Most of us take our safety lightly by riding on bikes that do not have the best lights. Well, if you use your bike for a casual ride down the park over the weekend, you might not understand the importance of lights but wait until you are stuck somewhere in the dark and need to see your way. Bike lights are essential, and you need to find the best one for you today. When you go to the stores you will come across several brands of bike lights with varying characteristics and of different performance and you might wonder how you should select the best one. Read below and check out the tips for choosing the best bike lights;
Types
While you will come across several brands of bike lights, all of them can be categorized into a few groups based on the role they play. Note that a bike has several types of lights fitted on various parts and they all play different roles. A well-lit bike should have the front, side and rear lights to ensure that you see the way ahead and other motorists can see you when riding. If you are used to riding in areas that are distant from ambient light, it is necessary to find bike lights that have a high output to enable you to see the way properly.
High output light systems are the ones that offer the best illumination. They are mostly rechargeable and cost a little bit more than the regular ones. However, they are the best for dark areas since they can illuminate a large area and enable you to ride safely since you have a clear view of the road ahead. The side and rear lights are normally dim and they are meant to inform motorists of your presence on the road. However, they are not bright enough to illuminate your way when riding at night. These are the main types of lights available for a bike and you should ideally get a set of all those types to ensure that your bike is well lit.
Performance
When buying lights for your bike from Outbound Lighting, it is necessary to look into some of the technologies that were used to produce them. One of the most common technologies used for these bulbs is the LED one which brings a lot of energy efficient and durability. They are the most dominant type of bulbs used for the bike lights. The other kinds of technologies are the halogen and HID bulbs which are not commonly used on bikes. When analyzing the performance of the lights, you should look into the number of lumens. Lumens are the units used to quantify the amount of light falling on an object when illuminated. It simply describes the light intensity of the bulb and manufacturers will give this rating when you buy a bulb. Another thing to look at is the beam pattern. If you want to move across a street that is full of ambient light, you might want to go with a bulb that has a narrow beam. On the other side, wide beams are better for the dark trails to enable you to see the wide areas. However, it is difficult to one to compare the beam pattern but you could consult an expert and have them specify the differences to you.
Power
When selecting a bulb for your bike, you need to know what are the powering options at stake. A long time ago, the bikes used to have dynamos that were used to charge lights, and it is common to see the same on some bike models today. However, this is not the best way of powering your bulbs as the dynamos do not produce a lot of power and the bulb only lights when you are cycling. You can get rechargeable bike lights that have lithium-ion batteries. It is better to opt for the ones with rechargeable batteries as opposed to those that use disposable ones. These batteries offer excellent power when compared to their weight and continue to supply energy to the light even when the level goes down.
Mounting
Most of the lights do not come with the bike and you need to look at how you will mount them. One of the crucial lights, the headlights, needs to be installed well in front of the bike and probably have an adjustable mount that can allow you to change the inclination of the beam. However, headlights are not only mountable on the handlebar as they can be mounted on your helmet as well. If you just need a single light, you can find these as the most convenient ones since the direction can always be changed by changing that of your head. However, they have the disadvantage of being attached to your helmet meaning that you will always be stuck in the dark if you do not have the helmet with you.
The rear lights can be placed on the seat post or your bike while others can be put on the bicycle rack. The side lights are put on the spokes or frame, and they are best set there so that the motion of the wheels can notify other motorists of a moving bike. Some of the powerful bike lights need a lot of power and may have battery packs that need extra mounting. In such a case, ensure that you select a reliable mounting for the battery pack since that is what powers the lights and if it falls or gets dismantled, it could mean that you will be stuck in the dark.
Cost
When buying bike lights, it is obvious that you have a specific amount of money ready to spend on your new gear. Bike lights are available for various prices, and you need to ensure you get the best one for you at that price. Do not hurry to buy a set of bike lights but compare what various stores have before making the final decision.
The tips for buying the most suitable bike lights for you have been mentioned and you should analyze all your options based on them before you make the final choice.
Leave a Reply