Not only are bike lights important for your own safety and vision, in many places, but it is also illegal to ride at night without them. It is important to stay visible to cars you are sharing the road with, but it’s also important to obey the law so you don’t get a ticket. Lights are separated into front and rear lights and come in a variety of sizes, lumen ratings, and flash options.
Front lights, or LED headlights, contain a white-light source and usually are a higher lumen rating than rear lights, or tail lights. This is because a front light must be visible to other people, but also needs to illuminate the ground in front of you for safe night riding. A rear light must also be visible to people, but it doesn’t have to illuminate the ground so it can project fewer lumens than a front light. Rear lights project a red-light source which notifies drivers they are coming up behind a rider.
Most lights come with multiple settings. These settings control how much light is being emitted and whether the light is in a solid or flashing mode. The lower the light setting the longer the light will last, but the less visible you will be. Flashing modes are a great alternative because they consume less energy but remain highly visible. Irregular flash patterns also exist on many lights now to create even better awareness while you are on the road.
There is a significant difference between safety lights and lights so you can see where you are going. Some lights are just bright enough so drivers can see you but do not produce enough light so you can see the ground in front of you. Others lights have high intensity and are super bright to light up the path ahead. This type of light is much better for commuting in low-light areas and mountain biking. These lights can also be used in the daytime as daytime running lights. Most bicycle-related accidents happen during the day, so having ultra bright lights on the front and rear of your bike will help increase your visibility to motorists.
USB cables have become the main way to recharge bike lights. Some lights still use regular batteries but those are few and far between. Now, most lights are using rechargeable lithium batteries with USB charging that has proven to be an easier and more effective way to charge lights. Many lights also come with the added feature of a low-battery indicator so you'll know about how much time you have left before your battery runs out of juice.
So if you're looking for the ultimate light for your early morning or late night bicycling adventures, hop on a call or a chat with one of our expert Gear Advisors today at 888-880-3811. They are always happy to help you with any questions you may have.
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