Smart Shopping for Bike Lights

For low-light or evening riding, cyclists should have a rear light to be seen by others and sometimes also need to illuminate the road ahead. You have choice of lights that can be attached to a helmet, to handlebars, and/or to the seat post. One inexpensive device is a battery-operated blinker enclosed in red plastic that flashes your presence. Commuters who sometimes must ride in the dark invest in a tail blinker plus a headlight that runs on batteries either in the light itself, or linked to a longer-lasting battery that attaches to the bike frame via a cable. Some batteries for lights are built to stow in a water-bottle cage on the bike's frame.

What to Look for

Casual riders can get by with a small, inexpensive battery-operated or LED blinker that can be attached to a helmet , rear rack or seat post. Look for one that has two settings so it flashes as well as emits a steady light, since a flashing light is noticed more quickly. Buy two if you wish to have some kind of light for the front of your bike as well as your rear. These cost as little as $5 or at most $20. For more serious night-riding, investigate LED or the even brighter HID lighting systems that emit a powerful beam, can be adjusted up or down after being mounted on your handlebars, and last for several hours via a battery pack that can be mounted on the bike but removed when not in use. These can cost from $30 to $350, depending on design.

Common Pitfalls

Since in daylight or in a brightly lit store it is hard to tell how much light is being emitted, compare different lighting systems in a dark corner or on a late day test ride. Don't skimp on cheap models sold at big retailers; they don't last. Balance the cost against the added weight. Some lights designed to illuminate a road ahead of you and to last five or more hours can add uncomfortable weight to your handlebars, so think twice about choosing a cumbersome system that makes your occasional commute or emergency ride a chore. If you have a removable battery pack, keep it near your bike so you don't forget it.