It is all so confusing. I'm thinking I would need two lights, flood and spot as that was what my smart lights were and I found them a good combination. I've had a look round the net and the lumicycles seem quite popular. Do them and the exposure's compare well? I like the idea of an integrated unit, although £300 seems like a lot of money.

Try looking here for some photos of the light output of the exposure vs the lumicyle halogen system

I did notice on there that it says that the exposure lights don't have a quick release fixing though, don't know if that is up to date as the review is from 2005.

I think the exposures look pretty cool and compact, bikescooby has some doesn't she you could ask her for pros and cons?

Also re the two lights, with the lumicycle halogen system you'd usually have two lights for off-road (flood and spot), but the HIDs and presumably the Exposures are much more bright than a single halogen so you really don't need two lights (though some people still swear by having a helmet light as well for seeing round twisty singletrack)

Also look on the lumicycle website for pictures comparing how bright their halogen system is to their HID one.

I went out on my first night ride last night, it was fantastic :) It was organised by a shop that provided lights. I loved the light I was using, a Lupine, but after finding out it is about £500 I think that is a bit much.

That website is fantastic Claire, no quick release would be annoying, but only every so now and again, take my bike in at work, it'd be mainly changing between bikes and the odd times I go to meetings at other places and have to lock my commuter up outside.

I really must make a decision as I'm getting bored not cycling to work at the moment.

The USE lights are quick release. You'll need an allen key to tighten them up again. The advantage of the Turbo range is that you can leave your light onthe bike and still plug in to charge up.

I use a Turbo on and off road. If i'm racing off road, then I use a Turbo and a Joystick (Helmet mounting) and I find that that is plenty.

If it helps, cars tend to flash me thinking i'm a motorcyclists with their full beam on. I've had a fellow commuter follow me asking what lights I use as he said he gets dazzled every morning by me.

Another advantage of the Turbo is that you have 3 settings of brightness. If you do happen to forget to charge them they won't stop working on you - they'll flash so you have some light at least.

I like the fact that they are quick release, I assme that they are easy enough to get on with an allen key? There are the odd times I have to lock my bike up outside and would need to remove the lights. I'm sure it wouldn't be anymore annoying than getting the battery pack lights etc back on.

I don't think I'll be racing off-road just want enough light to go night-riding, I like the idea of the joystick but having orginally thought about spending £100 and now thinking about £300 I can't buy another light as well.

Why is it so confusing? I think that the USE Exposure may suit the sort of riding I do, and no expensive bulbs to replace is good (seeing as I will need the lights twice a day during the winter)

I also like the fact that they won't stop working just start flashing, means that I'll still have a light to get me home. I was so pleased I had a backup light on monday when my old lights died.

I would have thought for commuting that the Exposure sounds more suitable than the Lumicycle HID, as the Lumicycle HIDs are super bright, possibly a bit too bright for riding on the road as they do dazzle people, don't have multiple brightness settings and the bulbs are really expensive to replace if they go (about 75 quid I think)

The lumicycle halogen bulbs are not expensive though (about 8 quid)

I think that the cost of bulbs is something I eally should consider as the more times they are turned on and off the more likely they are to go.

So my options are probably the Exposure or look at the lumicycle halogen systems.

I think I'll proabably go for the exposure. The link you found Claire shows that there will be plenty of light for riding at night, I'm unlikely to be fast at night seeing as I'm slow in daylight. Why do I have to make my own desicisions?

If you are feeling rich buy the exposures, if you aren't buy the lumis!

I don't think you'll regret buying either (though be aware that both will be significantly less bright than the crazy expensive lupines!)

Yes well especially as it turned out I had the top model so my lights were brighter than anyones.

Decisions decisions

So I'd be looking at £300 for Exposure's and about £200 for the lumi's. I'm reading everything I can find on the web to help me make a decision.

(Oh Claire are you away over Christmas, just deciding how long we are going to stay in Cambridge for)

Will definitely be away from the Friday before Christmas, I might be back over new year, but might be going to Scotland, not sure yet! Let me know if you are around.

has anyone ever heard of a LEVIN MTB Brightstar. Saw them on e-bay for £160. Thinkn they're american. Some guy importing tham and trialling them with his mtb club.

I had the Lumicycles before the exposure but I found the battery life wasn't too good. The Exposure is just as bright as my old double lumi lights.

It's a simple turn of the allen key to tighten up (you get to the allen bold from under the bracket so it's easy to find in the dark!)

If you do decide to do any off-road racing at night (i.e. 24 hours) the guys from USE are usually on hand to charge them up for you in between your laps.

Never heard of the Levin system but just looking on the bay at the pictures and the bracket looks a bit fiddly. It looks like the bracket would snap on impact.

I've ordered the light, I now have to explain how I've spent so much money. Looking forward to getting it.

HOORAY! :-)

What have you gone for Trio?

My bets on the expensive ones!

You are right Claire, I've ordered the Exposure light, really liked the look of it. Also I think it'll be just as good on-road as off and I need good lights for commuting. Really missing it after driving the last few days.

Well my new light has arrived, very impressed with how small it is, just hope it is nice and bright now. I've got it plugged in to charge at the moment, hopefully I can cycle home later (came in on train after trying to cycle in and old lights failing again).

So is there anyone who fancies night riding around Bolton now I have lights to play with?

While I'm still waiting for my bracket for the Electron front light, I've bought a Petzl zoom halogen headtorch from SJScycles. I'm still playing with it but it certainly looks bright,comes with a spare bulb and is supposedly water-resistant. Sadly, they didn't make it clear that it needed a converter to use AA batteries, and it was lucky I had a 3LR-12 battery in the house.

I'll let you know how I get on with fitting it on my helmet.