Now the nights have drawn in, if you’re planning to train outdoors or tend to commute by bike you’re going to need some solid lighting up front. Here we test six options from £70…
WORDS PAUL NORMAN IMAGES DAVE CAUDERY
BUYER’S GUIDE
Summer might have returned in October this year, but autumn is still sneaking up and we’ll soon be in a world of murky morning starts and dark evenings. That means now is the time to test your bike lights set-up and invest in a new set if yours are weak or in need of an update.
In order to get the best fit for your needs it helps to be familiar with a few key elements (see the panel on the right) that will help whittle a shortlist from what can seem like a dizzying array of lights available.
Lights are getting more powerful each year, with the brightest on test here putting out a mammoth 3,600 lumens – more than you need on just about any occasion. Most also provide a decent amount of side lighting for side-on visibility.
Run times are important, but you should also take into account the ease of switching between modes and the extra burn time that gives you, which is especially true if you use your full beam infrequently. Aligned with that, a clearly visible (but not distracting) charge indicator is a must, as you don’t want to get caught without a light mid-ride.
Take some time to look at different mount types, too. Think about where you like to position your lights and how many other gadgets you’ll be fitting onto the bar, as some mounts limit your options.
Right, on with our round-up of the best front lights you can get from £70 up to a monster £355…
KEY BUYING INFORMATION
Blinded by the light(s)? Before you buy your next set, read over our buyer’s checklist below
THE LEGAL BIT UK regulations state that a white front and rear red light must be used between sunset and sunrise. These must be clean and working properly. Flashing bike lights have been explicitly allowed since 2005. Provided they flash 60-240 times per min you’ll be okay.
BRIGHTNESS Brighter isn’t always better. If you mainly ride in an urban setting, for example, you won’t need maximum lumens and you want to avoid blinding other road users. So first identify the sort of night routes you do.
LUMENS The most common measure of output quoted on lights is lumens, which denotes how bright a light beam is. The following guide works for us: 200 lumens: urban riding on lit streets; 500 lumens: unlit urban s
