Cycling’s a great money saving and eco-friendly way of getting around, but make sure that when night falls you don’t get caught out. See and be seen with bike lights and enjoy cycling all year round.
There’s a bewildering array of products out there for cyclists, so check out our bike lights review to work out what’s the best option for you.
LED bike lights
LED bike lights are perhaps the most versatile and powerful type on the market. Advances in LED production in recent years mean they’re really efficient and your batteries should go a long way.
You get what you pay for, though, so a cheap £10 set of lights might be suitable for a short city commute, but if you’re venturing on less well lit roads it pays to upgrade.
Rechargeable bike lights
If you’re serious about mountain biking, and want to enjoy your sport year-round, then powerful rechargable bike lights will let you cycle on the darkest nights.
Of course you don’t need to be a mountain biker to benefit from rechargable lights. If you cycle along dark country lanes, then the extra brightness could be a real advantage.
Bike wheel lights
For extra visibility, bike wheel lights are a new thing. They’re an excellent supplement to your standard lights, but shouldn’t be used on on their own – the law says you need front and rear lights.
They certainly can add extra safety though and are pretty cool, too, we reckon.
They simply fix to the spokes on your bike wheels, and when you’re pedalling, dramatically light up the whole wheel like a catherine wheel.
Bike helmet lights
Another popular choice for mountain bikers, bike helmet lights mean you can direct illumination to all parts of the trail, and are handy for spotting low hanging branches. They’re also a sensible option for extra visibility if you’re a cycle commuter on busy city roads.
Bright Bike lights
If you want a really bright bike light, then some of the best are specifically designed for mountain bikers, who need tonnes of illumination to avoid obstacles when cycling at night.
Don’t expect the batteries to last for ever, though. These kinds of super bright bike lights will only last about 2.5 hours on full power, so they come with chunky rechargable batteries.
You get what you pay for, of course, so for the very brightest hardcore mountain biking lights with the best battery life you can pay more than £200 a set. More budget options cost around £70 and, while you’ll sacrifice battery life and some brightness, are still remarkably bright.
Brightness is measured in ‘lumens’ – anything around 900 or more is extremely bright, while a 1,400-lumen bike light is ultra bright.
Wind-up bike lights
Wind-up bike lights are a really nifty eco option. Wind up the dynamo and the lights should last for a couple of hours at a go. No need for batteries ever again!
Don’t expect the brightest beam but they are certainly a great option for getting around town. They’re good value too, with sets of lights starting from around £15, so if you don’t mind winding them up every couple of days then you could be onto a winner.
Wiggle
Wiggle has an excellent front lighting test where you can view the light output and compare bike lights. It’s a really handy tool and will enable you to make an informed decision on what the best product is for you.
Wiggle has a large range of lights and reflectives for all types of cycling and cyclists.
They also have constant and changing money saving deals and so don’t forget to check the Wiggle website for savings.
Image courtesy of Flickr – jurvetson