Light Theft (solutions — small pocket lights, or heavy duty well secured lights?)

You know the story. You want to go for a pint in town and its light
when you set out but will be dark by the time you've finished your
"pint". Now I already have a wallet, phone and house keys in my Jeans,
so where am I going to stuff my lights?? I went to the shop and asked
to have Dynamo lights fitted just because I — either rightly or wrongly
— assume they're less attractive to thieves for a number of reasons (one
being they're harder to steal). The shop keeper doesn't seem to think
they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets? Yes I can wear a coat, or take a
ruck sack with me etc etc but I'm looking for something a bit more
practical. Alternatively I will just have to find some that secure
better to the bike rather than quick release types. I live in Cambridge
and bikes and parts on bikes disappear within seconds so suggestions
welcome.

David Johnson wrote:
You know the story. You want to go for a pint in town and its light
when you set out but will be dark by the time you've finished your
"pint". Now I already have a wallet, phone and house keys in my Jeans,
so where am I going to stuff my lights?? I went to the shop and asked
to have Dynamo lights fitted just because I — either rightly or wrongly
— assume they're less attractive to thieves for a number of reasons (one
being they're harder to steal). The shop keeper doesn't seem to think
they're all that good or reliable.

Your man in the shop is talking Bollox(TM). The good ones are (a) good
and (b) reliable. Get the current from a hub dynamo and you've got
about as reliable a light setup as you'll find anywhere, especially if
it uses LED front lights as that way you don't even have to worry about
blowing a bulb.
Roos & I use B&M Oval Plus and D-Toplight front/rear combinations on the
'bent and Roos' commuter, I've got a Basta front on the Brom. They're
very reliable and aren't in the habit of going Walkies, as they're
bolted on and wired in and most thieves probably think dynamos are a bit
wanky too...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

David Johnson wrote:

they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets?

Cateye EL410
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...0Front%20Light

Easily pocketable, completely waterproof (it uses a magnetic reed switch
to switch on and off) and the rubber strap is uses fits in seconds to
handlebars or a helmet. About the size of a big lipstick.

On 28 Aug, 16:27, John Hearns wrote:
David Johnson wrote:
they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets?

Cateye EL410http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=536002576...

Seconded. I've used one of these for a couple of years now. Don't
expect it to light the road for you, but for such a small light it's
phenomenally bright.

I use a Cateye TL-LD1000 as my rear light - small and VERY bright. I
wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. My sole gripe is that in flashing
mode the top and bottom lines of LEDs flash slightly out of sync and
therefore don't have quite the all-on/all-off effect I'd like.

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 28 Aug, 16:27, John Hearns wrote:
David Johnson wrote:
they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets?

Cateye
EL410http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=536002576...

Seconded. I've used one of these for a couple of years now. Don't
expect it to light the road for you, but for such a small light it's
phenomenally bright.

I use a Cateye TL-LD1000 as my rear light - small and VERY bright. I
wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. My sole gripe is that in flashing
mode the top and bottom lines of LEDs flash slightly out of sync and
therefore don't have quite the all-on/all-off effect I'd like.

It's not waterproof but will survive a full wash cycle in a washing machine
:-)
As for synching the top and bottom rows, I doubt that it makes that much
difference to an observer 100m away.

wrote in message
oups.com...
On 28 Aug, 16:27, John Hearns wrote:
David Johnson wrote:
they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets?

Cateye
EL410http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=536002576...

Seconded. I've used one of these for a couple of years now. Don't
expect it to light the road for you, but for such a small light it's
phenomenally bright.

I use a Cateye TL-LD1000 as my rear light - small and VERY bright. I
wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. My sole gripe is that in flashing
mode the top and bottom lines of LEDs flash slightly out of sync and
therefore don't have quite the all-on/all-off effect I'd like.


I find I can set them in sync as long as I switch them on before mounting
the light. It just takes a little practice.

'Course you don want to be looking at them too closely while doing it.

Jc

On 28/08/2007 16:27, John Hearns recommended:
Cateye EL410
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...0Front%20Light

Easily pocketable, completely waterproof (it uses a magnetic reed switch
to switch on and off) and the rubber strap is uses fits in seconds to
handlebars or a helmet. About the size of a big lipstick.

I bought one a couple of years ago for the kids' trailer. I don't think
I've ever actually used it on the trailer, it was just the best excuse I
could think of for buying it.

It lives in a pannier, strapped into a Maglite headband [1], to provide
light when I have to fix a puncture after dark. It also gets a lot of
use when I'm camping, because the light is good and, as John says, it's
very easy to pocket.

[1]
http://www.toolmix.com/browse/product.asp?pid=47734&s52cnc=FROOGLE-UK&s52r=FROOGLEUK

--
Danny Colyer http://www.redpedals.co.uk
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down.
Daddy, why did you put that down?" - Charlie Colyer, age 2

* John Hearns wrote:
David Johnson wrote:

they're all that good or reliable. So are there any *good* and very
*small* lights suitable for pockets?

Cateye EL410
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetai...0Front%20Light


Easily pocketable, completely waterproof (it uses a magnetic reed switch
to switch on and off) and the rubber strap is uses fits in seconds to
handlebars or a helmet. About the size of a big lipstick.

Is the 510 any good? I can get the Cateye EL510 And TL-LD1000 as a set,
thus saving some pennies. It's certainly a good size.

I have the Cateye HL500 Halogen Front Light currently, for a point of
reference. Bit heavy and bulky in the pocket.

"David Johnson" wrote in message
...

You know the story. You want to go for a pint in town and its light
when you set out but will be dark by the time you've finished your
"pint". Now I already have a wallet, phone and house keys in my Jeans,
so where am I going to stuff my lights?? I went to the shop and asked
to have Dynamo lights fitted just because I — either rightly or wrongly
— assume they're less attractive to thieves for a number of reasons (one
being they're harder to steal). The shop keeper doesn't seem to think
they're all that good or reliable.

Which shop? I'm guessing it isn't Ben Haywards.

Dynamo lights are great, esp. hub dynamo ones, and the reasons you mention
are one of them.

cheers,
clive

* Clive George wrote:
Which shop? I'm guessing it isn't Ben Haywards.

It wasn't Ben Haywards. Is Ben Haywards one of the better bike shops in
town? I've only really used Mikes Bikes and Howes, but there are very
many so it's hard to know which ones are good.

Dynamo lights are great, esp. hub dynamo ones, and the reasons you
mention are one of them.

I'll have to look into Hub Dynamos. Will Haywards be able to fit them
for me? I can give them a ring tomorrow.