Biking is a healthy, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to driving a car or taking public transportation. One drawback is the safety issue that comes into play as soon as the sun sets. Traditional safety vests and lights are a must. Today, LED lights are the way to go when lighting your bike for an evening ride or on the commute home from work.
How LED Lights Work
LED stands for light-emitting diode. These bulbs work differently from traditional halogen or incandescent bulbs, which emit light when a wire inside becomes so hot it glows. LEDs are instead open-valve diodes through which electrons can pass in only one direction. When enough electrons are moving at once they give off light, according to Encyclopedia.com.
Benefits
Though LED lights traditionally cost a bit more than halogen or incandescent bulbs, they last much longer and tend to fail slowly rather than all at once, as old-fashioned bulbs do. This is better for cyclists who likely will see the light fading and will know it needs to be replaced, rather than being stuck suddenly in the dark on a night ride -- a situation that can be scary and dangerous. LEDs are also smaller and lighter than halogen lights. Keeping weight down on a bike is important to many long-distance cyclists.
Cost
There are many well-made and cost-efficient LED lights available for your bicycle. The most popular setup is to have in a white headlight in the front to see what's ahead. This is often supplemented by a red light in the rear of the bike so that cars, pedestrians and other cyclists can see you. A typical LED model will cost about $20, as of 2011. Amazon.com has several for immediate shipping in this price range. If you are an avid cyclist, or just like fancy gadgets, you can purchase stronger and more expensive headlights.
Where to Buy
It is certainly easy to purchase online from a source, such as Amazon, or a large chain sporting goods store, such as Sports Authority, REI or EMS. However, you first should stop by your local sporting goods or cycling store to test the strength of the lights for yourself. Also check how the light attaches to your bike's frame. Not all lights will work well on all bike frames. Also make sure you buy an LED that gives off enough light. The light is for your safety and not something to take chances with.
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