Photo courtesy of Serfas
A good friend of mine used to start every mountain bike ride by asking the group, “did ya bring lights?” No matter if was a Tuesday afternoon, or Sunday morning.
He’d be greeted by laughter, because the question was an old joke referring to the numerous times we had been caught on the trail as the sun dipped below the horizon…and we were without lights.
And while we all love retelling those stories of unanticipated adventure on familiar trails, I finally smartened up and started coming prepared! Making it back to the trailhead at dusk might provide a fun challenge, but being stuck in the backcountry, or riding in urban areas without sufficient reflectivity can be downright dangerous, so make sure you get the right lights for the job!
There are many lighting options on the market for urban commuting, road riding, and mountain biking – here’s a review of a few:
Urban commuting:
If you ride in a well-lit urban area with streetlights, you can generally get away with a pair of lower-powered lights in the 20-60 lumen range, which provide 360 degree visibility in traffic. This, combined with reflective clothing and other accents on your bike (pedals, fenders, tire sidewalls, etc.) will help to keep you safe around cars.
When you stray onto unlit side streets or pathways you’ll want a front light around 100-300 lumens to illuminate your path.
Always make sure to ride with a red taillight to keep you visible in traffic and comply with any local road regulations.
Illuminate your winter training ride:
When you’re moving faster on your road bike during low light conditions, you’ll need a more powerful light that casts a longer, wider beam. This also applies for commuters who travel longer distances and onto back roads. Look for lights around 300-500 lumens, and consider multiple lights for maximum visibility to road users.
Hitting the trails:
Mountain biking is probably the most demanding on lights, and you’re sure to need both bar mounted light and headlamps in the 700 – 1000+ lumen range. If you rely on one light alone it can be difficult to navigate switchbacks or technical sections of trail where you can’t clearly see your line.
Powerful lights exceeding 1000 lumens generally rely on an external battery pack which can be mounted to your bike’s frame, or stashed in your jersey pockets or riding pack. If you ride for more than 1.5 – 2 hours, look for a light with interchangeable battery packs.
Additional reflective hits:
Remember: it’s important for your bike to be clearly lit up, but you don’t want to be invisible sitting on it either. Wear brightly coloured clothing or add reflective accessories like a vest or backpack cover for the safest ride!
