Computer Light For Nighttime Riding

Asked by: Julie Payne

How many lumens do you need for night riding?

An average trail rider will likely be fine with about 200 lumens minimum; ideal is about 250-400 lumens. Some riders can ride really fast offroad at night but we find anything above 400 lumens doesn’t help us go faster but burns battery life faster.

Is 500 lumens bright enough for cycling?

Cyclists travelling through well-lit areas should aim for a 100- or 200- lumen light. If you’re cycling through unlit areas and need to increase visibility, you’ll need a higher lumen count. Anywhere between 200 to 600 lumens is ideal, especially for commuters.

What lights do you need on a bike at night?

For night riding, most states require a white front light with a beam that can extend at least 500 feet ahead and a rear red reflector when riding at night or in low-visibility conditions.

Which light is best for bike?

What are the best bike lights?

1. Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL. The best headlight overall. …
2. NiteRider 1200 OLED Boost. The best headlight mounting system. …
3. Knog PWR Trail 1100L. The most versatile headlight. …
4. NiteRider Lumina Micro 900. …
5. Cycliq Fly12. …
6. Bontrager Ion 200 RT. …
7. Light & Motion Vis Pro 1000 Blacktop. …
8. NiteRider Sentry Aero 260.

Is 800 lumens enough for a bike light?

An 800 lumen light, like the Cateye Volt 800 is bright enough so you can ride with confidence on pitch dark roads at 20 mph or even faster. If you ride blazing fast (25+ mph) or you ride on dark forest trails, you need an even more powerful light (1600 lumens or more).

Is 1600 lumens too bright?

Lumens is the unit measurement of brightness, with 1 lumen equalling the brightness of 1 candle, so 1600 lumens has the brightness of 1600 candles. 1600 Lumens is a very good level of light for LED, CFL or incandescent lighting.

Is 1000 lumens good for a bike light?

1000+ lumens: If you’re riding on rural roads at night, then you’ll need a light above 1000 lumens so you can ride with confidence. The on-road bike lights will have a powerful beam showing you a long way in front of you. If you’re riding off-road at night, you’ll need to be as far above 1000 lumens as possible.

Is a 1000 lumens bright?

The Brightness of a 1000 Lumen Flashlight



A 1000 lumen flashlight is quite bright and, depending on the lens or reflector design, powerful enough to reach a distance of 200 meters or more. This type of flashlight allows you to see objects from a far distance.

How many lumens do I need on my bike?

Generally speaking, we’d recommend a minimum of 200 lumens for urban commuting and 400 lumens for riding on unlit roads. If you’re after lights for riding off-road on trails, you’ll need something brighter, with greater power and battery life. Check out our separate round-up of the best mountain bike lights.

Do you need lights on your bike to ride it at night?

It is NEVER safe to ride your bike at night without proper lights. When you are dealing with traffic while riding on the road, being visible is your number one priority. Safe night riding starts with your clothing.

Are flashing lights illegal on bicycles?

The 2005 RVLR amendment means that it is now legal to have a flashing light on a pedal cycle, provided it flashes between 60 and 240 times per minute (1 – 4Hz). The amendment also allows a single flashing light so long as it meets the minimum brightness standards.

How can I make my bike visible at night?

Quote from video: Including your helmet wear reflective gear such as a reflective vest when biking at night wearing fluorescent colored clothing can help your visibility.

Can a bike light be too bright?

Yes, bike lights (both front and rear) can be too bright and blind both people and other bikers if not used properly and aren’t angled correctly. Having too bright of lights can be dangerous for you as well as uncomfortable for pedestrians, other cyclists, and motorists.

What is the highest lumens for a bike light?

The Brightest Bike Light

• The Niterider 3600 Pro which shines with 3600 lumens is currently the brightest bike light (a typical car headlight produces about 1500 lumens). It sells for about $600.
• The brightest self-contained bike light is the Nitecore BR32 — a 1800 lumen OLED light, available for $130.

How far does 800 lumens shine?

The brightness of an 800 lumen torch (UK for flashlight) is the power of light of 800 candles. This level is regarded as a very bright level of torch suitable for most outdoor tasks. The throw of light can be up to a 200m distance.

How bright is 1000 lumens flashlight?

A 1000 lumen flashlight is bright enough to let you see items at a far distance as most of these flashlights feature reflectors or lenses to focus the light into having a range of 150-200 meters depending on their design.

How many lumens is enough?

To determine the needed lumens, you will need to multiply your room square footage by your room foot-candle requirement. For example, a 100 square foot living room, which needs 10-20 foot-candles, will need 1,000-2,000 lumens. A 100 square foot dining room, which needs 30-40 foot-candles, will need 3,000-4,000 lumens.

What does 1000 lumens mean?

Lumens is the unit measurement of brightness, with 1 lumen equalling the brightness of 1 candle, so 1000 lumens has the brightness of 1000 candles. 1000 Lumens is a very good level of light for LED, CFL or incandescent lighting.

How many lumens is a good flashlight?

1000 – 1199 Lumens is Good for a Flashlight as a Worklight



A flashlight with a 1000-1199 lumen range is very bright and creates an intense task light commonly used by mechanics as a work light. This amount of power output should only be used outdoors where the risk of directing the light into the eyes is minimal.

Is 5000 lumens too bright?

Is 5000 Lumens Bright Enough? A 5000 lumen LED is a very bright light source, and is likely to be too bright for some applications. For example, it would be too harsh for general room lighting where a more subtle level of illumination is required.

Is 3000 lumens too bright?

3000 lumens is a good level of light for LED, CFL or incandescent lighting. It’s suitable for recessed lighting, downlighting, up lighting and within pendants.