HID/LED cycling headlight set-up questions

Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: sydney

Hi guys,
I’m riding from Parramatta to north Sydney and return each day. In the evening it’s dark and I’m wondering what type of lighting that people are using?

I’m primarily interested in HID’s and LED set-ups.
Is there a DIY combo that works well?
What brands and specs should I be looking for?

Any pointers?
Regards, Joel

Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Location: western shitney

parra to nth sydney daily Shocked

thats a bit of a hike on a pushy isnt it Confused

Joined: 08 May 2005 Location: www.waynecounty.com

Flashing red led on the seat pole or rear stays with an extra one on your back pack pack or jacket

Commercial front light with big battery pack, had a BLT dual beam set up
check out:
http://www.mikebentley.com/bike/headlights.htm
http://www.olybikes.com/resources/headlights.html

Made one in the past using a five watt luxeon star led which was good (no longer have it or any pic---search google)
http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=179

A headmounted light (like Petzels) are good to augment barlights. They're good as the beam goes where your eyes do unlike bar mounts which cast where ever the bars are pointed

People will still to try to run you over

Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: sydney

j-top paj wrote:

parra to nth sydney daily Shocked

thats a bit of a hike on a pushy isnt it Confused

It's good fun. i'm not one of these wankers that think that the road laid for them.

Takes about an hour to get home when i ride hard. 1.45 hours on the bus Rolling Eyes

or 35 minutes in the landcruiser using all the tolls and costing me about $25 a day to drive Rolling Eyes

Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: sydney

fool_injected wrote:

Flashing red led on the seat pole or rear stays with an extra one on your back pack pack or jacket

Commercial front light with big battery pack, had a BLT dual beam set up
check out:
http://www.mikebentley.com/bike/headlights.htm
http://www.olybikes.com/resources/headlights.html

Made one in the past using a five watt luxeon star led which was good (no longer have it or any pic---search google)
http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=179

A headmounted light (like Petzels) are good to augment barlights. They're good as the beam goes where your eyes do unlike bar mounts which cast where ever the bars are pointed

People will still to try to run you over

I've been researching the niterider mineutx2 which i think is the best value for money at 150 lumens Cool

Joined: 13 Jun 2005 Location: Riverina

LF 240's?

And a little deep cycle batt, or 2 Very Happy

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

RockyF75 wrote:

LF 240's?

And a little deep cycle batt, or 2 Very Happy

one of those old generators that rub on the tire as you go, and a peg with cardboard for the sounds.

Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Canberra

My brother in law made mine for me, a piece of stainless tube with a cap on the end, a handlebar mount from the bike shop & a daichoic (sp?) led bulb and a 1.3 ah led acid battery from Dick Smith.

Cost about 40 bucks all up & its a cracker but at 40km/h it strarts to run out of light a bit so I am looking to get one og those high powered LED for it.

Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Location: Here, there, everywhere!

Take a look at:

AutoSpeed - Building a High Performance LED Lighting System (Part 1)
http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/A_109714/article.html

5w Luxeon led setup, three part series.

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne Australia

Just an observation from a driver who hasn't ridden much on the road in years... give some thought to how visible your lights are from the side as well as end-on.

I've seen a few cyclists lately with whizz-bang LED lights that you can't see unless they are pointing straight at you.

Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: sydney

tt6_lux wrote:

Take a look at:

AutoSpeed - Building a High Performance LED Lighting System (Part 1)
http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/A_109714/article.html

5w Luxeon led setup, three part series.

Wicked thread. looks the goods. i'll head down to jaycar tomorrow.

Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: sydney

chimpboy wrote:

Just an observation from a driver who hasn't ridden much on the road in years... give some thought to how visible your lights are from the side as well as end-on.

I've seen a few cyclists lately with whizz-bang LED lights that you can't see unless they are pointing straight at you.

I agree. i run LED's in red on both side of my bike.

i look like a christmas tree but at least i stand out.

JB

Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Location: Melbourne, Vic

nice bright, reflective clothing also would help with being visible to other road users

Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Location: central coast

go a good led system they set you back about $300 but they will last for ever.cygo light is the best on the market imho.

Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Location: Melbourne

4b kidd wrote:

go a good led system they set you back about $300 but they will last for ever.cygo light is the best on the market imho.

cygo do good stuff. Been awhile since I've played with em, they wern't the best on the market but for the price they were awesome.

have a look around the farkin forums, alot of people get rid of their old gear when they upgrade. and as chimp said, they are a head light only, they arent for the car safety factor.

Joined: 26 Jun 2003

2 different Niteriders sold on eBay this week for less than $150 ea and only weighing 227g complete, they're the way to go.

Stumpy I want to see a picture of this Christmas tree setup Very Happy

Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Canberra

tt6_lux wrote:

Take a look at:

AutoSpeed - Building a High Performance LED Lighting System (Part 1)
http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/A_109714/article.html

5w Luxeon led setup, three part series.

Thats a cracker, pity I didnt see thet before I built mine, now all Im after is a diachroic high power LED bulb for mine & I think I will be set.

Anybody know where I can get them?