Flashlights On My Bike? (no thanks)

from Rookie’s keyboard

Hello, friends,

It’s time to drop another post on RJ.com (I made a slight deviation from my posting schedule).

My light – Some Sigma model attached to ghetto wooden front rack – works well.

Here’s the deal – I’m not a fan of running basic flashlights on a bike. I’m not saying they are worse than nothing…but they are certainly worse than a dedicated bike light.

Why?

Read on….

A Stable Mount

Even basic bike lights come with mounts clamping onto the handlebars.

Cheaper models rely on a silicone loop whereas the more expensive ones have quick-release brackets allowing you to remove the unit in seconds upon parking the bike.

A decent bicycle light remains fairly stable on the handlebars even on off-road terrain.

After a long ride, you may have to readjust it, but overall, the light should remain where you put it.

Slim Design

Bike lights have a slick, “aero” design. They are flatter than most flashlights and don’t protrude nearly as much.

The smaller sizes makes it possible to use the light with a basket or a handlebar bag.

Meanwhile torches are longer and may come in contact with the basket/bag or its attachment mechanism when positioned in the middle of the handlebars.

Shock Ready

Bicycle lights are resistant to vibrations. The solder connections, the seals, and switches remain intact even when the roads are bumpy.

Supreme Weight Distribution

The weight of bike lights is more evenly distributed along the body. This reduces the “bounce” effect and preserves the angle of illumination for longer.

Heat Sinks

Bike lights are are designed to be used for extended periods of time and have heat sinks, usually made of aluminum, built into the body. The design helps with heat dissipation and ensures longer exploitation of the light.

Some bike lights even drop to a less intensive mode upon reaching a certain temperature. This process is called thermal regulation and has three main functions:

  • To prevent the light from turning off due to heat;
  • To avoid internal damage to the components;
  • To ensure the longest possible illumination;

Quick Switching Between The Modes

Bike lights (BLs) have a button allowing you to go through the available modes with a single push. Some flashlights have that option too, but not all of them.

Some torches come with a button placed at the tail of the light because it is expected that the user will be holding the light and using their thumb to switch between modes.

The position of the button may be comfortable for regular use, but it’s not the most convenient when riding a bike.

Battery Level Indicator

BLs have a battery level indicator that changes its color to inform the user about the energy reserves. This data reduces the possibility of suddenly finding yourself in the dark.

Some flashlights have an indicator too, but it’s not always placed at a location that you can see while riding.

Supreme Endurance

A quality BL will outlast a flashlight for the purposes of riding.

Longer Reach

The purpose of BLs is to illuminate the road ahead of you. Thus, the beam has a longer reach and is more evenly spread.

Wireless Control

Some BLs like the Fenix BC30 V2.0 have a remote switch that you can use to control the light. The main benefits of this feature are comfort and stability.

You can position the switch next to the brake and shifter and modulate the light with a burst motion.

Cut-off Line

Some bike lights designed for road use have a beam cut-off reducing the glare against the oncoming traffic.

The optics of such lights cut the upper part of the beam which is the least useful when cycling and the most likely to go into the vision of others.

Flashlights do not offer that option because it’s a specialized feature that regular users do not need.


Even though I don’t run flashlights on my bikes, I can still see their advantages, namely:

  • Lower price (potentially)

Multi-purpose flashlights have a greater market share than bike lights. Manufacturers can therefore optimize their facilities for mass production and spread the expenses over a greater number of clients.

The larger scale and volume make it easier to receive discounts from all the companies involved in the design, construction, distribution, and delivery process.

The result? Cheaper products.

  • Available Everywhere

You can find a torch in any hardware store.

  • Ideal for beater bikes

One of the cheapest ways to securely mount a flashlight to a bike light is to use two hose clamps as shown below.

A combination of two hose clamps and a cheap torch with a flashing function is perfect for a beater bike.

If you intend to remove the torch upon locking your bike, consider using a butterfly hose clamp for holding the light.

Butterfly/Quick-release hose clamp

German Bike Lights = Highest Level

Many companies have solid models. However, German brands tend to stand out because Germany has very strict regulations when it comes to bike lighting. A bike light has to cover a large number of criteria (e.g., efficiency, visibility levels, brightness, low distraction…etc.) to be certified.

The lights that match the requirements are of exceptional quality.

Lots of Lumens = Good?

Lumens aren’t everything. The throw, beam, and battery life are more important.

Many flashlights have a great number of lumens, but the light spill is such that the extra illumination is detrimental because there’s no intensity where it matters – on the road ahead.

The result is a degraded performance for three main reasons:

1. You aren’t receiving optimal vision ahead of you.

2. The light is blinding others.

3. The flashlight is consuming extra energy.

I’d rather get a bike light with modest but real stats and legit construction than spend money on “ultra-bright” models that promise the world but deliver mediocrity and instability.

Until next time,

Rookie


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Comments

2 responses to “Flashlights On My Bike? (no thanks)”

  1. Dan K Avatar
    Dan K

    What good timing, I am myself getting into quality lights for the first time and enjoying learning about them. Strongly agree that w purpose built bike light (and rear light) is the way to go.

    1. Rookie Avatar
      Rookie

      Thank you man! Yes. A decent front light is a must. The rear blinker could be cheaper.

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