How to choose a bike light

On autumn and winter rides there is a high probability that you'll be caught out somewhere in the dark, which can make it difficult to get home. It's necessary to be prepared, so equip yourself with good lighting.

When riding in autumn and winter, there's a high chance you'll get caught out by the darkness, which can make getting home more difficult. That's why it's essential to be prepared and equipped with high-quality lights. When choosing bike lights, first decide what you need them for — to be seen or to see yourself.

If you ride in good lighting conditions, mainly during the day, flashing safety lights are sufficient. These "visibility lights" significantly improve your safety and visibility to drivers. Safety lights usually have lower brightness (up to 150 lm), are compact, and easy to mount on the bike — such as the Lezyne or the more affordable Force. These lights are typically attached with silicone straps that wrap around the seat post or handlebars and can stay on the bike year-round. Most flashing lights use disposable batteries and are available individually or as front-and-rear sets.

If you ride in poor lighting conditions, at dusk or in darkness, it's best to choose a light with higher brightness — preferably over 400 lm — and long battery life. More powerful lights come with rechargeable batteries, usually charged via USB or microUSB. Depending on the selected mode (constant light or flashing), which can be adjusted based on riding conditions, battery life ranges from several to dozens of hours.

how to choose a bike light

It's important to determine how powerful the light needs to be. In the city, I use the flashing or 400-lumen steady mode. Outside street lighting, I use full brightness, which lets me see every bump on the road. Of course, there are also bike lights with up to 4000 lumens, which are mainly used for nighttime off-road riding and adventures.

Rear red lights generally have lower brightness, usually in the range of 75–300 lm, and are most often mounted on the seat post. Recently, the market has also introduced smart rear lights that can detect approaching vehicles (Garmin Varia Radar) or alert other road users that you're braking by changing the flashing pattern. This is a great advantage, especially for city riding.

There are many ways to equip yourself with proper lighting, and I wouldn’t underestimate its importance in today’s traffic. If you’re unsure or need advice, feel free to contact us anytime.