from using your bicycle for transport or for fun. But if you do not respect the night, and realize your own limitations and those of other riders/drivers, then you are putting yourself in danger. The use of these few bike accessories can make the difference between risking injury or worse, and enjoying a safe ride.

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