What rear lights do you guys run? The off the shelf ones are either, Dim 5mm led, really directional or super expensive, I would love something to match this but the price is crazy IMO;
My thoughts are to convert a normal torch, anyone done this? Not sure how well a red filter will work. I was thinking maybe a zoomed out zoomie so it's visible from very wide angles. With an 18650 and an XML it should easily match the silly expensive light above, it's just getting it red enough....
That Dinotte is a bit pricey isn't it? I'm not a commuter, so rear lighting has always been a secondary consideration for me. I go for multiple lights to be seen. There are a lot of great cheap alternatives out there for rear lighting, at least in the states. A battery operated one will last most of the season for me and I generally have at least two on each bike, one high near the seat bag, the other low on the seat stay on the traffic side. Planet Bike Superflash or some of it's clones giving off a brilliant flash and are visible well over a mile away. I looked at some of the U.K. sites and here's some I'd recommend unless you just want an excuse to mod a flashlight...
Blackburn Flea - Love this light, it tucks in the junction of the seat tube/stays, very bright and visible. I have this on two road bikes. My support crew on Ride Across Indiana in 2010 told me they could see my light flashing from 2 miles away.
Smart Lunar R1 - Looks like a SuperFlash clone - two stage Led, one on top is extremely bright 1 Watt Led.
I use this one it has 5 generic red LEDs that flash in various sequences you select. I forgot it turned on for 7 days in my garage and continued to use it for the whole summer with the same cheap batteries. I still have the same batteries in it from last year and it's still pretty bright.
I just want to add I had to buy a second one for my brother because he stole mine when he saw how bright it was when rode together and he could see it from a half mile away.
Thanks guys, I have a smart lunar at present and it is bright but very directional. I don't do many road miles but I have about a mile on nation speed limit roads and maybe half a mile urban to my usual trails so it's just for this. I still want a unmissable rear light tho as it's unusual for cyclists to be on these roads, certainly not a cyclist commuter route.
Perhaps even a sipik will be brighter and wider than the superflash's?
This is a good comparison if it's genuine (no reason to think its biased), I'd consider paying for the shield but I still think I could DIY something better at around half the cost....
Sipik might be brighter, but I find the flash sequence on a Superflash to be a real attention getter. Did you check out the Nite Rider Cherry Bomb? It's advertised as multi-directional, NR has a 1 watt version too.
I'll check YouTube for some comparisons, there are some useful vids on there. I have a Yetlz zoomie with an awesome heartbeat type flash, that would be great but it needs to be red lol
Yeah exactly what i was thinking but im not sure how effective it will be. I just took a photo to compare beampattern, the zoomie would imo be excellent for wider visibility if it was red:
I think you're on to something if you can figure out a good mounting system. Does your zoomie have flash mode? Also, I found a good source for diffusion film, but I haven't located any red. I have to believe there's some out there. It's great stuff - Chicago X included some in a light he sold me, works like a charm, especially for fixing ringy beams.
Easily mounted to the seatpost, needs a bit of thought elsewhere, my Giant Reign is particularily not suited for fitment elsewhere but then not many people would do any road miles on one lol
Not sure if you are a member, but mtbr forums is a great resource on bike lights - it's where I started my lumens journey. They tend more towards mountain biking, but there are a lot of commuters and roadies on there too. Here's a whole thread on self-contained tail lights for your reference:
..he should also swap the driver, as those cheap-o lights are usually DD in high (which is kind of OK for ~3.5V white LEDs, but is not OK for 2.2V red LED)
Ok, I've ordered some red DC-Fix film as recommended above. I will use it on my Yetzl T9, it is XML, 18650 powered with variable flash rates.
I didn't want this light or have any use for it but if the filter works (skeptical after vieplis reply) then it could be the light to have for this application.
As you can tell im bored today, here is the Yezl T9 covered with red insulating tape. Rather disappointing overall brightness (although the Yezl is disappointing without the tape lol). First is pretty much dead on, the approx 15degrees off, then approx 30degress...
Ill await the film but not holding out too much hope. The MTBR thread is interesting and the CPF one that is linked, some good idea's, needs a manufacturer to pick them up tho :(
