Still need to buy a light?

[Rolf]

I recently got fed up with getting to the front to pull in the dark and seeing nothing but monstrous shadows of my little chicken legs going up and down. It's been time to buy a real light for quite a while now.

So I thought I'd get the jump on Santa today and let my fingers do the walking. I couldn't find a better lumens/$ deal than the MiNewt Mini USB at Oak Bay Bikes. Their regular price is $159.99 (most places are $150) but it's 15% off until the end of the month, making it $139.99 plus tax.

So if you too have been waiting to see the light... now's your chance.

[Rolf]

Err, umm, and make sure you charge it out of the box! I was still seeing floating chicken legs at Cattle Point this morning (though they also may have been cold-induced hallucinations).

[steve]

Rolf,

How many lumens in that light? Does it have a high and low beam option?

thanks

Steve

[Rolf]

Manufacturer says 110+ lumens. No high/low beam and no flashing option. It's old skool on/off only. It's the bottom of the line from NiteRider:

http://www.niterider.com/prod_minmini.shtml

The next step up is the MiNewt 200 (200 lumens) -- I think some of our crew have that one (Lister?). But OBB's regular price on that one is $299. Ulp.

For a recent and relevant TripleShot discussion on lights, see:

http://tripleshotcycling.servebbs.com/v ... ?f=1&t=517

[Josh.E]

I noticed a 100 lumen energizer headlamp at zellers the other day for $40. It takes 4 AA's, and I think it came with rechargables, but no charger.

I was thinking of picking that one up to supplement my little 70 lumen MEC planet bike blaze. The MEC one is also a really good deal at $29, and IMO enough to light up the road well enough for a group ride. Two of those and you've got 140 lumens for $58.

[AlW]

I decided to heed the 200+ lumen recommendation and went with the Cygolite MityCross 350 from MEC, which appears to be one of the better lumens/$ deals out there (350 lumens, $239).

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4442628310

Tons of light and sure to wash out those offending shadows when you're pulling.

It's quite a bit more than the Mi.Newt $-wise, but my claim that it would be "safer" garnered immediate approval from the keeper of the family finances.

[Lister Farrar]

Rolf,

How many lumens in that light? Does it have a high and low beam option?

thanks

Steve

I have the minewt 200, which I've been happy with. But the price is now not as good as the Cygolite Al got, and you can't use the Minewt with a helmet mount, which you can with the Cygolite. Essential for off roading I've been told. Not sure what the battery mount looks like. The minewt is great that way, fit's on the stem so no long wire runs.

The cygolite handlebar mount is almost as easy to move from bike to bike as the Minewt. I'd go cygolite if I was doing it again, unless it;s got a big ugly battery and cable run. Anyone got a photo?

edit: battery looks smallish like the minewt http://www.cygolite.com/products/new/Mi ... light.html

edit: never mind, you can get a helmet mount for the minewt http://www.rei.com/product/761241

[Rolf]

Josh wrote:

I was thinking of picking that one up to supplement my little 70 lumen MEC planet bike blaze. The MEC one is also a really good deal at $29, and IMO enough to light up the road well enough for a group ride. Two of those and you've got 140 lumens for $58.

My old light is a 1/2 watt MEC Planet Bike Blaze. Apart from wimpy output, it also interfered with my VDO A8+ wireless computer (best of the cheapies from that manufacturer). The wirelessness got screwed up if the light was within 5 inches, whether steady or blinking. My work-around was to mount it on the leading edge of one of my drops.

The MiNewt Mini causes no interference, despite mounting right next to the computer.

Interestingly, I rode next to Alan through the Uplands this morning with only Blaise (Blaze? Blayse?) behind us. (We were the Farm Team, coming late and reluctantly to hills.) Alan has the MiNewt 200. His beam was certainly brighter -- but I'm not sure it was $118.16 brighter. Admittedly a subjective measure!

[Josh.E]

I've got the 1 watt blaze, which seems to be significantly brighter than the 1/2 watt. They now also make a 2W blaze for $59.99, which claims to be about 140 lumens.

[simon ciceri]

At Cycleswest we have the Cygolite Hi-Flux 200 Reg $249.99 on sale for$159.99. It has 200 lumens with a 6 hr run time on hi and 50 hr on low.
Contact Simon at Cycleswest for more info
250 474 2477

[Rolf]

Damn, Simon. Do you deliver? Millstream might as well be Port Hardy, as my usual orbits go.

I love how you troll through our forum, looking for possible sales opportunities. We all benefit from your entrepreneurialism.

[Lister Farrar]

Hmm. If maybe I post a wanted ad for a titanium cross bike with ultegra for under $1000, do you think a vendor will respond? That'd be the test...

[wonger]

The Lupine "Betty". Damn the cost, you can't go wrong with 1,500 lumens.

[Lister Farrar]

The Lupine "Betty". Damn the cost, you can't go wrong with 1,500 lumens.

I dunno. Riders who shall remain nameless have had some well-worn shorts that 1500 lumens would make downright proctologically transparent. Acck!