Yep, it’s probably getting dark when you’re riding home from work. So now is the time to assess your bike light set-up and invest in a new front beam if yours needs an update. We test six lights from £70
Buyer’s guide
Summer might have returned in September this year, but autumn can come sneaking up and we’ll soon be in a world of murky morning starts and dark evenings, thick soups and Strictly. Yes, now is the time to test your bike lights set-up and invest in a new set if your lights are weak or you are 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. The reviews on the following pages look at the best front lights you can get from £70 up to monster £355.
Lights are getting more powerful each year and the brightest on test puts 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 when you’re halfway home.
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.
Your tester…
Paul Norman
● A lifelong rider, Paul has ridden with some of cycling’s greats on European bike launches. Tech-wise, he’s covered everything from rim width to the latest cycling computers, early ebikes and gravel gear.
Key considerations
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 around town, for example, you won’t need maximum lumens and you want to avoid blinding other road users. 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 str
