Mountain bike lights are available for every need, from simply increasing the awareness of other commuters and drivers around cyclists to illuminating nighttime rides on the way home or on the trail. Many lighting systems have internal battery cases while other, more powerful lights have an external power source that is carried elsewhere on the bike. Night lights may range from less expensive models costing about $30 to long-lasting, impressive lighting systems costing as much as $600 and more. Whether you are riding home after dark or heading up the trail for a midnight adventure, there is a light for your needs on the market.
Safety Commuter lights
Often all that a rider may require is a blinking safety light that lets other users of the road or path know he is present. These lights, known a safety lights, are very inexpensive and do a terrific job at their intended function. Usually in red or yellow, these lights, such as the Niterider TL-5.0, simply attach to the frame or seat post and give off a blinking light that is hard to miss. This kind of light does not provide illumination that enhances the rider's ability to see in the dark.
Performance Commuter lights
For mountain bikers who may get caught out after dark or for the nighttime commuter who prefers ample light to navigate her way home, lights such as the Cygolite Mitycross 350 LED are stunningly bright and guiding. Capable of mounting on the handlebars or helmet, this compact yet shining light is equipped with three levels of brightness to save power in the external battery. These lights that mount on the helmet and the handlebar are the best night lights, according to the Bicycling website. The LED, or light emitting diode, technology draws very little power to provide long-lasting light.
Performance Nighttime Mountain Bike Lights
Trail riding at night, or night riding as it is called, has become a subculture of mountain biking all its own. Riders wear helmet-mounted headlamps coupled with handlebar-mounted lights to illuminate the trails in front of them and rely on intuition and skill to fill in what the lights cannot. For this kind of dedicated riding in the dark there are lights such as the Light and Motion Seca 900, the brightest mountain bike light available, according to REI. The light operates on a nine-cell lithium external battery and can function at maximum output for 3 1/2 hours.
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