One of the most important items you will need when bicycling, especially at dusk or at night, is a good set of Bicycle Headlights.
When I first started out on a search for bicycle lighting to do some early morning rides with I was bombarded with options. The light source ranged from LED to Halogen and prices ranged anywhere from $10 to $250 and on. I will try to touch on all the options below.
LED:
There are three types of LED headlamps offered depending on the environment you will be biking in; High powered single LED, Multiple LED and high powered multiple LED. The high powered single LED headlamp ranges in size from 1/4 watt up to 1 watt. In my opinion the 1/4 and 1/2 watt LED lamps are insufficient to light up the roadway for your commute at speeds above 10mph but will alert drivers of your presence on the road. Multiple LED lamps have several lower powered LEDs in one housing to provide light for you and the cars coming in the opposite direction. Again, these lamps are insufficient for a ride faster then 5-10mph but will alert drivers of your presence on the road and would probably be sufficient enough for a short and slow ride. My favorite light is a 1 watt high powered LED headlamp which I feel is sufficient for quick speeds on a clean road for a tight budget and plenty bright enough to alert oncoming drivers to your presence. For serious trail riders you will have to get into the multiple high powered LED options. These tend to be much more expensive, anywhere from 2-10x the price of a single LED and you can no longer use a couple AA batteries. These lamps come with battery packs that will need to be strapped onto your bike. Again, great for serious night time trail riders and racers but not necessary for your urban road warrior.
Halogen:
Halogen lights are the standard bulbs you are used to seeing in your old flashlights and car headlights. There isn't much to say about these lamps except that the technology is old and in my opinion obsolete. My first bike headlight was one of those halogens you can buy for cheap at a big box store. It casts a yellow light that wasn't all that bright and drains batteries very fast. For an extra couple dollars you can pick up one of the LED options which will cast a nice white light and keep your batteries going at least 10x longer. Also realize that halogens have a bulb life and will need to be replaced while the LED should last the life of the headlamp. Don't be fooled by the combination LED/Halogen either. These combination lights are just halogen to see the road with a couple of weak LEDs that are meant to alert drivers to your presence. The LEDs are not for lighting the road and you are back to the problem you had before with battery and bulb life.
Find Quality Head Lights at Bike Lights Online
http://www.bikelightsonline.com
