As a year-round bike commuter, I have a whole shelf full of front and rear lights in various shapes, sizes, costs, and strengths. My regular light is a 15 watt rechargable that most people would consider expensive. I got it when a store was moving, so paid a substantial discount, but I would gladly pay full price. Why?
1. The thing is really bright. Nobody is going to say they didn't see me, and that alone is worth a lot of money. I can see very well on a completely unlit street or path - think SW Path or Lake Mendota Lakeshore Path, both of which I use on a regular basis. It has a good wide beam pattern so that I can see animals, or maybe even unfriendly humans, that might run out on the road or path. At the same time I can see directly ahead far enough that I'm never surprised by hazards. (Even on our best known routes, there could be a tree branch or stray object dropped by someone else, not to mention road kill.) 2. The overall cost is quite small compared to other commuting costs one might incur, whether by bike, car, or even bus. The highest end light - something that looks like a motorcycle coming down the road - might run $200, but it will last years and requires no batteries. When you think about the gas, parking, or even aggravation you are saving by not driving, that is a very small investment. Hell, some people spend that annually on new tires for their bikes. Another, cheaper option is to have two smaller lights - one to see straight ahead and one with a wider beam pattern to be seen by others. You can get a couple of cheap lights for about $50, and with LEDs, the batteries last a looooooong time. I have one friend that has a flashlight - that probably cost him about $15, and is pretty bright - taped to the top of his helmet. Hey, it works. As to blinding other bicyclists with your light... If your light is hitting an oncoming bicyclist in the eyes, it's aimed too high! Generally, an oncoming cyclists will be on the other side of the road, or at least on the other side of the path. I don't find that I get blinded by other cyclists much, unless they have a helmet mounted light and look directly at me, and I look directly back at them. This is much more of a problem in a car than on a bike. Robbie
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