bike lights

[tattoogoddess]

what are the bike lights you like to use on your spokes? trying to figure out what ones i want to buy for tom and my bike.

[happydragon]

http://www.hokeyspokes.com

[Elorrum]

first, THANK you for a non-ticket, gear oriented thread, today.
I was looking for an image of the ones I have, and found there are a whole lot more to choose from than a couple of years ago. For the playa, I am always tempted to indulge, invest, and then lurch towards the innexpensive... due to the way things tend to get trashed.
I found these, on sale online, clearance actually, a few years ago and bought a lot and gave them as gifts. They don't draw a pattern or anything, just flash, more of a flicker than off/on, or turn on as motion activated. Good for default dark travel as well. They came in a purple sort of blue, and safety green. not so exciting. I like that they work as reflectors when they are off, or if the batteries die. They also have a good weather seal on the switches, and around the housing. I have some that have been on playa 4 times, and still work.

[tattoogoddess]

yeah i dont care what they really do. they just need to be bright. i had those little cap lights and they sucked. so looking for something you can see alot.

[BBadger]

I just buy some chaser necklaces and string them through the spokes. What's nice is that there is always some light somewhere within the strand instead of a single blinking source.

[lucky420]

Good tip BB, gracias

[tattoogoddess]

Tom wore one of these during the week. They are right for sure. Sounds like a good idea

[junglesmacks]

Want.

[Milayna]

I want them too!!!! So awesome!!

[tattoogoddess]

Sweet!!! Bet ebay has a better price. Damn I need to win the lotto

[Earthwalker]

TTG, what did you end up using last year for bike lights? There's some good options on here, my pick a few up.

What about "default world" bike lighting? LIke the headlight and tail light you're required to utilize when riding at night (at least in CA)....is that too obnoxious?

thanks

[junglesmacks]

What about "default world" bike lighting? LIke the headlight and tail light you're required to utilize when riding at night (at least in CA)....is that too obnoxious?

If you use a headlight, please put some type of colored filter over the FUCKING BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT. We've got a playa full of dilated pupils, thankyouverymuch.

[BBadger]

If you use a headlight, please put some type of colored filter over the FUCKING BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT. We've got a playa full of dilated pupils, thankyouverymuch.

Except to light up darktards who deserve to be flash-blinded for being a hazard.

[Elorrum]

I try to light what I need to see to be safe: the ground. I have an issue with folks with one watt LED headlamps on their heads that shoot straight out into space at eye level. Don't all the illuminated dust motes annoy them?

[Martiansky]

Want.

They have something very close to the same thing for ALOT less $ at boxmart.

[junglesmacks]

Are you talking about this for under $20?

Wow.. I think we may have a winner here..

This one looks cool too..

Want.

They have something very close to the same thing for ALOT less $ at boxmart.

[Martiansky]

Yup!
Those are the ones!!
Im thinking of getting a couple.

[Earthwalker]

Haha, ok, no headlight. Thought it probably wasn't the best, but maybe if pointed nearly 90 degrees down it would be ok. Thatnks for those latest links. Great prices!

[Elliot]

Let me make sure I have this straight….


Headlamp.




Miner’s lamp.

Yep, that’s what I thought I remembered.

[Earthwalker]

I have a REI headlamp from 1993 I should bring. It damn near looks like that miners lamp

[BBadger]

Are you talking about this for under $20?

Wow.. I think we may have a winner here..

Only ~$18 on Amazon. Still, you have to be moving about 10mph minimum to have it work properly.

[junglesmacks]

True story.

Amazon. Duh.

[JayBobBoy]

I always bring my headlamp but only for use around camp to get things done. Once you're out and about on the playa your bike lighting should do the trick. If it's your only good flashlight, keep it in your pocket for use when you need it. There's nothing quite like meeting a beautiful new person out of nowhere, and then blinding the shit out of them.

In addition to some fun lighting, make sure you have a good (detachable) forward facing light for your bike! When riding in the open playa, I really like to see the dust dunes coming!

***Find a way to make your bike easy to find, in a sea of similar bikes, from within 20 feet or more. You can thank me later!

Lock your bike and take the easily detachable lights with you when you walk away!

[trilobyte]

White headlight on a bike is fine, just tilt it downward. Adjust it so the top of the beam hits the ground 15-20 feet in front of you, and you'll be able to see where you're going without blasting the light into anybody's face.

For lighting our bikes we skipped the spokes and focused on lighting the body with multi-color LED's. It takes a bit more time to attach to the bike (using zip ties to secure everything), but very happy with the results. I just had the basic controller, but that can be swapped out with something more complex or even an arduino controller if I want to make my own designs at some point. The pic below shows the lights before they started to do the color thing.

[Drawingablank]

I also skip the spokes and use Bike Glow El wire kits on the bike body. They usually offer a burner coupon in the resource guide that brings them down to about 12.00 a set, they are waterproof (therefore dust proof) and pretty well made. I also use a head and tail light set mounted to the bike and as mentioned above i just aim the head light downwards to avoid blinding people.

An alternative for the bike head light is a personal head lamp worn around the neck and angled out to illuminate the ground ahead. I never go anywhere without one on the playa as hands free light is priceless (especially in the jots).

[Eric]

Let me make sure I have this straight….


Headlamp.




Miner’s lamp.

Yep, that’s what I thought I remembered.

Or:

headlight.JPG

Headlight

and

headlamp.JPG

Headlamp



(I've honestly never heard a cars headlights being called "headlamps" before. Learn something new all the time)

[Elliot]

A most valid point, Eric. I considered dealing with "lamp" versus "light", but decided not to. Frankly, it is a struggle I gave up long ago. Technically, an automotive engineer could define each as a separate concept. Very roughly, a "lamp" is the bulb or similar device that produces the bright glow, while a "light" is the larger assembly with lens, fastening hardware, chrome bezel, and the illumination which comes out of it.

And in automotive-engineerese, the "rear window" of a car is actually the backlight -- it lets in daylight at the back of the passenger compartment.

Yeah, nothing is perfect, and I can live with that. But it seems useful to distinguish between forward illumination mounted on a bicycle, and forward illumination mounted on a person's forehead. For that purpose, referring to a miner's light/lamp ought to work well.
And I would approve if the illumination-device mounted on the bicycle were called "front" light/lamp, thus eliminating the source of any confusion. I also avoid saying "gas", and instead say "gasoline", "propane", "flatulence" and so forth. (Though I will accept "fartulence".)

[tattoogoddess]

Annnnnnyyyyyy ways lol. Guess I should clarify.
For lighting my way I use a led flashlight with a handle bar mount. I ordered a back red light. I plan on lighting the sucker up with el wire. I just wanted something fun for the sole but the ones I used last year sucked so was looking for something new.

[theCryptofishist]

CAn we get a visual on "miner's lettuce"?

[junglesmacks]

devil's lettuce > miner's lettuce