head/tail light combo that is easy/small/cheap

LEDBE
Darell

Darell

Flashaholic
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OK, so like many of you, I'm starting to get a collection of several nice lights for my bike. And when I know I'll need them, I have no problem getting them set up and working great. Takes some planning, however - and the majority of my riding is in daylight, so I certainly don't keep ANY lights on my bikes normally.

What I'd REALLY like is a combo "be seen" head/tail combo that I can quickly strap to my let or helmet. Obvoiusly it needs front/rear unobstructed view to work, and I think the leg and helmet are the only good options for that, unless any of you guys are transparent. This unit would be something I'd grab for a quick un-planned night ride, or when I ride with a buddy who doesn't have lights, etc. I don't need the power to see, just want to have the legal and safety bases of "be seen" covered. Even if I have to mod the thing to LED, I'd love to see some pointers to some product that might work. I can't even figure out what to Google for here!
 
Tail light - for sure Smart Superflash or CatEye TL-LD 1000.
Front Light - if you can get CatEye HL-EL500G - German version, led gets there about 380mA for 5-6 hours from 4AA, replace emitter with SSC P4 U-bin with low Vf xxxxH you will get very nice front lamp.
 
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Thanks Szemhazai.

I guess I wasn't clear enough as to what I meant by "combo." I'm looking for an "all-in-one" unit that hast head and tail light in it. For minimal mounting/fussing issues. I want to be able to clip something to my helmet that shines forward and back. Doesn't have to be earth-shakingly great. Just good enough, and easy. This is for the "quick trips" or loaning to others. Something to keep in my bike bag for those times when it gets dark sooner than I'd planned (seems to happen more and more this time of year!)
 
Not quite all in one, but I keep a red cateye sl-ld100 tied to the back of my helmet(has integrated strap) and a small cheap keyring white led light tied on top. They add negligible weight to the helmet.
The ld 100 is actually an ok rear light and gets a lot of use.
 
So while I'm thinking about all this, I've determined that a pretty good "one-size-fits-all" solution may be building in a head and tail light (along with batteries) into a helmet cover. Could be mesh or solid. Stretch the thing on with white in front and red in rear. Batteries stuck to the thing on top or along the sides for lower center of gravity. Would be so quick and easy to take on and off. Use light pucks similar to these Cateyes - but powered by real (maybe AAA) batteries for cheaper and longer runtime.

OK... I'm off to make my millions.... Shhh.
 
One of the Dinotte's helmet lights has a rear pointing red LED, IIRC. Other than that... can't think of any other "all-inclusive" lights. I *think* NiteRider has a front/back combo that you can plug into the same battery pack, but that's not terribly easy to attach/remove from a bike. :thinking:

I've seen people with these on their helmets. Incredibly geeky (but, hey, I look hot in anything), but they seem to work well, always pointing the blinker in the "right" direction. The problem with attaching a blinker to the back of your helmet is that it may not be pointing straight back when you ride.


Didn't the 'Gizmo or Larry make a two-ended tube light at some point? It was either a Chupacabras hybrid between an e-series and an Arc body (or something Frankenlight like that) or a light built completely from scratch. I don't even know if both ends could be powered at the same time...

I like your idea for a lighted helmet bra. :nana:
 
Funny, I was just going to post on that self-leveling light. Neat idea. Doesn't it swing all over the place though as your head moves? Seems that it should be damped a bit? Who knows.

Dorky, huh? And here I didn't even realize that sex appeal had made its way into the realm of read blinky lights. I'm not sure that I've yet seen one that I want to cook breakfast for in the morning, so I'm not going to worry about that aspect at this point!

Yes, two-ended flashlight-type device would be the ticket. Assuming it could be mounted to the top easily. And then there is that aiming problem. How do you keep it aimed correctly? The self-aiming unit above makes more and more sense.
 
Darell said:
Funny, I was just going to post on that self-leveling light. Neat idea. Doesn't it swing all over the place though as your head moves? Seems that it should be damped a bit? Who knows.
Click to expand...
I haven't looked at the swivel mechanism that closely, but it doesn't swing wildly. Neither does it seem to get stuck at a certain angle. :shrug:
 
Bianchi Milano has rear light integrated into the seat. You can also get end plugs for drop bars that have red lights installed.

