Cycling lights come in a huge variety of output levels and features. In this guide we'll look at the latest models, how to understand lumens, and some of the newest features such as rechargeable bike lights and bike LED lights.
We've simplified the main types of bicycle lights by breaking it down into three categories: commuting, road and off-road. We'll explain the differences and explain what you should look for.
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0:00 Light Buying Guide Intro
0:27 What you need as a minimum
1:00 "To be seen" lights
1:22 Lumen light standard
2:02 "To see" lights
2:35 Off road lights
2:49 Light field of view
3:10 Don't dazzle other road users
3:28 Different modes
3:40 Flash modes
3:55 Battery options
4:23 Beam pattern visibility
4:48 Wearable lights
4:56 Disposable batteries
5:24 Light run-time
5:53 Light mount options
6:23 Check they will fit
6:39 Wear reflective gear too!
Output: What are lumens?
Lumen is the official SI unit of measurement that quantifies how much light is emitted from a source in a given period of time - basically, how bright is your light.
Modern lights range from about five and up to a dazzling 2,000 lumens. In general, rear lights tend to be a lot less powerful than front lights.
Rechargeable bike lights versus battery power: What are the options?
You can still buy bike lights that run on disposable alkaline batteries, but most of the best bike lights now feature built-in rechargeable batteries.
The most common rechargeable batteries are Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) or Lithium Polymer (Li-Po). These are smaller, lighter and more powerful than disposable alkaline batteries, making them perfect for bike lights.
Most rechargeable cycle lights charge via USB and some lights even feature a built-in USB connector for convenience.
Powerful front lights can take a long time to charge via USB, so some come with the additional mains charger for speedy charging.
More and more rechargeable lights are fitted with battery life indicators so you're never caught short. These can be small LED indicators that change colour to indicate how much power is remaining.
Bike light mounts: How do they work?
Front and rear bicycle lights feature a variety of different mounting styles and options. The two most common variants are strap/band mounts and clamp mounts.
Most rear lights and safety lights use a strap or band mounting mechanism which you can easily wrap around your seat post or handlebar, often without the need for tools. Because these kinds of mounts are easy and quick to remove, they are ideal for use with commuting bike lights.
On higher-powered front lights, which are typically heavier, clamp mounts are more common. These are more secure, so they can cope with rough terrain and repeated use. Most clamp mounts feature some means of quick-release for the light unit, so you can still remove the light with ease.
What are the best bike lights for you?
The type of bicycle light that you choose will depend on the kind of riding you do, as well as the kind of conditions you ride in. See which of the below categories best describes your riding.
Bike lights for commuting and urban use
If you're riding in a built-up area, and the road or path is well lit, then your main priority should be to make sure you're visible to other road users.
'Safety lights' usually have at least one constant lighting mode, in addition to multiple flashing modes. They also offer higher levels of side visibility; so you can be seen at junctions by pedestrians and other road users.
We've all seen the guy who looks like he's run off with the lighting rig from Dave's Mobile Disco with multiple flashing lights all over his bike, bag, clothing, and helmet. You may think it's a bit overkill, but remember you did see him! Fitting more than one light with a combination of flashing modes will always make you more visible.
The Cateye Volt 200 Xc / Rapid Mini Light Set is the perfect bike light set for when you want to be seen on the road.