Retinal burning cheapskate lighting

[Glance2]

I'm looking for suggestions for handlebar mount bike lighting. I like the Task Force Cree 2 C from Lowes, but it feels heavy and looks cumbersome to mount. The value is certainly there for $30 and 2xC cells.

Are there any other suggestions?

Something smaller, long hours on cheap batteries with the ability to freeze living things in their tracks?

 

[Birddog]

I've been running the new Task Force as a backup light for the last 2 days. I have it mounted on my stem with a velcro wrap designed for frame pumps. In comparing it to my regular 12 W halogen, it is brighter and has more throw. I have them both aimed with the hot spot about 10 yards in front. I need to adjust the TF so it's aimed a little further out, say in the range of 15 to 20 yards. the TF is whiter and brighter than the halogen and there is plenty of spill to light close up. When both are on, the TF almost (but not quite) drowns out the halogen. All things considered, I should be running it as my primary, it is a better light all around. Running two of them on a front rack http://www.velo-orange.com/cofrra.html would really be the ticket, but I guess handlebar mounts would be OK.

Birddog

 

[dogstar]

+1 for the velo-orange link! They (he, Chris) is doing some really cool stuff!

Here's a link to the "retro" flashlight mounts: http://www.velo-orange.com/lighting.html

 

[green814]

I just picked up a couple Task Force 3w 2c lights myself. No riding with them yet, but I have take one somewhat apart.

If we could come up with a "new" cap for the "battery body" & then for the "head" of the light, it could be a helmet or H-Bar light with the batteries run remotely, or even a new rechargable battery pack. The "head" is very lightweight, and would become a very small light with a remote battery setup.

I also found that the "lense" fits in an old Vistalight housing I have. Would just need to mount the led in the housing, but I am not sure how to take it apart as this would be my first attempt. I also don't know if there is any needed elctronics in the tail cap.

If anyone has any ideas on modding the T.F., please post them.

I did find I have a couple reflector mounts that I can use to mount the T.F. on my h-bars, just haven't had time for any riding lately. Maybe you could just try this even though it does have a little weight to it. Or switch out the c-cells for AA's to lighten it up some.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[Buck91]

Check out the deal extreme linked in my sig. Search for sku 6162 for something ultra compact but without the runtime. All in all a fun site to browse, and a lot of decent lights on the cheap; just be sure o read reviews, they arent all winners!

 

[FrontRanger]

I also found that the "lense" fits in an old Vistalight housing I have. Would just need to mount the led in the housing, but I am not sure how to take it apart as this would be my first attempt. I also don't know if there is any needed elctronics in the tail cap.

If anyone has any ideas on modding the T.F., please post them.

You probably have thought about this already, but I'll say it just in case: If you put the LED and driver from the Task Force head into another housing (such as the Vistalight you mentioned), make sure that the LED gets adequate heat-sinking. You may not have to do anything at all, but it needs consideration. Good luck!