Front light...
Handlebars are really natural battery holders and probably make good heat sinks too(hand warmers anyone?). How much would you need to beef up a bar so you could drill it out to hold a led and lens? Clicky switch and battery holder in the end...micropuck 350mA drive off 2 AAs...very stealthy and always there. Need nice small lenses or reflectors.
 
The integrated parts don't help with the "let your buddy borrow it for the evening" situation, but I like the thinking anyway. :)

Of course if EVERY bike or helmet had integrated lights, this wouldn't be a problem.
 
That's certainly on the right track. The description is a bit lacking, eh? Two modes? Sometimes that means on/off. Would be nice to use some of that hollow handlebar space to house some real batteries, eh?
 
For drop bars...
9bdb3916bd6e354bc0936c5b12999480.jpg
 
Darell,
My helmet uses one of those Planet Bike auto-leveling red flashers and it works very well. I load mine with a lithium AAA cell that lasts 6 months easily.
On top of the helmet is a Fenix L1D CE loaded with a Powerex 2700mAH NiMH AA cell. I use the proper modified helmet mount and it works very, very well. Run on turbo mode, you have enough light to see and other driver will SEE you! On busy streets the strobe function is just a quick press on the tail clickie.
Total cost of the system is $55 for the L1D CE, $15 for the helmet mount (adjustable pivot and break away pins) $15 for the auto-leveling light. Throw in about $10 for shipping and you could have a sexy helmet for $95. For extra points with the local hotties, add a take-a-look helmet mount mirror for another $16 or so.
There is nothing like a full lighting system on a helmet. When it starts raining, I just fire them up without stopping. Any bike I want to ride I can, the lighting is on the helmet. If people ask why I have that stuff on my helmet, I put the helmet on, fire up the light and point in their eyes and say "Can you see me now?"
The system works and for my daily dark morning commute, I suppliment with a L2D RB100 mounted on the frame for forward lighting. On the side-rear and back rear are a Cateye LD1000 flashing and a Planet Bike SuperFlash running solid red.
Works for me.
 
Those "tadpoles" are certainly interesting! I bet they're just 5mm LED's powered off coin cells, though. :green: It'd be sweet to build something like that with at least a Lux and shove the batts down the handlebar like DD says.

My helmet doesn't have a LED blinker attached, but it's got reflective trim. Passive/active illumination... vs. added bulk, etc. ... :confused:



DD, here's a bit more info on those "tadpole" lights:
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/15...s/Knog-Tadpole-Bar-End-Lights---Twin-Pack.htm

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mounted at your handlebar ends and visible up to 600 meters, this light makes you a lot more visable to oncoming and rear traffic. Anti-theft removable POD, durable weather seal and manufactured in shock-absorbent ABS, it will be your long-term riding companion!
...
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Colors: White and Red

Weight: 60g(twin pack)

Battery Life: 4 lithium batteries, less than 120 hrs (flashing)

SOLD IN PAIRS ONLY![/FONT]
Click to expand...
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
 
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Hey Bent! Well, I've never used a fancy Fenix before. Looking around, it appears that I'm the only one. :)

Green - First thing I do with any new bike or helmet is put reflective tape all over it. I'm with you there! Very important, since the things that can do you harm, all have great light sources. And you never forget to take the reflective stuff with you this way.
 
Darell said:
Hey Bent! Well, I've never used a fancy Fenix before. Looking around, it appears that I'm the only one. :)
Click to expand...

:D
Can't beat a single cell AA light that has two modes (with the head tight) full blast and strobe! Sounds like a bike light to me. Heck, if you need a longer runtime...loosen the head and make your way home.
For folks that want to look "normal" the L2D RB100 and a bike block on the bars works very well and can be ordered from one place.
Rumor has it those LxD series bike lights can be used as flashlights! Although a very odd idea to me, it can be used as such. For me, a real man uses a stock minimag--black for "tacti-cool" stealth of course.
 
B&M topfire...4 red LEDs that you stick to the back of your helmet with battery/control pack that clips to strap.
Quite directional LEDs and a not very waterproof battery holder(2 hours in a torrential downpour showed this) but a good concept. You could replace two of the red LEDs with white.
A little way down this page:
http://www.stkildacycles.com.au/products_lightsSafety.htm
 
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