Time for some new MTB lights
Lumicycle XPG ATL
I’ve been having problems with my lights on the past few night rides. Despite the battery being fully charged, they only seem to last for about 2 hours at the most and then just shut off on me. The battery is 3 years old and does get quite a bit of use I suppose so I guess it won’t hold as much of a charge as it used to. On top of which, the cold temperatures won’t help either.
I could just buy a replacement battery, especially seeing as these are Lumicycle lights so are all modular and spare parts are easily available. The battery on its own costs around £120 though. The lights I have are getting a little old too, so maybe its time to replace the whole lot. Most good quality lights these days are LED based which give a much brighter, whiter light than the Halogen lamps that I’ve currently got, as as they draw less power they have longer run times – something I’m going to need for the 12 hour race I’ve signed up for later this year.
So, it was time to spend yet more money and get a whole new set of lights. I decided to get a set complete with all the helmet mounts and fixings etc. as the ones I’ve got are quite worn so probably need updating too. I’ve been happy with the Lumicycle lights so decided to stick with them. The are a small UK based company and offer a good service so I had no qualms buying from them again. They may not be the cheapest, but the fact that the new lights will also work and be interchangeable with what I already have may be a bonus too. I’m unlikely to use the old ones much, but I could attach them to my bars to give me an extra set of lights now and then, and I’ll be able to carry my old battery as a spare should I wish to do so.
The new lights I’ve ordered are the Lumicycle LED3 XPG ATL – They’ve been getting amazing reviews in all of the magazines, look the part and the stats certainly sound promising: 1340 lumens on Boost with a runtime of 4 hours, or 950 lumens on the high setting and a runtime of 8 hours – That should see me through even the longest of night rides!
They should arrive early next week so I’ll let you know what I think of them once I’ve tried them out.
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Lights were only ordered yesterday, but they were despatched the same day and have now already made it from Poole to Shrewsbury overnight – Who knows, they might even arrive today and I might just have to try them out tonight!
Good service from Lumicycle as always.
The lights are here, and what’s more, when I placed my order I didn’t login to the correct account so my ‘Photon Points’ weren’t added to my account. I e-mailed Lumicycle and they sorted it all out for me so that the two accounts have been merged and all my points are on the same account – The points allow me to get some freebies from Lumicycle.
Al.
I’m debating between these – now called the Apex I think – and the narrower beam Race or Freeway. How do you find these in use on the road? Is dazzling other road users a problem or is the beam width just right?
Thanks
– Richard
Hi Richard,
I can’t say I’ve ever used them on the road. The battery pack is a bit too big for a road bike as far as I am concerned, but they are amazing off road. I use the light quite a bit as a torch as well for night hikes and such like and it is amazing. I’d imagine they might dazzle other road users a little as they are super bright.
Al.
Thanks.
I’m still deciding. I’ll have to report back if I finally choose one. The alternative is something like the Lumotec which has nothing like the brightness but good optics for lighting the road.
I’ve been running the narrower beamed less bright Freeway for a week. Would agree the power isn’t needed on the road, though I did have fun on a fast descent on Boost. I guess the Apex’s width means the way ahead stays lit more as you turn?
Yep, I used to have both a wide beam and narrow beam for mountain-biking and think the best set up would be wider beam on the bars and then a helmet mounted narrow-beam set-up. The wide beam would provide good peripheral vision and general all-round light whereas the helmet mounted narrow beam lamp would give you focussed light right where you are looking.
Al.
I’ve swapped the Freeway or an Apex. I’ll have to write up my experiences with it. First night out with it good up to 30mph on MID on a dark lane, but in total darkness as long as there’s enough light your eyes adapt.
Beam angle has quite an effect. I set it quite low today and used HIGH in town, but wasn’t lighting up road signs so it was very low. I was thinking last night that I’d not use more than MID.
It’s an impressive light.