Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 17:00:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: Marty Goodman MD KC6YKC <MARTYGOODMAN@delphi.com>
Subject: Commute Lighting System for under $150
Message-id: <01JF8B68X5B28X8GCQ@delphi.com>

       Suggested Commute Bike Lighting System for under $150
 
Fall, and Winter, will soon be upon us, and those who commute by bicycle
will again be facing morning and/or evening commutes in darkness.
 
I've been periodically reviewing and commenting on bike lighting systems
(something of a passion with me) for years.   Based on my years of
experience, I have a recommendation for an EXTREMELY high quality system
for local, inner-city commuting, at a remarkably low price for what it
delivers:
 
   Purchase in the next week on sale at REI the VistaLite NS4-CAD10
system, with one 2 amp hour 6 volt NiCd battery and two 5 watt lighting
heads.  Put one of those heads aside... you probably won't need it.
Sale price is $75 (regular price is $100).  Actually, I collect such
lighting heads, and would give you $25 for it if you're sure you don't
need it.  Tho you might just want to keep the second one as a spare,
against the unfortunate possibility of someone stealing your one
headlamp.
 
   ALSO purchase  NiteRider 6 volt 15 LED tail lamp.  This lamp PATCHES
IN to the VistaLite system above with NO modifications or tinkering what
so ever required (for mounting on ordinary upright bikes).  This tail
lamp consumes only 2 watts of power, but is so bright it's effective
EVEN WHEN RIDING DURING THE DAY.   After years of comparing various tail
lights, including some extraordinary ones I made myself, I find this to
be by FAR the best best bike tail lamp I've seen.   There is a night and
day difference between this and the $10 to $15 AA battery powered
cheapos that are the current industry standard.   Retail price at REI is
$55.   If you're an REI member, your dividend refund will negate part of
the tax you'll be paying, so the total effective cost will be somewhat
less than $150 for the two items.
 
   This system will give you about an hour and a half run time with one
headlamp and the tail lamp (with tail lamp in continuously on mode).
You can buy an extra battery for the VistaLite system for about $30,
which will double the run time.  The five watt handlebar-mount spot beam
should be perfect for very safe riding on city streets lit by
streetlights.  It's adequate for night travel on unlit country roads IF
you keep to a relatively slow speed.  I don't recommend it for
recreational night riding on totally unlit country roads at high speeds
and for long distances.
 
Drawbacks:  You must take along your VistaLite battery to power the
NiteRider tail lamp, even if you don't wish to use the headlamp.  For
it's NOT battery powered.  At least, there's no stock provision for
this.  I can cobble up an adaptor that allows you to use alkaline
batteries with it, but that's a custom deal.
 
 
I'm a bear for highly customized, highly specialized systems.  What I
found impressive about this combination is that, for a VERY reasonable
price, it offers MOST of the features of some of my most elaborately
customized systems, at least for this particular purpose.  And it's a
totally off the shelf system!
 
  ---marty