Hello all,

Its getting cold again, and that makes me really want to start commuting soon..

Learn me aboutz the HID headlights.

I am looking at the two Light&Motion that REI Sells, the "regular" and the "ultra"

any comments on either? Thoughts otherwise? Are they water resistant? (so i can use them in the rain?)
THanks!

nK

great lights and co. the diff is the batteries, and therefore run times... most people can get away with the 'regular' li-ion battery. btw, those are outrageous prices.

great lights and co. the diff is the batteries, and therefore run times... most people can get away with the 'regular' li-ion battery. btw, those are outrageous prices.

So theres no difference between the Normal one and the ARC Li-Ion?

How much should I be looking to drop down for these suckers?

thx!

nK

So theres no difference between the Normal one and the ARC Li-Ion?

How much should I be looking to drop down for these suckers?

thx!

nK


they are both ARC Li-ions, but Ultra has a higher capacity battery and longer run time. I got my 'normal' ARC li-ion a couple of yrs ago for about $300... prices seem to have gone up, but you should still be able to find it for <$350

Seems like the difference in price is due to the NiMH vs. the Lithium Ion Batteries.

nK

I have one with the NiMH battery. I got it 2 years ago from Nashbar with a 20% off coupon. I think the total ended up being about $275 or so.

It's a great light - bright, solid run times, and durable. I've had no issues with it but I understand from others that their customer service is very good. I use it primarily for mountain biking at night but also road rides and occasional commuting duties.

It's so bright, I actually can blind drivers and other cyclists with it if I'm not paying attention. It comes with both helmet and bar mounts. I always use the bar mount for both MTB and road biking. I've tried the helmet and it works well but I'm just more comfortable with the light on the bars.

The Li Ion models have a smaller, lighter battery - hence, the increased cost.

depending on how cold it is where you are riding, and your ride time - you may need the ultra. My battery life with my NR drops to 50-60% or less as I get closer to 32F (~2hrs when ~60F to ~45min when at ~20F). Friends with L&Ms have told me they just a little bit better run time at the same temps.

depending on how cold it is where you are riding, and your ride time - you may need the ultra. My battery life with my NR drops to 50-60% or less as I get closer to 32F (~2hrs when ~60F to ~45min when at ~20F). Friends with L&Ms have told me they just a little bit better run time at the same temps.

Is the cable long enough to keep in your bibs? :idea:

I ordered the NiMH one from Nashbar....Cant WAIT!!!

nK

HID lights are fantastic for lighting up complete darkness, like on remote country roads/highways or mtn biking trails.

I commuted with one for a year and decided to shelf it after the battery died ($130) and bulb burned out ($99). HID for my citing riding was a bit overkill and too costly in the long run. I can't see myself spending up to $200 plus on an annual basis to maintain it.

I had a NiteRider Blowtorch.

Since then, I've switched over to LED. Riding with a Light Motion Vega light. Great having blinking and constant mode. Blinking for well lit areas and just "being scene" and constant for lighting up sketching sections with pot holes.

A lot depends on how much light you really need. I commute on suburban streets that mostly have streetlights, so an HID light system would be overkill. Even on unlit streets my Fenix flashlight puts out all the light I need -- 100-175 lumens on the two highest modes. My Fenix light (L2D Premium) runs on 2 AA batteries with run times ranging from 2.5 to 55 hours, depending on what brightness you use. I generally run mine on the 2nd highest setting, which provides about 4 hours of run time. AA batteries are very inexpensive and easily rechargeable. The whole system, with a handlebar mount and batteries, only costs about $65-70.

commuting with mtb lights. If you need this much light to ride on a road, perhaps you should take the bus.
I ride with more modest LED type lights and am now back in the season where i am blinded when i meet someone with a Nimh light set on high. Dangerous to say the least when meeting on a narrow bike path.
on my commute i ride everything from single track [optional] to multilane arterials and i have never felt the need for more than my LEDS.
if you are commuting regularly, it is hard to beat the price to performance on these set ups

commuting with mtb lights. If you need this much light to ride on a road, perhaps you should take the bus.
I ride with more modest LED type lights and am now back in the season where i am blinded when i meet someone with a Nimh light set on high. Dangerous to say the least when meeting on a narrow bike path.
on my commute i ride everything from single track [optional] to multilane arterials and i have never felt the need for more than my LEDS.
if you are commuting regularly, it is hard to beat the price to performance on these set ups

I thought NiMh was a type of battery rather than a type of light...

I respectfully dissagree with your generalization in saying that HID is overkill for commuting. I've used a bar mounted HID system for the last year and half of commuting, having previously used various halogens. For close to half my daily commute, I have no street or other lighting to ride with and my morning commute is finished long before dawn. I have used LED, halogens and HID. Without street or other lighting, the best halogen bulbs that I have don't provide enough light to ride at much more than about 15 miles an hour, and slower in the more technical MUT sections. HID's do not limit my speed. With halogens, I also used to find myself having to avoid lots of cars cutting me off who presumably didn't see me among a backdrop of other car lights and street lighting. I've never had a car cut me off with the HID. Ignoring cost, HID's are a no brainer..

commuting with mtb lights. If you need this much light to ride on a road, perhaps you should take the bus.
I ride with more modest LED type lights and am now back in the season where i am blinded when i meet someone with a Nimh light set on high. Dangerous to say the least when meeting on a narrow bike path.
on my commute i ride everything from single track [optional] to multilane arterials and i have never felt the need for more than my LEDS.
if you are commuting regularly, it is hard to beat the price to performance on these set ups

On a MUT, I will agree that LEDs are generally all that is needed - however some of us also ride areas where HIDs or a light with equivalent lumens are needed not just for seeing, but for safety of being seen. Being thought of as another vehicle by a motorist rather than a pedestrian has many safety pluses.
Speed is another issue - my commute to work usually is my training in winter months. There is no way I'd attack the down hill stretches of road I ride at full speed with any less light than I already have; it just wouldn't be safe.

I live in Los Angeles (san fernando valley to be exact).

There is one MUT that I will be on for maybe 1/4 mile. The rest of the route is over crappy roads with no bike lane.

I dont see how more light isnt better in this situation.

On this note, anyone else in teh SFV have any tips on commuting from Granada Hills to Canoga Park?

Thanks!

I don't really like the HID lights - had one for awhile, but honestly I found it too bright. Not only would it blind oncoming traffic, but it spilled light all over the place. I just did not like the beam pattern: sort of a really bright spot on the road and lots of light all over the place. I am much happier with my schmidt dynamo hub and light. I never have to worry about batteries running out and the beam pattern is outstanding. It really lights up the road surface, as opposed to everything in the vicinity. I can see any obstacles on the road easily. I combine it with a relatively inexpensive flashing light so that the cars can see me.

There are two drawbacks. The system is expensive (but less than most HID systems) and there is not quite enough light for fast downhills on unlit roads (which can be remedied by a secondary light running off the same dymamo hub).