Light It Up!

Now that the time change has occurred and it's getting dark out sooner, people feel that their riding time is cut short. We would like to let you know that isn't the case, and yes, you can ride in the dark!
For successful night riding, a strong light is a must have. You do not want to be out on the mountain bike trails with a light that doesn't illuminate your way.

Yes, a good light is pricey, but once you know the benefits of a good light, it's well worth the money invested! A quality light will be durable and allow you to re-charge it without having to purchase expensive batteries. Also? You will have multiple brightness options as well as high lumins to ensure your safety.

Below you will find a product review from Josie (Life on Two Wheels.)
She and Travis tested out two fantastic lights and both can be ordered at Decorah Bicycles!
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This year Travis has introduced me to night riding, and in true form, made sure I would have an excellent helmet light. The two lights I’ll talk about in this post are the NiteRider Pro 1800 and Light & Motion Seca 2000 Race.

The first light I is the NiteRider Pro 1800, which is said to have the one of the category’s best power to weight ratios.
It has 5 levels of light, flash mode, 4 cell Li-Ion battery, and has a really neat/handy battery indicator that lets you know where you’re at charge-wise.

The battery pack can go into your camelbak and the light also comes with an extension cord so you are sure to have enough room to move freely and comfortably.

To change the light beams, you hit the button at the top to alternate from strongest to lightest-similar to the light I use on my handlebar to get home (NiteRider Lumina 650)

The second light, Light & Motion Seca 2000 Race is a little smaller but packs a powerful punch.

The Seca 2000 has a 6 LED with 3 levels of brightness (High, Med, and Low) also you will find that the beam pattern is wide, extending outward with a stronger focus of light in the middle.

I found the NiteRider Pro 1800 had a strong beam of light that focused straight ahead where the Seca 2000 had more of a diamond shape. The makers of the Seca 2000 mention that the beam pattern of their light maximizes the riders’ depth perception and eliminates the snowball effect.

The chord for the light and battery pack is sufficient in length, no extension cords were provided.
The battery pack can also be hooked onto your shorts or through any sort of belt loop. I opted to keep the battery pack in my camelbak to avoid falling on it directly (if I were to fall.)

Travis originally installed the NiteRider Pro 1800 on my helmet, but I was able to easily install the Light & Motion Seca 2000 light without any directions. Perhaps luck was on my side, but it was simple to loop and strap, then hook on the light.

Another feature that is different is that the Seca starts off on the brightest setting vs. lowest. It threw me off at first because I’m used to pushing buttons to achieve a brighter light vs. lower.

Both lights worked great for me and were not uncomfortable when installed on my helmet. You will find that the NiteRider Pro 1800 is a little heavier than the Light & Motion Seca 2000, and the battery pack has to be in a larger pocket or camelbak.

I liked that the NiteRider Pro 1800 had a charge indicator on the top of the light that was really easy to read.

NiteRider Pro 1800 charge indicator

You will find that the power button for the Seca 2000 is larger and more easily found for non-visual pushing than the NiteRider Pro 1800.

I highly recommend either of these lights for your night riding needs. The trails I ride here in Decorah have a variety of challenges including close trees, roots, and rocks. Having a strong light that allows me to see, without question, is a huge confidence builder and I would recommend investing in a quality light from the start. You do not have to use the highest setting, and often times you may find that the medium setting or sometimes the lowest will work for your ride (depending on the trail, if you are ahead or behind another rider with a strong light, etc.)

When investing in a light you are putting money toward a product that should last a long time, a product that holds a charge, one that gives you multiple lighting options, and something that can be recharged easily without the use of buying excess batteries. (More eco-friendly!)

It's an investment in your safety. 

For a positive night riding experience check out either of these two lights so you can find your way in the dark!

As mentioned, we use our lights on our helmets so we can move and have the light follow. I feel more comfortable having the light on my helmet vs. just handlebars. 

(Some people use just a handlebar light.)
Some riders recommend both a light on your helmet and one on your handlebars.
(I do keep a spare light in my bag that should have enough charge to get me home legally, if worse came to worse and my light died.)
Stop by Decorah Bicycles and they can fill you in on the various setups so you can make the best decision possible for your riding experience!