They drain faster on lights with more lumens or when you’re using a light on its brightest setting. Battery Lifeīike light batteries typically last, at a minimum, for a few hours. Most taillights are less than 100 lumens and have flash modes or other settings that make them brighter as vehicles approach. If you’re riding on well-lit streets or paths, a headlight of 100 to 200 lumens with a flash mode or two is usually enough, whereas mountain bikers who need to spot trail obstacles quickly should aim for at least 1,000. Some lights are designed to help you see others are made to be seen. Generally, the more lumens a bike light has, the brighter it will be, but brightness is also impacted by the light’s beam pattern. Lumens are a measure of how much light streams through an area per second. It’s hard to test these factors yourself on the well-lit sales floor of your local bike shop or department store (and it’s impossible over the internet), so familiarize yourself with what the for your vision and visibility before making a purchase. As you evaluate your options, pay attention to how many lumens a light has, as well as its promised battery life and waterproof rating. Nearly every model available today has LED lights with multiple brightness settings and a rechargeable lithium battery. Helmet mounts are also a smart addition to your handlebar-mounted light if you’re mountain biking trails generally include lots of switchbacks, and the way forward isn’t always the direction your bike will be facing.
Headlights are often installed on handlebars, but many can also be mounted to your helmet or a GoPro.
Typically mounted to your seat post, taillights can help approaching vehicles and others spot you, and they’re generally colored red like the taillights on a car. Certain areas, like where I live in Pennsylvania, only require a headlight after dark, but laws (and the enforcement of them) vary widely in different parts of the world. Just be mindful of state and local laws when foregoing one light or the other. Choosing the Best Lights for Your Bikeįor the safest ride, we recommend using a headlight and taillight, but if you can only afford one, opt for a taillight (or look for a combination set, which is often cheaper than buying the same lights independently). I’ve spent six years as a salesperson at The Bicycle Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, so I have an understanding of what works best, but the shop’s manager, Grant Corman, knows this even better, which is why I enlisted his help to back up several of these picks. Show more The Experts: Helping riders choose the right bike light is a process that’s sometimes as involved as picking the right bike.
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