[Closed] What's a sensible numbers of lumens for night riding?

yeah sometimes i d have to 🙂

depends on a mixture of what others youre riding with are using, and your approach to nightriding (the experience of night riding, or just riding at night). I started night riding 15yrs ago with a 10W halogen Niterider helmet mount powered by a nicad, spent more time turned off than on to eek out battery life. I now ride with a cheapo "250 lumen" ebay torch on my helmet, and more recently with a little 150 lumen NR minewt on the bar too. Most of my riding buddies have 900+lumen jobbies, and I actually spend most of my time with my lights turned off chasing the guys in front and looking into their pool of light. I always found night riding improved my technique as you cant/dont fixate on the little stuff on the trail, so you relax and roll over it, and using the rider in front's light pool means lifting and extending your vision.

Many years ago (in the days of halogen) I learnt that there is a lot more to lights than lumens. After a few experiences with cheaper lights I moved to some Lumicycle ones. While the quoted output was lower they were so much better. Maybe some of these new Chinese made LEDs are better, but ever since then I've stuck with the bigger brands. The headline number may be lower, but if the heat sinking and optics are better it will still be a better light out on the trail.

Cheers,

Andy

Is there any reason not to have the brighter light on your helmet? I have a 300!(old) and a 1000 (new) but no helmet mount for the 300 (an older model Minewt mini) which I can get but is £30 or so

mattjevans - Member

Is there any reason not to have the brighter light on your helmet?

No. In fact, depending on your setup, it might well make more sense to do it this way round.

Only downside is if it's cloudy or misty, as a bright helmet light will glare you. (or snowing!)

But for me, these days a good light on the noggin is all you need, it'll give you the range and the breadth of vision that you used to need 2 for. I still have a bar light as a spare but it's the helmet light that does all the work.