Bicycle Lights

Bicycling is a healthy and environmentally-friendly choice. However, not having the right gears in your cycle can get you the worst experiences. Let us explore the essential accessory for a safe and comfortable ride, i.e. bicycle lights.

Most of the bikes come with already installed lights. However, with the change in time, cycling has transformed from being just a commute to a popular sports activity. Therefore, cyclists must choose and install the right lights depending upon the type of bike, riding conditions and time of the ride. You need different lights for different riding activities such as commuting, mountain biking, road riding and racing. They are there to serve two primary purposes- to see and to be seen. ‘Lights to see’ allow riders to spot vehicles and obstacles coming ahead on the way. On the other hand, the other type is low powered lamps that help riders get visibility. So, do you want to equip your bike with the right amount of lights? On this page, we will unveil everything you need to know about various bicycle lights.

Types of bicycle LED lights

Bicycle lights come in various forms to serve different purposes. For example, be seen lights see lights, sidelights, flashers, daytime illuminators and helmet lights, to name a few. The earliest forms of bicycle lamps were oil-powered and acetylene gas lamps. However, these were high maintenance and inconvenient. Later came lead-acid batteries, dry cells and alkaline batteries with improved reliability. Still, these forms were not much effective. Thanks to the discovery of electrical light bulbs, specifically, LEDs that use less energy and produce less heat. The best part is that they offer a brighter illusion than any other older form of light. Let us explore some lights you must have on your bike.

Bicycle headlight

When you ride in the dark, a bicycle headlight comes in handy. You will never face many problems looking for adequate taillights but choosing appropriate headlights can be tricky. A bright one requires a large battery for power and is expensive. In contrast, small headlights suffice the need while you ride under streetlights but are inefficient at lighting up dark roads. Cyclists nowadays use modern LED bike lights having powerful beams coming out of a little unit. The great part is that it is easy to recharge them via USB. Headlights vary significantly in power. However, most of them come with flashing settings so that the rider can adjust the output as per the requirements. The bicycle headlight price varies as per lumens and adjustment features they come with.

Bicycle taillight

Cyclists often downplay the importance of taillights as compared to headlights. However, the vehicle behind you cannot spot your presence without taillights, resulting in severe collisions. So, it is wise to invest in rear lights to give visibility to the other road users. Taillights are not just saviours at night but also in times of fog, low light or dappled shades. They often come with few lumens since the purpose is to be visible. Although, if you are planning to light it up in the daytime, taillights can range up to 300 lumens. Most of them come with a setting to tailor brightness according to the rider’s requirements.

Bike wheel lights

Wheel bicycle lights lie in the form of glowing circles or arcs. They are great at improving the visibility of a bike from the side. With the help of glowing rims, cyclists can isolate themselves from traffic and city lights. Wheel lights are a lot different than head or taillights. They are not so bright to light up the track. Instead, they are more of a decorative choice. However, wheel lights are essential bike parts while you ride in the dark so that other people can easily see you.